At my look of dismay she assured me that only a full blooded undine could affect males to that extent and my mixed heritage diminished the attraction considerably. That made me feel only slightly better. It did explain though why I had no female friends. It also made me analyze every relationship I had ever had with males and what I found did not make me happy. Both Roland and Peter had confessed to having crushes on me at one point and they’d let me know that all the boys at school liked me that way when I first moved there. Scott was one of those boys and his feelings toward me had definitely turned dark after I rejected his friendship. Then there was Greg who for some reason chose to befriend me and who, according to Roland, had threatened every boy in school, effectively keeping them away from me. And I could not forget Francis who despised me for no other reason than my existence. Was it actually my undine nature that made him feel such animosity for me?

And finally there was Eli who had been so obsessed with me after one brief conversation that he had died trying to claim me. I shivered even though I knew he was dead and could never threaten me again. I asked Aine if vampires could be affected and she nodded delicately.

“Vampires were once human so they are susceptible as well but they can feel no love, only a dark desire to possess and inflict pain, not that they could act upon those desires with an undine.”

Great where did that leave me? “Can a vampire tell I’m half undine? Eli said something about me having no idea what I was.”

“If he tasted your skin or your blood – yes. A vampire would not face a full elemental but you are very young and weak compared to one of us.” Her smile faded. “Even though they fear us, our blood is like a drug to most demons, causing heightened infatuation.”

“What?” I almost jumped out of my chair. “You’re telling me my blood is a frigging aphrodisiac to demons?” Could this get any worse?

“In a manner of speaking,” she answered bluntly.

“What about other half demons people like the Mohiri? Please don’t tell me I’m going to have to fight them off too?” I thought about Nikolas and how overly protective he was for a guy who was just doing his job. I hated to think that it might be nothing more than my Faerie DNA driving him.

“No, the Mohiri were created to be the perfect warriors and are immune to most forms of compulsion and weakness.”

“Good,” I breathed, settling back onto the couch.

Thinking about Nikolas made me remember how I’d felt when he fought all those vampires and demanded my release. I remembered his rage and him shouting my name when I fell. After this, he’d probably try to lock me in my room forever and I wouldn’t be surprised if Nate helped him. My lips curved into a small smile. They could try.

Oh God Nate has no idea where I am! I couldn’t believe I had spent the entire day hanging out here with no thought about what my uncle must be going through.

I jumped to my feet. “Aine, I need to go home.”

“This is your home now, if you want it to be,” she replied. “Don’t you like it here?”

“I love it. But my real home is with my uncle back in the human world. He’s all alone and he needs me.”

Her happy smile faded a little. “But there is so much evil in that place. Why would you want to return to that?”

“The world isn’t evil even if there are bad things in it. I have friends and family there and I couldn’t imagine leaving them. Plus, out there I can help animals and the People. No one needs my help here.”

She studied me as if still trying to understand why I would prefer that world over this perfect one. Her smile was sad when she finally nodded. “For you to wish to leave here this much means you really do not belong here yet. No one who truly belonged to Faerie could ever call another place home.” She stood and held out her hand. “Come, I will take you to your human home.”

I hugged her happily then took her hand. In seconds the air around us began to shimmer and grow warm and the room started to fade. There was a terrifying moment of blackness where I could feel and hear and see nothing and it felt like I was alone in a void between the worlds. But before panic could set in, the light returned and I found myself standing at my front door and looking down at Nate’s car.

Aine let go of my hand and wrapped me in a gentle hug. “Goodbye for now, little sister. It made me happy to get to know you. You will always have a home with us if you ever choose to return.”

Tears welled in my eyes as I hugged her back. I’d never been so happy to see my front door, but I’d only just discovered my new family and it felt like I’d lose that part of me when Aine left. “I’m glad I got to know you too. Thank you for everything you did for me.”

She pulled back and her expression grew serious. “Sara, do not forget what I told you about demons and our kind. I fear there are many who will not be happy to learn of your existence. I have done what I could over the years to keep you safe, hiding you from those who sought you. Go to your Mohiri family because you will not be safe on your own. I will find you and visit you no matter where you go.”

Her words made me remember what David had said about how someone had wiped out all documents and trails that would lead to me and Nate, making it impossible to find me. All this time, Aine had been watching out for me and I had no idea.

“Stay safe, little sister.”

“I will. Thank you Aine, for everything.”

Aine’s only reply was a small smile before she quickly faded from sight. I found myself alone, barefoot, and shivering in a thin dress meant for the perfect warm, sunny days in Faerie. It was colder here than I remembered but, despite my discomfort, I took a long moment to look around at the place I never thought I’d see again when I drove away from here a few days ago. I was home.