‘And their wings – his parents’ wings – are faded and all folded away. And the kids’ wings are like shadows – like they’re not really there at all.’

Nan considers, her face drawn with tiredness. If I demand too much of her, will she leave? I know she wouldn’t mean to, but if she gets too thin, would she just disappear?

‘I suppose it may be part of the shadow curse. Since the shadows took over, there is little light, little to eat. They have always concealed them, of course, when they’re glamouring, but in their own world . . . I don’t know, Stella. I can’t fix it all . . .’ She stares at me. ‘And you’re still so young. I wanted to protect you from it. Who knows what you’ve set off now. You should’ve just stayed away. I was charged with bringing you up safely.’ She says it almost to herself. ‘I tried to find the palace. For years, I dragged you in there. I thought that if we found him, we could wake him to reality, but I saw how much it took from you – how strong the shadows were around you. Your presence made it worse. We had to stay away. And now you go walking right into their lair!’

‘Maybe . . . it’s time,’ I say, keeping my voice low.

She winces. ‘You’re still a child.’

‘What does that mean? That I’m powerless? You know that’s not true, Nan.’

‘But you don’t know enough. You aren’t strong enough.’

‘So I’ll keep going to school – to learn. And to have friends.’

‘You’ll stay away from the forest? Please, Stella – promise me you’ll stay away. You may be right; the time may be drawing closer. But looking at you now, I don’t think it’s here yet.’ She fixes her gaze on me. ‘I don’t think you’re ready to face your father. Memories are wonderful things, they are precious, but he is not the same fae king that you have in your mind. He changed, Stella, more completely than I have ever seen any creature change. You must be ware of him, and of that stag shadow of his. Will you hear me, Stella? Will you be ware? Have your school, have your friends, but don’t let them know you’re the child of the Shadow King – and stay away from that forest!’

I look down at myself. Covered in mud and bits of bramble, my hands shaking, my stomach a horrible, empty dark place where fears have gathered deep as shadows. I don’t know how to fight them, yet. I don’t even know how to keep from falling on my face in there.

‘Do you think they’d hate me if they knew who I was?’

‘They wouldn’t hate you,’ Nan says, drawing closer. ‘They don’t know you, Stella. They don’t know my lovely girl, for all that she is. But they might be unwelcoming. Until you are strong in your power, all you’ll be is a reminder of him.’