Page 27 of A Wolf in the Garden

“Why?” She tenses at the question, and I rub her arm. “Why don’t we get something to eat, maybe open a bottle of wine, and then talk about this.”

“Sounds good. Let me brush my hair first.”

“I’ll comb it for you. Your hand is still burnt. Here, sit with me on the bed. We’ll get this done, bandage up your hand, and then get some food.”

She’s quiet as I brush through her hair. I plant a kiss on her shoulder once I’ve finished, and she lets out a shaky exhale. “Thank you,” she whispers.

“Give me a moment, and I’ll grab something for your hand.”

I manage to dig out an old first aid kit from one of the boxes I’m yet to unpack, and thankfully find a cream suitable for burns and some bandages.

“It’s not actually that sore anymore,” she murmurs as I wrap her palm. “It’s only a dull sting.”

“It will probably be fine by the morning then. I think we’ve established that the purpose of it was to mark you. I’d say it’s some sort of magic that isn’t meant to cause permanent damage, just something for them to track you with.” She shudders at that, her lips pressing into a thin line.

“I’m going to lose my appetite if I keep thinking about it.”

“We’ll eat dinner first, then.”

* * *

We’re halfway through our meal — leftovers from the vineyard’s restaurant that I already had stashed in the fridge, paired with a chardonnay — when Ellie clears her throat, and finally begins to explain things from her end.

“So I didn’t know I was a non-human until the Unravelling occurred. I woke up that day and freaked the fuck out, just so you know. It didn’t come from Mum — she never changed. Since I’ve never known my dad, I still have no ideawhatI am. But to wake up and realise you’re not even thespeciesyou thought you were,thatis a really, really, reallycolossalmindfuck.” She stares off into the distance, and I can tell she’s reliving the memories of those first few chaotic days post-Unravelling.

“I have to admit, I did think it was strange when you asked me if I’d known I was a wolf prior to the Unravelling. I can’t even imagine what that would be like to have your identity shift in such a way.”

“It’s been incredibly lonely. And — I don’t know how much you remember, from what I used to tell you — but there’s so much emphasis in Maori culture on yourwhakapapa, your genealogy, on linking yourself back to your ancestors and your ancestral land. As much as I love it, secretly it was always a sensitive thing for me, even before the Unravelling, because I’ve only ever been able to recite one side. To have my understanding of what my father’swhakapapamight even contain fundamentally shift… it really messed me up.” The tremor in her quiet voice tugs at my heart, and I reach out, rubbing her back.

I take another sip of wine, considering how best to tell her what I know and what I can guess, based on today’s events. “Youaremostly human, Ellie. My guess is that the non-human blood you have is frommanygenerations back.”

“You can tell that? Do you know what species?”

I put my fork down, twisting in my seat to fully face her. “I’m ninety-nine percent certain you’re part-fae.” Concern and confusion flit across her face, and I quickly explain further. “I know you haven’t heard of the fae before, in terms of confirmed non-human species. There’s still a lot of species that have managed to keep their existence secret from the general human population so far, even though we’re two years past the Unravelling.”

She nods, eyes still full of worry, and I wish I could ease some of her stress.

“Fae are… secretive. They have their own form of magic that’sdifferent… it’s almost like it has a strange quality to it. And they’re one of the species where all of their kind are fairly capable, magic-wise, as far as I understand. I really don’t know all that much about them; I’ve only met a few in my life, but I do know that they’re organised into multiple sub-species.” I pause, letting her process all of that. I’m going to have to tell her that it was a fae that attacked her — but she needs time to deal with the news of what she is, first.

“How are they remaining a secret, even now? If I’m part-fae, surely that must imply that some fae live on this side? Or are they pretending to be elves or something?”

“They’re using glamour, if they’re here. Their own personal magic, to hide themselves.”

“But… whatarefae, then? Are they… I don’t know… legends have been around for centuries, about werewolves, right? And here you are,” she gestures towards me. “There must be some legends about these fae, then? But I’ve never heard that name before.”

“They’re what people would call fairies,” I reply. “The fair folk. Fae. There’s a bunch of names, but they all mean the same thing. I even searched ‘New Zealand fairies’ just before, to see if there are any local legends — because those are often based on real encounters, even if the facts get muddled — and there’s old Maori legends, apparently. I skimmed one and it seemed surprisingly accurate, in terms of what fae may look like.”

“Of pale-skinned people with fair hair, that lived in the mountains?” At my nod, she continues. “Yeah, I’ve heard those myths. So… fairies. You’re telling me I’m part-fairy?”

I nod again. “I think so. I’m not saying you’re descended from one of those mentioned in your old legends, but it’s interesting that there are stories that seem consistent with others around the world.”

We lapse into silence, eating quietly. I get lost in my own thoughts, worrying about how best to protect her, until Ellie touches my elbow, drawing my attention back, and I realise I’ve been staring into space for a few minutes. “Sorry,” I mutter.

“It’s fine.” Her hand lingers on my arm, those big brown eyes of hers so trusting when she looks at me, and my chest feels tight. I’m not letting her out of my sight, not until I can guarantee her safety. I take her hand in mine, and lift it to my lips, kissing the backs of her fingers. Her sweet scent fills my nose, my eyes never straying from her face.My Ellie. She takes in a shaky breath and I can smell the fresh tang of her arousal, but she’s always been a practical person, steering our conversation back on track. “So you don’t know a lot about them? The fae?”

“No. The species I know the most about are the same ones that have been fairly open with humans since the Unravelling. The fae…” I bite my lip, hesitating. Ellie sees, and the crease between her brows grows deeper.

“You have to tell me, Van. You have to tell meeverythingyou know.”

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