Page 128 of The Cursed Fae

Ewan shook his head. “No. But I understand what it means, sort of. It’s like a nursery rhyme… about eternals.”

I looked up from the paper, eyebrows shooting to my hairline. “What do you know about the eternals?”

“Well, you’re one.” He gave a small smile. “And I might know another.”

“Zosia?” I blurted.

He blinked. “Huh? Um, no. Her name’s Angelica. She was supposed to be my mate, then she was turned. I assumed that was the reason for the letter to me.”

“I don’t follow...” I shook my head.

“The eternal wolves, the original alpha couples… they were all bonded pairs. So if she is my true mate, and I’m pretty sure she is—”

“You’re both eternal,” I finished for him.

“Exactly.” Ewan pointed to the paper in my hands. “I guess someone hunting our kind sent those.”

“Missy received one, though,” I said, giving him back the note. “There’s only one female eternal warrior.”

He shrugged. “Maybe the sender confused you two. Sorry, I’m not exactly an expert or anything.”

I chuckled. “Yeah. Me neither. Can I ask you one more question about true mates? Do fae have them, too?”

“Please do not say you think Lazlo Keene is your fated soulmate,” he deadpanned.

“No. No, not Laz.” I looked down at my hands. “But there is someone. I’m not sure how to explain it. It’s like I know him, even though I don’t. There’s something familiar about his kiss and his touch and—”

Ewan held up his hands to stop me. “Keep the details to yourself. I get it—you’ve got yourself a soulmate. That’s very rare among the fae, but it happens. Who’s the lucky guy?”

“Archer Tycott,” I said.

Ewan’s eyes slowly widened. The laugh started in his chest, but soon his entire body rocked. “Wow, Sable. We’re quite the pair. My mate is undead, and yours is unalive.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “It is a sad day for love.”

They had cancelled most of the celebrations for the Night of Four Moons, but Nana decided the town could use a morale boost. She organized a last-minute viewing party at the Temple of Gaia. She and Mom were both sympathetic when I begged off, saying I wasn’t ready to see people yet.

It was true. Aside from the friends who’d come by the house, I had no desire to interact with anyone.

Of course, my real reason for staying home was because it was time to confront my personal demon.

Mat. My magic was back to full strength. Thanks to Missy, my confidence was also at a peak.

“You’re an eternal badass,” she reminded me. “You owned Laz on that beach.”

“Except for all the times I almost died,” I pointed out.

Missy rolled her eyes. “Almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. Plus, you saved yourself in the end, which is pretty badass. You’ve got this.”

“Were you a cheerleader in high school?” I asked her.

She looked confused. “Why is that relevant?”

From the beginning of this nightmare with Mat and Lena, Missy had been by my side, and she remained there as I walked outside to the gazebo behind Nana’s house and opened a portal to California. That part was almost laughably easy.

I stepped through the doorway, straight out of Arcane Landing and into the home I’d once shared with my human best friend. Missy followed me, and then the tunnel snapped shut.

I expected to find him there, so Mat’s pale face shining like a silver moon in the shadowy living room wasn’t nearly as jarring as it could’ve been. He rose from the sofa and brought his hands together slowly.

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