"Arthur wants you in his office."

I had felt Charles approaching, but thought he only wanted to oversee the lesson. His snapped words, emphasized by his dark mood, took me by surprise.

We were by the lake, in the midst of another lesson with the juniors. Vanessa was nowhere to be seen. Corbin told me that he spoke with her and that she was doing fine. Apparently, she was sent by Arthur to someone who would teach her to cope with her bloodlust.

All the juniors straightened up at the sight of Charles.

"Now?" I asked him.

"Yes, I'll take over the lesson." He replied, and I swear I heard some of the soldiers actually groan.

Apparently, the issue was of importance for Arthur to put a halt on my lesson. If there was one thing I knew about him, it was that he valued his men and women and wouldn't have taken away time from their class unless it was an urgent matter.

I made my way as fast as I could to Arthur's place, my mind running wild with all the possible reasons he would summon me this way. They were all bad.

Harvey and Amanda were by the door, I smiled in greeting as I passed them by, their response was a tight one compared to their usual cheerful attitude.

That was the second sign this was not good.

I hesitated at the stairs. Did it have anything to do with my past? It probably did. I could run away. In fact, I had been struck by the urge to pack my bags and get away several times over the past few weeks.

But then again, it wasn't like I could hide from Arthur if he truly wanted me found. I could certainly try, but it was pointless.

I took a deep breath, squared my shoulders and climbed the stairs up to my fate.

The door was pulled open the moment I stopped in front of it. Arthur was sitting at his desk, his face impossibly blank, facing a laptop. He pointed at a chair behind him and to the side with a thumb.

"Sit."

The urge to curse him was impossibly hard to deny, but one look at him had me holding back my tongue. He was in a mood.

I took the seat, and settled with glaring daggers at the back of his head. The glossy waves of his black hair teased his nape. Damn him, he had great hair.

A moment later, the laptop chimed with an incoming video call.

"Don't make a sound," he said, then pushed the reply button.

I was glad I was sitting down, because the face on the screen would have sent me either to my knees or running out of the door. I was out of his sight, thankfully, only Arthur was in the camera frame.

"King Ronan, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Arthur asked with a honey toned voice that hinted at nothing of his real mood.

The man on the screen, a handsome blond with hair a few shades darker than his brother's, smiled in what appeared to be sincere warmth.

"Arthur. Very delightful to see you. It has been a long time," The fae king, my uncle, said.

"It has, indeed."

"Let's cut straight to the heart of my call, since I know you're a busy man."

Arthur chuckled, but the sound was just... wrong, very unlike his usual laughter. "I always have time for the fae king, Ronan. But go ahead."

"Thank you," Ronan lowered his head a fraction. From a king, that was as good as a full ninety degrees bow. It drove home the fact that Arthur, no matter how approachable he liked to portray himself at times, was a man who has ruled over sprawling territories for millenia.

"It has come to my attention that you host a fae in your territory."

Arthur cocked his head to the side, the movement so small that if I hadn't known Arthur did it often I wouldn't have seen it.

"I would be careful about your choice of words, Ronan. I do not host any one of yours in my territory at the moment," Arthur said, his tone still pleasant despite the obvious menace in his words, "However, to keep things short and to the point, I do know who you are referring to."

Ronan leaned forward a little in his chair, the glass in the background showed a seemingly infinite spread of greenery. "Yes. The only fae in your territory. The girl by the name of 'Elle Sanders'."

Great. Fantastic. Terrific. He knew my name.

"What about her?"

"I would like to see her," the king said, "I understand that she was a headhunter, and despite all my people's efforts, I couldn't find a visual of her. I was wondering if there was a reason you're keeping her identity a secret."

Arthur had no hand in keeping my face off the net. It was all my doing. When you're a headhunter, you get to meet all sorts of people. I had saved a hacker's life in one of my missions, a human. As payback, I had him blur my face in all databases. Humans are scary.

"Is that so? Hmm..." Arthur said.

Ronan showed no sign of being irritated by Arthur's reluctance to speak. His serene smile was intact.

