“Do you think that’s what happened?” Katy asked. “When we touched during the battle?” Try as she might, she still couldn’t make sense of what had happened that had given her control like never before.
“I think so,” Peter said. “It make sense.”
“We’ve touched so many times,” Katy whispered as she stared out at the ocean behind them. She couldn’t help thinking of all the times as children alone that they’d held hands, pushed, pulled, pinched, wrestled, shoved, even slapped. And more recently as adults, how many kisses alone had been stolen when no one else was looking, not to mention hand holding and any other of their usual gestures. “Why now? What made that touch different?” And why couldn’t it have come before when they needed it?”
“We were never married before.”
“But we kissed at the wedding.”
“We weren’t utilizing our power at the wedding.” He shook his head. “Either way, Atharo changed something within us. It’s as if…It’s as if we were finally working in tandem.” Peter’s laugh was low and throaty. “I feel as though you and I have been on opposite sides since we were betrothed. Maybe this is a gift we shouldn’t question too closely. Maybe,” he looked down at her lips, “we don’t shouldn’t question the nature of this miracle so much as thank Atharo for it. It’s as if he gave us one final sign that we were meant for each other and for no one else.” He shrugged. “I suppose we could test the theory again sometime,” he said as he leaned closer, a smile on his lips. “I have no qualms with touching you.”
Katy laughed, suddenly felt shy as he put his hands on the small of her back and pulled her closer.
“Listen,” he whispered, leaning down and resting his forehead against hers. “I didn’t marry Katy the fairy or Katy the human. I married Katy.” His breath was coming faster, and his words were rough as he began to trace her temple with his nose.
Katy fought to gather some semblance of thought before he chased it away completely. She’d had something to ask him and was very close to forgetting.
“Do you remember that day near the docks,” she asked breathlessly, “when I wanted to buy a necklace for my birthday, but you made us go home instead because there was a sailor watching?”
In response, he took her and sat her back on the bed. Warm, calloused fingers gently gathered her hair from her neck and laid it on her shoulder. She folded her wings down as he sat behind her and wrapped his arms around hers, and her heart soared as he rested his chin on her shoulder.
“I do.”
She leaned her head against his as they stared out at the nearly cloud-wrapped isle that was fast disappearing behind them. “Why didn’t you answer me when I asked you if I looked like a woman?”
Peter was silent for a long time as he traced her the marks on her arms.
“If you don’t remember—”
“I had always seen you as a sister and playmate. Someone I needed to protect.” She could feel Peter shake his head. “I don’t know how I didn’t see it before, but when I saw him looking at you like that, it took even me a minute to realize why it bothered me so much.”
“And why was that?” she whispered.
“At first I was angry. My first instinct was to teach him a lesson for looking at a girl so young, and I probably would have tried if I hadn’t been so blasted skinny.
Katy squeezed his knee.
“But then as I looked back at you, I realized for the first time that you were incredibly beautiful. And I felt guilty because not only was I unable to defend your honor, but I realized I wanted to look just as much as he did.”
Katy turned around to look at him. His blue eyes were large and serious, and he looked almost…afraid.
She forced a chuckle. “I was hardly as womanly as most of the other girls my age.”
But Peter just shook his head, not breaking eye contact. He ran the backs of his fingers along her cheek, and Katy thought for a moment that she just might die of elation.
“There was—is something about you that you just don’t see,” he said. “But everyone else does. Particularly men.” His other grip on her arm tightened infinitesimally. “Atharo gave you a beautiful heart. You see the world with eyes anew, and you soak up the beauty and wonder. Then it radiates back out for the world to see.”
Katy sighed. “For all Atharo’s given me, I haven’t been very grateful.” She paused. “I just wish I knew how. I want to know more about him, but…” She looked up at him. “You’ve read the Chronicles now. Do you think you might teach me?
Peter leaned down, and she could feel his smile in the kiss he laid on her neck. “I would love nothing more.”
Katy smiled, too, and suddenly, the gentle embrace wasn’t enough. She turned around and sat up on her knees before wrapping her arms around his neck. “I’m excited,” she said.
“About what?” He unwrapped one arm from his neck and began kissing the palm of her hand.
“Atharo. The coronation. Helping our people get a new start. Waking up to you every morning.” She paused, then said shyly, “Maybe children. I can’t wait to see how it all turns out.”
Peter gave a throaty laugh before leaning in and placing his lips on hers. His kiss was soft, but its passion was enough to awaken a fire in Katy’s soul. “Well,” he said, keeping his lips against hers as he spoke. “I guess we’ll never know until we try.”
