by Abbie Lyons
“Okay, okay!” I shrugged, the best gesture of surrender I could do with my hands bound together. Finally, we stopped outside of an otherwise unremarkable wooden door that dematerialized as soon as Cobalt approached. Behind it was a library-like room, lined floor to ceiling with black wood bookshelves crammed full of everything from leather-bound volumes to honest-to-goddess scrolls. At the far end was a long table, but instead of anyone sitting there, there were simply five glowing crystals in varying colors, emitting a light mist and humming slightly.
No, scratch that. There was someone sitting there.
Gage.
“Gage!” I breathed, immediately trying to keep my voice as low as I could. Gage was sitting at 100% attention, eyes front and hands on his knees, but despite his guardsman posture, I could tell that something was bubbling under the surface. Nervousness, maybe. He blinked, flicked the briefest glance at me, and then stared dead forward again.
Behind me, Cobalt gave his compatriot a brief nod. For someone who claimed to be friends with Gage, he sure didn’t show a lot of friendliness right now. Then again, maybe that was part and parcel of the whole Azelorian Guard thing: your duty comes before everything. Friendship. Daily life.
Any kind of relationship.
I swallowed hard.
“Guardsman,” Cobalt said. Then he nodded again and took his leave. The bindings around my wrist crackled and sprouted a new chain that shot to the ground and locked itself in place. I was now rooted to the spot. But I didn’t feel as much like I was the one on trial. This was going to be more about Gage than me.
“Emerald Jones.” One of the crystals—the middle one, which was also the biggest—pulsed in rhythm with the echoing voice that poured forth into the room. It was...genderless, for lack of a better word, but resonant and a bit husky. It was definitely a voice I was going to obey. “This hearing has been called concerning you, your guardsman, and the recent incident.”
“Oh,” I said. “Um, okay?”
“Do you swear to be truthful in your responses?” the voice asked.
“Yeah, of course,” I said. What did I have to gain by lying? Especially if something were to happen to Gage...I snuck another glance at him. His jaw was tight, his piercing eyes focused ahead, studiously avoiding me. If I weren’t literally tied down—well, and if he weren’t a prison guard and I weren’t a prisoner—I would’ve run across the room and flung my arms around his neck.
“Very well.” The crystals all flicked on and off like someone was flipping a light switch. “We have convened as a disciplinary board of prison officials to discuss the matter of your safety under the supervision of Gage Tremalt.”
“Uh...okay,” I said. Not trying to be rude, or anything, but at that point that was pretty obvious.
“You are not considered to be at fault for the incident the other day,” the voice went on. The other crystals murmured and glowed in agreement. “As such—”
“Okay, but it was kind of my fault,” I interrupted. The crystals all went briefly dark.
Oops.
“I mean, uh, permission to speak?” I went to raise my hand, only to remember that it was lashed in place. “It’s just...well, I sort of got dizzy and fell. So it was technically my fault, if it was anyone’s fault.”
“Silence!” roared another of the crystals, a higher voice that I still couldn’t pin as male or female. I got silent.
“As such,” the lead voice picked up as though it’d barely been disturbed, “we are here to review whether or not it is in your continued interest to be supervised by a guardsman who has displayed such negligence. As you know, Emerald Jones, the role of the Azelorian guardsman at Enchanted Penitentiary is to keep prisoners safe during their transition to incarceration. It is a simple but absolutely essential charge, one that the Azelorians swear to uphold—with their lives, if necessary. Thus, your being injured so soon into your transition period is a matter of grave concern and automatically triggers an investigation.”
I nodded, not wanting to make another sound. The official-sounding decree just made my heart ache more for Gage, and the pounding echoes of the powerful voice, along with the little light show the crystals were treating us to, was starting to feel overwhelming.
“Therefore, we have conducted a thorough inquiry into the guardsman’s conduct,” the voice went on, “and have come to the following conclusion.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Gage lean forward a bit in his seat, just enough that the crystals wouldn’t notice. If they could see us somehow to begin with. I realized I had no idea how this kind of magic worked, but I wasn’t about to attempt to raise my hand again.
