Page 115 of Ulune's Daughter

I’m twelve ...

I’m twelve. Watching the light die out of Grampy Niles’ eyes, his shaking hands still glued to my shoulder where he’d been etching runes into my skin with his Earth-magic as I screamed in pain. In the basement room’s doorway, Dad and Uncle Bert struggle against Niles’ wards, shouting for me to hold on, they’re coming for me.

I didn’t need them to save me. I fought my own battle. I won.

I’ve never stopped winning. I don’t know how to lose.

I take the few steps down the hallway and turn into Ezra’s office. He’s sitting behind his desk, his broad shoulders slumped. Cousin Kimberley sits on a couch facing him, her profile to me. Her dark red hair is piled on top of her hair in a fancy bun that I think Kellan tries to achieve but her hair is too unruly. I prefer Kellan’s hair with its wild fly-aways; Kim’s hair is too neat. Just like the rest of her. She’s wearing a checked skirt suit, polished heels, and a heavy green cloak pinned around her shoulders. Neutral makeup. Pale nail polish. Everything’s too neat and constrained.

“Cousin,” she says, giving me a nod.

“Kim. It’s been a while.”

Since her dad took her to live with her English relatives after her mom’s death. Since I killed her grandfather. Since Cousin O died. I’ve seen Kim maybe a handful of times. Family reunions with that side of the family are ... strained.

“I’ve been busy,” she says. “I hear you have been, too. Your last year of Bevington? Following Aunt Sandy into the Aedis Astrum? Your family must be proud.”

Ezra nods. “We are.”

He wouldn’t be if he knew who I’m sleeping with. Ezra and his branch of the family don’t believe in violence against the fae, but they don’t condone falling in love with them, either.

And if Luca and Law are right about Kellan? I’m dating a future Queen of Faery. Or I will be if she ever calls me.

Thatwill go down well with the extended Family Hale.

“It’s time, Rhodes,” Kim says. “I’ve found powerful allies. The cycle will be complete by Yule and Thistlemist will fall. The Oak and Holly Kings will be next and Granny Vanda can finally rest in peace. There’s a place for you. I know Grandad didn’t finish the sigil, but we can finish it together?—”

“Kim,” Ezra hisses. “Don’t ever speak of what Niles did to him.”

“It’s okay,” I say. The memories are awake now. I’ll have to deal with them—and the nightmares—the way I have so many times before. It takes a while, but they slowly drift down to the depths of my mind instead of disturbing the upper currents. And then I can pretend to be normal again. For a while. “The sigil isn’t complete, Kim. It won’t ever be complete. I killed Niles when he tried to turn me into a living weapon against the fae. I’ll kill anyone who tries to finish what he started.”

Kim folds her hands in her lap. “Mom and Niles were misguided. I’m the first one to condemn what they did. But we don’t have to repeat their mistakes. You and I are a new generation. Together, we can end this. We can bring peace to the family and to this world?—”

“It’s not peace,” Ezra interjects. “It’s genocide.”

“You don’t know that, Uncle,” Kim responds. “The fae might be able to connect their courts to other planes. They might find a solution for their infertility that doesn’t involve kidnapping and rape. They’ll finally be incentivized to do so rather than continuing to rely on mortal blood.”

“And you don’t know they’ll be able to do either before they all die out.” Ezra sighs gustily. “Kim, I understand your feelings. I really do. But this is the wrong path. Information, education, negotiation?—”

“Havefailedto resolve the fae predations for centuries,” Kim says. “Our apathy, our unwillingness to act, allows the status quo to continue. It allows them to abduct more mortals, exert more influence over our world. Who is to say we’re not reaching a tipping point? Wemustact before it’s too late. You can’t be blind to how the world’s dissolution is accelerating. That’s the fae influence making mortals as dissipated as?—”

“I’m in love with a fae,” I announce. “Two, actually.”

The silence that follows my declaration rings.

“I’ve heard this argument all my life,” I say into the silence. “Goddess, I’m so tired of it. I don’t care about either of your methodologies. I don’t care about whose path is right. I won’teverhaveanythingto do with severing the fae courts from our world. Mom and Dad taught me to see the fae as friends; I won’t ever see them as enemies. I’m in love with two of them. I won’t be involved in whatever you’re doing. Don’t call me again if this is what you want. Either of you.”

Uncle Ezra finally closes his mouth. He looks down at the papers on his desk, then back up at me. “Mother bless you, Rho. I hope you find happiness.”

“And you, Uncle Ezra,” I respond.

Kim stares out the window over Uncle Ezra’s shoulder. When she looks at me again, her eyes glint with tears.

“The family can’t afford to lose you, Rhodes.”

“The family lost me ten years ago,” I tell her.

“Grandad was so wrong, and I am so sorry for what he did to you. But you can’t walk away. We’re your family.”

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