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“Mama’s fuzzy,” Gisela shrieked in agreement.
“Are you afraid?” I asked Meliora.
She paused, then shook her head. “I think it would be wrong to be afraid. I mean, the—saved you, didn’t it? It cured you of the wasting sickness.”
“Almost immediately,” Mama said around her gnawed chicken leg. “All I remember is being somewhere dark and warm, and then just like that, I was awake, the nausea was gone, my magic was thrumming under my skin, and I was hungry.Starved. Like I hadn’t eaten in months.”
“But now you’re a...?” Meliora blinked at her. “What are you?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Me either,” I echoed.
“A koala.” Gisela blew in, poked Mama, and scurried off again.
“How do you know?” I called after her.
“I just do.”
Mama shrugged. “A koala. I’ve heard of those. They can only be found in Rajadom. I never thought my inner animal would be a creature I’ve never seen before.”
“Why are you so calm about this?” Meliora burst out. “You’re—. All of Lyrica is—! Fae-beasts are running through the streets! It’s the middle of the day, and it’s pitch-black outside! Why aren’t you yelling, screaming, raging, something!”
Humming, Mama tipped her head, actually considering the question. “I think maybe koalas are calm creatures—”
“They are,” Gisela assured, not slowing her whirlwind race with Jaclan for a second.
“—because I feel panic, stress, and fear, but they’re all very quiet voices in my head,” she finished. “The only emotion screaming loudly is relief that my faywens are safe.” Mama stroked Meli’s cheek. “And love, my treasure. Always love.”
Meliora calmed a bit. “What about me?” She looked at me. “Why haven’t I changed? Or you? Or the twins? Or Savia?”
“The curse changes people in its own time.” I hesitated, not wanting to say the rest. “And it already has you.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“Meli, haven’t you noticed that you can’t say cursed?”
She stared at me, brows wrinkled, then understanding dawned as quickly as her paling face. “Oh.”
I reached for her hand. “The good news is that you’ll get your magic back. That’s exactly what we wanted.”
Two heads swung to me. “We?”
“Well, yeah,” I said, drawing back slightly. “The beast curse is the only thing known to break the bindings. I had to save you, Mama. And undo what was done to you, Meli. Done to every woman in Elva. Animals get to live free.” I looked to my mother. “Why should we accept less?”
Mama sighed. “Your intentions were good, Calli, and I am very thankful that I’m alive, and you’re all finally safe from Kirwan, but, my love, I very much doubt what’s going on outside is what you planned.”
I winced. Rising up, I went to the window and drew the curtains back. Somehow, the chaos outside had gotten even worse.
Smoke rose from multiple locations, telling of the numerous fires that fed them. Of those that weren’t fucking passionately in the streets, the rest of the faeriken were fighting, clawing, snapping, and snarling at each other.
I winced when two fox faerikens bodily threw themselves through our neighbor’s window, then came racing out loaded down with their looted treasures.
“Why are they avoiding our home?” Meliora asked. I hadn’t noticed her come up behind me. “None of the mob or looters are even looking this way.”
“Calli’s father.” Mama crossed to the larder and claimed the cheese and sausage. “It’s why he left us this house, and why I would have no other. Protection runes were carved into every brick and cinder,” she said. “I’m feeding them my magic to keep them strong, so I can’t go with you, Calli.”
“Go with me? Go with me where?”
