The creature grinned, revealing a mouthful of wickedly sharp teeth. Black solemn eyes gazed upward at me. His face was truly horrific, yet his voice was pleasant when he said, “Time moves differently on this isle. Come. I have the answers you seek.”
“You...” I licked my dry lips. “You know why I’m here?”
“Of course. The magic told me.” He hobbled to the shelves behind him, his crimson robe trailing along the floor.
Numbly, I followed, my feet making quiet tapping sounds on the stone. “Do you know who I am?”
“You are Elowen Emerson of Emerson Estate, a lorafin from Faewood, or at least, that is what you believe.”
I cocked my head at his cryptic words. “Was the crown prince of Stonewild here recently?”
The gargoyle glanced over his shoulder. “Oh, yes. He came looking for answers as well, just like you. He hoped to find the one he lost. But that answer eluded him. It was I who told him that only a lorafin could find who he sought, and thatyouwere the only lorafin currently in our kingdoms.”
My eyes widened. “You met with the prince too? Does that mean you’re able to help me? The prince has been captured by the authorities, and I must twist fate to save him...and do some other things too, yet I don’t know how.”
The gargoyle smiled. “Yes, Lorafin. I know how you can twist fate.”
“And you’ll tell me, even though such a practice is illegal?”
The gargoyle made a motion with his hand. “Why should mere fae decide what magic can be wielded in our great universe? Especially when that magic was born of the gods.”
“Born of the gods?” I repeated.
“Oh yes, did you not know? The magic within your veins carries power from the Goddess of Time, Verasellee herself.”
I froze. “Are—” I licked my lips. “Are you serious?”
“I am. Did you not know?” He grinned again, his features even more terrifying than they’d been a second ago. “Are you also ignorant of the fact that the gods and goddesses once walked our land?”
“No, I’ve heard that before, but that was so long ago.”
“It was, but in the ancient times, some gods and goddesses bred with fae. As a result, some fae in our realm still carry traces of the gods’ blood. That magic passes at the will of the gods, not following genealogy, but instead it picks those that it believes are worthy, and it chose you.” He canted his head. “Have you never wondered how a mere fairy is able to travel through the cosmos and reach areas of our universe that only the gods can walk?”
I paused again and thought of what my magic allowed me to do. “I suppose I never really considered it.”
“Hmm, such a shame, but then I guess if you’ve spent your entire life enslaved, you probably had other things to worry about, but no matter. The gods and goddesses gave you your power for a reason. We pass no judgment here. You may twist fate all you want.”
A blast of relief nearly bowled me over. If he wasn’t going to turn me into the kingsfae, then it was possible Icouldsave Jax and our friends. If only I learned how. “Thank you for being willing to help me.”
He bobbed his head and pulled out a scroll. “Of course. Now, to acquire such knowledge has a price. Even a goddess’s descendent must pay.”
I surged toward him, ripping off my pack and reaching inside. “I can do that. I have rulibs. How much do you need?”
He shook his head. “Not rulibs, Elowen. The library doesn’t barter in coin. We require something else, something much more powerful.”
A skittering of dread slithered through me, and I clutched my bag to my chest. “What is it you want?”
“Knowledge, Lorafin. The magic here continually seeksknowledge. If I teach you how to twist fate, you must return and report everything you learned in the Veiled Between when you do such an act. This knowledge must be recorded for the ages.”
I nodded vigorously. “Of course, whatever you want is yours.”
Hetsked. “Such desperation can land one in trouble. Be mindful of that. You should be glad that our school functions in neutrality. I fear if you went to the wrong creature, begging for help, more dire consequences could result.”
I took a deep breath. He was right. I was being foolish. I was so desperate to save my mate that I was willing to do anything, but if I traveled to the underworld and made a deal with Lucifer...
I shuddered. No, that wasn’t happening. I wouldn’t allow myself to be that stupid.
Squaring my shoulders, I met his solemn gaze. “I will give you the knowledge you seek in exchange for instruction on how to twist fate.”
