It’s suddenly always hot. It’s like summer has been condensed into a thin blanket that is always wrapped around me. When I first came, the temperature was perfect, slightly on the cooler side.

Now, I can’t help but fan at myself all the time, sweat dripping down my face.

Fire. Out of all Kinds, why does it have to be fire?

Couldn’t it be nature instead, so grass could grow from my footsteps like a fairytale princess instead of roasting myself alive?

“Kay.” Zephen knocks against my door, his voice now always gentler, like he’s talking to a scared animal. I’m sure he’s scared I might run again. “Could you get changed and meet me outside?”

“Where are we going?” Where are you taking me this time?

“To meet the Lord of Fire.” There’s a smile in his voice, something I don’t often hear. “Your mother.”

I feel my heart stop. I feel the world stop. Everything is suddenly so very still and I can’t think. The word repeats over and over again. Mother mother mother.

I can finally meet my mother.

I pause for a long moment, just trying to register it.

Is…is this real? Is this really happening? But then I rush to the closet and I’ve never gotten ready so quickly.

I dig through clothes the Faeries have prepared for me. There’s a warm orange summer dress that catches my eyes. I eagerly put it own, twirling in the mirror, noting the wide look in my eyes.

Mother mother mother.

After coming to this world, I didn’t have the time to think about my mother. I now know that she’s in fact alive and well, but I never actually thought of meeting her.

I feel flames dancing inside my stomach, the tongues of fire licking my sides and making me pause. I’m exhilarated, yet so very nervous.

I’ve dreamt of how it would be like to have a mother.

I envied those with a perfect family, always wanted a mom and dad to take me to the park together, or watch movies at home and laugh together. Or tuck me in at night and read me story books.

I’ve always wanted a mother, but will she be everything I wanted?

I suddenly gasp, feeling heat press against my eyes as I stare at my reflection for much too long, wondering how much I look like her. A single thought dims out the rest.

She didn’t want me.

She left me in the human world alone with my dad. She didn’t want me. She didn’t want to be my mother. Why else did she not visit? Not even once?

There’s another knock at my door, making me blink away the tears and thoughts and throw me back into reality. I smooth out the dress, sucking in a deep breath.

I tie up my ginger hair into a high ponytail, loving the breeze against my nape.

Ember lands on my shoulder, and I note how I can no longer feel her heat as much as before. I open the door, watching the way Zephen’s eyes widen a fraction. He tilts his head. “You look nice.”

Fire fills my veins. I don’t know how to answer, don’t know if he’s saying that just out of courtesy, to try and get on my good side again. I settle for a simple, “Thanks.”

He offers me his hand, which I hesitantly take. I haven’t forgiven him. He hasn’t asked for forgiveness. There’s a mutual line we both don’t cross.

I feel the familiar gust of wind, and I close my eyes.

When I reopen them, I’m standing in front of a crowd of Faeries. Queen Titania is also present, standing amongst a number of armored guards.

Even their armors are beautiful and intricate, glimmering under the sunlight, like everything else in the Land of the Fay.

I scan the area to find that I’m outside the royal palace, what I assume are the Lords of each Element standing alongside Zephen and I.

I recognize none of them other than Daera Bridd, standing a few paces to my left. I feel terribly small.

“I see her!” Someone yells, and I squint to see into the distance.

There’s a red dot in the horizon that steadily grows bigger. It forms into the shape of a woman on a horse as it gallops towards the crowd.

As she comes closer, I can finally make out her features; burning red hair that gleams under the sun, almost too bright to look at. It flows behind her and trails off like fire, sparks flying off the tips.

Her dark skin shimmers, speckles of gold in places highlighted by the light. Her horse looks like it’s made from molten lava, its skin black and ashy, rushing lava burning scarlet in the cracks.

Every time the animal breathes, his sides would expand and the scarlet within would glow brighter as if threatening to break out.

The woman pulls on her horse’s reigns, slowing to a trot as she arrives in front of the crowd. Queen Titania looks pleased as she gazes at the woman, her voice warm when she speaks, “Seirian, welcome back.”

The woman—Seirian—curtsies before the Queen in deep respect. “It is good to be home, Your Majesty.”

I flinch when she turns towards the Lords, greeting each one politely until she stops before me. Her amber eyes widen, something flashing within them.

Recognition, perhaps. She says nothing to me, instead plastering on a polite smile as she greets Zephen. “Lord Gale, it’s been a while.”

“It has indeed.” He nods at her. “I hope your voyage has gone well.”

“Well enough.” She lets out a slight frown. “The far lands seem to be growing darker. I’m just glad to be back safely.”

“Your presence brings great relief.” Zephen smiles, and Seirian returns it.

She finally turns back to me, her smile dropping. “And who’s this?”

“She’s the Young One that I guard.” Zephen introduces, glancing at me.

I feel myself tremble, shrinking under her intense gaze. “Kay Sanders.”

I hold my breath, feeling the world dissolve around me. I can only see her; the way her eyes widen, her mouth opening only to form no words.

There’s disbelief in her eyes—disbelief and relief and exhilaration. Finally, she chokes out, “Kay?”

I don’t say anything—can’t. I just continue staring at her, running over every detail on her face.

This is my mother. This is the mother I never had. This is the mother that left me.

In a flash, she has me in her arms, squeezing me tight. She smells of warm fireplaces, of summer nights filled with laughter and joy.

Her touch is hot—painfully so and it brings tears to my eyes as I don’t dare move.

It takes a moment longer to realize she’s crying.

“Kay, Kay. My beautiful child. Look how big you’ve grown!”

She pulls back to take a better look at me, her eyes gleaming with sparks and tears as her thumbs brush gently across my cheeks, leaving a searing path in their wake.

I see the resemblance, see myself in her.

My hair is a mix of her fierce red locks and dad’s brown ones, the way she smiles is the same as mine.

Seeing her is like seeing an older version of myself, and something odd swirls in my heart.

Love.

And anger.

Terrible, terrible anger.