Page 13

Chapter Thirteen

T he sky overhead changes from bright blue to a greenish hue, like the color of robin’s egg. All around us, bright flecks of light float in the air. The trees aren’t green and brown like they are in our world, but the trunks are more of a rich, deep purple and the leaves have a dull yellow or green glow to them. Everything is more mysterious, but somehow brighter. The very air seems to vibrate with magic in a way I’ve only felt when touching an enchanted artifact.

I turn to speak with Garrett, only to come face-to-face with Kai.

Human Kai.

He is blinking rapidly. Confusion swirls in his gaze and his lips are parted as he sucks in deep breaths.

“Kai!” I throw my arms around his neck, pulling him against me. “Kai! You’re you!”

He wraps his arms around me slowly at first. I can’t imagine going from the size of a frog to being back to over six feet. Or from losing my mind to frog instincts to suddenly being human.

But everything seems to finally click for him and he drags me against his chest, swallowing me in his embrace. He buries his face in my neck and inhales. “El. I was so worried. I was losing myself.”

“I know. But you’re back.” I smile.

“I thought if I jumped in the water from the falls I would return to me, but it didn’t work.”

I rest my feet back on the ground, only to cup his face in my hands so I can look into his copper eyes. Those eyes I fell in love with ages ago. In a time when everything was right. “You actually thought to do that?”

“You thought I just fell in?”

“Well...hopped, but yes. You were turning more into a frog.”

He smiles and places his hands over mine. “I guess getting me here was enough to break the spell.”

I recognize his vest is gold , his shirt is white, and he wears his ceremonial sword on his waist. He’s still in his wedding clothes.

“You didn’t change,” I blurt.

Kai’s tired brows twitch in confusion. “Huh?”

“I mean...your clothes. You married her, and you’re still in your wedding clothes.”

He slowly raises a brow. “Yes?”

“You never...slept...with her?” I hesitate to ask.

“No.” He says it so casually, like he thought I knew it, and then he inclines his head. “El, I married her because I had to.”

Garrett clears his throat.

Kai shifts his eyes, and I notice his lips tighten when I drop my hands and turn to see what Garrett wants.

I open my mouth to say something, but Garrett is pointing upward, toward the sky.

It’s...cracking.

My brows furrow and I turn in a slow circle. Sparkles of gold float down to the ground and the light dims.

“What...is happening?” I know neither of them can answer, but I can’t keep the question inside.

“Well, well, well. We wouldn’t happen to have Prince Kaison, son of King Willard the Seventh, in our midst?”

We all turn and both Kai and Garrett step in front of me. Kai glares at Garrett and elbows him out of the way so he is the one protecting me. I can’t help but feel a little happy to be fought over, even if it’s only a moment.

I lean to look around Kai’s shoulder to see a fairy with white hair pulled half up in a bun at the back of his head, dull black-and-gray moth-like wings, and a black uniform with a red emblem on the chest. His eyes are sharp and cold. He is flanked by two other fairies, both with sharp black butterfly wings, in the same uniform but with black hair.

“What do you want?” Kai asks.

The fairy laughs, but his smile doesn’t brighten his eyes. He reaches his arms up toward the sky. “Do you not see? You fulfilled our intentions.”

Kai’s head shifts ever so slightly, and I don’t need to see his face to know he’s confused.

“What intentions?” Garrett cuts in.

“You don’t know?” The fairy’s smirk makes me want to slap him. He drags in a deep breath and rests his hands on his hips. “Tsk. Your father never told you the truth?” He meets Kai’s gaze and doesn’t blink.

Kai rounds his shoulders. “That he made some sort of pact with your sorceress? Yes. He told me that. He wanted children but couldn’t have any, so she allowed my mother to have me.”

“Oh. Oh, little prince.” The fairy chuckles, and it grows into a roar of laughter with the other two fairies joining in with much less enthusiasm.

Garrett places his hand on the hilt of his sword, eyes darting from one to another, ready to move if provoked. It’s the first time I’ve seen him truly in his element as a soldier.

“Oh, you poor thing.” The fairy wipes at invisible tears. “Little highness. That’s only half of the story.”

Cheering echoes through the forest from somewhere in the distance.

Kai reaches back and places his hand on me to make sure I’m there. I reach forward and take his hand, wanting that comfort from him.

“I would ask you to enlighten me,” he says, “but it appears we are keeping you from some kind of celebration. Point us in the direction back to my kingdom, and we will leave your land.”

