Page 68 of Sorrow & Strangers

“What happened last year, Miss Tuatha De Daanan⁠—”

“Was not the fault of the school,” I say, not wanting him to finish that thought. I should have been safe here, and for the most part, I was. At the very least, I was safe from Torin. It is just unfortunate that I came across Aqua when I did. “Are there any loopholes that Lucifer might be able to take advantage of?” I ask, bringing the conversation back to Rafe.

He stares at me for a moment as he considers the question. “Rafe can go willingly, of course, and that leads into the only other way that Lucifer could force Rafe’s hand. At least, that I know of. Lucifer can make it so he has no choice.” He pins me with his intense stare. “If Rafe were given the choice between your life, Miss Legosi’s life, or going to Hell. Which do you think he would pick?”

The color drains from my face because there is no doubt what he would choose. “I will not lose another Morningstar,” I say, and even I recognize it as a vow. “Tell me what to do.”

He watches me for a moment, and I struggle not to shrink under his gaze. “You need to be able to keep the devil at bay. You have potential, but you need training.”

I nod and drop my gaze. His assessment is absolutely accurate. I am no match for a power like Lucifer, and I would be beyond foolish to think I could survive him if he decided I was in his way.

“She called you light fae.” My body tenses instinctively at the mention of Aqua, anticipating the pain of the memories. They don’t disappoint, and my whole body remembers the agony of that moment, but I force myself to meet his gaze again.

“How do you know that?” I ask, willing my voice not to tremble as the echo of pain bounces through me.

“She kept screaming it when I killed her,” he says, tilting his head as if gauging my reaction. He’s not going to find one. The darkness swirls inside me, and while it is contained, I hope he destroyed her, slowly, painfully. He gives me a small nod as if finding whatever it was he was looking for, and says, “I do remember that long before the Fall, there were always two regents, two courts. I spoke with my father, and he confirmed it.”

I hold his gaze, the silver in his eyes appearing molten.

“I think you might be from the court that didn’t survive the Fall.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

Summer

Ishake my head. “That isn’t possible.” I had done my own research into the light fae. It is true that I possess all the characteristics of a light fae from the little information I could find, but I was unable to come up with a viable way it could be possible. I’m only twenty-eight. Faerie was destroyed hundreds of years ago, and the light fae have been extinct since then.

“I’d like to test something.” He waves his hand, and a portal forms in the middle of the living room. “Come,” he says, and steps through the portal, not bothering to look back to see if I am following.

I sigh and step through. Why the hell not? At least when I am with someone else, I don’t have to put up with him. I find myself in a large empty field, and I stop to look around. A whisper of a breeze winds around me, easing the heat of the sun. It looks like a training ground, and I can tell it is well used, the field trampled flat. The grass is worn and yellow but feels spongy beneath my feet. I bet it makes for an easier landing if you are being thrown about or fall during training. Wherever we are, it is the perfect temperature for working out.

The portal snaps shut behind me with a loud crack, and I jump in surprise. Headmaster Emrys walks away from me, stopping about fifteen feet out. He opens his hand, and a small black box lands on his palm. Lines of deep purple veins streak the dark surface, pulsing as if it has a living, beating heart. Power radiates from it, and mine responds, coiling inside me. It’s the same surge that used to happen when I was around dark fae. I thought I’d worked on this enough that it was no longer a problem, but this raw power claws down my spine. The headmaster throws a ball of magenta power at me, and I recognize it as pure, chaotic fae magic. As it gets closer, my body reacts, my power surging through me, and my own violet ball of power forms in my palms.

His magic collides with mine in an explosion of sparks, light and dark power shattering. The runes on my skin glow, ready to be used on what my power is interpreting as a threat. The magical flare-up is suddenly ousted, and the headmaster is standing right in front of me, holding what looks like a charred ball of lead in his hand.

He tilts his hand, and it thunks heavily and uselessly onto the soft ground.

I pant, a bead of sweat sliding down my forehead. The power still roils within me, but it’s slowing. My body feels beaten and broken.

“You are light fae,” he says matter-of-factly. “The last. The only.”

It’s all I can do to stare at him, my head and body a mess.

“I’m sorry,” he says, scanning my face. “This is not a destiny I would wish on any student.”

“I have to get back,” I say, and look away, unsure what to do with that.

He surprises me by placing his hand on my shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze. “Miss Tuatha De Daanan,” he says, and then waits until I meet his gaze. “There is also good news.” His lips twitch into a half smile, making him look younger and less intimidating. “A light fae has the power to challenge the devil himself.”

My brows knit. “Why?”

“Because he has never fought one, and there is tremendous power in being the unexpected adversary.”

I nod and brush my fingers over Connor’s halo, feeling for that small dent that offers me a slice of comfort.

“We will keep Mr. Morningstar safe,” the headmaster says, and I hear the portal open behind me.

The halo hums comfortingly, and I step back through the portal, the headmaster following me.