“While the vow of protection was, in the strictest technical sense, violated, we do not believe that, for the time being, the guardsman presents an ongoing threat to your safety, Emerald.”
Gage relaxed, just the tiniest, tiniest bit. He blinked rapidly, his lips parting gently. My heart soared, but I tried to keep my face impassive, not wanting to risk screwing things up for him.
“However, because it is quite literally your life on the line, we have summoned you to render the final verdict.”
“What?” I said, forgetting I wasn’t going to speak. I practically had to pick my jaw up off the floor. I hadn’t had the ability to make any of my own choices since I’d crossed the Enchanted Penitentiary threshold. Not what I wore, not what I ate, not even what time I went to bed. And now they were going to let me decide something?
“What my colleague means to say,” piped up a third crystal, this one projecting a faint mint-colored light, “is that you have the choice to remain with Gage as your guardsman or to request a different detail.”
“Oh,” I said. It was literally the easiest decision: of course I’d let Gage keep guarding me. It’d been pretty awful without him—especially with weaselly Cobalt in his place—and I saw no reason to swap out for someone totally unknown.
Well, actually, I did see one.
If I was going to keep talking with Tarian, I couldn’t have Gage constantly going for the prince’s throat. That would definitely have to be sorted out.
Not that I was dead set on escaping, or even fully convinced it was the best idea. But if I was going to figure out what I wanted to do, I’d definitely have to keep discussing with Tarian. And Gage was going to have to be okay with that.
“Emerald Jones?”
Why did the crystals insist on calling me by my full name? Whatever.
“Yes,” I said, steadying my voice. “I am comfortable allowing him to continue guarding me.”
Gage’s lips twitched, a gesture I recognized as a prelude to a grin that he was surely battling back. I felt lighter, even though I was chained to the ground. I’d been given a tiny bit of power, and I was able to do something to help my friend. Even here. Even stuck in Enchanted Penitentiary.
No—because I was here.
“Very well,” the lead crystal voice said. “It shall be so. Gage Tremalt, you are hereby officially reinstated as guardsman to Emerald Jones. As per policy, your oversight of her transition will be extended as a reflection of the setback of her injury. We trust”—the voice dropped and became yet more serious—“that you will fulfill your duties with no further lapses.”
Gage leaped to his feet and did a sharp rendition of the Azelorian salute. “I will, your honors. Thank you.”
“Don’t thank us,” murmured the mint-green crystal. “Thank your inmate.”
I felt weirdly put on the spot. I didn’t even know who these Fae were—if they were even Fae.
“Can I ask a question?” I said. “Who...are you?”
“We are a disciplinary board of elders,” huffed one of the crystals.
Okay, ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer. I tried another tack. “Is one of you the warden?”
The discussion from class the other day flashed back into my mind. I wasn’t going to get another chance to talk to the higher-ups—unless I somehow fucked up again—so I was going to c
arpe some diem, here. It was a gamble, but a gamble I wouldn’t get another shot at making.
“Because I’m just wondering...why are all the messages so harsh? Like, if we’re all here to get better, or whatever, and you’re concerned about my physical well-being, how come the warden is always being so down on us?”
“What makes you say that?” snapped the lead crystal. Was that the warden?
“I mean, it’s true,” I said. “And I’m not the only one who thinks that. We were all wondering about it in class the other day.”
The crystals hummed.
“We will review the class proceedings,” said the lead one in clipped tones. “Thank you for alerting us to the discussion.”
Ugh. What did that mean? Did I fuck everything up? “I’m not just alerting you, I’m saying—”
“You are dismissed,” the leader declared, and with that, all the crystals’ inner glows vanished at once, leaving them dull and gray, like ordinary craggy rocks.
I blinked, taking in the room that now felt much cozier, especially with all the bookshelves, the feeling of relief to finally be back with Gage that rushed over my skin.