“It’s not quite so easy.” The fairy looks like a court jester the way he’s grinning. “You see, you are trespassers in our land. And I happen to know someone who is dying to meet you. Well, officially.” He almost giggles and motions his hand for us to follow.

His men part, their hands going to their weapons, and they keep a close eye on Garrett.

“What do you want to do?” Garrett asks softly.

“We don’t know the way out,” Kai responds under his breath.

“They’re arresting us.”

“I see that.” Kai breaks his concentration on the fairies to look at me. “Stay between Garrett and me.”

I nod but don’t let go of Kai’s hand. Luckily for me, he doesn’t try to let go of me either.

“Your weapon.” One of them holds out his empty hand.

Garrett reluctantly unbuckles the belt and hands over his sword.

“And your bag.”

Garrett’s lips tighten as he removes the bag and hands it over. The soldier opens it, rummages around a bit, and then hoists it over his shoulder.

“You?” the other guard asks Kai.

Kai is still in his wedding clothing, which means he has only his ceremonial sword, and he hands it over as well. His eyes are narrowed and he looks like he might strike the guard in spite of having no weapon, but he refrains.

“Little miss?” the first guard asks me.

I raise my brow. “Do I look like I have a weapon?”

“We need to search your pouch.” His tone lets me know it’s not up for debate, and it’s clear to me that we are not in a position to argue.

I blink and look down at Acorn’s pouch. “This? I have a hedgehog. Can I take him out?”

The fairy glances at the leader, brow twitching. “General Nizra?”

Nizra chuckles. “You chose a hedgehog as your familiar? Let me check.” He holds out his hand for my pouch.

I hold my breath. If he gets the ball, we have no leverage. “He’s going to be frightened.” When the fairy doesn’t move, I reluctantly hand it over.

The fairy chuckles. “There is, indeed, a hedgehog in here. Hello.”

“Who are you? Where is Elowyn?” Acorn’s voice shouts up at him.

“She’s right here and quite well.” He closes the bag and hands it back to me. “It’s wise to have healing potions, especially where you’re going. Follow us. And don’t worry, we only bite on Thursdays. Is today Thursday?” He glances back. “Oops.” He traces my figure with his eyes, deliberately looking me down and then back up before he winks.

I raise my finger in a crude gesture.

He snorts. “She’s got fire. No wonder the two of you are fighting over her.”

Kai’s hand tightens on mine.

“Are we okay?” Acorn asks.

I glance down to see him poking his head from the side of the bag. “I don’t know,” I admit.

“I can hear him,” Garrett comments softly. “I mean I understand Acorn.” He smiles. “Hello, Acorn.” He looks at the hedgehog and offers a little wave. I can’t help but think he’s trying to help keep me calm, and I hate even more that the simple act is actually working.

Acorn’s nose twitches with excitement. “I can talk to you now, Whiskers?”

He nods.

“Oh good! Next time you choose caterpillars, leave the yellow ones. They are bitter. Like onions.”

Garrett chuckles. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

We walk with the fairies through the forest, the trees looking very much like the forest we were just in, which ends at the crest of a hill. They don’t pause to admire their city, but I do. I thought fairies were small and lived in lanterns or abandoned animal holes. That’s what the images in books depict. A beautiful city of structures made of polished and carved wood with several stories to them was not what I imagined. The architecture rivals that of the city of Parshen where we live. Different types of trees have been used to give depth to the buildings in dark and light colors.

People fill the streets, dancing and celebrating. They wear clothes like ours, but of finer quality. The women’s dresses flow with ethereal lightness, and the men’s tunics and trousers hug them to show every muscle of their toned bodies. But everything is carefully designed around their stunning wings. Unlike the soldiers currently escorting us, most of the fairies have brightly colored wings, making the streets a kaleidoscope of color flickering on the trees and buildings surrounding them.

I suddenly feel very naked and wish I had stayed in my sopping wet dress over being in my very obviously worn under dress. I wrap my arm around myself and step closer to Kai.

“Are you all right?” he whispers.

“Keep going.” One of the black-haired soldiers pushes me.

Kai immediately releases my hand to wrap his arm around my shoulders and glares at the man. “Don’t touch her. She’s capable of walking on her own. You don’t need to show her such rudeness.”

The man doesn’t seem intimidated at all by Kai’s posturing.

“We can’t take on all of the fairies at once, Your Highness,” Garrett warns.

