Page 5 of Hunted

“Enough, you two,” Helen ventured, then paused. “Child, your Arcadian magic… you used the last of it getting here?”

“Yes. It’s the weirdest thing… usually my magic recovers after a while, but I still feel tired, and empty.”

Helen frowned, then shook her head. “That’s because Arcadian magic doesn’t regenerate on Earth. There’s a reason the Fae only make short trips here and back.”

“What?”

“Arcadian magic is powerful, but it was not meant to be used here. At least, not since our two peoples parted ways many, many centuries ago. Now, whenever one of the Fae travels to Earth, they do so knowing just how much of their magic they’ll need to make the return trip. Otherwise, they’re stuck here… like you seem to be now.”

“No… no, no, that can’t be right. Are you telling me, there’s no way for me to get back?”

“There are portals, yes, but they occur naturally and are tied to different celestial events, none of which would appear to be in alignment right now. In any case, getting back to Arcadia would seem to be the least of your problems. My biggest concern is the hunter.”

“Hunter?”

“The creature that is hunting you is a manifestation of Fate itself. The product of an equation trying to right itself. If what you have told us is accurate, the crone that tried to write you out of existence failed on some level.”

“Valerian and I discussed this in the woods, while this creature was chasing us. Are you telling me this creature is hunting me because of an accident?”

“If the magic had worked the way I believe it was intended to, there would be no hunter. You would simply no longer exist.”

“Okay, so, it’s not all bad news, then?”

My grandmothers looked at each other, exchanging grave looks. “It is bad,” Helen said, “But we are going to do everything we can to find a solution. Tomorrow we will request access to the magical library at Whitmore Academy—perhaps in there we will find answers.”

“Now, about your friend…” Pepper ventured, “The sleeping one.”

“He’s kind of yummy, isn’t he?” Evie asked, a cheeky grin on her face.

“Sister!” Helen hissed, scolding Mother Evie. “That’s entirely inappropriate.”

“I didn’t mean for me, I meant for her.”

“That’s also out of line.”

My cheeks were burning hot and red. I was sure they were steaming more than my teacup at this point. “He is… hewas… a contestant.” I shook my head. “The best one, in fact. Only he didn’t want to be there.”

“He didn’t?”

“That’s the impression I got.”

“And he’s the only one who remembered you after… that night in the cave.”

I nodded. “I don’t know why. He’s nobody, really. I barely even know him.”

Helen’s eyes narrowed, her eyebrows pinching in the space just above her nose. “Are you sure?”

I stared blankly at all three of them. “I don’t. Should I?”

“I suppose not… it seems odd that out of everyone around you, he should be the only one to remember who you are.”

“He’s not the only one,” Tallin put in.

“Right, and this little guy,” said Evie, who hadn’t stopped rubbing him behind the ears. “Why do you suppose you know who she is while few others do?”

Tallin looked over at me, his small, rabbit-like face turning into something like a smile. “We have a bond,” he said, his small ears twitching. “I was bound to her at birth.”

“Bound to me?” I asked.

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