Page 9 of The Fae King's Labyrinth

“Hidden.”

We walked in silence for a moment before he turned to me. “Perhaps I can help you. Have you tried a catalyst to help you access your magic?”

“Like what?” I had never heard of a shapeshifter using something to help them shift.

“An artifact, a magic source, or a mentor?” he suggested.

“My parents did try to get me a tutor, but not until I was past the age of turning. It was a last-gasp effort to try to fix the fact I hadn’t shifted.” Familiar frustration flooded through me.

“What did they do when it didn’t work?”

“They disowned me and kicked me out of their house.”

“What?” Azulin stopped in his tracks. “Why would they reject their child because she was different?”

I turned and confronted him. “They had no choice. The elders decided for them because I was a burden on the community. Unchanged are not allowed to have children for fear of passing on the condition. The elders considered me a leech on the community resources, always dependent and never a contributor. Are you satisfied now? Can we just walk? I’m tired of discussing my failures.” I stalked off into the darkness.

Just when I reached the outer edge of his light circle, he sprang forward again, catching up within moments.

“But it wasn’t your failure. It was theirs.” Azulin’s voice had lowered in tone so much that I glanced over to check whether it was truly him speaking. “I assume you attempted everything to shift like the others.”

I nodded. Tears burned the backs of my eyes as the memories pressed in on me. Long hours of willing my body to change. Envisioning growing a tail like my sister’s or ears similar to my father’s. Anything. The desperation that had burned in my gut.

Then one day the community elders made the official declaration. I was an unchanged. My hopes and dreams for children, a family, a life of my own shattered in that moment. If my sister and her husband—my childhood best friend—hadn’t stepped forward, I would’ve been homeless as well.

“My parents left the community rather than face the shame. My sister and best friend took me in so I wouldn’t be without shelter. Besides, she was with kit and needed someone to help.”

We walked in silence for a few moments. My head swam with thoughts of my sister and her husband. Would they worry? Or would they only be relieved that Mindy escaped unscathed? Would they think of me at all?

“Do you have anyone who will worry over you being gone?” I asked.

His stride shifted ever so slightly. “I do.” The cold, aloof fae was back. His expression turned remote, and his gaze hardened.

“Who?” Before he answered, a new sound came from far ahead—a whinny. I hesitated. “What are the chances there’s a horse trapped down here too?”

“None. I would wager this creature is far more dangerous than a horse.” He stilled and listened. More whinnies and the sound of galloping hooves grew increasingly loud, as though the creature came toward us.

“Another mimick?” I asked.

“Worse,” he muttered grimly. “Under no circumstances are you to touch it, understand?”

Part of me balked at his tone of command, but he had saved my life twice so far. He knew far better than I the potential hazards that lay ahead.

“Calypso?” The warning in his voice was clear.

“I understand.” I reluctantly stepped back behind him. “No touching the horse-like creature.”

“Also, don’t give it your name.”

“I am not fool enough to give it my true name.”

“No.” His voice turned deadly serious as I stared up at his back. “Don’t give it any name even remotely close to your name. And kindly refrain from giving it mine either.”

∞∞∞

Azulin

Before I gained her promise, the creature burst into sight arounda corner in the path. Despite the darkness, I knew instantly that the beast bearing down on us at a full gallop was no horse. His pooka essence, heightened by fear, flooded the passage in front of him like a tidal wave. Part glamor, part persuasion charm, with a hefty dose of anxiety, the pooka’s magic formed a powerful compelling spell specifically geared toward unmarried females of any species.

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