Windswept (The Airborne Saga)

by Constance Sharper

  This is a book of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual organizations or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author.

  E-Book First Edition

  Copyright © 2013 by Constance Sharper

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced without written permissions.

  Windswept

  Constance Sharper

  Table of Contents:

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty One

  Chapter Twenty Two

  Chapter Twenty Three

  Chapter Twenty Four

  Chapter Twenty Five

  Chapter Twenty Six

  Chapter Twenty Seven

  One

  Her time running short and the likelihood of being caught keeping her nerves on edge, Avery hurried. She spread her fingers wide with hands open, and posed both arms out in the air in front of her. Cross-legged on the carpet floor, she summoned. The magic didn’t come easily or quickly. Hotness burned through her veins, prickling her skin from the inside out, but did little to manifest tangibly in her hands.

  She exhaled a hissing breath and glanced towards the door. It remained quiet and still like the remainder of the empty white room. She clenched her fists and jaw. Avery focused now on the blood-red tattoo that twisted up her arm like wiry branches of a decrepit tree. The base of the design rooted at her palm where the Willow magic had originally seeped into her body, determined to remain there to grow and live. But now it refused to manifest outside of her being.

  “Work for me. Do not abandon me now,” Avery whispered.

  She felt an unnatural pulse react in her chest and mentally grabbed at it. The magic snapped from a simmer to an inferno and ripped through her blood. The magic tore from her fingertips like an electrical current. The jolt of light hissed, crackled, and flickered—the roar of warmth now external and brutally strong.

  Then the pain followed.

  Agony trailing the path of the magic, she sprung backwards. Her hands separated and the bolts of mini lightning dissipated with a pop. Her elbows smacked the floor and she found herself staring at a spinning ceiling. She struggled to find a breath in the hollow expanse of her lungs. The door clicked. Avery sprung up and ran for the bed. She dove into the sheets and rolled when her torso hit the springs. The door opened and Avery didn’t need to see the person to know who had entered.

  “Avery!” He didn’t bother keeping his voice down.

  Struggling to find the strength, Avery propped herself up and offered a sideways smile.

  “Hi, Mason,” she chirped, but her attempts to look cute might as well have been futile. The man who now stood at the end of the bed didn’t return the smile. Twitching wings surrounding his lanky figure; he wasn’t exactly a man either.

  Mason was the harpie who plunged her into the world of the supernatural. Six foot seven, he barely fit in the room that was structured just for his race. He’d obviously flown partway here because his brown mop of hair never managed to stay in any semblance of order. It only grew worse when he didn’t trim it. Hanging over his ears and framing his strong jaw line, he looked more like an indie rocker than ever.

  “You would be crazy enough to pull a stunt like that!” Mason hissed, on par with his notorious attitude.

  She blinked innocently.

  “I don’t know what…”

  “Give it up. I could feel that spark of the magic’s aura a mile away! What are you doing? Why are you trying to summon it?” Despite his tone, she knew Mason was actually genuinely worried.

  She’d known him for almost two years now and the magic he referred to was what had initially brought them together. The Willow magic was a harpie invention but one that didn’t quite live up to its creator’s plan. It had escaped from an amulet and taken Avery as its new vessel. She was once able to use the magic. As of two weeks ago that had changed. She voiced her frustration.

  “Mason, it’s not supposed to be doing this. It acted fine until recently. Now I can barely feel the bloody thing at all. Not to mention it hurts when I’m trying to use it.”

  Avery had been eager to attempt to change that, thinking a jolt would return the awkwardly settled magic back into place. Mason perched on the edge of the bed.

  “It’s not like that. You used it so much with Mikhail…it’s just acting up. Give it time. I don’t even try to use mine.” Mason said.

  She didn’t cringe at the name Mikhail but might as well have. Recently she and Mason had fought to the death with Mikhail, one of the most dangerous harpie criminals in the world. Only out of luck and mild ingenuity did they survive it all. Mason had helped her—another vessel for half of the original Willow magic—but didn’t have the problems that she experienced. He’d also snapped back to health disturbingly quickly and only traces of purple facial bruises remained from the attack that had nearly killed them both. She didn’t mention the discrepancy but knew that Mason also wouldn’t care if he could ever manifest it again.

  Avery changed the subject.

  “How goes things on the outside?” she asked while reminding him of something she was sure never actually left his mind.

  On top of being a supernatural harpie, Mason had something even stranger going for him. When they’d first met, he was the banished son of the Harpie Prince. His father Jericho had died spurring their more gothic star-crossed encounter and Mason was finally in line to take his late father’s throne. Avery honestly didn’t know much about monarchies or kingdoms having lived in twenty first century Nowhere, Alaska. She did know, however, that being prince of anything was a big deal.

