“Does she know how to do that?” I asked, but I knew what he would say.
“Yes, this is how she and Vaelor communicated for a long time.”
I didn’t know my mother at all. My eyes fell to my feet, the panic turning to a heavy stone of hurt in my gut. My throat burned, threatening to unleash every ugly emotion, and I clenched my jaw as I held back sobs.
Bringing my trembling hands to my face, I sat down on the ground, pulling my knees to my chest as I had a thousand times before. As a sob wracked my body, I released it. All of it. Unable to hold it in any longer. The tears flooded my cheeks and my body shook with the force of the wails stuck in my throat.
Alden squatted beside me, placing a steady hand on my back.
“I know there’s nothing I can say to make this better, but you deserved to know the truth before you were handed back over. You deserve to make the decision about what happens next.”
The choice. He was offering me the choice in my own fate. I threw my arms around him, hugging him tightly as my tears wet his robe.
He hesitated before wrapping his arms around me in return.
The fire roared and I jumped back as a folded note floated from the fireplace, landing in my lap. My stomach flipped.
“There’s your answer, Ara,” Alden said quietly, standing to give me space.
Unfolding the note, it read:
My dearest daughter,
Oh Goddess, I cannot even begin to describe how relieved I am to hear you are alive.
Please believe me when I say this—I never meant for you to find out this way. I would’ve told you eventually, but it never seemed like the right time, and then I blinked and you were grown. I was so scared to tell you, scared that you would hate me for keeping it from you for so long, that I could never get the words out.
It was wrong of me, I know that, and I understand your anger. I just hope I can gain your forgiveness one day. I am so sorry, Ara.
As for your other question, you never presented any Fae characteristics because I had a healer place a spell over my womb before I left Ravaryn. Her name was Iaso. I’m sure you’ve met her if you are at Draig Hearth. It will suppress your Fae side, forever, but I had to do it to keep you safe. After the death of Vaelor, I had to do everything I could to hide you from Adrastus. You were all I had left of him… I couldn’t let him take you too.
It broke my heart to take that half of yourself from you, however, do not mistake that. You may never present any of your father’s magic, but you are more like him with every passing day. You have his bravery, his kindness, his heart, and his longing for adventure. I see so much of him in you, especially in your eyes.
He would be so proud of you, Ara. He nearly burst with excitement when he found out I was with child. He even knew you would be a girl and he chose the name Ara after his mother.
He loved you so much, just as I do and always will.
Please try to understand.
Withallmy love,
Mother
My heart was broken. For my mother and myself. For what she had to endure in silence all this time. My whole life, I thought she was bending to Evander… But she wasn’t.
She was wielding her hidden strength like a weapon.
I clutched her letter to my chest as I collapsed in on myself, my shoulders slumping forward as I cried hopelessly. The pain, the rage, the shock—it all clawed its way out of me and I couldn’t stop it.
Alden gave me a moment before returning his hand to my back.
She had to flee for fear that she would be killed, along with me, and when Rogue found out… My tears stopped abruptly as icy terror filled me.
I whipped my head to Alden, wiping my cheeks.
“I have to leave. I have to get back to my mother. Please, you helped her escape, didn’t you? Can you help me too?”
He nodded curtly before offering his hand to me.