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“How did she die? Why weren’t you there?”
“Why I didn’t save her, you mean?” He sighs. “I wasn’t there because she pushed me away. At the time I didn’t know why. You see, I didn’t know she was pregnant with you.”
“She pushed you away because she was pregnant? That doesn’t make any sense.”
“She didn’t want me to get involved in raising you. She wanted… She wanted you to live far from magic.”
I huff in exasperation. “All of you, making decisions for me. How wonderful.”
“She was sarcastic, like you. Strong, and beautiful, and smart.”
“And left me with an abusive uncle and aunt to be imprisoned in a church—where I’d still be if I hadn’t escaped.”
A wince tightens his face. “People make mistakes.”
“Yeah, and this one was a whopper,” I mutter.
“You’re right. And yet, she did what she thought was the best for you. The way to hell may be paved with good intentions, but one has to try.”
“So she gave me away to be raised in a church and she went off and did so much magic she burned herself to death?”
“She didn’t burn herself to death, Mia. I bet your uncle told you that.”
“He didn’t, actually. What happened to her?”
“An accident, it seems. Mundane. An everyday thing. A car hit her, killed her instantly.” A shadow passes behind his eyes. “And I didn’t even know about you. It wasn’t until you came to the Academy and I saw you that I felt the affinity in our blood.”
“Yet you said nothing,” I whisper, not sure why I feel so upset over it, or why I feel this sadness for a woman I can’t even remember.
“Yet I kept you here. Sindri got money for the fees, but I bypassed some regulations and convinced Miss Worthy that you should stay.”
I nod. “Speaking of whom… Is she okay?”
“She’s fine. Embarrassed that Ophelia got the drop on her and put her under the enchantment.”
“Everyone was. Well, almost. Not you, apparently.”
“No, it’s hard to get the drop on me, though you… You keep doing it and I don’t know how that’s possible.”
“Because… I am your child?”
“Daughter… Do you know what an angel is?”
“A strange winged creature with a penchant for turning people into salt pillars?”
“We’re not winged. And our power is to feel transmutations. Changes. We arose to keep the balance between the various forms of power.”
“Which is why you didn’t want to interfere with Ophelia.”
“Exactly. But my point is… here you are, a Queen.”
I bite my lip. “…Surprise?”
“You can say that. When you arrived, your magic was dormant. And I was too concerned with the surges of magic to think about it too hard. Too concerned about changes in the balance of the world. And now…”
“What are you saying? I mean, surely the balance has now been restored, right?”
He’s silent, light burning in his eyes. He’s in fact silent for so long I’m starting to get nervous and am about to ask the question again, when he leans forward. “You are… one with them. I’ve never seen anything like it, this complete merge of powers, and let me tell you, after knowing those four troublemakers, I never thought it possible they’d come together like that. Much less with you.” His face suddenly hardens. “Did they touch you?”
