eyes. Her name was Maeve. She loved books, and could always be seen with one in her arms. She got all the top grades in school. As such, it was typical to see her and Kiara studying together.
I knew Maeve was a wolven not just by the mark on her hand, but also by her disposition. Shifters could tell what everyone’s Faction was by their scent, but honestly, it wasn’t that difficult to tell no matter the gender. alicorns were tall, slender, and blond. Dragons were bulky, gruff and loud, while griffins were reserved, shy and patient. Wolvens were typically dark-haired introverts who kept silent more often than spoke. They preferred to observe. It’d taken me awhile to tell the different Factions apart when I first got to Arcanea University, but now, it was easy for me.
I slid into the seat beside Kiara’s. We’d had no hard feelings after the group meeting in the Rec Room— I wanted her to help us take down Gabby and Elijah, but I wasn’t going to force her. I felt like I was asking a big favor for requesting her help with the Worldweaver business.
“Hello, Emma,” Maeve said kindly. She began gathering up stacks of textbooks as she said, “I wish I could stay and chat, but there’s an author signing in Dolinska. A couple of famous co-writers are coming to sign books. I don’t want to miss it, because they’re my favorite authors. Do you girls want to come with?”
“It’s okay, I’m kind of busy,” I said. “But save an autograph for me, won’t you?”
Maeve nodded. She looked to Kiara, but she shook her head no, and Maeve hurried out of the library.
I took a breath. “Kiara? Is it okay if I ask you something?”
Kiara sighed. She seemed sort of down. “I’m sorry, Emma. I’ve searched for days for information about the Worldweaver, in the library and otherwise, and I haven’t found anything.”
“It’s not about that,” I said. “I don’t blame you for being unable to find info on the Worldweaver. This is complex stuff.”
“I’ve always gotten ahead with research before,” Kiara said in frustration. “It feels like I’m failing.”
“You’re not. It’s okay. I spoke with Lucien about it— I didn’t tell him I was the Worldweaver, just made it look like a research project,” I said as she started. “He gave me some pretty useful information.”
I told Kiara what Lucien had said to me moments ago. Kiara mused over what I said. “Lord Lucien is probably right. He’s rarely wrong. I’m just wondering how he knows all of this if I haven’t been able to find anything. Where did he get his information from?”
“I don’t know. But he’s a part of the Circle. They might have insider knowledge not available to anyone else.”
Kiara nodded introspectively. “That’s a very good point. But if that’s true, why did he tell you about it?”
I twirled a strand of hair around my finger. “I don’t know. But to be honest, we’re kind of close. Maybe he trusts me not to go spreading this around.”
She tapped her fingers against her books. “Maybe. Though I do think he’s right about one thing.”
“What?”
“You having Unseelie blood,” Kiara said. “It’s a theory I’ve had for ages, I just couldn’t prove it.”
“Why do you think I’m part Unseelie?” I asked.
Kiara stroked her chin with her quill. “Something’s not right, Emma. For you to use an Unseelie object like the dark necklace, one with so much power, you’d have to be part Unseelie. Any pureblooded Seelie who tried to draw from that necklace would be dead. The dark magic would’ve killed them.”
“Then why hasn’t the Circle investigated me? Wouldn’t they suspect me of being part of the Black Claw?” I asked.
“Having Unseelie blood isn’t against the law. It’s in most of our genealogies, just watered down from past generations. And you killed a Black Claw tribute last semester,” Kiara pointed out. “How could you be part of them if you’re killing their members?”
That was a good point. “If the necklace is as powerful as you’re saying, the Circle should’ve punished me for using it,” I protested.
“Its enough punishment that you and Ethan have lost the throne and been disgraced,” Kiara said. “You don’t understand how awful it is to be shunned in Arcanean society, Emma, because you’re an outsider, but your punishment won’t ever end. Both your honor and Ethan’s is gone now. They don’t need to punish you when our world considers you a liar for the rest of your life.”