Chapter 12: Chapter 12

KAMORA

She was a lesser Fae—the vines coiling around her arms like veins said as much, a clear mark of plant magic.

Her beauty, like that of all Fae, was breathtaking. Long green hair cascaded down her back in waves, nearly brushing her knees.

Her eyes were an odd green, like the color of moss mixed with soil. Her tanned skin had paled a bit as her wide eyes locked on Kamora, brimming with shock and something akin to disbelief.

“I can’t believe it,” she said, stepping closer. “It’s really you.”

Kamora’s arm tightened around the young lord, instinctively pulling him closer. Her brows drew together.

“Do I know you?” she asked, eyeing the stranger warily.

The woman froze mid-step. Her face crumpled—not in surprise, but in something rawer.

Grief. Guilt. It was written in the tremble of her lip and the mist gathering in her eyes.

“Oh, heavens,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “What have they done to you?”

She took another step, and Kamora instinctively backed away. The woman’s gaze dropped to Jarosh, and her expression softened.

“Is this your child?”

Kamora said nothing, only held him tighter.

“Who are you?” she repeated, her voice firmer now.

“He has your eyes,” the woman murmured, as if she hadn’t heard her at all.

Jarosh tugged on Kamora’s hand, and when she looked down at him, she knew he wanted to leave.

She turned, but the woman’s voice called after her.

“Kamora, please, forgive me.”

Tears glistened on the woman’s cheeks. She wiped them away quickly when she noticed Kamora staring, guarded and confused.

“I am Gwen,” she said, tapping her chest. “Gwendolyn. Your sister.”

Kamora felt the world shift, the ground beneath her suddenly not as firm as it had been. A cold prickle traced her arms.

“You can’t be my sister,” she said, her eyes narrowing. “You’re a Fae. I’m human.”

Her gaze darted around the open space. “Is this some new market trick? A way to swindle goods off strangers?”

Pain twisted Gwen’s face, sharp and sudden. She beat her chest once, as if trying to breathe past the sob lodged in her throat.

“I swear,” she gasped, “I am your sister.”

Kamora didn’t blink, still watching her like one might a dangerous person.

Gwen wiped her face again, straightening her shoulders.

“Please visit the Goddess’s grove,” she said quietly. “I’ll be there waiting, no matter how long it takes.”

Another tear slipped free, but she didn’t bother hiding this one.

“I’ll answer every question. Please, I beg you. Come find me.”

Kamora didn’t respond. She simply nudged Jarosh forward, and together they walked away.

But even as they moved, Kamora could feel it—that burning stare, fixed and heavy on her back. Her hand trembled slightly in Jarosh’s.

~Is she really my sister?~ Kamora wondered. ~No.~ She shook the thought away.

She can’t be. Gwen was Fae. She was just…a human.

There was a world of difference between them.

Oddly, Jarosh stayed silent the entire carriage ride home. He didn’t ask about the encounter or say a word about the strange woman.

It was like it had never happened.

Wanting to break the silence, Kamora pushed the memory aside and smiled at the boy beside her.

“What do you plan on eating first when we return?” she asked lightly.

He was almost done with the bag of cookies and looked like he was losing the battle against sleep.

“I don’t know,” he mumbled with a yawn. “I’ll probably eat all of them at once.”

Kamora chuckled softly and didn’t press him further.

Minutes passed. When she looked over, Jarosh had slumped over, fast asleep.

She gently guided his head to her lap and lifted his legs so he could lie more comfortably. As he slept, she ran her fingers through his hair, brushing a tendril from his forehead.

Her mind wandered back to the plant Fae. Gwen.

The look on her face, it bothered Kamora.

~What kind of life did I have before I lost my memory?~

She stared out the carriage window, still idly stroking Jarosh’s hair.

The Goddess’s grove.

She’d heard of it. A place where the common Fae gathered to perform rituals, share magic, and connect with each other.

Humans often went there, though most found Fae traditions too strange, too mysterious.

The carriage rolled to a stop in front of the manor, snapping Kamora out of her thoughts.

She nudged Jarosh gently.

“My lord, we’ve returned.”

He stirred, groaned, then blinked up at her in confusion, clearly surprised to find himself lying on her lap.

Kamora didn’t comment—she just helped him sit up and steady his feet.

She collected their bag of goods and stepped down from the carriage, holding out her hand for Jarosh to follow.

Just as they turned toward the manor, her heart gave a jolt.

Lord Maroke stood by the entrance, towering and silent with Claudia at his side.

Kamora swallowed and forced her steps to remain steady. She tightened her grip on Jarosh’s small hand.

“My lord,” she greeted, dipping into a slight bow.

He grunted, his eyes scanning the pair.

“How was the journey? I see you returned with quite a few things.”

She couldn’t tell if it was criticism or just an observation. She chose her words carefully.

“We had a lot of fun,” she said. “The young Lord was curious about many things, so I indulged him.”

She watched him, hoping to glean something from his face, but—as always—it gave nothing away.

Then his gaze shifted to his son.

“And you?” he asked Jarosh, his voice softer than expected. “Did you really have fun?”

Jarosh nodded eagerly, a sleepy grin spreading across his face despite the fatigue pulling at him.

“It was the best,” he said simply.

Kamora’s chest warmed. Whatever else happened, at least she had given him that.

She only hoped there would be more opportunities for moments like this.

~But why…why do I have this sudden foreboding feeling?~ Kamora thought.