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

and victory vie for domination. I know what happened but can’t quite get a measure of what it means.

My sisters gather around me.

Kiki gives me a side hug and whispers, “We sent Soren in raven form to find Heather. We have to get out of here because Glandias is sure to turn up.”

“And we need to get our weapons.” Val gives my shoulders a squeeze and then helps me to my feet.

“We need to make a plan to find our other sister,” I say.

Kiki takes out the note from the demon. “I think her name is Elsie. I keep reading and rereading this thing, hoping some clue will jump out at me and make sense.”

“Well, you have the third stone. Well done, by the way,” Callen says to me.

“I didn’t really do anything.” I shrug.

“You deceived Glandias, you tricky unseelie fae,” Tyrren says with warmth in his voice.

“And I’m guessing she’s not going to be too thrilled about that.”

“Meaning she’ll be looking for us and bent on...well, let’s not think about that. I really didn’t like the way it felt when she used my true name,” Val says.

Kiki passes the note around. “Tell me if we’ve missed something.”

Callen shrugs.

Val reads it once, twice.

I stare at it for a long time, recalling the poem Aina gave me. Had I known she was my mother, I would’ve paid more attention. Although, I do remember a lot about her. She smelled like sugar and snow. Her eyes were spectacularly lavender. She had the sweetest voice, always wanted to know about me, my life, hobbies, and interests. She was one of those people who genuinely listened.

Looking at Val and Kiki now, I realize although I didn’t get the entirety of her, I get pieces of her in my sisters.

Tyrren looks at the note over my shoulder.

Demons shadow thieve, while the fae court grieve. Four sisters to find. One compass to bind. Four crowns to take. One curse to break. Before twelve moons turn, else the realm will burn.

He blinks a few times and I sense his gears turning.

“Hang on,” Val says. “Didn’t you mention that the compass can lead us to each other?”

Kiki nods. “Yeah, Vespertine said that, but it seems more of a theory. The compass got us to the Westlands, but I was drawn to you, I think by the snowflake necklace. Lea, you were another matter. Outside of Borea, the compass wasn’t much help. I was drawn to New York City and we did a search in the police database. But you were obscured while at the reform school. We got word about the facility where Glandias, and before her Emeric, were keeping fae and thought maybe you were there. It was only when I got to that building that I knew you were somewhere inside.”

“Funny that she ended up in the back of that war wagon,” Callen says.

“Humvee,” I correct.

“Hummingbird?” Val asks.

Tyrren and I laugh then he stops abruptly.

He points to the note. “Look. It’s like there are letters beneath letters.” He takes it from my hand and holds it up to the floodlight. “It’s as though another message is imprinted on the paper and only made visible against the contrast of the light.”

“What’s that say?” I trace my finger along the lines, trying to make it out.

Kiki asks. “Is it another message?”

“Initials maybe?” I say.

“NAV,” Tyrren says. “It’s almost like there was a wax seal embossed there, but it came off.”

“I think you’re right.”

Kiki holds up the compass and points to the etching of the letters on the back. ANAV. “Could be a coincidence but—”

“But it could mean something, connecting the note and the compass,” Tyrren says, ever the fan of riddles and puzzles. “ANAV,” he mutters.

I let out a shaky breath.

“We have to find our sister,” Kiki says.

I turn away and then move in a slow circle, glimpsing the administration building, spray paint, knife marks tearing up the wall, and general disorder. It hardly seems like my time here was real. Since meeting my sisters and learning about the curse, traveling to another realm, and escaping Glandias, everything has sped up, intensified.

“We’ve got company,” Callen mutters.

The crowd moves closer as students appear from various parts of campus, likely overhearing the commotion of our sudden arrival.

“The fae here are also in danger,” I say.

“We’ll tell Heather. She’ll do what she can. Although, the police probably saw the Grunder. They likely have supernaturals on lockdown.” Kiki’s lips form a thin line.

“Maybe Uncle Ivan can help,” I say.

“You look brighter,” she adds, noticing exactly what I feel.

We’re just barely out of the beam of light cast by one of the giant security lights on campus.

“I’ve never heard of a shadow fae, well, no longer being lost in shadow. And an unseelie fae at that.” Val arches an eyebrow. “Impressive.”

“I chose to let it go and I chose to reclaim my light,” I say.

“It gives me hope,” she adds.

From the gathered crowd, Amelia gives me a little wave.

I wave back.

Cole and Felix leer. I imagine Aaron, Tyrren’s roommate, would like to be reunited with his inner light too. Although I can’t say it was easy. We have a fight ahead and then the shadow army is going to have to fight for what’s theirs. That gives me an idea.

Headmistress Jurik, presumably the actual woman and not Glandias the imposter, storms across the lawn. Her sharp bob slices the air with each step.

I’m instantly suspicious since she was working against the fae with Emeric before she was captured.

“Lea Vladikoff, come with me.”

I tilt my head.

Her expression sharpens. “Yes, the others too.”

She must have told the police what happened. I completely forgot she was locked up somewhere. Could she