Page 27 of Fae Trials

“Neither,” he replied. He remained silent for a moment, his lips pressed together as though holding back the intensity of his emotions. After a sigh, he said, “Both, but the story is complicated.”

Pokeweed didn’t elaborate, so I rested my head against his velvety neck. “Where does the headmistress stay?”

“Up in the donjon.” He gestured at the highest structure, a square tower in the middle of the castle that stood about ten stories, which ended in a protective wall with crenelations. Built above it was a round tower that stretched up to the sky, its jet roof reflecting the glare of the afternoon sun.

As we continued up toward the highest tower, I made the mistake of looking down. My stomach spasmed at the sight of the rooftops below. Moments later, he flew through an archway and deposited me on a stone floor.

“Thanks.” My voice echoed on the round walls.

“Mistress Ellyllon is in there.” He reached behind my back, making me step aside, and made two sharp raps on a wooden door.

It swung open, revealing a stone room containing nothing but a faerie sitting behind a glass desk. Her skin was as indigo as the midnight sky with pale blue hair and eyes that sparkled like stars.

She rose to her feet, raised her hand, and beckoned me closer. “Unity Quayle, I presume?”

When I turned around, Pokeweed was gone.

The faerie’s laughter tinkled like bells. “He won’t protect you from me. Come inside, child.”

“Um… Thanks.” I stepped into the stone room and looked around for a seat.

Her silver eyes skimmed my wings. “You have found your mate, I see.”

“How do you know?”

“The wards, my dear. They tell me everything, including your human past.”

My mouth dropped open. “You know?”

“The circumstances of your transformation were unfortunate, but I believe Lugh made the right decision.”

Anticipation made my heart skip several beats, and my chest swelled with hope. If the headmistress knew what had happened to me, she might also know what had happened to Sicily.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Mistress Ellyllon,” screeched a voice at the door. “I demand the destruction of this… this treacherous creature!”

My insides deflated, and I turned around to find Lady Gala and the three other Fated standing at the doorway with the four princes at their backs.

The headmistress’s pleasant features hardened. “You are in no position to make demands of me, child.”

Lady Gala flushed. “But I’m—”

“Fated?” Mistress Ellyllon raised a silvery eyebrow. “There are four princes and five fated mates. Simple mathematics tells me that at least one of you will never become a princess.”

All four girls’ faces fell, and I sucked in a deep breath through my nostrils. Right now, I couldn’t tell if the headmistress was on my side, trying to be neutral or plain sick of the spoiled and entitled Lady Gala. Whatever her reasons for not cow-towing to the younger faerie’s demands, I had to appreciate her level-headedness.

Lady Gala gaped, looking as though this was the first time someone had ever refused her demands.

The headmistress steepled her long, elegant features. “If any of you children had bothered to learn ancient history, you know that our very goddess had four mates, each fathering the four main races on the Isle of Fae.”

I swallowed hard. This was the second allusion that the humans on this island differed from the ones on the outside. Pushing those thoughts to the back of my mind, I focussed on the conversation.

“But fate is double-counting.” Lady Gala slammed her palm on her chest. “Prince Rory is mine, not the halfling’s.”

The other fated piped up with similar exclamations. The princes nodded their agreement, all except Prince Rory, who was staring at me.

Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I snatched my gaze away. What on earth was he thinking?