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Eeva nodded. “Oh, yes. I’m certain that is what happened. That or I was so lost in the blood call, lust for the hunt took over my entire mind. If that happens, at times it is difficult to even recall my actions. It becomes a sort of horrid dream.”

Livia’s brow furrowed. “The way you cannot recall the lust for blood reminds me of curses my own folk have endured. Almost exactly. It’s as though your nature was written throughout fae fates. Your story connected us in another way, and we did not even realize the other existed.”

I knew Livia spoke of her father. A fate curse of bloodlust once consumed the Night Folk king.

“Interesting thought, Liv,” Sander said as though he could not help himself.

No doubt, my friend would be poring over tomes to see if the theory withstood a bit of scrutiny.

“Please know,” Eeva said, voice soft. “Veri folk are peaceful. I know it does not seem like the truth, but we use the evigt to store our own blood, not to compel, but as a legacy for our descendants. Blood empowers our ability to create wondrous forests, gardens, unbreakable weapons, health, and abundance. A god’s life in all ways possible.”

“You drink each other’s blood, not your own?”

Eeva nodded. “We don’t hunt. Like I said, we’re peaceful. To keep the blood call at bay, we drink from the legacy blood. I only require a small dose every full moon or so. I recall using blood in the evigt crystals. The blood bonds us across generations. To strengthen my ability, I might drink a few drops of my twice great-grandmother. It is like our ancestors are always with us, empowering us.”

I returned a soft smile. “That’s lovely, Eeva.”

“We don’t fall to the predator within because we don’t allow each other to do so.”

“What would happen if you did not drink a bit of blood every month?” Livia asked.

“I’d become quite ravenous. The call would be harsher, more difficult to resist.”

“Is it possible the talisman was forcing you to not notice the hunger?”

Eeva’s brows lifted. “If that is true, then they were manipulating my mind every day.”

“Livia asks, because some of our men who escaped Eilifur made it seem like Djur and Lena intentionally kept you starved,” I said.

Eeva’s shoulders slumped. “You said they needed three fae for my harvest?”

“Yes. Every turn.”

Eeva shook her head. “With enough hunger, I would drain any drop of foreign blood in sight. The garden bloomed for a turn, but if I had my own mind, if I grew it with my own intentions, it would last longer. They have been controlling my power, so it is no wonder it wilted so swiftly. But three souls would be enough to feed the whole clan for the turn.”

Foreign blood. It was the key. Eeva had to consume different blood for hers to create the vitality for others.

Tait mentioned Djur had hinted they could not be greedy. Perhaps Eilifur could not grow the garden longer than a turn because they twisted beautiful magic for their own corruption and darkness. Magic always seemed to know when it was being manipulated for ill.

“The sea witch supposedly found you turns ago and gave you to those mortals. Is that true?” Celine asked.

Eeva wrung her fingers together. “Would you believe me if I said I don’t remember?”

“Depends, doesn’t it?” said Celine.

“Meaning”—I cast a wary look at Tidecaller—“we’d simply love for you to explain further.”

Eeva swallowed and faced the open hearth. “I know about my people, my culture, but I don’t…I don’t recall my clan anymore. I don’t know how I met Lena.”

Livia went to Eeva’s other side. “What do you remember?”

“I recall feeling peaceful with Lena. She told me I was going to learn about another clan. That my father or mother or someone desired I learn how to live amongst different folk, for I was to take vows. She told me often they were searching for the perfect match, and if I served Eilifur well, I would bring great alliances to many clans throughout the Far Seas. I’m such a bleeding fool.” Again, Eeva let her face drop to her palms. “To fall for dreams of romance and honor and prestige. When the truth is, I am a beast.”

“The fault is on their shoulders, Eeva.” I smiled. “But that lie does explain why you thought Tait was your match. He told me about your confusion and Djur’s betrayal.”

“Yes, I’m rather mortified to think he would return when he has you.” Eeva speared her fingers into her glimmering hair. “How many times over the turns did Djur manipulate me with the same story, introducing me to a fae, thinking I was to create an alliance, only to have me kill them?”

“They’re gone now, Eeva,” I said. “You’re free of Lena and Djur.”