Page 61 of The Cursed Fae

The Prophecy of Eternals wasn't in any of my textbooks, nor was it in the tomes I'd borrowed from the library. Luckily, the snarky specter sitting beside me grew up in the supernatural world and knew the legend.

“Eternals are the original fae turned into immortals—the genesis of vampires. The fae created them as warriors,” she explained.

“Yeah, I read some about that. I haven't come across a prophecy, though,” I replied.

“It's one of those stories we used to tell around campfires to scare each other.” She shrugged. “Stupid, right?”

I thought about the games I'd played at sleepovers and the urban legends we'd told. Light as a feather, stiff as a board was supremely morbid, and I still checked my rearview mirror for knife-wielding serial killers when cars behind me flashed high-beams.

“I've heard worse,” I said with a frown. “What does the prophecy say?”

Missy fiddled with her braid, examining the strands for split ends. “Something about a war. Something like 'when the eternals rise again, there will be a war that destroys the supernatural world.’” She glanced up. “I'm paraphrasing, obviously.”

“What do you mean 'rise again?’” I asked.

Vampires were undead. Once they died for good—sunlight, decapitation, stake through the heart, all that good stuff—they were gone-gone. Right?

Someone cleared their throat. I turned, and my stomach sank. Archer stood in the doorway with an expression that was somewhere between amused and uneasy. My lips parted, and I hissed through my teeth at Missy.

“Go.”

She looked like she wanted to argue as her dark eyes bounced between Archer and me. I forgot about her lack of form and nudged her leg, which only made my hand cold. With a loud sigh, Missy vanished.

“Hey, everything okay?” Archer sauntered over and sat across from me on the ground.

My high-pitched laugh sounded forced. “Yeah, just thinking out loud. It's been a day.”

“The eternal wolf is all the rage right now,” he replied, waggling his eyebrows. “It's all anyone is talking about.”

I pursed my lips. “It's not something to joke about. Another vampire got into Arcane Landing. That's serious.” Pulling my knees toward my chest, I looped my forearms over them. “Those are some shitty wards supposedly keeping them out.”

He sobered. “You're right. I'm sorry.”

“I need to learn to use my magic. Like, really use it,” I continued, as though he hadn't spoken.

Archer scooted closer until he occupied Missy's prior position. His warmth contrasted the dead girl's chilly aura.

“The elders will make sure that's unnecessary,” he assured me. “They can spell the wards—”

“Haven't they already done that?” I demanded. “Haven't they already, supposedly, made it so that vampires and eternals and whatever can't get into Arcane Landing?”

A mix of emotions played across his handsome features as his jaw worked back and forth. “These situations are complex,” he said at last. “Delicate. More theoretical than actual or experienced.”

My eyes narrowed. “Two theoretical creatures have actually experienced breaching the wards.”

He took my hand and squeezed, sending an odd heat through my numb body. “I know, Winter.”

“Help me,” I pleaded. “Please. Teach me to use my dimensional magic.”

This was exactly what the vampire wanted, and I should have cared about that fact a little more. But learning to use my magic would keep Lena safe. If what I'd done at the cove was any indication, I could protect the rest of my loved ones as well. Still, I couldn't help but wonder whether my instincts played directly into the vampire's larger plan.

Archer jumped to his feet, pulling me along for the ride. “Then let's stop wasting our time talking.”

We started with some light stretching. Seriously. Archer claimed we had to loosen up my magical muscles, just like before a normal workout. Next came breathing. I stood in the center of the room with my eyes closed, inhaling and exhaling while he counted off the beats.

At first, the exercise felt silly. I knew how to breathe. That skill had kept me alive for two decades.

“You're too tense. Twenty-five jumping jacks,” Archer ordered.

---