Page 76 of A Sun Scorched Bloom

Lea shook her head, overwhelmed. It was as if the king could read her mind. "Don’t you? I feel it in you now, just as I felt it in your birth mother all the years she lived within these walls."

Lea shook her head, overwhelmed. "I still don’t quite understand," she said, rubbing her eyes and sending healing magic to the base of her neck where the beginnings of a headache thrummed. "So my birth mother, she was Fae?"

"Half. Queen Emmaline’s mate, your grandfather, was human."

The shadows floating around Gray’s body faltered. "Gregory was human?"

"He was," Tanad confirmed. "But with his life tied to Emmaline’s, he lived and aged along with her until her death."

Lea fiddled with her hair. "If I really descend from Queen Emmaline, why am I human? It doesn’t add up."

"It’s possible your birth father was human as well. Your genes may simply have been diluted to be more human than Fae, my dear. It is no different than inheriting the color of your eyes or hair. But do not be mistaken. You do have Fae blood inside you. I canfeelit."

Lea felt as if her brain was vibrating. She had Fae blood, if only a little. It was as if every question she asked pulled at the stray thread of a sweater that was her identity, unraveling the very core of who she thought she was.

"It changes nothing, Little Flower," Gray soothed. "Thousands of humans within the kingdom have Fae blood. Without being full-blooded, it's difficult to tell. Think of Emma. She is half Fae, and even then, you didn’t know."

Lea took a deep breath, needing to move on with the conversation. Later, she could dissect who and what she was and wasn’t, but not now. Not in front of everyone.

"It still doesn’t make sense. If my birth mother grew up here, how did I end up with Adelaide? And what was that cottage across the border?"

"Thatis a question for Eudora. All I know is that I was instructed to bring you to Bearswillow and leave you with the village healer. Eudora said the fate of our kingdoms depended on it."

"You?" Lea asked in complete disbelief. "You’re the one who left me there?"

"Only after I read Adelaide’s power and confirmed she was capable of hiding your magic and keeping you safe. You are more like her than you might believe."

"My birth mother or Adelaide?"

"Both. The beauty and loyalty of your mother, Evangeline. The kind soul and gentle spirit of Adelaide. They are both a part of you, intertwined in a way that cannot be unraveled."

"That was her name?" Lea asked breathlessly.

Tanad’s eyes softened as Lea’s filled with tears. "It was. Chosen by Delphine."

"Was I born here?" Lea looked out at the sea. Had she come from another kingdom? One so very different from the one she'd called home for so long?

"No. Your mother disappeared one day, crossed the border back into Desia and did not return for years. Not until the day she showed up, just as Delphine had, with worry on her face and a tiny baby in her arms. I didn’t know you by the name Azalea back then. I called you the name given to you by your birth mother. Hope."

Lea sat in shock as they finished the rest of the meeting. She wasn’t sure when it had happened, but at some point she’d ended up in Gray’s lap, leaning against him with her head on his shoulder, completely numb. Gray’s feelings and constant reassurance pulsed through their bond,almostas if he could speak directly into her mind—You are the same person you’ve always been. You are mine. You are loved—even so, she couldn’t help but feel like a stranger in her own body. Long ago, she’d had a different name and lived in a different kingdom. It was no wonder Bearswillow had always felt so small. She’d traveled the continent and lived a different life before she’d even left infancy.

Lea heard Gray, Erik, and King Tanad discussing building their armies, combining them, where to post their troops, how many to post, and where they thought they might find the biggest advantages for battle. They talked about how to prevent the Lonely Death from spreading between their soldiers, and on and on they went until their conversation became complete background noise.

She was pulled from the enormity of her own thoughts when King Tanad waved his hand over the table and it flattened. Shiny golden plates appeared on ornate pearl place settings, one for each of them. In the middle of the table, several large platters and bowls appeared. There was some sort of citrus-crusted fish, the heads still attached with orange slices laying on top as a garnish. An octopus sat on a large wooden plate, and next to it was a bowl that looked suspiciously like seaweed. As platters of colorful roasted vegetables and fresh fruit were passed around, Gray filled her plate.

He leaned over and spoke quietly in her ear. "Please, Little Flower, eat something. You need your strength. It’s been days since we’ve had a real meal."

Lea knew he was right. When she’d looked in the mirror after changing into her new clothes—a soft cropped shirt and pants set that matched Janelle’s except for its white color—she’d noticed how thin she looked. Her ribs were now pronounced and her cheeks hollow. She needed to eat in order to have the energy to train as much as possible before they returned to Bearswillow.

Offering Gray a tentative smile, Lea took a few bites. The food was delicious, but it didn’t sit right in her stomach, turning to rubber in her mouth as she chewed. Continuing to push the fish around her plate, she listened to Gray ask Tanad questions while Janelle made fun of Erik for shamelessly requesting for a fourth helping. When dessert was offered, Gray placed a hand on Lea’s shoulder and stood.

"If you don’t mind, King Tanad, I think my mate and I will retire for the evening. If we’re to leave in the morning, I’d like to spend some time with her." Gray reached forward to shake Tanad’s hand. "I appreciate your hospitality."

The king rose, clasping Gray’s hand and shaking firmly. "Of course." Tanad reached for Lea, his wrinkled fingers wrapping around hers. "I hope I didn’t upset you, Azalea. The truth is a difficult thing to hear, especially when it’s hidden itself for so long. But remember, my gift is reading people. Their abilities. Their powers. You are capable of so much more than you know."

"Thank you," Lea said softly, though she didn’t feel very thankful at the moment. She felt overwhelmed. As if she’d said it out loud, King Tanad squeezed her hands tighter.

"You may be the strongest among us, but there is no shame in feeling weak." Tanad lowered his head to meet her eyes. "Allow your mate to help you. That is why you were given to each other, you know. You weren’t meant to face this life alone. Let him take your pain, if only for a little while."

---