Page 61 of Taken By the Fae

Our eyes meet. “Are you asking me to allow her to break fae law?” He regards me thoughtfully. “I can’t do that, Aurora. I’m sorry.”

A sickening sense of helplessness puts pressure on my chest, and I have the powerful urge to scream. Not at Tristan, but at the situation. At the fact there’s absolutely nothing I can do to save my best friend from the danger she’s willingly putting herself in. He’s looking at the bigger picture. Tristan has the responsibility to take care of the seelies, and until proven otherwise, Evan is a threat.

Thrusting my fingers through my hair, I blow out a breath. “Is Allison the reason you came here?” If he’s waiting for her to come back, she likely won’t without texting me to make sure he’s gone.

He shakes his head and wets his lips. “I’ve been looking into your family history.”

“As most stalkers do,” I quip, trying to lighten the mood, hoping to ease the tendrils of anxiety wrapping around me.

His eyes glimmer. “As I recall, you wanted more information, so I did some research.”

I bite the inside of my cheek. “You… did this for me?”

“I have a mild interest in the matter as well.”

“Okay.” I glance at the floor, wiggling my toes. “What did you find?” My heart feels as if it’s beating in my throat and sitting still is agony. It seems crazy to think I have fae ancestors, but after the way Tristan’s blood affected me, it’s impossible to deny my family’s past.

“Your fae ancestor had her daughter’s magic concealed, which is why it didn’t continue down the bloodline.”

I frown in confusion. “You said I had dormant fae magic in me.”

Tristan nods. “Because the fae whose magic was repressed was female, it only affects females in the Marshall bloodline. You are the first since that fae.”

I scratch the back of my neck. “Am I part fae?”

He shakes his head. “You are completely human.”

“How?”

“Because a powerful witch made sure of it a long time ago.”

My eyes widen. “A witch?”

His brows draw closer. “That’s right.”

Witches are real—time to add that to my notes.“Are any of them…?”

“There is no one left in your bloodline. They were lost during the war when our world was destroyed.”

My stomach drops, and I barely force out, “You’re sure?”

“Yes. I would know if they were still alive, especially after meeting you and sensing their dormant magic.”

“Sinceyoucan sense their magic in me, can’t other fae as well? Were my ancestors not concerned about the potential dangers of that?”

He shakes his head. “That’s not something I can say. I wish I had more answers for you.” The darkness under his eyes and his tired expression make me think he’d been hoping for more, too. If I have no fae ancestors left, there’s little chance of getting the seelie fae to accept me—for my lineage to protect me from those who are against my knowledge of the fae, and the freedom Tristan granted me even though he couldn’t wipe my memories.

I inhale an uneven breath, a little surprised at the threat of tears stinging my eyes. “At least I know.” I blink them away and meet his gaze. “Thanks for looking into it.”

* * *

The weather cools as the daylight hours become shorter, and midterms pass in a whirlwind of studying and surviving off instant noodles and coffee. And once midterms have passed, I spend just about every free moment at the hotel now that we’re only a week from the gala.

Skylar and I have been working all afternoon and have made substantial progress in finalizing things. She leaves the boardroom to have the accounting clerk approve some last-minute expenses, leaving me to finish the menu to send to the caterer.

I glance up from my laptop when Max pops his head into the room.

“Let's go, blondie.”

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