“Emerald.” Gage took two militaristic steps toward me, his posture as ramrod straight as ever I’d seen it. But he was grinning, really grinning, a smile that pulled me back instantly to our childhoods. To the familiar feeling of being safe, belonging, having fun.
“Thank you,” he said. He bit his lip. “You didn’t have to...”
“You’re a good guardsman, Gage,” I said, shrugging, making my bindings clink gently. “There’s nothing to thank me for. I genuinely...feel safe around you.”
He nodded, swallowed. “I’m sorry you had to get up in the middle of the night.”
I laughed. “It’s fine. Beauty sleep doesn’t really make a huge difference anymore.” He chuckled. “It’s more the wake-up call that was a drag,” I went on. I glanced over my shoulder, double-checking that we were alone in the library room. “No offense, but your bro Cobalt is kind of...” I made a face that hopefully conveyed my, let’s just say, ambivalent feelings about the guy.
“He’s a good guardsman, too,” Gage said, almost automatically. “And he’s been there for me. It’s...it’s not an easy process to get through. Not an easy time in my life.”
His gaze briefly flickered from mine. There was an almost awkward silence of a few moments.
“So...” I clinked the chains around my wrists. “Can I get out of these now?”
“Oh!” Gage perked up, with such attentiveness that it was honestly adorable. “Of course.”
He executed a complicated twisting gesture in the air, and the chains retracted into the ground and disappeared. I gave my hands a little shake.
“Thanks,” I said.
“Just doing my job.” Gage said, looking almost nervous as he indulged himself in a joke. “Emerald, really, I should thank you again. I just...”
Emotion, unnamable and potent, shone in his eyes. Then he closed the gap between us in three quick strides and wrapped me in a hug.
My breath came out in a quick, light gasp as his strong arms enveloped me, held me to the firmness of his chest. It was overwhelming; I hadn’t touched another body in goddess knows how long, and Gage’s clean and crisp smell bathed me in an intoxicating feeling of comfort. I gripped the edges of his uniform shirt, pulling him closer to me, pulling myself closer to him. The warmth was all-encompassing. His lips were inches from my ear, but he didn’t say anything. Just held me tighter.
I could’ve stayed there forever. But he couldn’t. And I knew it.
“Gage,” I said, fighting my own reluctance as the syllable slipped out of my mouth. Gently, so gently, I pushed him away, barely able to reach the center of his chest.
Gage pulled back, a dazed look in his eyes. He blinked, shook his head. Breathed in, hard.
“I hope...was that okay?”
I nodded.
“It’s just...it’s been so long,” he said. “Since I...since I felt someone else like that.”
“I know,” I said. “It feels like a long time for me, too.”
But the difference was that in that small way, I was free. I hadn’t vowed myself to abstain from the opposite sex. And who knew where the Azelorians drew the line at violations, but Gage couldn’t afford another infraction and he knew it.
He knew it, and he still took the risk to touch me.
A shiver went down my spine.
“You need to sleep,” Gage said suddenly. His voice was firm. “Let’s get you back to the cell.”
I didn’t want to go, even though I knew I had to. Outside this room, the reality of prison would come crashing back. The reality of my situation, and everything I was going to have to do to fix it.
I used to think I was someone like Gage: a pretty good rule follower, even if I occasionally bent a guideline or two. I liked to have fun, but I wasn’t a full-on bad girl, no matter what April’s parents said.
But I was starting to realize that if I was going to get out of here, if I was going to make sure that whoever killed my best friend was brought to justice, I might have to break the rules to do it. Even team up with someone I wasn’t 100% sure I could trust.
That’s what April deserved.
As Gage waved me through the exit and back into the hallway, I squared my shoulders at him.
“There is one thing I need to change about...” I lifted my shoulders as if to say all this. Us. “If you’re still going to guard me.”
“What’s that?” Gage said.
“You have to let me talk to Prince Tarian.”
