Whispers in the darkness…voices drifting in and out…

…curse you, Isa of Stone, for death to find you through slow-crawling pain…

…could not break your curse…stall it, for some years, at most…

…if the one who cast it does not rescind the curse, it can only be broken by killing the curser…or the last of her line…

Isa came to with a start and a gasp. Sights and sounds of the nightmare still lingered.

No, wait. Not a nightmare. Memories.

She opened her eyes, focusing on the shape of the young male hovering over her, his golden blond hair a spark in the dark of the night. Changeling…

Reality rushed back, slapped Isa in the face with all the harshness of an icy winter draft. She’d found the changeling, all right. Roana’s child, the last of her line, the key to breaking her curse. The person she needed to kill—and the one person to whom she was now bound with a life debt.

Could the Fates truly be this cruel? Could her lot in life be any more miserable? As impossible as it was, Isa had to protect Basil Murray, and save his life to repay her debt to him—only so she could then turn around and kill him. Because as long as she owed him this debt, she couldn’t take his life. Fae magic was merciless, bound by strict rules, and she’d risk her immediate death if she violated her obligation to protect him by harming him herself.

“Are you all right?” Basil asked, his brown eyes—glowing gently in the darkness—full of concern.

“Yes, I’m fine.” Isa sat up, and her head immediately punished her for it. She flinched.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Something like that.” Ghosts of the past, for sure. A past that came back to bite her in the butt.

“You know,” Basil said with a sheepish grin, “this is the first time a woman has swooned for me. I gotta tell you, it’s not as glamorous as they say it is.”

That spark of humor in his eyes was infectious. She absolutely wasn’t in the mood to laugh, or even smile. And yet, despite herself, a small grin sneaked its way onto her face.

“I don’t mean to pry or anything, but do you have a medical condition I should know about? Since you’re responsible for my safety and all.”

She frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Well,” Basil said, gesturing at the ground where he’d found her, “it looked like you had a seizure earlier.”

“Oh. That.” She shrugged, rose to her feet. Dusting herself off, she avoided facing him. “It’s nothing serious.”

“Looked pretty serious to me.”

Isa sighed. “You don’t need to concern yourself with that. It just…happens sometimes. I can handle it.”

She wasn’t going to tell him about the curse. To do so would be tantamount to suicide. She had to walk a fine line between acting friendly enough for him to trust her, to let her come along and protect him, and not letting herself open up to him too much. Something about him drew her in, something irresistibly likable, and yet she couldn't afford to like him. Considering what her plans for him entailed.

“What’s your name?”

She jerked around to look at him. Right. She hadn’t introduced herself yet. “Isa,” she said before her brain caught up and she realized it might have been smarter to give him a false name. Blast.

He gave her a dazzling smile, triggering unwelcome fairy flutters in her stomach.

“All right,” she said, and turned away from the sunshine of that smile. “Tell me about your changeling history. Since I am now stuck with protecting you for the time being, I may as well know how you came here and what you seek. I could help you find it while I’m waiting for the opportunity to save your life.” And then end it. She gritted her teeth.

“Okay. The short version is that, apparently, I was born in Faerie, but smuggled out to Portland by a fae female who exchanged me for a witch baby in order to protect me. I don’t know what I needed protection from, because the fae who exchanged me never actually told my mom—well, I guess I should say adoptive mother—about her real reasons for smuggling me out of Faerie. The fae who exchanged me put a glamour spell on me to hide my fae appearance and powers, and she also put a silence spell on my adoptive mother.” He shrugged, one corner of his mouth tugging up in a half-smile. “Basically I grew up thinking I was nothing more than a powerless male born to a witch line, an anomaly without an explanation.”

The hint of bitterness in his tone let her know a whole host of things he wasn’t saying.

“My adoptive mother, Hazel Murray, actually had two babies the night I was exchanged. The fae who swapped me took one of Hazel’s twin girls back with her into Faerie as a hostage, to ensure Hazel would protect me and raise me as her own. And I only learned about this a couple of hours ago. For some reason, the glamour on me and the silence spell on Hazel were lifted, and we think the most logical reason for the spells’ disappearance is the fae who exchanged me and worked the magic is dead. And since fae are nearly immortal, it’s very likely the one who smuggled me out was murdered. Which in turn means the daughter who was taken into Faerie—her name is Rose—may be in danger."

“Because she will be without protection,” Isa muttered.

Basil nodded. “Exactly. We have to assume Rose has had a protector since the day she was brought into Faerie. That she has been taken care of all this time, but now the fae who brought her here has died, we can’t be sure she’s still being taken care of. That’s why I’m here, in a nutshell. I need to find Rose. And I need to bring her back to Portland, to Hazel.”

Isa frowned. “Why have you come alone? Where is your adoptive mother?”

At her question, Basil’s face hardened almost invisibly. “It would have taken her too long to find another fae to take her into Faerie. I was able to go right away. I’m sure once she finds a fae to take her across the border, Hazel will follow, probably with more backup. But it can’t hurt for me to go first and try to find Rose as soon as possible.”

“I see.”

