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“Not all humans fall into that category.” Viv purses her lips at Ken. “You can’t stereotype them all because of a select few.”
“As the gods began to weaken, humans began to slaughter them and perform obscene rituals in attempts to harness their magic—which, of course, failed. The Mother, in a last effort to preserve their magic, created a new species—our ancestors, fae—to protect the magic,” Sennah continues, ignoring the side remarks. “We were designed to be keepers of magic, protectors of elements, preservers of balance and harmony. The gods even designed us specifically to look similar enough to humans, in hopes that we could merge back into humanity incongruously. Some fae have heightened senses and extreme beauty” —she points to herself with a smug grin— “and we watch over the courts. But some have wings and take to the skies, and some have fins and guard the waters.”
“And some are born of two forms, a link between animi and humanoid forms,” Ken adds. “There are many different fae beyond shifters and faeries.”
“Anyway,” Sennah continues, “Of course, it didn’t work out. The human race was more outraged than ever. They felt tricked by the gods, disgusted that instead of recruiting them as keepers of magic, an entire new species was born and gifted with magic.”
“Resulting in the War of Chaos,” I mumble, thinking back to the story Char had told me.
“Yes, actually.”
“So what happened?”
“Well, instilled with an inherent desire to protect the magic at all costs, fae combined their magic to open a portal to another realm beside the human realm. Though, humans tried to spoil that by entering the realm with malicious intent.”
“That’s why the treaty is in place,” I whisper.
Eoin’s face twists with discomfort. He shares a look with Sennah. But it’s Rainer that speaks up, “There is no treaty.”
“But, I thought—”
“Not anymore.” Rainer runs a slender finger around the lip of his wine goblet. “It was broken.”
“Do the humans know?” I ask, worry swirling in my gut. I shouldn’t care—I don’t know why I do. But the humans still think the treaty is in place, protecting them. At least from what I’ve heard and read back at the estate.
“They’re the ones who broke it,” he says flatly.
“And now they want it reinstated,” Ken mutters.
I frown. That means there are no current protections in place, yet the fae have not started conflict. It’s been the humans who challenge things. More interestingly, it means the fae could very well use their magic in Dovenak if they choose to.
“How did they break it?” I ask.
Rainer leans forward, lowering his voice. “They began mating with the gods, birthing humans with magic. Not quite human, but not quite fae, either.”
“And definitely not gods,” Ken chimes in.
“They sent those kin into our realm as spies, as destroyers of our land. It was a way around our treaty.”
“Because the treaty banned humans from entering right?” I ask. “But these half-human, half-gods weren’t technically human, right? At least not fully.” That explains how I was able to cross the Gleam—there was no treaty keeping humans out of Avylon. Not anymore. In all the chaos, I never even realized that. I figured I had simply heard wrong about what the treaty entails.
“Precisely.” The look he levels at me is ice cold, and I wrap my arms around myself nervously. The pieces are starting to fit together now. “You think we are mischievous and manipulative, but it’s the humans who strive to wipe out anything they don’t like.”
“That’s why you cursed the forest,” I whisper. The treaty ended. He was trying to protect his court—his people by scaring the humans back to Dovenak.
“I didn’t curse it,” he hisses.
“Enchanted it,” I amend.
“You did curse it though, Rainer.” Eoin’s tone is accusatory. “Your dark magic—your court—is Avylon’s stain.”
I gasp at his words, my eyes widening at him. He gives me a pitying look and slowly sips his drink. Sennah bites her lip, whispering something to Viv.
“It’s the truth,” Eoin continues. “You could’ve reinstated the treaty, but instead, you put your entire court at risk.”
“Watch yourself, Eoin Glenn Orion.”
“Why so sensitive Rainer Rohan Iorworth?” Eoin taunts, mimicking Rainer’s tone. “You chose to tell the story. Why not tell the whole story?”
