So, Kerrigan left her teacher behind and found the farthest corner of the house. She closed her eyes and concentrated on Zina’s signature. The frost that hit so hard and beautiful. And those purple flowers that bloomed right after the first snow, as if they only came out of adversity.

She gasped as she felt her, even two stories away. She tugged on the signature and pulled.

Zina came into the spirit plane with ease. But something else reached for her. Kerrigan gasped. Her eyes flying open. She’d never felt another presence in the spirit plane like this. They were supposed to be safe in the circle, contained in this house.

“Kerrigan?” Zina called, concern in her voice.

Then, something touched her hand, and she disappeared from Black House.

30

The Camp

Mei tramped through a dirty war camp. She was in mud up to her ankles and wanted nothing more than to rid herself of this place. Nothing had gone as planned. No one would listen. Ten long years, they’d been at war with no end in sight until tonight. Tonight, the war could end.

She brushed a hand back through her hair. She wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for her daughter. She had joined up like the rest of the youth who thought they could make a difference and had no idea of what war was actually like. So self-righteous and certain that they were going to change the world.

Fae should have been slow to go to war and quick to retreat. The long lives afforded them space to see reason. But no one would see reason.

The tent flap shoved open before Mei could do so. Her daughter stepped out. They were nearly the same height with the same black hair and dark brown eyes. She had none of her father in her. Only twenty turns of the sun and dragon bound. How had she failed her so completely?

“What do you want, Mother?” her daughter sneered.

“You know why I’m here.”

“I won’t go with you. You’re a coward.”

Mei winced. The words hit hard despite the youth in them.

“You have no idea what you speak of.”

“I’m here to help us win this war against those barbarians. What are you doing, Mother?”

Mei clenched her hands into fists. “Please, come with me.”

“Where? Where are you running off to? How dare you run away from your obligation to the Society.”

“I have no obligation to the Society,” she snarled. “The Society only cares for itself.”

Her daughter took a step backward. “You include me in that assessment.”

“Yes,” she bit out.

“Then we’re done. Trulian will never leave either. How does he not see you for what you are?”

“Your father has nothing to do with this.”

Her daughter narrowed her eyes. “He is not my father.”

“We don’t have to go through this again.”

“I have no parents.”