Father went quiet, shutting his eyes against the words as though he’d been fearing them. When he sighed, I braced myself. “I always knew the boundaries of Elysia would not contain you.” He eyed me, crestfallen. “But this… I never imaginedthis.”
“I could fill many, many journals with all the things I never could have imagined—youbeing one of them. But it’s true all the same. I’m in love with a hunter, and he loves me, too.”
His shoulders squared in protest. “Mere months is not long enough for you to understand what you’re getting yourself into. Such a dangerous life is not suited for you.” Father’s expression only became more pained when I continued to glare at him in defiance. “My darling… You don’t need to sacrifice yourself to the first person who widened the world for you.”
“Are you seriously trying to parent me after a decade of silence?” I snapped.
Even Hazel flinched. After years of navigating Mother’s fiery temper, I nearly lost my footing when Father actuallysoftened. “I can’t help it. To me, you’ll always be that tiny bundle thatMelanie passed to me when you were first born. Now you’re asking me to hand you off to a monster.”
“He’s no monster, and I’m not asking for your permission.” I hesitated, then stood, treading closer to him. “But Iamasking for your help. You, of all people, should understand what it’s like to have everyone sneer at what you want. The difference is that I’m not going at this alone. If you won’t help me, I’ll simply find another way. But it would mean everything if you did this for me. Please.”
Father gave another sigh, and I prepared myself for a fervent refusal. “I will never turn my back on you, even if it means I must adapt to…this,” he said, gesturing vaguely. “But how can you expect me to let you go through a ruinous transformation like I did? I could never condemn you for that.”
A tingle of hope made my heartbeat stutter. “Do you still remember the spell?”
Father’s brows drew together, piecing together my intent. His gaze narrowed at me. “I do. But as I said, it’s incomplete. Dangerous. I’ve run through it a hundred times over the years, and I still don’t know where I went wrong.”
“You don't have to fix it alone this time," I said, my heart pounding faster with every breath. "We have a witch who owes me a favor.”
28
Sylvia
“Is this really what you want?” Ben asked.
“I’m sure,” I said, frankly growing weary of the question. I did my best to ensure my impatience didn’t spill onto him. “My decision is mine. No one else’s.”
Only a few days had passed since the incident at the Crimson Gala, but Delilah confirmed my suspicions that our time here was limited. She and Lee would be leaving soon, presumably with Ben in tow, and we would need to vacate shortly after. Apparently, this safehouse didn’t operate optimally without her presence. Something about arcane magic calling to magic.
If I wanted to execute a transformation spell, it had to be now.
Everyone seemed to have found their way to the room Delilah had selected for my transformation. The second-floor guest room had made itself accessible, creating a comfortable, inviting space with hardwood floors, a bed, and enough furniture to house the others.
I watched Delilah pace back and forth as she reviewed the rune and spellwork that Father had drawn out. She had been at it most of the day before announcing that she was almost finished,and despite all the intensive work, her flowing hair, jeans, and ethereal top still looked flawless. She murmured to herself studiously, making last-minute notes upon the paper, crossing out phrases and adding new ones.
The sight had to be unsettling for the fairies gathered around me on one of the tables: a witch tampering with fae magic. Though I did have to wonder if Ben, Zia, and Rowan were drawn close to me because of the gemstone. But Ben had made it clear that he was not interested in more power. Zia clearly had no need for it. And Rowan… Well, perhaps Ishouldkeep an eye on him.
However, he eyed me disdainfully. “Any spell that requires outside influence has no business existing,” he said, prompting Zia to elbow him. Insulted and relieved by his opinion, I decided I didn’t need to fear him snatching the gem to make himself a stronger protector.
Although Zia wasn’t as blunt as him, she didn’t hide the uncertainty in her eyes.
Across the room, Jon watched Delilah with hope bordering on desperation. I thought back to when he had insisted upon the deal with her, how readily he had put his faith in a witch forme. Everyone in the room could barrage me with comments that I was out of my mind, but none of that mattered because Jon would not leave my side.
The ruby was tucked safely in Jon’s upper coat pocket, but it still beckoned to me across the room like a melody.
Use me,it sang to my senses. The air smelled sweeter inside this room, housing the gem’s raw, simmering magic. It was incredible that the humans couldn’t feel the intoxicating pull of it.
At last, Delilah approached Father, who was lingering near the threshold. She held out her work. “Here. I believe weavingin these parts of my own shapeshifting expertise will make the transformation less volatile. What do you think?”
Father’s expression melted from skeptical to impressed to—anxious. I had no doubt he had been hoping that Delilah would be unable to make the spell more workable, that perhaps she would be able to deter me from going through with it.
“It should be stable,” he said with a reluctant nod.
I flew over to peer at Delilah’s notes myself. The black fae runes and incantations Father had sketched out for me earlier were now heavily modified with blue ink. The prickle of Father’s stare was hot on my back with—was that embarrassment? I supposed having his life’s work corrected in a little more than a couple of dayshadto sting on some level. I cut a glance over my shoulder at him and found that stormy, knees-to-jelly sorrow in his expression again.
If only he had known about this correction ten years ago. Everything would be different.
“You’re confident?” I asked Delilah.
