“For getting you into trouble with your Shadowfae King. I didn’t know you hadn’t told him about your mother.” She shrugs, one shoulder lifting and falling. “It was not my intention to cause trouble between you.”
“He’s not my king.” The words come out harder than I intend.
Terra’s mouth curves. “But he is yours.”
“No, he isn’t.” I push out a bitter-sounding laugh.
“He will calm down,” she says, moving closer. “Males like that are all fire and fury, and then they eventually cool.”
“You don’t know Sebastian.”
“I know his type.” She crouches beside me; her movements are graceful. “The brooding sort. They feel everything too deeply, so they try to feel nothing at all. When that fails, they lash out at whatever is closest.” Her eyes hold mine. “Usually, the ones they care about most.”
“He doesn’t care about me.” I hate how small my voice sounds.
“Now that, I don’t believe for a moment.” Terra sits next to me on the ground, folding her legs beneath her. “I’ve seen how he looks at you, Isla.” She makes a sound low in her throat. “I’ve scented pheromones on him, too.”
“How he looked at me, past tense. The pheromones are lust. Nothing more and nothing less.”
“I’m not so sure. He will come around. You will see.”
“I might not be here when he does.” My voice is hard. “He is the most stubborn person I have ever met, and I’m not sure if I want that in my life. Can we talk about something else now?”
Terra smiles, and her eyes twinkle with amusement. I think she can see right through me and my bravado.
“Did you know that your mother was Ruler General of the shadowfae?” Terra asks.
I shake my head. “I had no idea. Not until I saw her on the battlefield.” I swallow. “I thought she was dead.” I briefly tell her the story of what happened that day. “All this time, she’s been alive and living at the Shadow Court. She never tried to find us. Never tried to contact me, even when I was there performing.”
Terra is quiet for a moment. “That must be very painful.”
“It is.” I don’t elaborate, I just nod a few times, blinking back my tears. I’ve cried enough over both my mother and Sebastian.
No more!
“I have another question for you. It’s important that I ask it. Don’t be offended,” Terra says, leaning forward.
“Go right ahead.” My voice is flat.
“Are you working for Snow? Did she send you on a mission? Is Sebastian right about you?”
I meet her gaze without flinching. “No. I am not working for Snow.”
Terra’s eyes narrow on me, and her nose twitches, and she sniffs the air. “Go on,” she urges.
“Sebastian is dead wrong.”
Terra keeps smelling the air, looking at me with such an intensity it’s almost unnerving.
“I want the realm restored to what it was before she took the crown,” I continue. “I’m just a half-breed performer with a bounty on her head.” My voice breaks a little, but I ignore it.
Terra studies me for a long moment. Then her body relaxes.
“I believe you,” she tells me.
Something eases in my chest.
“Shifterfae have an ability to pick up on lies. We can almost taste them. There are often other subtle hints. Changes in body temperature, in the heart rate, and breathing. It’s there, if you look. I don’t pick any lies up on you. For the record, you are not a nothing. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Sebastian is lucky he has someone as wonderful as you in love with him.”
