Page 21

Jack

V eins bulged along my neck and my lungs screamed for air, but the fear was nothing compared to the sight before me.

Scaled creatures raced for us, sharp fangs extended, talons outstretched as they tried to beat us to the strange rainbow bisecting the bottom of an expansive lake.

We wouldn’t make it. I wouldn’t make it, and the urge to open my mouth and suck in precious, life-giving air was a frantic chant in my mind.

As navy-scaled creatures approached, unearthly screams filled the water, and I closed my eyes, praying my last few moments wouldn’t be painful ones.

Hands touched my face, startling my eyes open, and Sally twisted my head to hers. Soft, warm lips pressed against mine, and pressure built. My mouth opened and hot bubbles slid inside. I swallowed them down greedily as my lungs expanded.

Sally smiled, releasing me, and a flash of searing ice sliced through me as we fell into complete darkness.

I opened my eyes, finding the pain in my lungs diminished somehow.

Exhaling a slow breath, bubbles floated up, stretching for a surface we were rapidly approaching.

Sally’s lips met mine again, and I opened my mouth for her precious gift, inhaling deeply this time. I wanted to slip my tongue inside her mouth—taste her sweet tongue—inhale not just her air but her essence, but she pulled back, and my lips slid closed, locking the bubbles in.

Sparkling scales along the sea horse’s flank reflected in the sunlight and in moments, we broke the surface, and I gasped, sucking in the overly sweet air of Faerie.

The horse began swimming toward a shore that seemed impossibly far away.

I leaned down, stroking his mane. Sure, he’d tried to bite me, but he was a good boy and saved my life. His head shook and he let out an angry snort.

“You don’t like that, Buddy?” I crooned, running a hand over his shining blue mane of seaweed.

Sally cackled, and I spun to look at her.

“I don’t think anyone has even pet Kaspar before.

Much less called him Buddy.” She stifled another laugh but sobered quickly when she saw my gaze lingering on her soft, pink, life-giving lips.

The seahorse shook all over and I slid sideways, nearly tipping off his back.

Sally’s iron grip came around me and pulled me up.

“Kaspar, stop that. The naiads will eat him if he falls in.”

I tensed, digging my heels into the seahorse’s sides. “Naiads?”

Her warmth pressed into my back, setting my skin on fire even through the layers of our wet clothes. Hot breath tickled my ear as she whispered, “the creatures with pointy teeth and sharp nails, chasing us on the other side of the pocket.”

My racing heart stuttered between desire and fear as her words mingled with her closeness.

Waves crashing over a blue-tinged lakeshore speckled my face, and in a moment, the view stole my focus.

We had left Earth after two a.m., but here it was morning.

A soft golden sun glittered across granules of sand so white they could have been snowflakes.

The seahorse’s long tail transformed beneath me and bright, metallic hooves galloped over tightly packed sand as the lake disappeared behind us and we approached a forest unlike any in my wildest dreams.

Trees of every shade stretched far overhead, some curving at strange and unnatural angles as they fought for competing space along the canopy.

Between them, moss-covered vines dotted with bright purple and green-capped mushrooms hung in an interlacing pattern, forming a web on which odd and fantastical creatures perched.

I gaped as our aquamarine horse galloped past a creature shaped like a monkey who was the color of a banana. Its matching eyes blinked once, revealing false blue eyes on its lids. I imagined how it would have looked asleep—appearing wide eyed—and smiled.

An animal not unlike an owl took flight, spreading its wings and revealed several tiny, winged fairies clinging to the insides of its feathers. I stretched my head back, watching as they hung to the creature for dear life when it tipped sideways, banking left.

“Magical,” I breathed.

My eyes adjusted to the darkening landscape as our horse slowed to a trot and the light dappled forest floor came into focus.

When the ground was no longer a blur of greens and oranges, my gaze traveled over every unfamiliar sight, drinking it up greedily.

Was I the first person to enter Faerie? I must have been.

If other humans had witnessed the splendor of this place, they could never believe its inhabitants were evil.

Sally’s hold around my waist loosened, and the cold absence that followed made me shiver. Our horse stuttered to a stop, and she slid off.

I peered down the considerable distance to the ground.

Swinging my leg over, I slid down the side of the massive horse.

His back legs kicked up as I dismounted, sending me sprawling.

I landed in a soft bed of undergrowth, spongy to the touch, and exhaled a “humph.” When I sucked in a pained breath, it was spicy—a mix of cinnamon and cedar.

Sally came to my side, holding out a hand. I reached for it, and she tugged me up.

“Thanks,” I said, dusting off my shirt and pants, turning in a slow circle, tipping my head back. Leaves in orange, yellow, red and green formed a cornucopia of color overhead.

“Your human is ill-equipped for our land.”

The words dragged my focus to a man who wasn’t a man.

His skin was teal-tinged, and his hair, a bright shade of vermilion, almost floated on a phantom wind, obscuring a silver crown spiked with seashells.

Below his ears, on either side of his throat, tiny, fine lines ran along his neck.

As though someone had tried to slit it several times but failed.

His unearthly eyes were a perfect match for his hair.

None of this was what made him most inhuman. His bare chest was speckled with turquoise scales, shimmering in the light, the exact shade of the ones covering the seahorse’s body.

“Kaspar?”

His eyes went round. “It’s Prince Kaspar of the lakes and streams to you, Peasant.”

I gaped. A prince. I had ridden on a prince.