Okay. Mom was fae. Mom was super important. Mom had signed some contract where she had to leave us to go...home, apparently. And now... “Do you think she knows that my dad and sisters were taken?” I whispered. “Do you think she...didit?”
“I highly doubt it,” Soren replied quickly. “You said there was a week between their disappearances?”
“Yeah.”
He didn’t do any of the typical thinking gestures that humans would do, like stroke his chin or tug on his hair, but he got extremely still as he stared at the wall. “And your father seemed to know about the fae?”
“I’m not sure, but... if he knew Mom’s real name, then he probably did... right?”
Soren nodded slightly to himself. “If that’s the case, then perhaps your father was conducting his own search for your mother, unbeknownst to you. Perhaps he accidentally drew the attention of the fae that like to coerce humans across the veil.”
“But that doesn’t explain why they—” I choked and stopped, unable to say,took Mom in the first place.
Soren drew a deep breath, seeming tense, not meeting my eyes. “The clan your mother is from...”
“The Grimhollow one?” I prompted when he didn’t continue.
“Yes.” He pressed his lips together. “They’re... known for hating humans.”
My brows rose, but he wasn’t finished.
“If they allowed your mother to come to the human world, it’s almost guaranteed it was temporary, likely under a contract of some sort that would require her to return.”
Memories flashed back at his words. Mom had seemed to know her kidnappers. They’d specifically mentioned her having a contract with them. When I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to picture that day, one thing in particular that she’d said floated to the surface:I thought I’d have a little more time.
“I think you’re right,” I whispered as I opened my eyes to frown at him. “Does that mean my mom has no idea they came for the rest of us?”
“I can’t say for certain.” Soren’s distant gaze refocused on me. “But Caius is right about not wanting to get on the Grimhollow’s bad side. I highly doubt anyone in court would take her family intentionally.”
Great. So this whole thing was one big accident?
I found myself angry at Mom for not telling us. Not just about whatever contract she’d signed, but about the fact that she wasn’t even human—thather own kidsweren’t fully human. ThatIwasn’t just human...
“I’m part fae.” I whispered it like a secret.
“It makes sense.” Soren nodded to himself. “You don’t react as strongly to the naming magic.” He ticked each thing off on his fingers as he listed them. “The glamours hold longer than they usually would for a human. You were able to remember despite the magic preventing you from speaking. Overall, you seem to have an affinity for our world, whereas most humans struggle.”
It was a lot of evidence.
“I think I actually saw through a glamour...” I bit my lip, eyes darting to his. “Dad saw police officers when Ivywren and the other one showed up, but I could see who they really were the whole time.”
His eyebrows rose.
“Does that mean I’d be able to see through yours too?”
With a cocky smile, he shook his head. “No. Ivywren isn’t skilled at glamours. She can only enthrall humans. Nevertheless, it’s still impressive that you saw past it.”
“So, I’m half human and half fae.” Repeating it didn’t make it more believable. I didn’t feel any different.
“A halfling.” Soren’s lips quirked up, and his eyes held a teasing glint.
“No way!” Lore’s cheer interrupted from the door as she came in. “Iknewthere was something about you!”
“You’re one of us,” Peregrin said with a bashful smile, ducking his head under the hanging pots as he moved toward the kitchen to grab some breakfast trays and bring them over. Lore took them, and he went back for plates.
His words hit me like a truck.One of us.
Not really, though, since I was also human.
