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“The prophecy reads, From the shattered heart of Fairest Blood shall it be forged for eternity. And only by the fairest blood heart made whole can it be unbroken, never to be fractured again.”
“So how do we kill the queen?”
Bashful speaks up for the first time. “The only way to know for sure is to seek answers in enchanted waters. Deep within the Silver Mountains, there lies a maze that leads to caverns at the heart of the range. They're the tears of the old gods flow, and in those enchanted wishing waters, all will be revealed.”
“So, let me get this straight.” Adelaide leans up, placing her palms on the table, and looks at her uncles. “I was born with a magical sleeping potion in my system that fooled everyone into thinking I was dead. Then I was taken away as a child, lost my memories, and the only way to get them back and solve this cryptic prophecy and kill the woman who wants me dead—as in some next-level vampire, drink my blood, dead—is to take a hot bath in some dead people’s tears, and my memory will ‘magically’ be restored.” Her voice rises as she talks. Pushing up from the table, she paces the room. “Did I miss anything?”
We all stay silent as everything that she’s been told sinks in. And I’m afraid it just may drag her under.
“Oh yeah, don’t forget the part where I’m. In. Another. Realm!”
“Adelaide, dear, I know it’s a lot. But Doc said to tell you—” Happy chimes in.
“What? What did Doc say? Please tell me. Or better yet, can someone explain why I can’t talk to Doc? Or to Bea?”
Her voice is yelling as she fights back tears, and for the first time since I took her that night, she starts to crack.
“Doc would be here if he could, but we have to find another portal. The mirrors aren’t safe. But you will soon, I promise. Bea is safe—she never came to this realm. She figured out something was wrong and called Doc. By the time the rest of them got there, you were long gone with… Riven.” His sad eyes meet mine. But I see no anger there, only sympathy.
“Okay, well, that answers a fraction of about a million questions that I still have. But how about this… why did you all lie? Why take me in the first place? I still had a father, a father I never had the chance to grow up knowing.”
“Your mother knew that Jocelyn would never give up. The king agreed it was for the best, but he loved you, Adelaide. They both did.” Happy stands and walks toward her. “They wanted you to have a safe and happy life outside the palace walls. Here with us. And you did have that.”
“Then why can’t I remember?” she screams, and my heart breaks for her as tears fall down her flustered cheeks. “And why send me away? It doesn’t make any sense. If she was so evil, how the hell did she become my stepmother? Got a magic bean, fairy wand explanation for that one?”
“No magic.” Grumpy huffs. “Plain and simple deception.”
Happy clarifies, standing in front of Adelaide. “He was grieving the death of your mother and you, because he did mourn you. He lost you both that night. But he couldn’t let her know. She used his broken heart against him like a weapon, promising to bring your mother back and to give him a child, an heir, and he fell for her schemes. We tried to warn him. But it was too late—she’s good at exploiting one’s deepest desires. Year after year, the king’s heart grew weaker, and when it finally stopped, his most trusted huntsman, Earon, came to warn us, and he told us we needed to take you from here. A plan that had been in place since we all swore an oath to Queen Ravenna.”
“My father?” I clutch my chest. Now it’s me that’s desperate for more information.
“Yes, Riven. Your father was loyal to the king and queen till the very end. That’s how I knew I could trust you when I sent word with Lucien to the gathering that night.”
“And his death?” The question nearly gets stuck in the back of my throat, afraid of what the answer might be. I hold Happy’s gaze, afraid to look at Adelaide.
“It was the night he returned from mirroring Adelaide. The queen knew he had betrayed her, and her bloodthirsty quest for power. It cost him his life. I’m so sorry, Riven.”
“And my mother?”
“I don’t know. We went to get you both, but the queen had already sent for you, and by then, it was too late. We knew she would never let you go because of your gift, and we knew you would never allow Birdy to be separated from you.” Well, we’re separated now. And I pray the brothers have reached her. This whole time, I’ve been fighting my feelings, afraid I was a traitor—like my father, torn about being loyal to a queen who didn’t deserve my pledge.
But now I can see that my trust was misplaced and that being like my father means we do the right thing. I will do the right thing.
I will make the queen pay, not just for what she did to the princess but for Birdy, my mother, me… all of us.
“All this time, I grew up thinking I was tainted blood, that I would be just like him.” I don’t realize I’ve said the words out loud until Adelaide’s gasp draws my attention back to her, standing across the room but feeling a million miles too far away.
“You are just like him. Wasn’t sure at first, but now I know.” Grumpy pats me on the back. “’Sides… why else do you think we’d let you be alone with our girl?”
Well, look who has a heart after all.
Chapter 18
Adelaide
My heart felt heavy as we rode away this morning. Maybe because it’s so full of love for my family. I always thought I had four uncles, but turns out I have three more, and they make up the Seven, a faction of an ancient Fae-blessed council of protectors, healers, and inventors that served my mother’s family and kingdom—this forest—long since before I was born.
The things they told me and the things I almost remembered while there are all woven together in my mind. But there are still missing threads I need to complete the tapestry of my memories.
