“She’s a powerful witch herself. She can sense dark magic.” Alice met my eyes. “Whatever killed my parents—whoever killed them—it wasn’t human. It wasn’t normal. And if they’re still alive...”
She didn’t finish. She didn’t need to.
I turned back to the window, my mind racing.
A Dark Fae assassin who killed with magical fire. Sent by King Cormac eighteen years ago. To murder a child.
What had Alice’s family done to warrant that kind of death sentence?
“According to your dream, it seemed like the assassin wanted you and your father.”
“But he killed my father.” Her voice cracked. “He said so.”
“He said your husband is dead. That doesn’t mean it was true.” I met her eyes. Pain and hope warred across her face—neither one winning. “You can’t trust anything people say in the Elder Dimension. Especially if they’re evil.”
Her eyes widened. “You think he could be alive?”
The hope in her voice—it was a fragile thing. I didn’t want to crush it. But I couldn’t feed it either.
“He could be.” I let out a slow breath. “Or he could be dead. I’m sorry. I don’t know.”
She stared at the floor, processing. A father she never knew. A mother she just watched burn. And now a sliver of possibility that everything she believed was wrong.
“I need to find out,” she whispered. “I need to know the truth.”
If her father was alive, he could be anywhere—the queen’s dungeon, Ari’s clutches, or lost somewhere in this realm. Finding him would mean chasing ghosts through enemy territory.
“The truth can be dangerous—as you just found out.”
“But it’s better than being in the dark.” She pulled her knees to her chest. “I’ve never known anything about my past. No matter how hard I tried. Not even Tinker Bell could find answers.” Her voice trembled. “It’s horrible not knowing where you come from.”
I understood that more than she knew.
“But you knew your mother was a Ravencrest.”
“Just her name. Not how she died. Not why.” Alice looked up at me, tears glistening. “And I knew nothing about my father. Nothing. Until the hat unlocked my memories.”
She wiped her eyes. “As much as I hated what you did to me—it gave me something I’ve wanted my whole life.”
Words failed me.
She was extraordinary. Broken by the worst night of her life and yet still searching for hope.
She reminded me of Joy. Joy had kept her faith even in the queen’s dungeon. Even when I couldn’t free her. Even when I failed her.
I’d told myself I’d done everything I could. It was a lie I’d never quite believed.
She curled up on the couch, her eyes on me as if expecting an answer.
I had none.
I turned back to the window, scanning the street for any sign of Ari or the queen’s men. Empty. For now.
Someone who killed with dark magic. Fire that wasn’t ordinary fire. The queen, Ari, her soldiers—I couldn’t think of anyone with that power.
My vision blurred with pain. Another memory trying to claw its way to the surface. Alice was doing it again—unlocking doors I’d sealed shut.
There was always a cost.
