Page 15 of Kiss of Fire

“But I’m not supernatural. I’m just me.”

He gazed at her narrowly. Could it be true? She honestly did not know what she was?

“May I ask, who are your parents?”

“Caroline and Ross,” she said promptly.

“No. They are not your parents.”

“Okay, they’re my adoptive parents. But I never knew my real ones.”

He stared at her in silence. She tried to read his expression but drew a blank. For once there were no shadows curling round him, so at least he wasn’t angry. She hoped.

He hid his consternation. She did not know who she was. She did not know her heritage, her birthright. She thought she was human.

It explained a lot. It would also make things a lot more complicated.

“Your mother,” he began haltingly. “Yourbirthmother, that is, came from Nush’aldaam. Her name was Aelah.”

The blood drained from Raya’s face.

“You knew my mother?”

“I knewofher. She was the leader of the fire fae.”

That phrase again.

“What are fire fae?”

“There are several fae clans in Nush’aldaam, but your mother led the Vulcani. The fire fae. One of the oldest clans in the empire.”

He stopped, warily. She was frowning in confusion.

“I don’t understand. You’re saying my mother was like you? Not human?”

“Not exactly like me. The jinn and the fae are only loosely related.”

“This is ridiculous. You realise how ridiculous this all sounds, right?” Raya twisted a piece of hair round her finger out of habit. “Next you’re going to tell me my dad was Father Christmas.”

“Your father was human. I believe that is why your mother left Nush’aldaam. Humans are forbidden to set foot in our world. If I had my way, we wouldnevermix with humans.”

“And yet here you are.”

“I am only in this cursed plane to find you,” he said impatiently. “You are the child of a fae. And with Aelah gone, you are the only one who can claim leadership of the Vulcani. Even with your biological disadvantage.”

“What disadvantage?”

“Your human side.”

“God, you’re condescending. Do you really expect me to swallow this bullshit?”

“You have accepted I am a supernatural being. Is it so hard to believe that you yourself may be too?”

“Yes. Because for one thing, I’ve just spent ten years in a mental institution I couldn’t break out of. Doesn’t sound like something a powerful fae would do.”

“Tell me, why were you there?”

He looked at her quizzically and she found herself answering.

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