Page 36 of The Cursed Fae

“I need to know she's okay,” Mom fired back.

“Winter is fine. A spell of that magnitude would drain any fae's magic temporarily. She just needs sleep.”

I sat up in bed and rubbed my eyes, instantly more alert.

“There is no cause for concern,” Nana continued.

“'No cause for concern?’” Mom demanded, her voice rising. “Vampires breached the wards, Essie. Arcane Landing's security system completely failed. I'd say that is a huge cause for concern. Give me one good reason to not take my daughter and get the hell out of here?”

My body went numb, and I pulled the covers tighter around me. The shock of seeing the same vampire from my house in California had blinded me to the larger implications of the attack. Fae communities like Arcane Landing warded their borders. Just like my mother always warded our homes. Yet the vampires had waltzed right on to the beach without hesitation. Just like entering my house.

It happened again. Regardless of the reassurances and reasons for fleeing across the country, there was one simple truth: I wasn't safe anywhere.

“That is another matter,” Nana insisted. “I reinforced the wards myself. Spelled specifically to keep the lone survivor out. I promised you Winter would be safe here. I intend to keep that promise, Colleen.”

Mom sounded defeated when she spoke again. “I know you do. It's just—she's my daughter.”

“I know, dear. Be thankful she is. Winter saved a lot of lives last night. That's your power in her. The power of the Sable family. Whatever else she may be, Winter is a Sable. Come downstairs, dear, let her rest.” One set of footsteps tapped gently across the floor, and Nana's voice grew fainter. “Now, that nitwit Virgo Alpha Jonah has called a dozen times. If I don't return his messages, we're going to have wolves at our door.”

A second set of footsteps followed the first down the stairs, and I wracked my brain, trying to make sense of... anything. In my head, my great-grandmother's words played on repeat: “Whatever else she may be, Winter is a Sable.”

Whatever else I was? What did that mean? What was I?

Knees tucked to my chest, I curled into a ball and rocked back and forth until my eyelids shuttered.

The next time I woke, a pale form loomed over my bed. I nearly screamed, but choked it back when I saw the visitor's face.

“You scared the shit out of me,” I said to Missy.

“Sorry.” She shrugged, not appearing sorry at all. “Watching you sleep is super boring.”

“You mean watching me sleep is super creepy,” I replied around a yawn. Sitting up in bed, I rubbed my eyes and asked, “What're you doing here? Aren't spirits, like, bound to certain places?”

Missy rolled her eyes. “Who told you that?”

“Television?” I replied.

“I don't know about fictional spirits, but real ones can go wherever they want.” She sat on the edge of my bed.

I scooted over to make space for Missy, an incorporeal being. Only in hindsight did I realize the act was ridiculous.

“I'm here because of last night,” she continued, her tone noticeably less snarky. “I heard what happened.”

“Are people at school talking about it?” I asked.

She pretended to consider the question. “Only everyone.”

“Awesome.” I flopped back on my pillows. “Just fucking awesome.”

“No need for the melodrama.”

“Vampires tried to kill me. Again. I'm allowed to be dramatic,” I grumbled.

“Yeah, well, I'm dead. So suck it up.”

Missy had a point. If one of us deserved to wallow, it was her.

“Harsh but true.” I sat up again. “Is that why you're here? To tell me to grow up?”

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