Kai relaxes only enough to allow me to continue walking. But he’s still tense. I feel it in his arm and side, which I haven’t moved from.

When I glance at Garrett, he is watching me from the corner of his eye. When our gazes meet, he quickly looks away. He looks almost hurt.

The celebration of the fairies changes when we enter the city. The cheers dull to shock, and a whisper like the wind begins to build into a murmur and then thunder. The fairies push in toward us as the word spreads that humans are in the land.

Garrett presses against my other side. I notice he has broadened his shoulders and has no issues holding his arm out to push curious fairies back as they lean in to get a look at Kai.

“It’s true!”

“He’s here!”

“He’s broken the binding!”

“The second-born has been brought.”

“The vow is fulfilled.”

“What do they mean?” I ask, afraid to look away from the fairies.

“Second-born?” Kai mutters.

Nizra chuckles, the tone dark. “All will be explained when you get to the prison. This way.” He raises his hands. “Please create a path. I’m certain our lovely Genoa will put him on display shortly. Thank you.”

The crowd parts just enough to allow us through, but both Kai and Garrett have to push them further back. More than once, Kai has to yank his arm free from a fairy.

My heart is pounding so loudly I am certain everyone nearby can hear. We’re going to a prison. For so long, I’ve tried to avoid this very thing and now I walk on shaking legs toward one in a fairy realm. Is it safer than the one Mother is locked in? Did Mother feel this same panic when she was led to her cell?

A million questions burn in my mind, and I know the men on either side of me must have at least as many questions as I do. It’s too loud and chaotic for any of them to be answered, though.

“Breathe,” Kai says softly. “In through your nose, out through your mouth.”

I glance up at him. How does he know what I feel?

“You’re pale,” he explains. “And you’re shaking like a leaf. In through your nose, out through your mouth.”

I suck in a short breath through my nose and blast it out from my mouth. I repeat it, the next time managing to breathe in slower, and the third one is far more controlled. I’ve never felt more grateful to be beside someone who knows me so well.

We are led to a tree wider than any tree I’ve seen in my life. In fact, it’s nearly the width of my home. A black door has been carved into it, and Nizra places his palm on a carved square before whispering something I can’t hear.

The lock clicks and he pulls the door open. He winks once again at me and gestures for us to enter.

None of us move.

It’s my turn to tighten my grip on Kai’s hand, because I feel a wave of magic and darkness wash over me the instant the door opens. It hits me like a frigid wind and my breath catches.

“El?” Kai whispers.

“Do you want to make a scene?” the fairy asks.

“I’ll take up the rear,” Garrett states. His hand brushes mine and I blink and glance at him. “Breathe,” he whispers.

I gulp a breath and then swallow. “Thank you.”

He nods.

Kai steps forward, pulling me behind him, again without letting go of my hand. I feel like I’m not only being dragged physically with Kai, but emotionally. I felt my heart jump when Garret touched my hand, but having Kai take control feels comforting as well.

“Pity. I wanted a show.” The leader steps in first, followed by Kai, me, and then Garrett.

I am momentarily blinded, stepping from bright sunlight to darkness lit only by a handful of floating, glowing orbs. Nearly ten fairy soldiers stand in the room. It must be a space for them to guard the entrance of the prison, as there are chairs and a small kitchen. A ladder built into one wall leads up to what might be a sleeping loft.

“Everyone, meet little Prince Kaison.”

The guards’ eyes widen. “He’s here?”

“We heard people cheering. Does this mean the binding is broken?”

They all exchange hopeful looks.

“Indeed.” The fairy plucks one of the floating orbs from the air. The light inside brightens at his touch, further illuminating the space surrounding us. “This way, our lovely guests.” He descends a staircase I hadn’t seen beyond Kai.

The staircase is tight and spirals downward for what feels like miles. It’s likely only a short distance, but I’m terrified and it’s dark. The lower we go, the colder it becomes, and I’m currently in a dress with no sleeves. I don’t want to say anything as I begin to shiver.

“Hold a moment,” Garrett says.

“And why?” the fairy snaps.

Garrett doesn’t respond. He instead removes his cloak and drapes it around me. The warmth instantly subdues my goosebumps, and I pull it closer. He nods silently.

I smile back.

Kai’s eyes darken. I know it must be from jealousy, but he has no cloak to offer me.

“Oh, you three really need a bedroom.” Nizra dramatically rolls his eyes and continues our descent.

My cheeks flush and I look down.

