Chapter Five
Islouch deeper into my couch cushions, absently scratching Soot's ears as I scroll through another page of House Ruby's family registry.
My laptop screen glows with the faces of countless fae nobles, their perfect features and sharp eyes staring back at me.
I've been at this for hours, examining every female's photo for any hint of my own features.
The hangover from last night's party has mostly faded, thanks to my halfblood constitution. The apartment is back to its usual tidy state after a morning of cleaning up scattered bottles and wiping sticky spots off every surface. Now it's just me, my demon dog, and my obsessive searching.
I pause on the image of a statuesque female with high cheekbones similar to mine. But no—her eyes are too wide, jaw too sharp. Not my mother. I click to the next page with a frustrated sigh.
“There has to be something here,” I mutter, zooming in on another noble's face. Soot huffs in agreement, his coal-black head heavy on my thighs. His fur radiates warmth like banked embers.
The House Ruby records are extensive, dating back centuries.
But I know my mother must be here somewhere.
No halfblood can be born to a human mother—human women can't carry half-fae babies.
Which means my mother was fae. I was brought up in a House Ruby orphanage, so I know what house she's from, but there was no official documentation on her.
There never is. Fae females usually don't want any connection to their half-human offspring on paper.
Soot's head suddenly jerks up, his ember-bright eyes fixed on the front door. A low growl builds in his chest just before the doorbell chimes.
“Easy,” I tell him, setting my laptop aside. “Stay.”
He obeys but keeps growling as I cross to the door, his claws clicking against the floor as he follows a few paces behind. I peek through the peephole and have to stifle an incredulous laugh.
Standing in my hallway is the same uptight guard from last night, looking even more severe in the harsh fluorescent lighting. His dark uniform is perfectly pressed, jaw clenched tight enough to crack teeth.
Soot's growls get louder. “Sit,” I command firmly. He drops his haunches to the floor but keeps his burning gaze locked on the door. I swing it open, leaning against the frame with deliberate casualness. “Back so soon? Miss me that much?”
The guard's face hardens into stone as he thrusts a crisp piece of paper at me. The official House Ruby seal catches the light—a stylized flame in deep crimson wax.
“What's this supposed to be?” I take it with two fingers like it might bite.
“A summons.” His lips curl into a smug little smile that makes me want to punch him. “From Elder Nam. You're to report to the House offices in the academy building immediately.”
“A summons?” I blink at the formal letterhead. “What for?”
“To receive your reprimanding for hosting an unauthorized gathering in your unit last night.” The satisfaction in his voice makes my blood boil.
“You're joking.” I gape at him. “Are you actually serious right now?”
“Deadly.” He clasps his hands behind his back, practically preening.
I let out a disbelieving laugh and crumple the paper into a ball. “You're a real asshole, you know that?”
The fae male's face twists into a snarl, fangs flashing. “I'm not here to make friends with you. If you want to live in the fae world, you follow our rules.”
The aggressive display sends a surge of protective fury through Soot. His deep warning growl fills the hallway, making the guard's eyes snap to him.
I feel the temperature spike as Soot's black fur ignites, flames rippling across his body in waves of orange and blue. His eyes blaze like hot coals in a forge, throwing dancing shadows on the walls.
The guard stumbles back, face morphing from anger to shock. “What the hell is that?”
I glance down at my pet with a smirk, enjoying the way the male's composure cracks. “My dog?”
“That's not a fucking dog.” He flexes his hand, like he's debating about throwing a fireball at my pet.
I shrug one shoulder, reaching down to scratch behind Soot's flaming ears. The fire licks harmlessly at my fingers. “He prefers dog form. Makes it easier to curl up on the couch.”
“Where the hell did you buy a fire sprite?” The guard's voice rises an octave.
A laugh bubbles up from my chest. “What, are you going to report me for that, too? Last I checked, it's not illegal.”
He gapes at me, mouth working soundlessly for a moment. “No, it's not illegal, but most sane fae don't want to keep fire sprites as house pets!”
I snort, crossing my arms. “Good thing I never claimed to be fully fae or sane then.”
Soot's ears flatten against his skull, another rumbling growl vibrating through the hallway. His burning eyes lock onto the guard like targeting lasers, muscles bunching beneath his flame-wreathed fur.
