Page 87 of Wrath of the Fae

‘Do not fear me, child.’

‘I fear your words,’ I reply. ‘I do not want to be a monster.’

‘Then rule them and protect the Fae.’

‘How?’

‘The dark creatures here were born here. They will always be here. They access ancient magic. Dark magic. The symbols you see are theirs. The blood used to awaken magic belongs to them. That same blood runs through your veins. Once you take the crown, you can access that dark magic and wield it as you wish. It differs from the light power Alina brought with her and her Fae folk. Fae are born connected to their power. We were not. To win, you must abandon the light power in your body and use the darkness native to this realm. Only you can hold the Leviathans in their cells. It will take effort. But you will not change for a long, long time if that is the only part of the crown you use.’

‘Change? What do you mean by change? There are other parts of the crown to use?’

‘The more you use the runes, the less of your mother you shall have. The more you control the monsters, the more you become one. But your teeth will help you. They can not save you, but they can help.’

‘My teeth?’ I look deep into those ancient eyes. ‘You mean my Mates. I need them, don’t I?’

‘Of light. Of healing. Of bringing forth the light within and making it strong. Of fixing what is broken.’

‘Reid,’ I realise. His powers.

‘Of darkness. Of binding. Constricting. Of sensing power so he can always find you. Or find what you need.’

‘Cyrus.’

He takes my dagger and places it in my hand.

‘We sent them to you for a reason. Use them. Trust them.’

‘Trust them? Do you have any idea what they have done?’

‘Their instincts are to protect you. Even if they do not understand why they are doing what they are doing. They are designed to know what you need. They always have.’

‘They locked up my mother.’

‘And if they had not, your fate would have been far worse than what it is to be. I assure you.’

‘You don’t know that for sure.’

He takes my hand and guides my dagger to his throat.‘I have seen the alternative. Trust me. They spared you pain beyond your comprehension.’

‘What did you see?’

‘You unprepared. The world ended. Everything happens for a reason, Child of Fate. They are pawns. You all are. But they know where you need to go and what they need to do to get you there. Trust their instincts. They know. Even when they don’t.’

I look at the dagger he presses to his throat. ‘You want me to kill you?’

‘How else does a daughter take her father's crown? If I kill myself, there will be no one to take power. They will be free.’He lets out a long breath and falls weakly to his knees.‘The last of my strength is gone. I have used all I had to speak to you. If you do not kill me and take your place, I will die, and they will be freed.’

He starts to fall, dragging me down with him.

‘Don’t be afraid,’ he whispers.‘You will be a great queen. Kill me before I die. Or you will have Twelve Leviathans out for revenge against the Fae I freed.’

‘Wait. Wait, I don’t want this!’

His eyes roll into the back of his head, and his feathered wings fall limp at his back.

His body begins to shift into his smoke form from his legs upwards.

‘N-now…’ he whispers. ‘You must…’

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