Page 137 of Fae Farewells

“How would Alric be in her head, though?” Stone asked, still reeling as he shivered again. “I don’t understand. He’s a mage, and from what we’ve read and heard, he’s not exactly powerful.”

“No, not on his own,” I pointed out. “But he has been farming supes for years. Who’s to say he hasn’t learned a few new tricks?”

“Fuck,” Palmer cursed, pressing the heels of his palms against his temples.

We all stared at him for a moment, waiting for him to elaborate. But he didn’t move or speak, just glaring at the wall as he squeezed his head.

I raised my voice as I demanded, “What, Palmer? Tell us.”

“He’s still using Raguel’s power.”

EPILOGUE

Raguel

Saturday, June 20th

Late Night

I glared at Nathaniel as my hand hovered above the chessboard, wondering which set of moves I should put into motion.

“It’s great to be back in your company,” he told me. “But I’m shocked that decision paralysis is something you’re still working on.”

“Such a twat,” I murmured, moving my knight.

He sighed, turning his head to listen for Amelia before speaking. “Do you feel it?”

I nodded, not needing to elaborate. We all felt the shift in power, the static in the air. There was a god among us, and now wasn’t the time to be playing games with the old ones.

“The prophecy—”

“We told her.”

“All of it?”

“I’d just met her, Nate. I hadn’t seen her since she was a babe, wrapped in a pink blanket. We answered her questions, told her of Amelia and Alric’s feud. We talked of photos and lies, Lucifer and the angelic tomes. I told her as much as I could remember. But all of it? I don’t recall every detail.”

He moved his bishop, then massaged his temples. “She’s mad at me.”

“What did you do?”

“Why do you assume I did anything?”

I scoffed. “I’ve known you for centuries.”

“I said some things,” he answered evasively.

“To Sloane?”

“And then to Amelia when Sloane’s mates yelled at us. I saw my error, but I think I may be the only one.”

The board sat forgotten as we stared at each other.

“Amelia is ruled by emotion. You taught Sloane to lead with logic. It will take time for them to see eye-to-eye.”

“She was more concerned with her brother’s foretold death than the fact that her daughter doesn’t have a choice in her part. Sloane has to kill Alric. Amelia sealed that fate for her when she made the deal.”

“Sloane will kill him.”