Page 72 of Oleander
“I won’t cause any trouble. I am Fae, just the same as you. I cannot lie. Please, let me be on my way. I’ll leave Faerie, I promise. Don’t report me to the queen. I can’t go back to the Underworld.Please.”
“Tell me who I am.” I spit the words out in anger, part of me not wanting to hear the answer and content to keep my head buried in the sand. But I need to know why he called me his king.
“You look just like him,” Rafael rasps in awe. “And I will tell you more, but you must agree to release me after I do so.”
“Skyler, I don’t know—” Oleander tries to stop me but I have things under control.
“Agreed,” I blurt out. “It’s a deal.” He thinks I can’t lie, like the rest of them, but I can. And I’ll make my decision after this conversation.
“Thank you,” Rafael nods.
“Get on with it, Blood Fae,” Ander demands aggressively, quite unlike himself. But his badass persona is kind of hot.
Rafael glances at Oleander without emotion before turning his gaze on me. “Your father was the younger brother of the sacrificed prince and next in line to be king. Seeing the black tourmaline around your neck confirms you’re a part of the Blood Fae royal family.”
“No.You’re lying,” I say defensively. That can’t be true. I have Air magic.
“Fae cannot lie, and I am the same as you. The only difference is that I was cast away and hidden from society simply for being born. I cannot help who I am, the same way you cannot.”
“Because Blood Fae are evil murderers who can’t control themselves!” Ander shouts at Rafael, defending his mother’s actions from over a hundred years ago. “You can’t be part of society when you can’t be trusted. Blood Fae are criminals at best, sociopathic murderers who want to take over all the worlds at worst.”
“Again, a generalization of all my people, but I will not argue with you, Prince of Auroria.” He tugs at the roots securing him tothe ground and grimaces. “That will not get me anywhere. But I will ask this: are you not the one currently harmingme?”
“Shut your mouth and finish answering the question. I won’t listen to your trickery,” Ander spits out.
“Riiight,” Rafael says with a deceitful little smile. Almost smug. I don’t trust him, and I don’t like him either. “Like I was saying, your father escaped to the Mortal Realm while his sisters made it to the Shadow World, where they mated with wolf shifters in order to receive protection from those hunting them. That pendant around your neck is from the Blood Fae royal line, and I can only imagine there’s some sort of spell or charm on it to hide the wearer's true nature and offer protection. And your father gave that up for you. It’s the only reason you’ve lived a safe life with a happy, human childhood. You see, we aren’tallevil. Your father ensured your very survival by giving up his own. If that isn’t the strongest form of love and sacrifice then I don’t know what is.”
I’m completely silent, and so is Oleander, letting Rafael’s words sink in.
“Why should I believe you?” I sneer at him, although something inside of me is telling me his words are the truth.
“I can show you. Your necklace will react to my magic. Take the iron chain off for a moment. I’ll behave.Promise.”
“Skyler, don’t.I don’t trust him. He’s deceitful and cunning. You can see it in his eyes,” Ander whispers into my ear.
“I’ve never been this close to getting answers about where I come from. Proof even. Ihaveto, Ander.I’m sorry.” I step forward and lift the iron chain draped over Rafael’s body. He’s still restrained by the roots, but I’m sure he could use some sort of evil Blood Fae magic to hurt us. This is definitely a risk.
Rafael’s eyes glow red, and he whispers a few quiet words before the black tourmaline pendant that I’ve always worn turns a bright, swirling crimson.
I gasp in shock at seeing something so familiar look so fucking evil. “No.”
This makes it real. Panic crawls across my skin and squeezes my insides, taking over my body with the awful knowledge of my true heritage. The throbbing hellhound scratch on my side pulses with my rapid heartbeat, overwhelming me with a painful ache.
Will Ander be disgusted by me?
Will the entire school hate me?
Will Goulding expel me?
I rip the pendant off and toss it to the ground, my breathing picking up and becoming erratic.
Rafael laughs cruelly, adding fuel to the fire growing inside of me. I’m seconds away from sending an electrified tornado his way and eviscerating him into a pink mist.
The iron chain is roughly tossed back on top of him, and he grunts at the impact, his eyes narrowing on Oleander as the scarlet glow dims out.
A gentle hand gives my shoulder a reassuring squeeze, gaining my attention. “This changes nothing for me, Sky. We won’t tellanyone,” he vows with the most devoted gaze I have ever seen. My heart clenches, contracting tightly in my chest because of how amazingly loyal he is.
Our connection goes beyond the physical, beyond the mental. It’s soul-deep and unbreakable. I think it might be forever.