  “Things haven’t really happened yet. We’re still in this grace period. Once the council feels it wise to announce me as the crowned heir, chaos is going to start. The vultures—I mean the press, are going to descend on the island. Then we’ll never get a break.”

  “We’ll never get a break? You mean you’ll never get a break. I’m no one special.”

  Mason let out a dry laugh.

  “You are special to them. And I’m worried about that part. About you.”

  “About how they’re going to perceive you dating me, a human girl?” That’d make the headlines. Mason and Avery were a very unofficial official couple now. She had stayed in his room for the past week—big news probably. The part the press wouldn’t know was that Mason was far too worried about her health to even touch her. As long as he kept up this delicate charade, Avery had to suffice for the more platonic relationship they’d had for the months prior. Like bunk buddies. It was…frustrating, but Avery still managed to keep the thoughts to herself. Maybe she was still in a little bit of pain. A few days in, when the magic evened itself out, she reasoned that ache would disappear. She could already barely feel the Willow magic outside of its rare temper tantrums.

  “Dating a human girl is one thing. Letting them harass a human girl who has a bad habit of taking on the worst of a harpie’s vicious traits is another.” Mason referred to the exact reason he didn’t want her to join
him on the island originally. He was worried that the pressure would change her character like it had done to people before her, and for some reason Mason liked her current sappy human qualities. “I need to keep them away from you. I need them to love you, not to demonize or attack you. I need to introduce you carefully.”

  “Ouch. I told you I’d be okay. ” She feigned hurt but allowed her mind to fantasize on exactly how Mason intended to deal with that problem. Apparently even he didn’t have a complete plan.

  “I think you should keep laying low. For a few weeks or at least until I can figure things out,” he continued.

  Avery reacted suddenly to his words, wheels in her head clicking madly. She needed this opportunity. Dropping the pillow, she scooted closer until she could feel the distinct heat radiating off of his body.

  “So Leela called me again…” Avery had barely gotten out the first sentence before Mason turned the full weight of his green eyes on her.

  “Let me guess, same as always with the human.” The snarky tone sounded clear in his words.

  Avery stopped herself from reminding him that she was also very much a human. Instead, working to make it as painless as possible, she just smiled.

  “If you mean she wants me to go back to Mayweather, then yes, it’s the same. But Mason, keep in mind that I have to graduate. It’ll give you time to figure things out. It’s perfect. That way I’m still avoiding being labeled as a truant or a runaway in the human world.”

  “I don’t care about the human world,” he mentioned but corrected his tone quickly. “You going home to graduate isn’t the problem. I think you should. But you know that’s not why Leela is so eager to get a hold of you. Avery, even I know that she does not want you to come live with me. Or associate with harpies anymore period. That’s why you haven’t told her yet.”

  “Hey, that’s not the only reason.” Actually Avery just wouldn’t admit that was mostly the reason. Her best friend was Leela, a petite brunette that could still manage a stubborn streak to rival any harpie. The girl had good reason for her skepticism, unfortunately having only been exposed to the worst of harpies in the short time she knew them. The girl had mentioned before, and continued to mention her desire for Avery to escape the supernatural world too.

  Avery actually had a much different plan. During their last battle with Mikhail, Avery had agreed to move in with Mason. The jump in the relationship still made her heart twist and her head float but Avery had no doubts. She wouldn’t have Mason vanish from her life. Now explaining that to Leela would be another thing entirely.

  “A month with her and I imagine you’ll back out of our deal.” Mason continued with his little overdramatic charade. The harpie never seemed concerned that Leela would win out but the fact that he wouldn’t let it go said enough.

  Avery sucked in a breath, the sudden hint of a migraine starting. She was starting to feel like a rag doll in the middle of her best friend and her boyfriend.

  “Mason, I appreciate your opinion but I’m not asking permission to be friends with Leela or go home,” she reminded him firmly.

  “And who would protect you while you were there?”

  “Just me, Mason. Mikhail’s gone now. There’s no harpie in the world stupid enough to attack me after we just took him out. Besides, your last shot at giving me a bodyguard went way off course. The best thing is just having no one even know where I am.”

  She watched him consider all the ideas possible as he stared at the white carpet. When his shoulders dropped, Avery went in for the kill. She wrapped her arms around his chest and turned her cheek to rest on him. “I just need to graduate, Mason. Then I’ll come back, just like I promised.” Her words were muffled from the position but he clearly heard them. He’d refused to touch her back, apparently unable to admit defeat with any sign of affection.

  “I know,” he answered back, just as softly. He actually gave up the fight. “I’ll send a nurse to check you over. If you’re okay, then go. Just be careful.”