The male shifts his weight, clearly unsettled by my pet's predatory focus.
“You might want to leave,” I suggest sweetly. “Before I decide to let Soot have a taste. Then you can find out firsthand why Ruby Hall keeps fire sprites as security.”
A curse hisses between his teeth. “Don't ignore the summons, halfling.” His jaw clenches tight enough I can see a muscle jumping. “You might not listen to me, but there's still an order to fae society. You'd be foolish to ignore an elder's command.”
I roll my eyes so hard they might get stuck. But when Soot takes a menacing step forward, I hold out my hand to stay him. The guard turns on his heel and stomps away down the hall, back rigid with indignation.
He has a stick so far up his ass I'm surprised he can walk straight, frankly.
I close the door and lean against it, smoothing out the crumpled summons.
The Ruby seal gleams mockingly as I scan the formal text.
My first instinct is to toss it in the trash—I don't take orders from anyone except Queen Seoyu and Princess Seoha.
But I am, officially, a citizen of House Ruby and under the jurisdiction of the Ruby Queen before the twins.
Antagonizing the elder who oversees all House Ruby halfbloods probably isn't the smartest move this early in my residency.
“What do you think, boy?” I glance at Soot, who's still smoldering slightly around the edges. He cocks his head, ember eyes glowing. “Yeah, that's what I thought too.”
I push off the door with a groan. Life would be so much easier if I could just ignore fae politics entirely. But I need House Ruby's resources if I'm ever going to track down my mother. Getting myself blacklisted by the elder would make that search exponentially harder.
“Stay here and behave yourself,” I tell Soot as I grab my jacket. “No setting the furniture on fire while I'm gone.”
He whines but settles onto his bed by the window, flames dimming to a low flicker. I scratch his ears one last time before heading out.
The morning air is crisp as I cross the grounds toward the academy building.
Its red brick towers loom ahead, morning sun glinting off the arched windows.
A few other halfbloods are out and about, some heading to classes, others lounging on benches, enjoying the weather. Several nod in greeting as I pass.
The summons feels heavy in my pocket. I'm not looking forward to getting lectured about proper halfblood conduct by some stuffy elder who probably hasn't left her office in decades. But sometimes you have to play nice with the establishment, even when every instinct rebels against it.
I push through the heavy oak doors into House Ruby's administrative wing, following the signs to the offices. The receptionist, a prim fae female with her black hair in a bun, glances up as I approach her desk.
“I have a summons from Elder Nam.” I hold out the crumpled paper, trying not to wince at its wrinkled state.
She examines it with pursed lips but nods. “Right this way.”
We walk down a corridor lined with portraits of past and current Ruby elders, their stern faces watching our progress. The receptionist stops at an ornate door and knocks twice before ushering me in.
I steel myself for another confrontation, but the woman who looks up from behind the massive mahogany desk catches me completely off guard.
Elder Nam's face breaks into a warm smile, crow's feet crinkling at the corners of her eyes.
She looks to be in her mid-forties by human standards, though I know she must be centuries older.
“Ah, Gawon, is it? Please, come in, come in.” She waves me toward a plush armchair. “Would you like some tea?”
I sink into the chair, bewildered by her friendly demeanor. “Um, no thank you.”
“How are you settling into your new home?” She leans forward, genuine interest lighting her features. “Is everything comfortable? The heating working properly?”
“Yes, everything's fine,” I manage. “The apartment is very nice.”
“Wonderful! And do you have plans to take any classes? We have excellent instructors for both academic and practical subjects.”
I nod slowly. “I've enrolled in some history courses, actually.”
“Perfect!” Elder Nam claps her hands together. “Oh, and you must join the social committee. We're always looking for fresh perspectives on activities and events. The summer festival is coming up soon—”
“I'm sorry,” I cut in, unable to contain my confusion any longer. “But aren't you going to reprimand me? About the party?”
Elder Nam's laugh rings through the office like silver bells.
“Goodness, no! Why would I scold you for hosting a gathering in your own home?” She waves her hand dismissively.
“Actually, I'm thrilled you're organizing social events.
It's exactly what we need—more community building among our halfbloods.”
I slump back in my chair, relief washing over me. “So, I'm not in trouble?”