And she did. His drive to prove himself was visible to the naked eye, pouring off him in waves. Well, she would not rebuke him for it. His need to go it alone played into her hands. This way she had him without the protection of his family, could win his trust, and bide her time until she saw an opportunity to save his life—only to take it the very next moment.

An inexplicable ache spread in her chest. She breathed past it, reminding herself this was it. This was her chance, finally, to break her curse, to save her own life.

“I can help you search for Rose,” Isa said, as much to distract herself as to drive the mission forward.

“Thank you.” That dazzling smile lit his face again, lighting Isa’s veins with prickling sunshine.

He tilted his head and regarded her with disconcerting warmth. “Hey, maybe you could help me with my fae powers, too. I can feel something different in me, like a humming presence that wasn’t there before…or maybe it was muted. But even though I know it’s there, I have no idea what to do with it. I don't even know how to access this power. I’ve tried a little, but I keep hitting some sort of block or wall. Is there something I need to do to unlock my powers as a fae?”

Isa considered it. She studied him closely, her attention snagging on his humanly rounded ears. If his glamour had indeed been lifted, his appearance and his powers should be those of a fae or… She frowned.

Well, yes, then again, considering who his father was, it would make sense that his ears weren’t those of the fae. As for his powers, his paternal heritage could also play a part in his inability to unlock them. “I’ll try to teach you. It’s possible you just haven’t tapped into it deeply enough, but I can try to show you.”

Basil’s shoulders relaxed and he took a deep breath. “I appreciate it.”

She held up a finger. “I will help you, yes. But know this—you will owe me a favor in return.”

Basil frowned. “What do you mean? Don’t you owe me a life debt?”

“Sure I do.” Isa shrugged. “But that debt will be paid when I save your life. Now, helping you with anything else, like finding your lost adoptive sister, or unlocking your powers, is another matter. Since you already thanked me, and thus accepted my offer of help, you are now bound to me with a favor of your own.”

Isa expected him to be angry, resentful of the way she sneaked that favor in there. But he surprised her. The corners of his mouth lifted in a sly grin that did all sorts of unwelcome things to her need for detachment.

“All right, all right. I can admit when I’ve been had. My adoptive mother warned me to watch out for favors when dealing with fae, and that thanking them would make me beholden to them. I guess I should have paid more attention.” He tapped his forehead with his fingers and saluted her.

Isa blinked, baffled by his reaction. He just seemed to take everything in stride, didn’t he? He was so unlike anyone else she’d ever met.

“Just one thing: The favor will not end my life, enslave me, or do either of those things to a person close to me.”

Ah, this she could handle. She cocked a brow. “Negotiating?”

One corner of his mouth tipped up. “Let’s just say a friend of mine recently had to learn the hard way how to cover all bases with open favors.”

She inclined her head. “Accepted.” Ending his life would not require her to collect a favor… This was just additional security. She cleared her throat. “Regarding your search for your lost adoptive sister…"

“Rose.”

“Yes, Rose. I was thinking…her exchange wouldn’t have been well-known.”

Basil came to attention. “Right. Because if the fae smuggled me out to hide me, she wouldn’t advertise the fact she’d done an exchange.”

Isa nodded. “If she wanted to spirit you away from danger, she’d have kept the entire thing a secret. If she brought back a human baby—”

“Witch,” Basil interrupted her. “The baby was from a witch family.”

“Close enough,” Isa muttered, waving a hand. “If she brought back a non-fae baby as a changeling to be raised here, and didn’t hide that fact, people would ask whom she exchanged for that baby. When the fae who were after you realized you were gone, they’d definitely have gone looking for any changeling swap made recently, and they would have come across the one with Rose. Unless the fae hid it well.”

Basil exhaled through his nose, his mouth pressed into a thin line. “Which means it’ll be extremely difficult to find any hints about Rose’s exchange.”

Isa was silent for a moment, pondering. She had no stake in his quest, had no reason to stick around until he actually found Rose. All she wanted was to bide her time until she could save his life and then break her curse. She could lead him on a merry chase through Faerie, pretending to help him look for clues of his lost adoptive sister, without ever getting him any closer to his goal.

And yet… “I know someone who might know more.”

Hope sparked in his eyes. “You do?”

“Well,” she shrugged, “I’m good at finding people. I have some resources, contacts we can tap for information. There is no such thing as the perfect crime, and word always gets out about everything. You just have to know where to look for rumors and gossip, and whom to bribe and charm into giving up more than they intended to.”

He bowed and made an extravagant flourish with his hand. “Lead the way.”

She nodded. “I suggest we stop at an inn and spend the night. It’s on the way to my contact. It's getting late, and it's been a long day for me. We can catch some sleep, and start fresh in the morning."

Basil let out a heavy breath. “If it’s on the way, sure. To be honest, it’s been a long, hard day for me, too.” He shrugged one shoulder. “You know, the whole finding-out-I’m-adopted-and-not-actually-a-human-without-powers-but-a-fae-with-an-unknown-parental-history-and-a-lost-adoptive-sister thing.”

Despite herself, Isa had to smile. She jerked her head in the direction of the path leading farther into Faerie, and started walking. Basil fell into step with her.