Chapter Seventeen
THERE ARE NEVER ANY stars in LA.
I’m standing in the warm air again. Hair blowing in my face, caressing the sides of my cheeks, brushing against my eyelashes.
I blink, then open again.
Still here.
The sky’s purpling now, reflecting the beige-ish haze that radiates from the earth beneath it. There’s no true darkness here, always a reflection of all our bustling, lit-up activity, and I love it. You can’t ever be alone here.
And I’m not alone. I’m surrounded, bobbing my head to the music, feeling my bracelets jingle up and down my arm, following the sounds of April calling my name.
It’s not midnight yet, though. Not light-dark enough for that. I quickly summon a quick time-telling spell, the number glimmering in the air in front of my face for just a half-second before it evaporates, too quickly for any human eyes. It’s 8:45. That part of the night where things are both well on their way and just getting started.
When I find her, finally, April’s furious, her face creased and eyes wild. I’ve been on the other side of that anger a few times—I mean, all friends fight—and I know it’s not something you want to fuck around with.
I get to my feet, stumbling a little over the straps and heels of my too-high party shoes. Dammit, April, you were the one who insisted I wear these. I call out to her, trying to cut through the sound, but it’s hopeless, so I snap my fingers and the party sounds go muffled and liquid, as though we’re all underwater and the party’s sealed off from us.
“April!” I call again.
She doesn’t hear me. Which is weird. I try again.
“April?”
This time she does, and when she spins around, her face instantly brightens. “Oh, goddess, girl. You scared the shit out of me.”
“You okay?” I loop my arm through hers. “You looked royally pissed.”
“Ugh.” She rolls her big blue eyes. “Don’t worry about it.”
“No, seriously, are you okay?”
“Don’t worry, seriously!” April’s face is back to a mischievous happiness. “It’s your party. I’m here to handle all the dumb details.” She winks, then untangles our arms so she can spin me around.
Still, I frown, knowing her and her moods better than that. “Is this because of Gia being here?”
April’s face opens wide in shock. Her glossy lips fal
l open and her eyes flare with some strong emotion I can’t name.
“What?”
“Gia,” I say. She’s here. “I just saw her in the kitchen.”
April flushes with renewed fury. “I can’t believe...the fucking nerve.”
The sound of the party thrums around us. April tenses her hands into fists. A question is stuck in my throat. If April wasn’t angry about her ex-friend being here, if she didn’t know Gia was around until I’d told her, then what was she angry about just now?
“Relax,” I say, “she seemed to come in peace. More or less.” I cock my head just a bit to the side. “Is there...something I should know?”
“No,” April says firmly. She tosses her head, her hair gleaning in the last strains of evening light. “She just...ugh, never mind.”
“Okay, but the weird thing is,” I venture, “she said she brought me a present. But she also didn’t seem to know that it was our party. My party. So it’s really confusing and I don’t really understand what she’s up to.”
“What do you mean, a present?” April says.
“I know as much as you do,” I say. “I was going to look for it when you called me over.”
“No,” April says firmly. “Don’t. Just go enjoy your party and I’ll deal with her if I see her. I don’t want this to ruin your night.”
Confusion twists inside me, but April’s so upset that I don’t want to push the issue further. It’s not really any of my business and, frankly, I do want to enjoy my party and not have to deal with friendship drama that doesn’t even involve me, technically.
“Okay,” I say. “If you say so.”
April flashes her million-dollar smile, the familiar girl I know and love returning. “Oh, I say so.” She gives me a playful shove between the shoulder blades. “Now get back out there!”
And I do.
AFTER THAT, I WOKE up like I’d been electrocuted.
“Goddess,” I panted. “What in the seven hells...”
I clutched my chest, my heart pounding.
That hadn’t been a dream, I knew that much. It was a...memory, maybe? But it felt clearer and sharper than any memory I’d ever recalled. More like a movie I was watching of everything unfolding. Except still not enough.
