The Fated Fire Princess

Sooner or Later, You Have to Tell Her

Nell’s POV

“You should have told me. We should have discussed this.”

Milo squeezes my hand, clearly dismissing this notion. “You would have said no. You would have done what she wanted and only invited Jack and Effie.”

We’re still at the party, which shows no signs of dying down any time soon. It’s hard to tell whether Harper herself is having fun—she’s pretty much just dancing and chatting with Effie and Jack—but everyone else in her class certainly is.

“She doesn’t look upset,” I admit as I scan my daughter’s dainty, lovely face. Harper isn’t just shorter than me; she’s smaller in all dimensions, and her features are more delicate. Looking at her, you’d never know how powerful she is.

“She’s not.” It’s not Milo that says this, but Sadie, as she slips over to us and hands me a drink. Milo nods at her by way of greeting and farewell before wandering off to chat with Liam, sensing our desire for privacy. “Logan, on the other hand…”

I follow Sadie’s gaze over to her son Logan, who’s had a crush on Harper for years. He’s surrounded by friends—the jocks and golden boys of Farnethia Academy—but doesn’t seem to be paying any attention to anyone but Harper.

“I’m sorry,” I say, reaching out to squeeze Sadie’s arm. “He’s such a great kid, Sade. I don’t know why she doesn’t…”

A tiny grin comes across her lips as she nods in Jack’s direction. “I do.”

It’s hard for me to wrap my mind around Harper having feelings for Jack Davis. For one thing, I’m not entirely sure Sadie’s right. Harper is nearly as fearless as Effie, which makes me think that if she did have feelings for Jack, she’d express them. Besides, she’s never mentioned it to me, and I like to think we have an open flow of communication.

But maybe that’s just the naïve mother in me.

It’s not that I don’t like Jack. He’s a sweet, polite boy, and while he’s a bit scrawnier and ganglier than Logan, I can even see the physical appeal that a teenage girl would see in him.

But… he’s a regular.

I know, I know—that’s an awful thing for me to say. Farnethians aren’t any better than Earthlings. I was born on Earth, for crying out loud. 

And yet, it’s Harper we’re talking about. The fated fire princess destined to bring us all home—or not bring us all home, depending on her decision. The only truly magical person on Earth. It’s hard to imagine her falling for someone so… ordinary.

“He’s in love with her, too,” Sadie tells me as we watch them. “It’s only a matter of time before they get together.”

I consider her words as Lana and Haley, two of our other “sister Senses,” as we used to be called, join us. 

Harper’s never had a boyfriend before. I’d probably feel better if it was Logan, knowing that Sadie and Liam could help me keep eyes on them at all times, but again, I don’t hate the thought of it being Jack. He seems harmless enough.

“Could be a problem,” Lana points out. “That is, you know… if you’re hoping for her to make a certain decision come her eighteenth birthday.”

I cross my arms, instantly feeling uncomfortable. I wish they wouldn’t bring that up here. Everyone who witnessed Kenton’s description of the final prophecy, including Kenton himself, seems to have remained true to their promise not to repeat it. But I don’t like that it’s being discussed in such a crowded space.

“Sooner or later, you have to tell her,” Haley points out. “I mean, she can’t exactly make the decision if she doesn’t know the question, can she?”

“Maybe that’s the point,” I can’t help but point out. “Maybe she shouldn’t have to choose. Maybe, if we can keep it from her—”

“Nell,” Sadie interrupts, shaking her head.

She doesn’t have to elaborate; I know what she means. That was never the plan, and it’s not something Milo would be on board with. The thought of never telling Harper the truth is something I’ve come to daydream about lately, but I know it’s a terrible idea. Kenton may have stayed quiet this long, but he won’t stay quiet forever. Returning home is far too important to him.

And Archie…

I still trust him, even now. But everyone has their limits. Should the time come that we’re a few weeks out from Harper’s eighteenth birthday and she still doesn’t know the truth, one of them’s going to tell her. If it’s not Kenton, it’ll be Archie, and if it’s not Archie, it might even be someone like Jasmine or Phoebe.

As if on cue, Jasmine and Phoebe join us, making the six Senses a complete unit again.

It doesn’t happen much anymore, us all getting together. Four of us moved into the Farnethia HQ when it opened—me, Sadie, Lana, and Haley. Jasmine stayed in Brazil, where she got a job as a motivational speaker of some sort, and Phoebe moved to France and opened an art gallery that sells art depicting life on Farnethia. Even those of us who live in the Farnethia Manor together don’t see each other very often, though Sadie and I see the most of each other.

“She needs to know,” Lana agrees gently. “But you know we’ve got your back, Nell. Tell her when you think it’s right; just… don’t wait too long.”

My eyes trail back to Harper, Effie, and Jack, this time lingering on Effie, who is even more the spitting image of her mother than Harper is of me. The only difference between the two of them is that Effie’s eyes mirror her father Ace’s. Her flaming, red hair, pale, porcelain-like skin, and tall, slender, elegant figure all mirror her mother’s.

Mom, why don’t people like Effie? Harper once asked me. She’s so smart, brave, and beautiful.

Because they’re intimidated by her, I told my sweet, innocent daughter, who was too strong a woman even at age twelve to ever be intimidated by another. You’ll understand when you’re older.

She does need to know, I admit to myself as my eyes trail back to Harper. We have to tell her, and soon.

I just want her to enjoy being a teenager for a little longer.