EZEKIEL arrived the next day. Eleand’s youngest brother was doing well. They talked nonstop when he reached home. Ezekiel couldn’t believe he survived the accident, plus the fact that he was comatose for two years.“I should come with you back in California,” he informed his younger brother. They were currently eating dinner with other family members.“Are you sure? I’ll just stay here for a week. I’ll be back after three months for my art exhibit in Manila.” Ezekiel paused to chew his food and added, “And to attend Erone’s wedding.”“Just a week, I see. Why don’t you extend it?” he suggested.“Believe me. I want to. But you know the aircraft crashed recently in Florida, we’ll cover the insurance of the victims.” Ezekiel sounded problematic.“Sorry to hear that, but I want to ask a favor from you.&

  ELEAND scanned the documents in the cabinet one by one. It contained several scrolls and old books. When he checked one of those books, there were hand-drawn portraits of his ancestors.He carefully studied everything. Some dated a hundred years, way back to the Spanish Era. But the only familiar face for him was his grandparents.The Altierras originally came from Spain, he learned. From the time when they colonized the Philippines, his great ancestors migrated because of business until they bred with the locals and other foreigners.It was late in the afternoon when Eleand finished his readings. He took notes for every possibility of his faerie origin. Who could it be? All of them perfectly looked human—normal ears and features. The eye colors vary depending on their foreign DNA. Perhaps, he had to look for other data inside the master’s bedroom.Eleand sought at one cabinet where books were stacked, and a family

  ELEAND hurriedly cast his transportation magic. The Vanire was quick when Eleand made it along with Ezekiel, who appeared startled by what was going on. They hurriedly went to Erone and their father. But one Shadow emerged from behind. He hastened his move to make his family safe outside the building. However, it didn’t go according to Eleand’s plan. He was a few seconds late because the Shadow was quick to grab the old man and teleported with his family. Thankfully, Eleand managed to touch his father’s legs, and he disappeared along with them.Ekeziel couldn’t talk when they materialized at a place full of trees. He knelt and vomited.Eleand wanted to comfort him, but the Shadow doubled itself, and it made Erone and the old man hostage.Eleand noticed that the forest around looked familiar. For a moment, he thought they might be in Erganiv, but the treehouse near them made him rea

    THE three disappeared from the hospital and emerged to the Altierra’s farm in Caramoan. Kharyn held the key—a medium-sized gold triangle with inscriptions written in the faerie alphabet. She chanted the spell and motioned the key in her hand. Suddenly, a blinding light appeared and formed a magic circle, and they got in. Now it made clear on Eleand’s mind why his parents found him on their private farm. There was a portal there connecting the two worlds. His hunch was more precise this time about him being a demifae. Maybe one of his birth parents was a faerie and bred with a human. He was a step closer to find out the truth. Eleand lost count of the Vanire they had made upon entering the portal. He expected to emerge at the Golden Palace, but they materialized to an unfamiliar place. The environment was completely different compared to the four regions of Noyuh. He observed the palace was made of rare stones that glimmered under the sun

  THERE were no faeries around the palace when Eleand went down from his room. Kharyn and Zanti were not there. He only found Rieska inside the throne room playing with the black wolf.“Your dog is quite huge,” he said. He suddenly remembered Brandy being a dog lover. She adopted one dog in California and named him Eclipse. It was a black Labrador.“It’s a wolf,” she rolled her eyes, “I found him in the desert when he was a pup. He was heavily wounded, and I healed him.”The massive wolf suddenly jumped at him, and he was almost lost his balance. The darn wolf wagged its tail again.“Hey, stop that!” He was annoyed. Its size was no joke. If it attacked him unprepared, he might lose his limbs.Rieska giggled. “Stop it, darling.”The wolf stopped jumping at him. It just sniffed him, still wagging its tail.“Even here, you&r