Page 22

Chapter

Twenty-Two

It takes forever to get through the business district of the fae city—that’s what someone told us it’s called—because I keep stopping to stare. Many of the fae are nicer than I expected. The ones who came to Skoro always led me to believe they’re a frightening species. So far none we’ve run into are anything like the ones in the woods, the ones whose magic is still wreaking havoc on my system. Coming here seems to have activated those ingested powers, which are now swirling around again as if fighting each other.

The buildings are even more magnificent up close. They’re more than made with precious metals and gems. It’s as if those things sprang up from the ground and simply formed into buildings. My breath catches every time I turn around, and that’s only for the structures. The fae are beyond my wildest imaginings.

They wander around wearing big, bright clothes like I’ve never seen. They look so elegant and expensive. One shirt here is easily worth more than the entire farm back home. A lady with a kitten face rushes by, talking quickly to a man with fur like a bear, has a shirt that looks like it was made with hummingbird wings. Another man floats by, and I think he actually has hummingbird wings.

Harek nudges me. “I’m as amazed as you, but we really need to find a place to stay.”

I stare at a skyscraper across the golden street that appears to be one solid piece of aquamarine. “Maybe one of these buildings is a hotel. Could you imagine what it would be like inside? We’d sleep like royalty.”

“There’s no way we could afford anything like that.”

I don’t take my gaze from the blueish green building. “How would we afford anything ?”

“If we can find an inn, we could work for our stay.”

All the wonder deflates from my insides, and I turn to him. “But we’re on a mission. I need to find out who my father is.”

“Maybe he’ll let us stay with him.”

My stomach sinks at the thought, which does nothing to calm the angry magic inside me. “The man abandoned my mother and me. I only want to find out what kind of a fae he is then move on with my life.”

Harek lifts a brow. “Really? You aren’t curious about him and your family at all?”

My best friend knows me too well, but I’m not about to let on he’s right. I’d jump at the chance to know my father if he had any interest in me, but I don’t see that happening. The fae has never shown even an inkling in the twenty-three years of my life.

I decide to change the subject. “Have you noticed how warm it is here? We don’t even need an inn. I could fall asleep on the ground and have the greatest night’s sleep of my life.” A sweet buzzing taste tickles my tongue, not that I understand how buzzing can have a taste. Nothing makes sense in this city. “What’s that?”

Harek glances around. “What?”

“The taste .”

“You mean the magic?”

I move my tongue around. “That’s magic? It has a taste?”

“When there’s this much in a single place.” He pulls me along. “We need to get ourselves to another district. This one isn’t for us.”

“I could spend a week here and never get bored.”

A pink-and-green caterpillar half my size skitters past as if to prove my point. If I’d known I had fae blood running through my veins, I’d have come here long ago to escape Gunnar and his mistreatment. I wish I could bring my sisters here—they’d never believe it. But being human, they’d never get past the gates.

“Eira…” Harek says my name with twice as many syllables. “We can come back here later if you want.”

“Oh, I definitely want.”

“But we can’t sleep here. Whether we find an inn or a cave, it won’t be here.”

I hate to leave, but I relent and we hurry past more buildings—ones made of ruby, gold, and even diamonds. The sweet taste of magic grows stronger with every step we take.

Before long, the buildings become smaller and foliage appears. Though the plant life is nothing like what I’ve seen outside the walls. Not that I should be surprised. The colors are more vast than a rainbow on a sunny morning. Everything from tiny plants to towering trees shine like prisms, casting brightly colored shadows in angles I wouldn’t have thought possible just an hour earlier.

Birds flit, darting here and there, moving so fast I almost can’t see their wings. Brightly colored predators pad around, not caring about any of the creatures that could be their food—including us. A winged, sparkly, sea foam green saber toothed moose snorts as he glances our way while eating a feathered flower.

I glance at Harek, who is finally as mesmerized as I am. He threads his fingers between mine and squeezes as a crimson lion turns our way. Upon closer inspection, the beast is actually a swarm of butterflies. When I cough, they part and fly in separate directions with a massive flutter.

As we walk farther, branches overhead move in impossible directions, twirling around each other, forming pathways for animals and fae alike to walk on. Music and delicious smells come from up ahead. My stomach growls despite the sourness from the foreign magic inside me.

We round a corner and come to a marketplace of sorts, although it isn’t like any I’ve ever encountered before. Stalls not only stand on the ground but also float in the air. Winged patrons fly from one to another in the same way those using legs walk from one to the next.

My stomach growls again, and I turn to Harek. “What do you think it would take for us to get some food?”

He studies the activity in front of us. “They appear to have coins.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

“We don’t have any.”

“Clearly, but there has to be something we can do.”

“Let’s walk closer and see if anyone is paying another way.”

