My spine stiffened as soon as that thought struck me. I was free of my collar. Neither it nor the prison’s potions were suppressing my magic any longer. I once again had full access to my power, and I was finally at a place in my life where I truly could do a calling of my own in which Iwasn’tgoing there to twist fate.
Just as I’d always dreamed of doing.
My thoughts turned to what I’d wanted to do my entire life when my thirtieth birthday arrived. Find my family and find where I’d truly come from. It suddenly struck me that just because my mother was dead, that didn’t meanallof my family had passed to the afterlife. Perhaps I had other family members somewhere on the continent.
And they’re probably not nearly as snobbish as Jax’s parents.
My heart began to pound with pent-up excitement, and I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought of it sooner. But so much had happened since my collar had been removed. So much. And just because the queen accused me of being selfish didn’t mean that I was. I knew that I wasn’t. The entire reason the thought of doing my own calling to find my blood family had never occurred to me in the previous weeks was because I’d been thinking of others and what had needed to be done for them. Not what I could do for myself.
I sneered again when I thought of Queen Rashelle, then went to the bed and lay down. I was determined to put her nasty words behind me, and there wasn’t a better distraction than traveling to the Veiled Between and finally asking the semelees about my family.
Closing my eyes, I thanked the stars that the potions’ effects had finally worn off. Once again, it was as easy to access my magic as breathing, so I called upon my power and commanded it to take me away.
My lorafin magic instantly responded, and I shot across the galaxy, through the stars, and to the Veil.
I entered it just as fast, and the semelees surged forth.
My queen.They collectively bowed as one.You’ve come. What is it you seek?
I paused momentarily and allowed myself a second to appreciate the enormity of this situation. Finally, I was going to learn about my blood family.Tell me if I have any family in the fae lands. Tell me if any of them are still alive.
The one nearest me swirled around my ghostly limbs, its cool black scales sliding along my essence.Your mother is dead, but your father is alive.
It felt as though my heart stopped.He is?
Another semelee surged forth.Yes, and you have a sister, several aunts, an uncle, and many, many cousins.
I have a sister? Aunts and an uncle, cousins too?It felt as though I couldn’t breathe.Where? Where can I find my sister, my father, and the rest of my family?
Ironcrest. You hail from Ironcrest Kingdom, my queen. Your guardian found you outside of Parvol in the Wood. That is where your mother perished at the hand of your former guardian.
In other words, Guardian Alleron hadn’t lied about killing her. Of course not. He hadn’t been able to lie once Jax’s Mistvale commanding magic had seized him.
Did my guardian know of my other family members?
No, my queen. You were the only one with your mother when he happened upon you. He knew nothing beyond her.
I tried to take some comfort in that, even though there was nothing noble about it. I could only thank the gods and goddesses that my sister hadn’t been with us when my mother was killed. Surely, Guardian Alleron would have murdered her too.
I thought of my dead mother, her soul in the afterlife. I could summon her, speak with her directly. I could do so right now.
At just the thought my heart raced, and I decided against it at the moment. I would find my blood family first, then I would summon my mother, after I knew more about her. Meeting her, even if she’d died, was going to be so emotional that I needed to mentally prepare myself.
I took a deep breath.Where can I find my sister?
She’ll be at the Ironcrest Ball next week.The semelee on my other side showed me a picture of her. I gasped. She looked similar to me yet different. We shared the same green eyes, but whereas my hair was chestnut brown, hers was golden. Yet our mouths had a similar shape, and our ears the same curved point.
What’s her name?
Lorasbelle.
And my father? Will he be at the ball too?
Yes, one of the semelees replied.The fates have woven for the entirety of that night. Their fate is sealed. Both will be there. Unless you would like to twist fate again and make it otherwise?
No, I won’t be doing that again anytime soon.
A smile spread across my ghostly face as I thought of what next week would bring. I had a father who was alive and asister. I had an actual blood sister, and her name was Lorasbelle, and next week she and my father would be at the Ironcrest Ball. I could meet her. Meethim. Finally, I could meet my family.