"Yes. You see, I have a responsibility towards my people. Every single one of them. The fact that someone, for whatever reason, felt the need to leave their home and birth a beloved child outside the safety of the fae hold makes me wonder whether I've failed in my duty."

The regret in his tone and eyes looked genuine. How about that? 

Uncle Robert never knew who had a hand in the tragic beginnings of my life. But he'd always told me not to trust anyone from the royal court. And Ronan, the current king and my uncle, was the head of that court.

"I have no answer to that question, Ronan." Arthur said, "but the lady in question will be accompanying me to Europe for the meeting, perhaps if you're there, you could meet her in person."

Crap. Crap, crap, crap. Why did he have to say that?!

"I see," Ronan nodded, "very well then. It was not in my schedule, but maybe I would drop by."

"You do that. I look forward to seeing you, king Ronan."

That was an obvious brush off. Arthur was so pissed that he didn't even want to observe diplomacy with the king of the fae. Ugh. I was so screwed.

"Likewise," The king ended the call.

The vampire lord slowly turned his chair my way. The expression on his face could only be described as thunderous.

"Why," he enunciated each word clearly and slowly, his anger a tightly leashed beast, "is the fae king asking about you?"

I shifted in my seat and kept quiet. I couldn't tell him the truth, and I would not lie to him. Arthur cracked his neck to the side and regarded me quietly.

"Will your presence in my ranks cause a commotion in the future, Elle?" He finally asked.

Again, I could not tell him the truth. My presence would definitely cause a fuss, whether I told him or not. But I couldn't risk Arthur taking away his protection in case he found out who I truly was. His protection was the only thing standing between me and being dragged to Europe on a leash. The moment they saw my face, I was as good as dead. I had been counting on my existence being a secret until I went to Europe and found out who hired Martin Malone. But things were getting out of hand even before I left the country.

"You have nothing to say?" he asked.

"I can't-"

"Don't," he snapped, his anger a whip across my senses. He stood up and went to stand by the window, his back to me.

"Get the hell out."

The curt order was another stab to my pride. Damn his arrogance. I left immediately, somehow managing not to slam the door on my way out. I didn't even remember if I acknowledged Amanda and Harvey. 

The run to my cabin was shorter than what I would've liked, so I ran some more. It helped me take my mind off the mess I found myself in once again.

How stupid was I to believe that Arthur wouldn't eventually find out about my connection to the royal family? If he dug in deep enough, he would see it. And the moment he found out about the risk running in my blood, he wouldn't think twice about handing me in. If he didn't cut my head off, first.

Even the blood vow wouldn't stop him; because I would be considered a threat to the safety of his own people.

I shouldn't have come here. I shouldn't have taken the job that brought me in contact with the Order to begin with. But there was nothing I could do about it now.

Looking back at my actions in the past, I realized that sooner or later, I would've come across someone from this world. It was inevitable.

Uncle Robert had taught me many things, had told me many secrets. His only failing was not preparing me for my eventual crossing of the immortal world. He thought he'd always be with me, never expecting his death would come so soon and so abruptly.

That's the problem with immortals, they live such long lives that they sometimes forget they aren't truly immortal, that they aren't out of death's reach. No one is out of death's reach.

I slowed my pace when the sky darkened and I could no longer see my path clearly. The forest's sounds calmed me down. But thinking of how Arthur acted made my blood boil again. I held my magic tightly in my core. It wanted to break loose and ravage.

He had no right to act that way simply because I wouldn't tell him something. It was my past, they were my secrets to tell.

But deep down, I knew I was partly wrong. He had a right to know, he had had the right to know from the very beginning. By agreeing to become one of his people, I had given him that right. Except that the way he spoke had stung my pride. 

By the time I reached my small cabin again, Irene and Wes were waiting for me outside. The cabin's light was on and the door open, bathing the clearing in a soft yellow glow.

"Okay..." she trailed off when she saw my face, then her eyes scanned my body, "did you go for a swim?"