We walk around, watching and listening. Nobody’s discussing the money they’re using, but they’re having plenty of other interesting conversations.

“The festival this year is supposed to be the biggest yet.”

“I hear some of the winter city dignitaries will be here.”

“The academy had another fire in the first year’s dormitory.”

“Did you know another wild vampire coven was wiped out in the forest?”

“The hunter is weakening even more. I heard a sprite overtook him last week.”

“A sprite? Where do you get your information? From the nursery school?”

Laughter.

“I’m serious! If he doesn’t regain his strength, evil fae are going to start taking over. Things will go the way of Courtsview.”

“That wasn’t because of the hunter! The leaders allowed lawlessness to rule.”

“What do you think will happen if the hunter can’t do his job?”

Harek taps my shoulder and motions for me to follow him.

I wave him off, curious to learn more about the hunter. He sounds important, and the last thing I want is to make my new home here only to have the city fall apart—not that I can imagine anything bad happening here.

But Harek pulls me away. “We have to go.”

“I was listening to that conversation. Who’s the hunter?”

“Just a legend. I need to get out of here. They kick werewolves out of the city at night. I have to find a place to hide.”

“Who told you that?”

“Like you, I was listening in. They don’t like my kind around here.” He balls his hands into fists.

“Why? It isn’t like you’re going to shift without the full moon.”

“Apparently they don’t take that chance.” His gaze drifts to something behind me.

I glance back and see a well-dressed older couple staring at us. He has wings like an owl, and she appears strikingly human with silky hair the colors of a sunset, changing in waves along with the sky above.

Harek tugs on my arm. “They know what I am.”

Disappointment washes through me, but he’s right. We’re going to have to find a place to hide. He bursts into a run, and I follow. We pass vendors, shoppers, and a wide variety of delicious aromas.

The marketplace gives way to a large field where the strangest band I’ve ever seen plays a mesmerizing song for a large crowd gathered around them. I can see the notes coming from the musical instruments in bright colors, tempting me to fall into a trance.

I shake my head, grab Harek’s arm, and yank him toward the people. We disappear into a throng who are too busy moving to the music to notice a werewolf in their midst. We make our way around slowly, pretending to be into the music. It takes a while, but eventually we get clear to the other side of the band and break free of the crowd.

Looking around, it’s clear nobody’s paying us any attention, but it’s only a matter of time before another fae figures out there’s a werewolf in their midst so close to nightfall.

Harek points to my hand. “Your palm is glowing.”

I shove my hand into a pocket. “Big surprise. We’re surrounded by fae.”

“It means one of them is dangerous.”

“And there’s a big crowd. Nobody’s going to do anything here. Let’s go.”

We hurry toward some foliage. It might be where we have to sleep, not that it’ll be any different from the past week or so. Once we reach a large, rainbow bush, we hide behind it and catch our breaths.

I turn to him. “If they kick you out, I’m going with you.”

“I appreciate it, but you need to be here. If your father is here?—”

“I’m not leaving you. We can come back during the daytime.”

He sighs. “You’re stubborn.”

“Says the guy who traveled all this way after I tried talking you out of it.”

“We need a plan.”

“We have one.”

Harek throws me an exasperated look. “I mean a real plan.”

“It is real—we’ll sleep where we can and then try to figure out what we’re able about my father tomorrow. There has to be a library with information. Maybe even some people who’ll be willing to help us out.”

He starts to respond, but someone off to the side clears their throat.

It’s the woman with sunset-like hair. Now it’s darker but with a few rich hues, like the sky above.

A wave of fear runs through me. What if she kicks us out? I can’t think of any other reason she’d follow us all the way over here.

I swallow. “Can we help you?”

She motions toward a district with smaller buildings than the business district. “Let’s talk.”

I exchange a questioning glance with Harek.

He rises and squares his shoulders. “What about?”

“This isn’t the place.” She glances at me. “You know there’s danger in the crowd.”

Blood drains from my head. How does she know that? Did she see my palm? She couldn’t have.

She motions toward the buildings again. “Let’s talk over dinner.”

I freeze. An actual meal?

Harek looks like he’s trying to send me a message with his eyes. He subtly shakes his head.

The woman almost looks amused. “We can go to a restaurant if that would make you feel better, but I can offer you a shower at my place. And I assure you the food is much better.”

My stomach growls again.

She glances at Harek. “I’ll even let your kind stay overnight.”

He still doesn’t look convinced.

I’m willing to take a chance on her to have a real meal and am about to agree.

Harek speaks before I can.

“Won’t you get in trouble for housing me?”

“No, but you’ll certainly find some if nobody takes you on.”

I nudge him. “Let’s do this.”

He shakes his head.

“Now who’s being stubborn?” I grab his arm and pull him toward the woman. “We’d be glad to join you. Thank you for your hospitality.”