“If it’s any consolation,” she offered, “you’re taking this rather well. I’m not sure what I would do if faced with such life-altering revelations.”

“Maybe it’s because I think I always knew, in a way. Finding out the very thing I have always wanted, I have always dreamed about, is actually true, hasn’t felt like a disruption of my life, but rather like a missing puzzle piece has fallen into place, you know? It’s like my life up until this point always felt a little off, a little odd. Learning about this whole changeling thing, it just makes sense. I feel like…yes, this is what’s been missing. This is what my life should have been all along.” He shrugged, and winked at her with a half-smile that sent heat shooting up to her cheeks. “Why don’t you tell me about yourself?”

She almost missed a step, rushed to hide her stumble. “Me? What about me?”

“I’m just curious. You’re actually the first fae I’ve ever met. I’d like to know about you. Your life, your world, what’s it like to be a fae? What do you do for a living? Where do you live?”

“Um…”

No one had ever asked her such questions. No one had ever looked at her with this focus, this intensity, as if he genuinely wanted to know about her. As if he was truly interested in her, as if her life mattered to him. What a novel feeling.

She didn’t quite know how to respond to his questions, his forthright interest in her. She wasn’t well versed in social interaction, and it had been a long time since she simply chatted with someone. Not giving him an answer at all was rude, however. She had to say something, even if it was some lie wrapped in half-truths.

“I’m a bounty hunter,” she blurted out.

His eyes widened.

Her hand twitched with the urge to slap her forehead. Why, Isa, why? What had gotten into her? Telling him the truth… Oh, go ahead and spill the rest of your life story, why don’t you? She was usually so good at evasive answers and protecting her privacy.

“A bounty hunter? For real?” His expression was one of gleaming interest. “Now, when you say bounty hunter, do you mean as in a Star Wars Boba Fett bounty hunter, or more along the lines of modern-day bounty hunters who supplement law enforcement?”

She frowned at him. “I’m not sure I understand the first part of your question. Who’s Star Wars?”

“Who’s—” He stopped dead in his tracks, slapped one hand over his heart, absolute bafflement written in every line of his face. “You don't know Star Wars?”

“Uh…should I? I mean, I spent some time in the humanlands here and there over the years, and I know a little bit about human culture, but I’m not fully on top of things…” She studied him closely. “Are you all right?”

Basil took a deep breath, closed his eyes briefly. “Sure. I just need a minute.” Shaking his head, he started walking again. “I recognize the weight of my responsibility here, you know.” He glanced at her, his expression as serious as someone swearing an oath. “Passing on this sacred knowledge…” He nodded sagely. “This unique opportunity to teach a young Padawan all about the awesomeness that is Star Wars, and the fabulous tale of the Skywalkers.”

“Oh, it’s a tale? Is it some sort of human mythology?”

The corners of his mouth twitched, and the sparkle in his eyes almost did her in. “Yes. Yes, it is.”

She paused, tilted her head. “You are jesting.”

He raised his hands, palms toward her. “I am not. Jedi are a recognized religious group among the humans. And believe me, I take my Star Wars references very seriously.”

She pursed her lips, wry amusement bubbling in her bloodstream, so unexpected, unfamiliar. And yet…not at all unwelcome. “All right then. Are you a Jedi?”

His laughter was like the crack in the clouds that let sunshine spill forth. “Ah, I wish. Don’t tell anybody, but I do pretend I’m using the Force whenever I walk through a set of automatic sliding doors.” He flicked his hand and made a swooshing sound.

Her belly fluttered with lighthearted joy.

“Okay,” Basil said, as they continued walking, “I’ll initiate you into the world of Star Wars after you explain a bit more about your bounty hunter job. How, exactly, do you work? Who do you bring in, and why, and who hires you?” He gestured with one hand. “I’m pathologically nosy, so I need to know all the things.”

She shrugged. “Mostly criminals. Sometimes, when a fae commits a crime, they get the bright idea to outrun the law by fleeing Faerie. Bounty hunters like me are often tasked to go outside our borders, follow the trail of the escaped fae, and bring them back to face justice.”

“Is there no fae police or military to do that?”

“No, not really. There is a bit of a…military, if you want to call it that, but they don’t usually bother to go outside of Faerie just to find an escaped criminal and bring him or her to justice. If it is someone important enough, they will hire a bounty hunter to get it done. That’s what I do. Like I said, I’m good at finding people.”

“I guess then it’s especially lucky I ran into you.” That damnably attractive smile of his lit up his face again. “Seeing as I need help with finding Rose, and the first fae I encounter just happens to be perfect for that.”

Lucky… That was a matter of perspective, wasn’t it? What was one fae’s luck could be another’s tragedy. In a way, of course, she was lucky she had found the changeling she was looking for so easily. If it weren’t for that pesky life debt she owed him…

They’d reached the main road, illuminated here and there by floating will-o’-the-wisps.

Basil gazed up at the stretch of starlit sky visible between the towering heights of the firs left and right of the road, put his hands on his hips, and asked, “What was the hardest case you ever had to bring in?”

Isa bit off her reply before it left her mouth, but it echoed in her head, and in the darkest corners of her heart.

Your mother.