“Not at all, dear.” Her eyes twinkle with mischief. “In fact, feel free to host as many parties as you'd like. Just try not to burn the building down—fire affinities can get a bit carried away when they're excited.”
I lean forward, curiosity getting the better of me. “So, why did you summon me?”
Elder Nam's eyes crinkle with amusement as she pulls out a formal complaint form.
“The guard who filed this rather dramatic report about 'unauthorized gatherings' and 'disruptive behavior' is from a quite high-ranking House Ruby family, I'm afraid. I called you in to pacify him, but you can completely disregard it.”
I smirk wryly. Of course that surly asshole is from a high-fae family. That explains his haughty demeanor and less than cuddly aura.
“I have no intention of restricting how our halfbloods choose to build community here,” she confirms.
I grin, picturing his face when he realizes his attempt to get me in trouble failed spectacularly. He can stuff that right up his pompous ass.
Elder Nam's expression grows more serious as she leans across her desk. “However, I should caution you about antagonizing high-fae males, dear. They're proud creatures by nature, and being challenged—especially by a halfblood—tends to provoke rather dramatic reactions.”
“You mean temper tantrums?” I arch an eyebrow.
“Precisely.” She chuckles. “I have no doubt you can handle yourself, but it might save everyone some headaches if you just let them stamp their feet and have their little fits when they're feeling territorial. They usually tire themselves out, eventually.”
I bark out a laugh at her frank assessment. “Don't worry—I have zero interest in engaging with that particular male any more than necessary. He can throw his hissy fits somewhere else.”
“Excellent.” Elder Nam sits back, satisfied. She shuffles some papers on her desk. “Was there anything else you were interested in while you're here?”
I hesitate, fingers drumming against the armrest. This could be the opening I need. “Actually … I was wondering if there were any job openings at Ruby Hall?”
Her brows draw together, confusion evident on her face. “A job? But dear, all halfbloods receive a monthly allowance. And your housing at Halfblood Hall is provided free of charge.”
“I know, and I'm grateful.” I lean forward, choosing my words carefully. “But I'd like something more to do with my time. And working at Ruby Hall would help me learn more about my own House. There's still so much I don't know about our traditions and culture.”
Elder Nam taps her pen against her desk, considering. “Hmm. I don't know of any current openings at Ruby Hall itself…” She trails off, then her eyes light up. “However, I do recall from your file that you received training from fae instructors?”
I nod. “Yes, I was fortunate enough to have several fae teachers growing up.”
“Well, we are actually looking for another coach to assist with affinity training for the halfbloods.” She smiles warmly. “Having another halfblood as an instructor might help the training sessions go more smoothly. Some of our students struggle with the traditional fae teaching methods.”
I tap my fingers against the chair arm, considering Elder Nam's offer. Teaching halfbloods could be interesting, especially since I know firsthand how challenging it can be learning to control fire affinity powers.
“Who would I be working with?” I keep my tone neutral, though wariness creeps in. Working closely with full fae isn't exactly my idea of a good time.
“We try to pair each class with both a full fae instructor and a halfblood co-instructor,” Elder Nam explains. “It provides a nice balance of traditional training methods and something more palatable for the halfblood students.”
I resist the urge to snort. 'Traditional training methods' is a polite way of saying 'getting screamed at by impatient fae instructors who expect perfection on the first try.'
The memory of my own early training sessions makes me wince. Hours of frustration trying to master even basic flame manipulation while my fae teachers looked on with poorly concealed disdain. No wonder so many halfbloods struggle.
I imagine how much harder it must be for halfbloods who've never had any formal training at all.
I nod slowly. “Alright. I'll do it.”
“Wonderful!” Elder Nam practically bounces in her seat as she pulls out a form. “Let me get your contact information. Once the class schedule is finalized, I'll send you all the details.”
I provide my phone number and email, then clear my throat. “I appreciate this opportunity. But … if any positions open up at Ruby Hall itself, would you let me know?”
“Of course, dear.” She makes a note in her planner. “I'll keep you informed of any openings that come up.”
It's not exactly what I was hoping for, but it's a start. The teaching position will give me something to do and provide something for the community while I wait for an opportunity closer to Ruby Hall to become available. Sometimes the long game is the smartest play.