Once we reach flat ground, there is another door to walk through. Again, the fairy places his palm on it and whispers before it opens. This reveals a long bridge over a chasm so deep I can’t see the bottom and so high I can’t see the top. My breath hitches. Bridges crisscross at every level, and there are bars on this side to show the prisoners inside.

“See that cell right there?” He points to a vacant cell directly across from where we stand. We can look right into it from here. He looks at Kai. “That was designated to you nineteen years ago.”

“What do you mean?” Kai asks, his voice deep.

“When your father broke his vow and bound us to our realm, Genoa’s plans changed. Of course, if he had just fulfilled his promise and given you to Genoa when he was supposed to, you would have been raised as royalty here. Now, you get to be on display for her collection instead.” He pats Kai on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. She’ll soon be here to explain everything in better detail.”

My mind reels. Kai was supposed to be raised here? With the fairies? What did Nizra mean?

Kai doesn’t move and his face remains stoic, but his grip on my hand flexes and I can sense his sudden nervousness.

I try to comfort him by squeezing his hand, but he doesn’t look down at me.

We cross the bridge and turn to the right into a hallway, and Nizra opens the door to what he told us is Kai’s cell. Kai hesitates and then pulls me with him.

“Ah, ah. She has a cell all of her own.” The fairy snatches my free arm.

“She comes with me,” Kai insists, eyes narrowing. He stands to his full height and steps toward the fairy. “She stays with me.”

“I’m afraid that isn’t allowed. You can’t fight me here, boy.” The fairy’s eyes narrow and his demeanor shifts as his eyes darken. “You don’t want her hurt, do you?”

“Put me in a cell with Garrett and I’ll go willingly,” I say. “If I can’t be with Kai, I can be with him.” I look at Kai, hoping he can see that I’ll still be safe with Garrett.

Kai’s jaw flexes. “As long as she stays with him, I’ll let her go.”

The fairy chuckles. “Fine. She stays with the soldier.”

Kai pulls me close. “I’m so sorry I got you into this mess,” he whispers. “I’m sorry I hurt you. I’m sorry I failed to keep you safe and broke your trust and...your heart.”

I wrap my arms around him, overwhelmed by a rush of emotions. My chest feels like it might explode from hope and sadness. I’m afraid of what is going to happen.

He places his lips on my forehead, then hooks his finger under my chin.

My breath catches—but then I’m rudely pulled away. The fairy shoves Kai back and into his cell. His room is on an outer wall that is nothing but iron bars with sharp designs securing them together and to the ceiling and floor. Beyond that wall is the open space from which we entered. Sunlight fills his cell, and I can make out the shape of a bed. The door slides closed from somewhere in the wall, a door of bars with a short gap at the bottom.

The cell across from Kai’s unlocks and rolls open. Nizra doesn’t let go of my arm. Instead, his fingers squeeze tightly.

Garrett doesn’t budge. “Ladies first.” He’s not looking at me, though. I am very aware he isn’t going to move until he knows I’ll actually be in the cell with him.

The fairy must pick up on it, because he sneers. “You are so polite.”

“She goes first,” Garrett insists.

Nizra snorts and pulls my arm up, forcing me to step close to him. He sniffs my hair. “You’re a weak magic user. Possibly with potential, but goodness, you’ve been suppressed. It must be miserable for you to be in Parshen. Here, we can give you real power. Real strength.”

“Let me go,” I say firmly, but inside I tremble.

He chuckles. “You’re so ignorant. It’s a pity you’re wasted on them.” He shoves me backward and into the cell, causing me to stumble and fall.

Garrett steps in behind me and faces Nizra, using his body as a shield until the door is closed and locked.

“We’ll see you soon!” The fairy waves, turns, and disappears around the corner.

Our cell is much darker, as we have no windows or lanterns and the only light comes from our door. We also have no bed.

Garrett turns to me and helps me to my feet. “Are you hurt?”

“No.” I tremble and lean my back against the wall, finally breathing normally for the first time since entering the fairy realm.

“Your ribs are fine?”

I hadn’t even noticed the pain was gone until he mentioned it. “The water from the falls must have healed them. I’m fine,” I insist when he doesn’t change his expression. “What in the four winds is going on?”

Garrett turns to look through the bars at Kai. “Is there something you haven’t told us?”

Kai shakes his head, jaw still tight, and he walks to the back of his cell, which overlooks the chasm. “Clearly there’s something even I wasn’t told. I have a feeling this is much worse than any of us realize.”