That’s why Milonna had chosen me as her champion. To save the fae. At least, I hoped so.
Lucien’s gaze was introspective. “Perhaps. If the Worldweaver is out there, I hope she uses her powers for good. Having so much magic is a great responsibility. Keep in mind not everyone goes to the Great Hunting Grounds after death.”
I didn’t know what he meant. I mean, if Arcanea didn’t gothere, where did they go?
But I didn’t want Lucien to get suspicious, so I stood up and said, “Thank you for your help, professor. This will be vital to my research.”
“Anytime. Oh, and, Emma?”
I paused before I reached the doorway. Lucien’s voice was stern when he spoke. “Be careful. Don’t go messing with things before you’re ready.”
My throat closed up. I wasn’t able to speak, so I just nodded and I hurried out of there.
Panic closed in on me as I wandered the halls of Arcanea University. I felt like Lucien knew I was the Worldweaver. If he didn’t know for sure, I was certain he at least suspected. He couldn’t prove it... not yet... but if I wasn’t careful, he’d be able to eventually.
Lord Lucien was one of my favorite teachers. I liked him, but I didn’t know if I could trust him with the fate of the Arcanea. I trusted my friends and no one else.
Who else had figured it out? Lady Magdalina? Is that why she had such big plans for me? I hoped to the gods Lady Korva didn’t have any idea. I couldn’t take that kind of pressure.
I’d managed to calm myself down by the time I’d made it to the library. I’d come here on purpose, looking for Kiara. I needed help sorting this out and knew she’d be my best asset.
Thank the gods she was there, sitting at a desk by the window. She had books spread out over the table and was bent over them, scribbling notes with a quill. She was sitting next to a studious wolven girl, with light brown hair and brown eyes. Her name was Maeve. She loved books, and could always be seen with one in her arms. She got all the top grades in school. As such, it was typical to see her and Kiara studying together.
I knew Maeve was a wolven not just by the mark on her hand, but also by her disposition. Shifters could tell what everyone’s Faction was by their scent, but honestly, it wasn’t that difficult to tell no matter the gender. alicorns were tall, slender, and blond. Dragons were bulky, gruff and loud, while griffins were reserved, shy and patient. Wolvens were typically dark-haired introverts who kept silent more often than spoke. They preferred to observe. It’d taken me awhile to tell the different Factions apart when I first got to Arcanea University, but now, it was easy for me.
I slid into the seat beside Kiara’s. We’d had no hard feelings after the group meeting in the Rec Room— I wanted her to help us take down Gabby and Elijah, but I wasn’t going to force her. I felt like I was asking a big favor for requesting her help with the Worldweaver business.
“Hello, Emma,” Maeve said kindly. She began gathering up stacks of textbooks as she said, “I wish I could stay and chat, but there’s an author signing in Dolinska. A couple of famous co-writers are coming to sign books. I don’t want to miss it, because they’re my favorite authors. Do you girls want to come with?”
“It’s okay, I’m kind of busy,” I said. “But save an autograph for me, won’t you?”
Maeve nodded. She looked to Kiara, but she shook her head no, and Maeve hurried out of the library.
I took a breath. “Kiara? Is it okay if I ask you something?”
Kiara sighed. She seemed sort of down. “I’m sorry, Emma. I’ve searched for days for information about the Worldweaver, in the library and otherwise, and I haven’t found anything.”
“It’s not about that,” I said. “I don’t blame you for being unable to find info on the Worldweaver. This is complex stuff.”
“I’ve always gotten ahead with research before,” Kiara said in frustration. “It feels like I’m failing.”
“You’re not. It’s okay. I spoke with Lucien about it— I didn’t tell him I was the Worldweaver, just made it look like a research project,” I said as she started. “He gave me some pretty useful information.”
I told Kiara what Lucien had said to me moments ago. Kiara mused over what I said. “Lord Lucien is probably right. He’s rarely wrong. I’m just wondering how he knows all of this if I haven’t been able to find anything. Where did he get his information from?”
“I don’t know. But he’s a part of the Circle. They might have insider knowledge not available to anyone else.”
Kiara nodded introspectively. “That’s a very good point. But if that’s true, why did he tell you about it?”
I twirled a strand of hair around my finger. “I don’t know. But to be honest, we’re kind of close. Maybe he trusts me not to go spreading this around.”
She tapped her fingers against her books. “Maybe. Though I do think he’s right about one thing.”
“What?”
“You having Unseelie blood,” Kiara said. “It’s a theory I’ve had for ages, I just couldn’t prove it.”
“Why do you think I’m part Unseelie?” I asked.
