AllFreeNovel
Share Us
If she knew what I’d realized in the past few hours, she’d likely want to run from me. But there was no return from the truth that had pounded itself into my flesh and bones the second I saw her standing in that tavern, awaiting her fate to be gambled away.
The thought of what her so-called father had done burned new fury through me, but I’d made it there in time. Thank the gods.
I remained silent, letting her absorb what I was telling her. I was expecting at least another hour of tears, but she suddenly made a growling sound of frustration and threw down the handkerchief. “What is it exactly that you are planning to dowith me? Because Gwenda said I was going to live in your villa in the mountains. And I’mnot.”
“You’d rather go back to the innkeeper’s care and be sold at his next game of Kings and Bones?”
“Well, I’m not going to go from being his servant to being yours.”
“I don’t expect you to be my servant.” I expected her to be something far more precious.
She stood and paced but couldn’t go far in our limited space. Finally, she stopped and crossed her arms on a thick branch, and stared through the leaves at the night sky.
When she spoke, her voice was less accusatory, though frustration radiated from her. “If I was an outcast among the light fae, I’ll be a complete pariah among the shadow fae.”
The fact the she was even considering living among my people eased the tension tightening my chest. “No one will ever say a word against you, I can promise you that. Also, I live outside the city in a quiet home. My mother lives with me, but she knows about you and is anxious to meet you.”
This had her finally turning to look at me, brows lifted in question. “Your mother knows?”
“Of course. She and my father were true mates. They told each other everything.”
As true mates should.
She turned back toward the night. “My sister told me that our mother would often leave for a few days at a time when I was young. She’d go to sell herbs and medicine to the next village. But she was often gone much longer than she should be. That was when Papa had kicked her out, thinking she was off sleeping with other men or some nonsense. She wasn’t doing that,” she snapped vehemently, as if I might argue against her. “At least, I don’t think she was unfaithful to Papa after I was born.” She shrugged. “I have a knowing about things sometimes.”
“No, Murgha. She wasn’t.”
The finality in my tone must’ve caught her attention. She turned to face me.
“Do you know what happened to my mother?”
“She went in search of your father. Myrkovir Forest isn’t far from Issos. Two days’ walk, or one day if she caught a ride by carriage.”
“How could you possibly know this?”
“After my father died, I traveled to Issos and discovered your mother had tried to find her mate many times after you were born. He’d disappeared, and she feared the worst.”
“For good reason.”
I dipped my chin in agreement. “When the innkeeper made her leave, she went to Issos and discovered the truth. She lived there for many years, working for an apothecary.”
“She is dead?”
“Yes,” I told her honestly. “The apothecary fell ill with the Paviana Plague. Apparently, she nursed him, but contracted it as well. They both died within a year, the locals told me.”
She gulped hard, dipping her chin. “I knew she had died. Somehow.” She sighed. “The plague,” she repeated on a whisper. “None of our clan has been infected, but I hear it is a sad wasting disease, stealing one’s magick first.”
“That is true. That sickness has not infected any of the shadow fae either.” Though there is another that was far worse taking hold.
“So she died alone.” Another tear slid down her cheek. “My poor mother.”
“From what the locals told me, she did not suffer. And she was well-respected by all who knew her. She was given good care by the neighbors until the end.”
“I don’t know how I knew she was dead. But hearing it hurts more.”
“I understand. I’m sorry.”
She kept quiet for a while, weeping silently. I forced myself to remain rigidly on my side, letting her have a moment to process this news and grieve privately. After a while, she looked at me carefully, her gaze lingering on my wings so long that I cleared my throat to get her attention.
