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“No!” Saint growled, whirling around to stare at me, shock coloring his face. “That’s not true! We’re brother and sister!”
I groaned and retreated to my spot on the velour sofa, falling ungracefully. “When did you know? How did this happen?”
“I don’t know anything!” Saint insisted, joining me in the living room. He sat in the only other chair, his face ashen as he sighed. “But I’ve suspected for a long time.”
“No! Mom loved Dad, Saint. Come on! She wouldn’t have cheated on him!”
“I know,” he agreed quickly. “And I don’t believe that she had an affair—not intentionally.”
I stared at him blankly. “What the hell does that mean?”
He shook his head again. “I’m not entirely sure,” he admitted. “But there were hints, before Dad died. Your powers were a bone of contention between Mom and Dad. You were too young to remember it, but I do.”
My gut churned at this revelation, but I forced myself to listen, knowing that my older brother knew more about my parents’ relationship than I did. Eight years between us was a lifetime at that age. I wished I could remember better, remember more about when my father was alive, but my childhood memories were so spotty, they couldn’t be trusted.
“Mom didn’t cheat on Dad, but at the time, the Order of Souls was running rampant through all four of the kingdoms, infiltrating themselves everywhere. There were dark faeries who could mask themselves as others, and I believe one did that here, pretending to be the husband of several servants for the express purpose of impregnating the palace staff.”
“What?” I choked.
“That’s what I’ve heard,” Saint added quickly. “I don’t know how true it is—which is why I never told you, Elix.”
I sucked in a breath. “I’m not the only one?!”
“I don’t know,” Saint admitted. “It’s all rumor and speculation, Elix. That’s why I told you to leave it alone. I don’t know why you needed to get into it. Can’t you see that now?”
Tears burned behind my eyes as I stared accusingly at my brother, the secure force I’d known my whole life, the one who had protected me and been by my side since birth.
“Why didn’t you tell me any of this?” I breathed. “Why didn’t you warn me?”
“Elix, I tried to,” he moaned. “I said not to involve yourself?—”
“YOU DIDN’T TELL ME!” I yelled angrily. “If you had told me any of this, I would have…”
He studied me pityingly. “You would have what?” he asked softly. “Left it?”
I threw my hands up and spun away to pace the tiny unit again, kicking my foot on the coffee table in the process. “I don’t know! Dammit!”
“I’m sorry, E.”
I shook my head and stopped at the window, peering out into the night, biting on my lower lip. This wasn’t my brother’s fault. It wasn’t my mom’s fault or Cirilla’s or anyone’s other than the dark fae who had gotten us all into this mess.
“Oh, gods,” I mumbled, the reality finally settling in. “I’m evil.”
My knees weakened again, and my hands shot out to brace myself against the windowsill.
“Woah. Woah, no, stop that!” Saint was at my side, grabbing my shoulders and spinning me to face him. “That’s not true!”
“I am! My blood is tainted!”
His face hardened. “So what?” he challenged. “That has nothing to do with who you are. Finding out your DNA hasn’t changed who you are at the core, has it?”
I choked on the lump that had formed in my throat.
Tell that to Jace,I thought miserably. The image of his face burned in my mind.He’s never going to let this go. It’s too detrimental to the kingdom. He thinks I betrayed him, that I withheld from him.
“Elix, what is going on? Why is this shaking you so badly?”
“I…” Sniffling, I lowered my eyes.
