Page 83 of Veiled

“People keeping more secrets, fucking great,” Hunter huffed angrily, and I absent-mindedly grabbed his hand and rubbed small circles to soothe him.

“It sounds like the secrets were necessary so that Hudson would become stronger through the deception. I mean, firsthand, I can see how betrayal can make Hudson stronger,” Zane winced as he said it, and I grabbed his hand too and winked at him. The past is the past we needed to move forward. I sighed and jumped off the counter and walked to the living room, wrapped my arms around myself and started to pace back and forth. Everyone else followed and stood around awkwardly. Most of this shit was just as confusing.

“It definitely said twenty years old, so the idea that you guys had about being twenty-one until I came into my powers doesn’t make sense unless you figure twenty years of fun before a shit show. The real question is what secrets do I need to discover,” I paused, suddenly thrown back to the party where I saw Kalen sitting with the counsel, and the introductions. “Fheall,” I whispered and spun to look at Kalen, who looked uncomfortable. I narrowed my eyes.

“You said my name is actually Riona Fheall, and during the dinner two other people were introduced with the same last name, you and the man named Shea.” I rubbed my temples. “Shea was also the name of the prince. So, for the sake of pretending I’m at least semi-intelligent,” I scoffed, “so it’s safe to say Shea is my father, who saw me for the first time in person and didn’t bother to say anything, which would make you related to him in some way.” Everyone fell quiet as we stared at Kalen.

“Shea is my older brother,” he finally sighed after several moments of silence. I stepped back and bumped into Hunter who wrapped his arms around me, steadying me. Brother. So Kalen was my uncle.

Is everyone around me someone more than what they seem? This is becoming a real life game of Clue.

“Nice. Awesome, anything else you want to say to me now Kalen? Because I seriously will fucking lose it if you keep popping up like some Faerie popcorn version of Ms. Cleo to tell me random shit that I should already know.” He shook his head but looked away, so yeah there is something missing here. I sighed and looked at Oberon.

“Your turn, what does the other part of the prophecy say?” I demanded, at this point I was going to get all my answers, or someone was going to get their ass beat.

“Well, it isn’t another half but there was a part that I felt would put the future Queen in danger. All it read was Queen be wary, Níl aon ghrá ann go dtí go mbeidh teaghlach ann. Níl aon anró anam ann go dtí go mbeidh leanaí ag duine.” He said silkily, as I shook my head out of the trance of him speaking another language and asked him to repeat the words.

“There’s no love until there’s family. There is no anguish of the soul until one has children,” I said shakily.Well then, talk about a fucking life plot twist.

“Right. We can dissect that in a bit, after I don’t feel like I’m choking on this informational deep throat.” The guys chuckled low and Remi came to stand next to me and started to rub my back. They started to talk about what the prophecy can mean and how it could be interpreted, and I noticed the letters given to me by that annoying Fae guy at the entry table and picked them up. I sat quietly at the edge of the couch and started to sift through them. One of them was the prophecy, well a little too late, although I appreciate being given a copy, but I don’t see why he felt like I needed to have it.

Frustrated, I threw the prophecy to the side and picked up the other letter. Except three pieces of papers fell out. I blinked and I read them over and over again. This…this was just wrong.

* * *

Shea,

Your daughter is simply beautiful. I would send a picture, but it isn’t safe. I wish you could see how amazing Hudson is doing. She is taking every training I’m throwing her way and absorbing it all like a sponge. Even when she falls, she gets right back up and keeps going. Her dickhead of a fake father is making her take extra training with me at five a.m. and again after school. If she comes home with a mark, he increases her training. He wants her to be the best, but his methods are questionable, to say the least. I often wonder if he has a sixth sense about her future. Today she made me laugh; she told me to shove my sword up my ass. I never thought I would like kids, but this one, Shea, she is a combination of the good things in both of us. Hell, a combination of all the good things in our world. She is a force of nature; I’ll be shocked if she wasn’t from Gaia herself. As promised, I will watch over her. I love her like she was my own, she is the daughter of my heart.

Kalen

Shea,

The father has found out that Hudson isn’t his. Do not worry though, he still loves her in his own way, but he is a lot more callous now. Just makes her work harder, drags her to these ridiculous council events, dressing her up like a pink potato sack. She is learning a lot of societal policies and decorum though, so I guess there is that. It was time, though, that I brought in some additional back up. I chose four boys that are best friends, they will serve to deviate Jacob’s attention so that he isn’t so hard on her. I know he cares, but I still think the knowledge has rocked him to his core. At least now we will have extra eyes on Hudson as she continues to grow; she is drawing the eyes of young men despite her pink potato clothes.

Anyways, the boys have had their memories thoroughly wiped; they were given the barest of memories and their power tampered down. You are fortunate that the old crone in our old home owed me a favor. I cannot imagine what she needed to perform that type of unnatural magic, but it worked. Their hair color is even permanent. It is amazing. The breeze pushed me towards these boys, believe it or not. I shouldn’t be surprised though; the breeze has its way of getting Gaia’s message across. They were already best friends, working within the rebellion. Their new names are Zane, Ryder, Hunter, and Grayson, instead of their given names, Caer, Aiwel, Arallu, and O’Donoghue. The crone promised the spell would be in effect for a long time. I asked what would break the spell she cast, and she mentioned a great loss; we can only hope it isn’t a death sentence. Caer is now living in the Jacobs’ home and seems to be getting on well. The things we do for love.

Your brother, Kalen

The letter shookin my hand. It was hard to catch my breath. I read the next letter out of sheer anger.

Shea,

It’s been a while, but I trust your little messengers have updated you. Quick rundown, I didn’t count on them going to university, but I damn sure didn't count on her losing her virginity to Caer. Their connection seems to run deep. She was changing and I had to train her harder than ever. She will be more than you ever dreamed of Shea; it is a scary thing, letting someone with her fire out into the world. I pity whoever she comes in contact with- she’s not only beautiful; she is all things right in the world.

The reason I am writing now is that she will be going to the university with the boys living in the same home. However, I caught wind that Alvor, that piece of shit, and his niece will be there as well. She gave up the throne to steal the one thing we have strived to protect. Why do I feel like you had a hand in this? If you’re trying to make someone slip up, I caution you. If there is one thing we have learned is that not everyone is as they seem. I have a feeling there is something else going on here. I don’t believe in coincidences Shea, and he brought on too many to help secure her.

I’ll keep an eye out but I have a feeling I’ll be seeing you soon; prepare. Things are going to get ugly fast.

Kalen

* * *

The words were there,I could probably repeat them verbatim right now, but they were also not there. My mind wouldn’t register the lies, the deception, the years of having my life infiltrated. In a few seconds, I questioned everything. Nature told me my mates were mine, regardless of the circumstances that brought them to me. Thank goodness the breeze guided Kalen, or I could have taken years to meet my mates.No, no, no. I had them, that's all that mattered.

I took a few calming breaths and I stood up shakily and tossed the letters on the living room table, effectively stopping everyone’s conversation.

“Kalen, I asked you if you had anything else to tell me. I highly suggest you do; I may respect you, but I’m extremely close to losing my shit.” King stepped closer to me as my magic spiked repeatedly. The guys picked up the letters and passed them around, varying degrees of anger fleeting across their faces.

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