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“Uncle Dan used to tell us these stories when I was young,” he continued, “about people in the woods and other places. He said no one could ever see them but him, not even our kin. Ma thought he just drank too much moonshine, but I wonder…” He rubs his chin.
“Maybe he was talking about Faery.”
“Might have been.”
I slide my boot along the ground, warring over the question in my head. But questions are what we’re here for, right? “So, why stay? Why become”—I gesture to him—“fae? Don’t humans help fae magic?” That’s what they said anyway. “Seems…counterintuitive?”
“Wouldn’t you want to stay with someone you love?” The smile that stretches across his features stirs up envy within me that I couldn’t have predicted.
Love, true love.
“I guess I’d been drifting away for a while. Virginia made a show of her affairs and made me miserable every chance she could. The kids were mostly grown and involved in their own lives.”
He shrugs, but I can see the way it pains him. The temptation to wrap him in a tight hug is almost too much to hold back, but I don’t want to interrupt him now, not when his story is finally coming to light.
“It was selfish, but I wanted some joy for myself.” He shifts in the seat. “As for becoming fae—”
Horses let out startled whinnies, disrupting the peaceful day. A small herd of them race across the far end of the field, away from the forested edge.
Mark goes still.
Fae rush from the barn, headed in that direction.
“What is it?” I ask. “What’s happened?”
“I don’t know.” He rises to his feet with fae grace. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
Chapter 18
IreachforUncleMark as he hurries to the barn and whatever disturbed the animals, but he’s already jogging toward the other fae, much faster than he ever could when he was human. Being fae does have some advantages, I suppose. Still, Sigurd said fae fade in our world. It makes sense they can’t live there since I’ve never seen any, and boy, would that be prime-time news if people saw fae walking around. But being separated from your kids? I hug my arms around myself. I don’t even have any, and still the thought makes my chest ache.
“Human.”
The whispered word sends chills racing down my spine. I twist this way and that on the bench, searching for the source but coming up empty.
Uncle Mark’s form grows smaller and smaller. Everything in me yells to run after him. I set the last of lunch aside and jump to my feet.
“Shh,” the whisper comes again, just to my right.
I snap toward the sound, and this time I see her. The catlike woman, so unlike the other fae I’ve seen, edges out from between two leafy bushes. The commotion across the field tugs at my attention as realization sinks in.
“You disturbed the horses,” I say. And how on earth did she get here so quickly and silently? “Why?”
Her tail twitches, a match for the amusement in her feline eyes. “To assist you in the games. No one can know. They might call you a cheat.” Her head tilts to the side. “Disqualify you?” She stumbles a bit over the word. “We cannot have that.”
I swallow. No, we definitely can’t have that. “There’s no game today.”
“No, there’s not. But soon. More dangerous for a human.”
A hard knot rolls around in my stomach. Just peachy. Everyone has been hinting at danger. I fight back a sigh. What could the game be, a magical duel? “You’re here to give me a hint?”
“No.” She reaches out with her clawed hand.
I back away.
Her nose twitches. “You want my help. A protection spell.”
My knees dig into the ground. “I was told magic can be felt. Won’t they know if I cheat?”
