As we walked toward our old cottage, Cara and I rambled, filling each other in on what our lives had been like for the past ten years. In the days after the battle, Cara had already told me about the Forgotten Fae, and the king who’d used her, but so much time had passed and there was always something new for us to say. When the twisted palm that marked the beginning of the path to our cottage came into view, I paused, my heart beginning to race faster.
Cara tugged on my arm. “What’s wrong?”
Using my free hand, I fidgeted with the side of my dress. “What if he doesn’t want to see me?” I said uncertainly. “You don’t know what it was like. He wasn’t the same after you were taken. What if he still blames me?”
Cara’s eyes softened with understanding, but she didn’t let go of my arm. “We’re doing this together,” she said firmly. “I wanted to wait for you before I visited. We need this. All three of us.”
I nodded slowly. I knew she was right, but it didn’t make it any easier. Reluctantly, we started forward again, walking up the wooden steps. Cara knocked on the door, and I bit the inside of my cheek.
When there was no answer, Cara twisted the knob and pushed the door open. I braced myself, not entirely sure what we’d see. I could still picture how our father was the last time I’d seen him, sitting at our wooden table, staring at his cup of wine with a vacant expression. I was suddenly overcome by the intense fear that we’d find him like that. A skeleton of the man who’d once cared for us.
But as I followed Cara inside, the cottage was full of light that streamed through the windows. The space was small, but clean, and a pot of water bubbled on the stove.
“Father?” Cara called out tentatively, and the sound of shuffling came from our father’s bedroom, followed by a bang and a muffled curse.
I held my breath, my heart pounding so loud in my ears that I hardly heard the bedroom door creak as it opened. But then he was there. Striding through the doorway, our father was dressed in his finest suit, the one he’d worn when he’d married our mother. His hair was neatly slicked back, and his jaw was clean-shaven. His eyes widened as he took in Cara and me, and I could hardly look at him.
“I know it was my fault she was taken,” I blurted before he could utter a word. “But I promised I’d bring her back, and here we are. She’s alive, and—” My words were cut off as he rushed forward, crushing Cara and me into a hug that was so tight I was sure if he pressed slightly harder, I’d break a rib.
“Thank the goddess,” he breathed, kissing our hair, and then he started laughing. I flinched, surprised by the abrasive noise that I hadn’t heard since our mother had died when I was little. “I heard about the talks with the fae and there were whispers of Cara’s name being mentioned, and I hoped,” he said. “Goddess, I knew if you came home, I had to be ready, but I couldn’t let myself believe it. But here you are.” He pulled back, his brown eyes filled with tears as he smiled at us. “My girls.”
“If I hadn’t gone into the forest that night—” I started, but my father shook his head, silencing me again.
“It was never your fault,” he croaked, his thin arms still gripping us tightly. “You were only a young girl. I was the one who failed you both. Your mother told me about the fae before she died. She told me her bloodline was special, and that I had to protect you from the monsters. She was terribly sick at this point, and I’d thought it was the disease causing her to become confused, but I’d still vowed to keep you safe. Then when Cara was taken, I knew I’d failed her. I let my grief control me, and then you, Raine.” His gaze fell onto my face, and I couldn’t stop my own tears. “When these faefolkbegan arriving on the island, I knew your mother had been telling the truth, and I prayed. If only I could see you both again and apologize.” A tear slid down his wrinkled cheek. “I’d hoped for a miracle, and here you are.”
I hugged him back, my heart feeling a little less broken at his words. “Wait, mother knew we were part fae?” I asked, trying to remember the woman who’d sung me lullabies at bedtime.
“She said the stories were passed down from her ancients,” Father replied, his face filled with regret.
I sat up straighter. “Did she leave any notes or say anything else?”
Father shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
My hope deflated as I wondered at the secrets that had been lost, but I guessed it didn’t really matter in the end. The fae had the diaries Queen Izla had left, and hopefully that would be enough to find out how the queen had died.
We stayed together for what felt like a long time, sobbing and laughing and apologizing until I sniffed and said, “We’d better get to the ceremony. Chief Shaasi might have agreed to let the fae hold the memorial, but I’d rather make sure we’re there to make sure everyone behaves.”
Cara gave me a teasing grin. “You mean, you just hate being away from your men for too long.”
Father’s brow furrowed as he stared at me in confusion. “What men?”
My cheeks flushed. “Come on,” I said, pulling them both to their feet. “You’ll have time for more questions later.”
CHAPTER 37
~ Raine ~
Thecoolwindteasedmy hair and tugged at my gauzy white dress, and I breathed in deep, enjoying the scent of the ocean on the air. I stood beside Cara and Father at the top of Mount Traie, the tallest mountain on our island, and my mates crowded behind us.
Twice I caught my father giving my mates the side eye, but he didn’t say anything as they remained protectively close to me, close tous.Because we were all family now.
“Did you ever think we’d see this day?” Darian commented from close by, strands of his long silver hair blowing across his face.
I smiled, staring over the mountaintop to where the thousands of islanders, fae from Zalei, and the humans of Katakin stood together, a sea of white as we all stared up at the giant stone positioned at the point of the mountain.
The Stone of Shetan.More names had been added since I’d last seen the stone, including my own which my father had added. The rock was filled with so many that almost every part had been covered, but it didn’t matter if there wasn’t any space left. We wouldn’t need it now.
“She knew we’d get here,” I said quietly, staring at where I’d marked Queen Izla’s name at the top of the stone. The fae would spend the next few days researching the texts she’d left and scouring the island for any further information about what happened to the fae queen, but for now, she was remembered.