"I was running," I mumbled. Wes nudged my hand with his nose when I didn't immediately pet him.

I sighed, sat on the forest floor and hugged him.

"What's wrong with you?" Irene sat on the doorstep, "I just left a meeting when Arthur almost bit our heads off. I thought to come here and vent out my stress, but you look like you need venting more than I do."

With a groan, I laid back fully on the ground. The soft and hard of it dug into my back, my short hair sprawling on the dirt. Wes put his head on my chest with a small whine. The feeling of coming home only lasted a second before the urge to punch something, or someone, returned.

"I don't need venting. I'm just...I don't even know what's wrong with me."

Irene made an agreeing sound. We stayed quiet for a few blissful minutes. The night sky never failed to take my breath away, a stretching dark canvas dotted with tiny jewels. Stars, living and dead, shone brightly, reminding us of our insignificance.

"You know," Irene said, "they say anger comes from hurt."

I blinked. I was too tired to make sense of the turmoil beneath the anger. Anger was easy, it was familiar.

But hearing Irene's words made me pause. Was I hurt? Why? Because Arthur brushed me off that way?

That was ridiculous. I shouldn't care as long as he left me and my secrets alone. Yet I found my chest constricting with indignation again as soon as his face flashed in my mind. The arrogant ass.

"Yeah?" I replied.

"Yep, and you can't get hurt by someone you don't care about."

I kept my silence. I had a hunch where she was going with this.

"So, you had a fight with Arthur?" she asked, I could almost hear the smile in her voice. I rolled my eyes.

"I wouldn't call it a fight."

"But you're angry."

"Irene," I sighed, Wes removed his head as if feeling I wanted to sit up. I met her eyes and raised a brow. "You're always angry at Charles, should I assume you care for him?"

Her lips parted, but she had no response. She had dug her own grave. I wiggled my eyebrows. She scowled and flipped me off with an unkind word.

Thankfully, Irene learned her lesson and didn't try to allude at any unreasonable notions for the rest of the evening. We sparred a little, made a few sandwiches for dinner and ate in peace while Wes greedily gobbled up whatever Irene and I threw his way.

The next couple of days I trained, taught the juniors and avoided running into Arthur. As the days progressed, the anger slowly leached away and my head cleared up a little. No one said a word about Arthur's call with the fae king, no one brought up my past, and at the end of the fourth day, I started thinking that Irene wasn't so far off with her assessment. I was hurt, and I also felt slightly guilty.

Amanda found me stewing in my emotional mess that evening. She brought a heavenly chicken pie with her.

Wes followed along, unusually subdued. He plopped down at the cabin's floor, put his head on his front paws. The poster child of sorrow.

"What's wrong, big guy?" I asked, hunkering down next to him. He looked at me with soulful dark eyes, his expression mournful.

"He's been a bit sulky the last few days," Amanda said over her shoulder as she cut a piece of pie, "kind of like someone else."

"I am not sulking," I replied, mortified. Amanda only looked at me with her motherly expression.

I looked over my behaviour the last few days and groaned out loud, covering my face with my hands as I sat next to Wes.

"Oh, God. I was sulking."

"Mhm." Amanda hummed cheerfully, "it's okay, you have the right to sulk once in a while. Just don't drag it out. You've been avoiding dinner at Arthur's for five days now."

Who was I? I didn't even know anymore. This was absolutely horrifying and completely unacceptable. I did not sulk. If I didn't like something, I made it known and I worked to change it. I did not act like a human teenager who didn't get her way.

"We were worried, you know," she said.

I rose to my feet, "I'm sorry, I don't know what's wrong with me."

She pointed to a seat at the square dining table, "that's fine, dear. I understand. I have the urge to run away once in a while, too."

I sat down, picked up my fork and took a bite of the plate she put for me. It was crunchy and creamy and perfect

"So, what happened?" she sat across from me, "Arthur is in a horrible mood, too, so I take it you guys had a fight."

"It wasn't a fight," I sighed, "it wasn't even an argument."

