Fae of the South (Court of Crown and Compass Book 3) by E. Hall (libby ebook reader .txt) 📕

Amelia nods. “It’s a parallel realm. All I know about it are stories from my dad.”

I set aside the soda, wondering if I should believe anything she says. But that pesky voice inside me, the one that knows the truth and can attest to my true identity, wants to lean in and learn more.

Amelia describes the Southlands with its opulent buildings, lush greenery, and statues winking from alcoves, adorned with vibrant flowers and flickering candles. It’s a world away from the buildings in the city, the stew of people scrambling to get by, and the elite whose cars I was thrilled to drive.

“Then there was the Cosmic Conflict. Or CosCon. They say it was a solar flare, part of the sun, that fell from the sky and set everything on fire, turning it to ash. There was chaos, riots, shifts in power.” She shakes her head. “Everything was destroyed. Blown apart buildings, casualties, and people made prisoners.” It’s a stark contrast to the beauty and peace she’d previously described. “Those who didn’t flee the Southlands, like my parents did, were brought to their knees.”

“That’s awful.” My attention drifts because she’s probably made that up during long hours of boredom here at reform school.

What’s also awful is being here. Across the East River is home, life as I knew it. I too feel brought to my knees and like my world was blown apart. And I can’t do anything about it.

“The Southlands, like RIP Jr, had two distinct seats of power. There was the Nefral Palace where the vampires did their thing and the Fae Court of Fire and Iron,” Amelia explains.

“Iron?” I ask, adjusting the slim iron bracelet around my wrist that Tyrren made for me.

“Yeah. There are loads of fae courts in Borea. Let’s see, the Court of Briar and Knoll, Sky and Shoal, oh and I can’t forget Ice and Stars. But the Court of Fire and Iron was the first to fall under Bortimal’s reign.”

I’ve heard Ivan mutter that name in late-night dealings, which skips me back to something else she mentioned. “What were you saying about Nefral Palace?”

“Picture the most lavish palace you’ve ever seen. Now, multiply it by a billion-ty. Seriously. There weren’t just gems and gold here and there. The entire thing was constructed of precious metal and materials.” She goes on to describe the lavishness in great detail.

My thoughts dart from Ivan to this supposed realm to Tyrren’s arrest—the Nefral Weapons Trade.

Amelia’s voice floats back to me. “Almost three years ago, there was a fire in a gorgeous old chateau. It had hidden rooms and a staircase that looked like a princess would float down wearing a gown as the clock struck midnight. I mean, not Nefral Palace level fancy, but still pretty nice.” Her lips form a slim line. “I burned it down. Fire Fae.” Her fingers twitch. Then she adds, “with my family inside.”

Growing up with the Brooklyn Vampire Club, I’ve seen and heard some grisly things. I just barely stifle my gasp.

“I don’t remember doing it. I had no reason to. The police came, arrested me. Now, I’m here. When I turn eighteen in three months, I’ll be heading over to RIP—Riker’s Penitentiary.”

“Yeah, I know what it is.”

On the surface, Amelia seems bubbly and innocent. But beneath that, I’m not sure who she is. Then again, I didn’t kill two natural mortals so maybe she didn’t kill her family either.

I lift my gaze to meet hers. She blinks a few times and gives the slightest shake of her head. I take it to mean that she didn’t do it. I know with a kind of certainty that she is innocent just as I believe in my own.

“We should study. If we show that we got our homework done, the resident correctional assistants, CAs, will let us have a free hour.” She laughs at the irony.

“What do we study?” I ask.

“Regular stuff like in high school as well as learning more about our kind and vampires.” She frowns. “They’re trying to make us allies instead of enemies.”

I’m about to explain that Ivan helps all kinds of supernaturals—then again, he didn’t keep me from being locked up.

Amelia keeps talking. “Daily life looks like this. We have workouts in the morning alternating between running and the gym, then classes, lunch—the vampires don’t eat, but whatever—more classes, activities, dinner, study hour, and free time if we’re good. Then lights out.”

“Sounds straight forward.”

“What would be really cool if it was like the old Amsterdam Island Academy. Along with regular learning, students would train to be guardians or warriors. There were several such schools throughout Terra, but I think the only one left is an academy in Concordia. Have you heard of the Alpha Guardians and Warriors? Who knows, it could be a reform school now. There was suspicion that the shadow on the sun was caused by supernaturals. That was about when everything started changing, the demons, the vamps, we all got lumped together.” The girl can talk.

I toe off my boots.

She giggles. “What’s with the mismatched socks?” Her mouth drops and she stares at the bracelet from Tyrren. “Wait? Are you superstitious?” She eyes my wrist then the polka dot sock on my left foot and the one with pink and red stripes on the other. “For your information, those will not ward off fae.”

I bunch up my toes and sink back ever so slightly.

“You don’t seem like the kind of person to be superstitious or buy into the anti-fae self-discrimination. Be fae. Be proud.” Amelia gets to her feet. “I never understood that. Listen, we’re not the problem. Never have been. I mean, sure, unseelie fae can pose certain issues.” She snorts.

I flinch at the word unseelie as memories try to filter to the surface.