  She gave him the brightest smile she could muster until he returned some semblance of it and then broke free to grab her phone. Mason agreed and she had people to alert. As if he’d read her mind, he backed up and she dialed the digits.

  “Leela!” Avery hadn’t spoken to her friend all that long ago but felt the need to hit the name in a high pitch. A fresh wave of energy flooded her veins and she pressed the Nokia close to her ear.

  “Are you okay?” her friend asked immediately.

  “Psh, I’m invincible. You all know that.” Avery said while somehow managing to direct a pointed look at Mason before maneuvering towards the window and the warm sunrays that broke through. Despite her restoring confidence, she didn’t need a harpie scowl right now.

  “So I’ve got good news,” Avery continued. “I’m heading back up there tomorrow. Not missing the best part of senior year.”

  There was a sustained lag on the line and Avery stole a glance at the screen. The call hadn’t dropped. Pressing the phone to her ear again, she repeated herself.

  “Heading home. Why aren’t you excited? You nagged me about this for days,” she questioned and reminded.

  Finally, Leela’s voice replied slowly, “I am. I miss you, Avery. But how’s California? Are you still on the harpie’s island?”

  “Yeah. Just here with Mason.”

  Leela let out a breath—her mannerisms too overdramatic for the subject. The line went fuzzy and Avery could hear snippets of trees rustling and wind whistling in the background. A man’s voice—probably Nate’s—spoke up on the other line but his words were indistinguishable against the background noise.

  “You should stay there. Avery, I really think you should skip the graduation and-”

  The last word not even getting out of Leela’s mouth, Avery cut in.

  “Skip graduation! Leela, my Leela, telling me to skip graduation? You live and die for this kind of stuff. Are you insane?” This had come out of left field. She tried to remember the exact date she’d spoken to Leela last. Maybe a week ago? This new fear of Leela’s had a week’s time to develop.

  “I’m not crazy! Avery, don’t be thick headed. It’s just a lot to consider, and I’m being rational. You nearly died. You’re still this half-magical girl with harpies on your tail and as much as I hate you being there…”

  “I’m coming. I’ll see you soon and we’ll graduate and have fun.” Avery mumbled a goodbye and ended the debate.

  Before she got a real chance to replay the conversation in her head, something new stole her attention away. A knock at the door summoned Mason to it and he returned back into the room in moments. This time, he wasn’t alone.

  “Avery,” Mason spoke as he approached. Beside him stood another harpie. Wide shoulders like a linebacker, the other harpie’s age was only distinguished by his graying wings and sun damaged skin. His brown eyes immediately spied her in a concentrated stare that lasted the entire walk to Avery’s side.

  Mason held out a guiding hand.

  “Avery, this is Head Councilman Stern. He’s now the liaison in lieu of Samuel.”

  She could only pretend to recognize the positions of government. Making a mental note to work on it later, she plastered a smile and held out her hand.

  “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “Very nice indeed,” he parroted but never accepted her hand, looking instead at her Willow tattooed arm.

  After a delayed second, she tucked it back next to her body and sought to see Mason’s face. He picked up the conversation like a professional diplomat.

  “He’s going to be my right hand through the monarch’s transition.”

  “And you his left,” Stern spoke again, his voice rumbling out of his chest. “You may not have a role in government but if you affect Mason, you affect all of us as well. I would not ignore you nor should you ever hesitate to seek me out if necessary.”

  The invitation didn’t manage to come off as very inviting. His stare started to make her skin crawl.


  “Thank you,” she still said.

  He luckily felt no need to stick around after that.

  Alone with Mason, she went for his arms again and he happily embraced her. She’d miss him—ticklish feathers, musky scent and all.

  “Go back, graduate, and then come home to me,” he whispered.

  Avery’s grin stole her face, and she tilted her chin. Mason went in for the kiss.

  Two

  “Silence!” the harpie hissed, slamming his hand to her mouth and pinning her back against the tree. Shoulder blades hitting the bark, Avery froze. Her eyes scrambled to the harpie’s but his unfamiliar blues stared off in the distance.

  Darkness still lingered in the sky and combined with the massive trees that surrounded Mayweather Academy, visibility was poor. Remembering how to breathe, Avery wrenched her face free from the harpie’s long hand.

  “What do you see?” Avery demanded. She found herself caught between fright and anger at the harpie’s rough treatment. She didn’t know the man in front of her—only that he was a “delivery” harpie Mason had sent her home with. The trip had been awkward but quick, setting them back at Mayweather Academy close to dawn. Their feet had barely been on the ground for ten minutes before he’d violently reacted.