I looked at Amanda's big, kind blue eyes, and found myself telling her about the phone call and the short one sided conversation Arthur and I had afterward.

"Ah," she nodded when I finished, "he only told us about the king's call, nothing about the reason for it. But we could guess."

I slowly chewed on the bite of chicken pie while Amanda stared at the floor in thoughtful silence. Then suddenly she sighed and looked at me, putting her elbows on the table.

"Look, Elle, I'm going to be honest with you. I like you. I adore you. You're smart, you're selfless and loyal. I would trust you at my back any day. But you have to understand, trust goes both ways."

I blinked, "I do trust you."

"Do you? Really?" she smiled sadly, "I know how hard it is to let go of secrets. Believe me, I know. But there comes a point when holding a secret close could stand between you and other people.

"Arthur has made a giant leap of faith when it comes to you. He let you into the heart of his territory and trusted you with people under his care. He offered you his protection when you were the most vulnerable. I know Arthur. He doesn't let people in easily. He trusted you. You can't expect to keep holding his trust when you harbor secrets that could endanger his people or his relationship with one of the most powerful men alive."

I stared at the pie blankly, guilt digging its claws in my heart. She was right, I knew she was right. But it wasn't that simple.

"What if my life is at stake?" I said, lifting my eyes to meet Amanda's.

"Only you know the stakes, Elle. You have to make a decision. No one else. But let me ask you something, do you truly believe Arthur would put anyone under his care in danger?"

"No." I replied, because for all his faults, Arthur was protective of his people.

Amanda nodded with a smile, "you have your answer. You're one of Arthur's people now. He will do all he can to protect you. Just don't break his trust."

Amanda left shortly after that. At the door, I asked a question that had been bothering me for a while now.

"Amanda?"

"Yes, dear."

"Why does Arthur trust me?"I asked, "I mean, he let me in fairly quickly."

"His instinct," she replied, "ancient immortals develop a certain sense for other people. And I have yet to witness Arthur's instinct about someone be wrong."

Her words echoed in my head the entire night as I tossed and turned in my bed with Wes' heavy body next to me. I woke up with a surprisingly clear mind, my heart calm and resolute. There was only one way out, and I would not be a wimp about it. No more wallowing in fear.

I was leaving the training ground after a particularly grueling sparring session with Irene, we both wore the bruises to prove it, when Charles crossed our way.

"Meeting at Arthur's. Now."

These people sure loved their meetings.

Irene murmured what I was pretty sure was a curse, loud enough for Charles to hear before he disappeared.

"Are you angry at him?" I asked with a sweet tone, "that's because you're hurt-"

Her elbow dug in my side with enough force to cut my words. Then she ran towards Arthur's house with a challenging look over her shoulder.

"You little.." I said holding my ribs. When the pain subsided a little, I ran after her. 

We raced all the way to the house. Halfway through Wes joined us, gleefully barking. I tripped Irene when she put on a final burst of speed in her attempt to beat me to the door. Her shapeshifter reflexes didn't let her fall, but I managed to touch the door first. She called me an unflattering name.

"You cuss way too much," I told her, gasping for breath. She only cursed again, and we entered the house with matching wide smiles, followed by a tail wagging Wes. I poured him some water before going upstairs with Irene.

Everyone but Arthur was in the meeting room. I didn't realize I had been holding my breath until I sighed in relief. As soon as I took my usual seat between Irene and Amanda, Jesse spoke across from me.

"The scarring is healing prettily."

I wasn't in the mood for his petty games so I smiled as sincerely as I could and replied, "thank you."

He gave me a puzzled look. Before anyone could speak, the familiar presence of Arthur raised the hairs on the back of my neck. The same power-sucking void with a hint of vampiric presence.

He took his seat at the head of the table and looked at Charles, "what do you have?"

Why did he have to be so damn good looking? I looked away, ignoring the sharp pang of emotion in my chest. I did not have time to deal with anymore emotional crap.

"The person I know in Europe came through," Charles said, "He confirmed there have been a few incidents of powerful demons emerging over the last three decades."

