“What’s this all supposed to mean?” I asked as I perched on the library study table. After my little demonstration with the bow and arrow, Rourke had rounded up the others. He’d filled them in on what had happened, and every single one of them was now looking at me with expressions of pure awe.

Which...I didn’t really understand. All I’d done was shoot an arrow into a target, something many of the other recruits had already done.

“What did your mother say to you when she gave you that necklace?” Kael asked quietly as he rubbed his jaw.

Frowning, I thought back to that moment. It was difficult to remember her exact words. My emotions has been running high, and my step-dad had just slammed his fist into the wall beside my head. I’d been a lot more focused on getting the hell out of there than my mother’s words about the necklace.

“She said something about wearing it always,” I said with a shrug. “I assumed she just meant that it would be her way of always being with me, even if not in person. Why? What’s the big deal about my necklace?”

Kael exchanged a look with Rourke, who dangled the necklace just in front of his squinted eyes.

“Autumn fae possess a particular set of skills,” Rourke murmured as he spun the necklace this way and that. “One of them is imbuing objects—and even living beings—with our will. If, for example, a fae wished to keep your true power hidden underneath an illusion of incompetence, a necklace that you wore around your neck might be one way to do it.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Incompetence?”

Finn let out a lighthearted chuckle. “Let’s just say that it could make it seem as though you had trouble with some basic fae skills. Like the ability to dismount a horse without tumbling into a heap.”

At his words, I shot daggers at Liam with my eyes. “You told him how clumsy I was on the horse.”

Liam laughed, holding up his hands and shaking his head. “Darling, he didn’t need to be told. Your two left feet are pretty much infamous by now.”

“Wait a minute.” I frowned. “I don’t have two left feet. Have you ever seen me dance? I’m actually pretty good at it, and my balance has always been spot on. It’s something I’ve worked on my entire life.”

Finn arched his eyebrows. “We have seen you dance, and you’re more than good at it. So, then isn’t it strange you aren’t able to do anything fae-like without stumbling around everywhere?”

He had a point, one I’d never considered until now. I’d never been clumsy. In fact, I’d been the opposite. Dancing had given me a strong core and serious flexibility. There was no reason why I should be tripping on my feet every time I tried to take on a fae challenge.

“So, what are you saying? That necklace made me terrible at being a fae?”

“It’s the only thing that makes sense.” Rourke dropped the necklace onto the table as if it had a disease he might catch if he stood close to it for too long.

“She was able to heal Kael,” Finn argued. “And don’t forget she shifted off of that cliff.”

“Both of those things happened when she was terrified,” Rourke replied. “Her strong emotions must have temporarily overcome the power of the illusion.”

I held up my hands, glancing from Rourke to Finn to Kael and then to Liam. “Okay, guys. It’s a good theory, but my mother gave me this necklace. My very human mother who knows nothing about any of this.”

“Maybe she knows more than you thought,” Rourke said quietly. “Regardless, the necklace has clearly been masking your true powers. I think everyone will agree that it’s best if one of us keeps ahold of it for now.”

“But why would anyone want to mask my powers?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest. “That’s the part I don’t get.”

Rourke and Kael exchanged a glance again, and a silent conversation passed between them. I opened my mouth to demand an explanation, but we were interrupted by the loudest boom I’d ever heard. Frowning, we all glanced up at the ceiling as the overhead lights began to flicker. Another boom quickly followed, along with the heavy patter of rain, so loud that it sounded like a roar.

“Sounds like a storm has arrived,” Liam said with a growl. “Summer didn’t get any of this bullshit until the Courts divided, and now it sounds like the whole sky is being torn in half.”

They strode over to the windows to stare at the dark sky. Thick, angry clouds were rolling over the Academy, and the sharp crackle of lightning split through the night, so bright that it was almost blinding. Rain poured from the pregnant clouds, slanting sideways from the heavy wind that howled through the Academy grounds.

Shivering, I hugged my arms to my chest and backed away from the windows. Something about the storm felt wrong and unnatural, almost as if it were a prelude to battle.

“Are you alright?” Rourke asked, his hand whispering against my back before it fell heavily to his side. “I realize this is a lot to take in.”

“I just don’t understand what any of this means,” I said. “Why would my mom have a necklace to hide my fae abilities?”

“Maybe she knew what you were all this time,” he said quietly, shifting closer to speak into my ear, his breath soft against my neck. “Maybe she didn’t want you to return to Otherworld.”

I turned toward him, searching his golden eyes with my own, hoping I could see the truth in his gaze. “Do you really think that’s it?”

His eyes flickered, and he glanced away. “I’m not sure. There are...other things to take into consideration. Either way, I hope that you will accept my apologies on the behalf of the Autumn fae. We are not all like Redmond.”

“I know.” I gave him a soft, timid smile. “Because there’s you.”

I swore his chest puffed up at least a little.

I continued, “But I’ve met some other Autumn fae who were...well, I wouldn’t call them friendly, but they seemed as if they were actually concerned about my safety. In fact, they warned me not to have run-ins with other Autumn fae.”

“There are some rebels amongst the Autumns,” he said, his face clouding over. “They do not agree with Viola’s reign, or her assassination on Marin. They are wanted fugitives, who prowl near the edge of the woods between the Autumn lands and the free territory. No one knows what they’re up to, but I think they’ve been hunting for hope.”

“Oh.” My eyes widened. “Do you think that’s who I met that day in the woods?”

“Could be,” he murmured.

Another boom shook through the sky, and Liam hurried over to my side.

“There’s something out there,” he said in a low voice. “We need to get the changelings into the gymnasium. It’s the safest place for them.”

“Something is out there?” I asked, my heart thumping hard against my ribcage. “What is it?”

His mouth was a grim line. “It looks like more Redcaps. They’re prowling back and forth just beyond the watch towers, which are currently empty. We thought it would be safest for everyone to hole up in the main house, but that means we have no one outside to hold them off.”

I glanced at the windows, remembering the horror that had taken place in the dining hall. “They’ll just crash through the windows. There’s nothing to stop them from getting inside.”

“That’s right.” Rourke’s jaw flickered as he clenched his teeth. “Which is why we must get everyone into the gym. Now.”