Page 75 of Unraveling Fate

Taran took a turn with the story, face somber. “You remember we hid my mother, thinking the Silence attack was focused on the Crown?”

Reyna nodded, and Cadenza scooted closer to Taran to lend support, listening to the constant flow of frame drum rhythm rolling off him.

“Well, once we realized we were in the wrong place, we rushed to where my mother was hiding. We knew it could be an ambush, but what else could we do? We arrived too late. She was already gone. And the then-King was killed in the fight. A double failure.” His lips twisted bitterly. “Ercildoun found a new Crown shortly before I led my blasted raid, so before his wife was killed. But after she died…” He left the sentence hanging. “That new Crown died in 1757, and Ercildoun’s not been interested in looking since.”

Drostan grunted. “He doesn’t do his job, we can’t do ours.”

Taran shot his father a doubtful look. “I don’t know about that, but it’s true that there’s been no Crown for the Guardians to protect since then. And until you, Cadenza, no Spinners either.”

“Wait, wait, wait.” Reyna plunked her mug on the table, tea sloshing over the sides. “Drostan, you said that you and your family before you, have all been Guardians for as long as there have been Crowns to guard. That’s a long time,” she stretched out the word for emphasis. “I mean, you guys are, like, forever old, right?”

“Oof!” Taran grabbed at his heart like he’d been shot. “That’s a bit harsh, isn’t it? What do you think, Cadenza?” He dabbed at the skin around his eyes. “Am I getting wrinkles? Maybe I need more moisturizer.”

She laughed, happy to hear him joke again after having to talk about the events that led to the curse.

Reyna rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean.”

Drostan chuckled. “Aye, forever old, as my braw, young son likes to remind me. The Crowns have a bit of a say in how long they want to serve. Us poor buggers? Eventually we’ll wear out, although usually someone takes us out before that point.”

“What about Spinners?” Cadenza sat forward, surprised at herself for not thinking to ask before tonight.

“Same as Guardians.” Taran’s eyes burned. Cadenza fell back against the cushions like she’d had the wind knocked out of her. Her mind refused to grasp all the implications of that. Not yet. Not tonight. Taran snugged his arm around her shoulder as if he understood the abyss of time she was suddenly staring into. She supposed he did.

Reyna was still pacing the floor, stalking answers to the questions she’d chased her entire life.

“And being Guardians—that was the whole point of your family, yes?” she asked Drostan.

“That’s right. The Fates changed wolves—in the case of our family—to be able to be people to guard the Crown. After several generations, human became our default state, with the ability to shift to wolves. But, yes, we were created, chosen to be Guardians.”

“Ok, butmyfamily haven’t been Guardians.” Reyna pointed at her chest. “No one else in my family, no one else I’ve ever met, besides you, is like me. And you’re saying there hasn’t been a Cown in over 200 years. Why would the Fates make me a Guardian if I didn’t inherit it and there’s no Crown to guard?”

“Fair question. Athair?” Taran asked his father.

Cadenza’s headache returned. She laid her forehead on Taran’s shoulder, too burnt to speculate.

Drostan set his mug on the coffee table and gestured to her. “Why do we all of a sudden have a new Spinner when none have been found since the last Crown died?”

Reyna looked at him expectantly. “Well, why do you have a new Spinner?”

Cadenza perked back up. Drostan opened his mouth. Shut it again. “I don’t know.”

“Maybe because we’ll need you two if we find a new Crown. And we need to find a new Crown.” Taran said. “The earth needs it.”

“We don’t need to get into that tonight,” Drostan said, his tone firm.

“Fine, you old goat,” Taran shot back. “Then maybe we have a new Guardian to take my place? Since I’m so bloody useful right now.”

“No one needs to take your place,” Drostan said, pointing a finger at Taran. “Because you’re going to take it back. We know where Ercildoun is. Ruairi, Cyrus, and I will go fetch the self-righteous bastard and bring him here. You kill him. End of curse. The Fates can replacehim.”

The tea soured in Cadenza’s stomach, picturing Thomas’s gentle smile from their last lesson. There had to be another way.

Reyna’s eyes widened. “Is that how it works?”

“We don’t know that.” Taran held out a hand to slow his father down. “And I’ve too much blood on my hands as it is. I’ll not take another life in this feud. Especially not that of an old man.”

Reyna tapped her heel on the floor for a minute, chewing her lower lip. “I have a better idea than killing an old man, if you’re interested.”

Cadenza lifted her head, and Taran put his mug down.