"How powerful?" Amanda asked.

"Mostly mid level demons," the blond vampire replied, "the appearances were scattered over Europe and parts of Russia."

"I remember Venus mentioning something like this a while ago," Harvey told Arthur.

"Yes. She didn't divulge the details, though." Arthur replied, "but if several powerful demons have been spotted, she should've shared the fact with us. It's not something she can keep to herself."

"Only she can explain why she swept such important incidents under the rug." Amanda said.

"We still don't know how this many demons are able to pass through to our realm," Charles said.

"What do you think, Arthur?" Amanda asked.

Arthur stared at the window for a long minute, then, "for stronger demons to pass through, the chasms in the fabric separating our realms need to be bigger."

"Bigger chasms? I thought the fabric was stable?" Irene asked

"It should be." Arthur said, "after the gate was closed, the fabric has been monitored diligently for the first few centuries. The duty fell into the witches' hands. They haven't said anything to indicate that the fabric was behaving erratically."

"What could possibly cause the fabric to suddenly go crazy?" Jesse asked. The answer to his question was one that filled every single one of us with dread.

"Another gate." Arthur replied to the silence, his voice calm, as if he hadn't just dropped the news of another world changing event on us, "someone is trying to open another gate."

Amanda's sudden intake of breath was loud over the sudden stillness. "Another gate?"

"Yes," Arthur replied, "I doubt the demon lords are behind it this time. Back then, we made sure they couldn't open another gate from their side. So I have a strong suspicion it is being done from our world."

"How long have you been suspecting this?" Harvey asked, brown eyes narrowed at Arthur.

"A little while now."

"A little while?" Harvey frowned. A little while for an ancient could mean a few months or a few decades.

"There was no reason to upset you when nothing was certain, yet."

Arthur and Harvey shared a look. Harvey pursed his lips but didn't pursue the matter further.

"Something terrible is going on in Europe. If left unattended, it could mean bad news for the entire world," Amanda said.

"We really shouldn't jump to conclusions, though," Jesse injected, "if what you're implying is true, we would've at least heard rumors of it by now. They can't hide something that big."

Charles looked at Kat. She shook her head.

"I haven't heard of anything, and I'm still in contact with most covens in Europe."

"Me neither." Amanda said, "and I know that Venus isn't stupid enough to allow something like this to happen on her territory."

Memories of years ago jumped to the forefront of my mind, of uncle Robert's story times.

"There has been an incident," I said, uncle Robert's words clearing up in my head, "of an attempt to open another gate."

Everyone looked at me. I swallowed to dampen my parched throat. "In Ireland."

"Of course," Amanda said, "it makes sense. That's the only place where the other races have no authority."

"Whoa, let's slow down just a little bit," Havey said, "You can't go around throwing accusations of this magnitude at the royals. Elle, dear, how do you know this?"

This was the moment of choice. I could choose to avoid an answer, or I could reply honestly.

Honesty would unravel an entire chain of secrets. Honesty could lead to my demise.

I looked at Arthur. His eyes were on my fisted hands on the table. They were glowing softly, my magic reacting to my agitation. I sucked it inside, squared my shoulders and met Arthur's dark gaze. A muscle ticked in his jaw before I looked at Harvey.

"I know for sure. Unc- Robert Walsh told me."

The name got everyone's attention. "Robert Walsh? Do you know him? How?" Amanda asked.

"I know him," I replied past the knot in my throat, "he raised me."

"I thought Robert was loyal to the fae?" Jesse asked, leaning forward in his seat.

"He was," I replied, "specifically, he'd sworn his loyalty to Rion's line."

"Rion, the previous king? and current king's brother?" Irene asked. I nodded.

"I heard something like that a few decades ago." Harvey's eyes narrowed into slits. "How did he end up raising you..." he trailed off, and I saw the moment his brain came up to the conclusion I was about to reveal.

"Because I'm Rion's daughter." 

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Hi guys!

The chain of secrets is unraveling, and Elle's past will come to light. How do you like this chapter?

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Love,

Mia <3