Page 50 of Wrath of the Fae

'Where is the Elder woman?’

‘She has a chamber on the ground floor. Why?’

‘I want to talk to her.’

‘Why? She’s bonkers.’

‘She’s the oldest Fae we have. You said that tree was ancient. The runes are ancient. This ring is ancient. That voice and my wings too. Maybe she knows something about it. Some old legend or story. Can’t hurt to ask.’

‘If she’s up to talking and not babbling nonsense at us.’

‘You’re the one that told Reid to finger me so I didn’t fade because you believe her about the Bond situation.’

‘Are you gonna let that go anytime soon? Or shall I prepare myself to have you throw that in my face for a while?’

‘I’ll let you know.’

I follow him through the manor to where the Elder Woman rests.

nine

I’mgreetedwithbowedheads as I pass those working to fix up this Kingdom and make it liveable.

The Elder woman has been placed in an old study. The desk has been replaced with a bed, and a fire burns in the marble fireplace.

‘Elder,’ I greet, offering a bow to the hunched-over figure in a chair by the fire. ‘May I speak to you?’

Her heavily creased face lifts, and she gestures to the empty chair beside her. I sit, leaving Lucca by the door. Her pale purple eyes meet mine, and she smiles.

‘I wonder if you could tell me if you have ever seen any of these markings before?’ I ask, leaning down and using soot to trace the odd symbols onto the floor.

She doesn’t react or say a word.

‘How about portals being forged in a tree? Have you ever heard anything about that? Perhaps stories from when you were a child?’

She looks into the fire and remains silent.

Patience, Lucca whispers into my mind.

I glare at him before returning my focus to her.

‘How about this ring?’ I hold out my hand. ‘It has the same markings. Where did you get it from?’

‘I found it,’ she says. ‘The night you returned.’

‘Found it where?’

‘We are not supposed to be here,’ she croaks.

‘The Thirteenth Kingdom?’ I ask. ‘Why not?’

‘It is the First Kingdom.’

‘No, Elder. We are in the Thirteenth Kingdom. Midnight’s End, remember?’

‘It ended the midnight…’ she mumbles, staring at the fire.

‘What do you mean?’

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