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Leaf filled them in with what he’d learned, but Aeron wasn’t satisfied River was telling the whole truth. More questions fired between the group: Where were Maebh and the Prime? Where are the Six now? Who’s responsible for the airship explosion? Where is Cloud? Do we think the Unseelie will blame the Order for what happened to Maebh? Did Nero retreat? Did he get what he came for? What did he come for?
Some had answers others sought, at least parts of them, but not all were willing to depart with them.
“I’m sick of all this bullshit.” Clarke pulled her long hair at the roots, her eyes wild as she paced the grass. “Fae keep saying they can’t lie, but each of you keeps secrets that are just as harmful. How can we stop Nero from finishing the job he started if we can’t trust each other?”
“Princess,” Rush murmured, trying to placate her. His gaze landed on River. “Sometimes the truth can be painful.”
Clarke stopped pacing. Her hands balled into fists, and she slowly turned with cold determination in her eyes. Alarm prickled through Leaf when he sensed a rise in energy.
“Clarke,” Leaf warned. “Whatever you’re thinking of doing, don’t.”
Blue eyes clashed with his. “It’s the only way we can be sure we’re all on the same page.”
The atmosphere crackled, and Clarke’s eyes turned white. Power rippled through the air, his lungs, and heart. A single invisible force seized each person in the circle. The urge to spill every last one of his secrets was on the tip of Leaf’s tongue.
When did Clarke get so strong?
“Tell me the truth.” She pushed compulsion into her voice. “If anyone holds secrets that can harm the other, spea—”
Her words cut off as Rush whispered something into her ear. Her face crumpled, and she nodded, then collapsed into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Suddenly released from her metaphysical attack, many in the circle armed themselves with power, preparing to defend or retaliate for Clarke’s attempt to violate their will. Part of Leaf wanted to be angry at what she’d just tried, but the other part sympathized with her pain. And also knew how hard that was to let go.
This meeting would escalate poorly if someone didn’t take control, but everyone was out for themselves. With no Prime to reign them in, no one wanted to assume responsibility, including Leaf.
“They lied to us,” Clarke suddenly said, extricating herself from Rush’s arms and gesturing at the Six’s house. “They used our love for our daughter, our fear of Rush losing another child, and they kept her from us. For a decade!”
“They saved her life,” Rush said reluctantly. “You saw what happened between Willow and Maebh. They hadn’t lied about that part.”
“Willow has no mana! She’s Lesser because of them.”
“I do not condone what they did, Clarke.” His stern response was loud. “But I can’t hate them for it. Better for her to have no magic than to be dead.”
“I know. It still sucks.” She wiped tears and looked at the Twelve’s house where their daughter slept. “I’m not sure if Willow will agree.”
“What happened between Willow and Maebh?” Ada asked gently. “If you don’t mind sharing?”
Rush scrubbed his hand through his beard. “Willow was conceived while I was cursed.”
Clarke squeezed his hand, adding, “It made her very special. I don’t have the full story yet, but she wasn’t psychic like we thought. I think the Six were feeding her stories from Varen about the future. I think they had good intentions—they wanted her alive and safe until she was old enough to face a battle with the queen.”
Leaf’s eyes narrowed as he remembered. “They said Maebh killed their Seventh. For that, they wanted her dead. The moment she released the souls inside their bodies, Legion tried to kill her. But Aleksandra got in the way.” As he recalled the rest, he winced, but Clarke and Rush deserved to know. “They made it sound like they’d been waiting for your daughter’s birth for eons. They called her their skin.”
“And then they abandoned her after she lost her mana?” Clarke gaped.
Rush’s anger was palpable. “If I ever see them again, I’ll find a way to kill them.”
“Just tell me when and where,” Violet declared, despite the disconcerted look on Indigo’s face.
“So, what was Willow’s gift?” Laurel went to her friend. “I thought she raised the undead for Nero.”
“I don’t think she meant to,” Clarke whispered, eyes haunted. “I think she intended to use this opportunity to find us. But it all went wrong when she arrived. Maybe her gift was necromancy, like Maebh’s.”
Leaf shook his head. “Maebh bargained for that ability. I don’t think she was meant to have it, and it changed her.”
Rush’s brows joined in the middle. “Why would the Well give Maebh such an ability if it would lead to its undoing?”
“The Well isn’t just made up of the light side. It’s dark, too. Each half has its own agenda,” Leaf replied. “But that’s assuming it was the Well Maebh bargained with. Legion also said he bargained with the Well… perhaps that’s how they became Guardians.”
“What do you mean?”
