“Then we’re very lucky indeed that your magic worked so quickly. I’ve never heard of such a thing. This was incredibly dangerous, Laurel,” he chastises, and I lower my head in shame. “You know better than to isolate yourself when you’re feeling out of control with your magic.” His words are stern, the voice he used when I was young and he was my teacher. I pick at my nails, too embarrassed to meet his eyes. He’s right—one of the first lessons we ever had was the importance of finding someone to help me if I felt like I was losing control. “I’m glad you’re okay,” Admon adds, voice tender.

A strange feeling crawls along my skin, like my magic is trying to tell me something. The whispers that come from the source of my magic start up, but they’re incoherent. Admon abruptly stands, then walks out of the room. I look at Thorne, who just shrugs at me. We wait in silence for a few minutes before Admon returns, carrying a massive book. He thunks it down on his dining table. As he cracks the pages open, dust shoots in all directions.

“This is an ancient text we have on the fables of the fae,” Admon informs us. “It details all the myths of our kind, and I remember there is an entire section on fae mates. There may be some truth to these tales. At the very least, it’s all we have.”

I stand behind him, looking down at the characters written across the page. “What language is this?”

“It’s a character-based language the earliest of fae used. Some might describe them as runes,” he explains.

“I saw runes like this scratched into the cave wall,” Thorne adds.

“I would expect so,” Admon says with a knowing smile. “The fae have been in Thayaria for a very long time, as far as we know. And the earliest of them used those caves.”

“Can you read it?” I ask Admon.

“I can, though my ability is only rudimentary. Nemesia would be more competent.” I stiffen, thinking of my former sister and advisor. Now that the initial shock of her betrayal has worn off, all that remains is icy rage.

“Nemesia is no longer welcome in Thayaria,” I order sharply.

Admon’s eyes widen in shock. “Why not?”

“Thorne discovered correspondence between her and the leader of the Sons and Daughters. She was revealing information to him about her research findings in Velmara. She’s betrayed us.” My voice is steady and cool, the practiced ruler making an appearance, but inside I’m in turmoil. Thorne finds my hand and squeezes it before releasing it again.