46
Epilogue
“Thank you,” Aisling said as the guards deposited a nearly unconscious Donella into her arms. “I’ll take her from here.” The guards bowed and hurried off, no doubt anxious to return to their families now that the veil was closed.
Aisling turned and flew them back to her home, where she quickly put Donella in a chair, covered her with a blanket, and warmed some tea. When she handed the cup to Donella, it was a moment before the fairy could drink any due to her cough.
“Thank you,” Donella finally gasped after she had taken a sip. “I feared we might not get back to the antidote in time.” She looked down at her cup. “What’s in it? It tastes like peppermint.”
“It is peppermint,” Aisling said as she poured herself a tea as well.
Donella froze. “Then where is the antidote?”
Aisling had to pity the woman, even if she was one of the most obtuse, stubborn creatures to ever walk the isles. The whites of her eyes were the same shade of red as freshly smeared berries, and she was shaking so hard Aisling wasn’t sure how she was talking clearly at all. Still, this was not a part of the conversation Aisling had been looking forward to. She had never celebrated the loss of life, and she wasn’t about to start now.
“There is no antidote,” she said softly.
“No antidote?” Donella looked around as though just realizing where she was. “But you promised—”
“I never promised there was an antidote,” Aisling replied calmly. “I merely told you not to worry.”
“What was that then?” Donella stuttered. “The tonic you gave me before? It healed me temporarily!”
“It’s a root that briefly relieves pain. I use it for all animals that are suffering.”
“So I’m truly going to die?” Donella’s already raspy voice grew shrill.
Aisling put her tea down and folded her hands. “That is up to Atharo. What I am concerned with now is—”
“But I did exactly what you told me!” Donella’s hands trembled as she tried and failed to grasp the blanket Aisling had laid upon her. “I convinced the chancels to choose to give them the trials, just as you asked! I warned them not to marry because they couldn’t bear children, and that he was dangerous and…” Her face fell slightly. “I know you wanted him dead, but Katy saved him. That wasn’t of my doing!”
“You played your part perfectly, and I am grateful. Peter and Katy trust me implicitly now, and I only expect it to be a matter of time before they have further need for my help.” She stood and pulled the blanket up to Donella’s chin then went to get another blanket to cover her shoul
ders. “Actually, that’s why I brought the veil early this year. They’ll need some rest from politics if they’re ever to move past this point in their life. If they’d kneeled this year, they’d never hear the end of everyone else’s problems, and thus never would have attended to their own.”
Donella coughed. “You mean, you never wanted Prince Peter dead?”
Aisling shook her head.
“Then why did you tell me to drive them apart and to kill him?” She looked down at her hand that had clutched the petals. The skin where her palm had touched the petals was ash gray. “Why would you risk killing him if you wanted him to trust you?”
“Katy saved him.”
“But what if she hadn’t?”
“Atharo’s plans won’t be thwarted. I figured if he wanted them alive, he would preserve Peter’s life. And he did.” Aisling smiled. “Katy’s even stronger than I expected.”
“But…” Donella frowned and searched the ground, as though it might hold the answers she sought. “How did you know the flowers would be poisonous?” She looked back at her hand before adding softly, “I thought they were supposed to bring blessings.”
Aisling paused. “That’s a longer story than we have time for right now.
Donella’s eyes went wide, and she looked as though she was struggling to speak. Aisling went over to her and knelt, placing her hands on the woman’s trembling knee.
“I know it doesn’t seem fair. But I promise, I chose you specifically to help me because you believed in the lore that even many of your peers have forsaken. I needed you to drive Peter and Katy to me, and I knew you wouldn’t be able to do that if you were pretending. Then I told you Peter was dangerous because I knew you would go after him if he threatened the vision for these isles that you hold so dear.”
“But…why?”
“Their experiences on this isle have drawn them closer together than ever, and if things progress the way I think they will, I will be the first they turn to in this next chapter of life.” She patted Donella’s hands and stood before walking to the front door. “And now I have you to thank for that,” she said as she opened the door.
“But…but…what will come of me now?” Donella cried from her chair. The poor thing could barely sit up straight.
Aisling paused, her hand on the door. “You have been a faithful servant. Atharo will remember that when he takes you to bliss. Now, drink your tea. It will help you sleep.” And with that, she closed the door and left. Donella’s cries were muffled by the sound of the door, but Aisling comforted herself with knowing they would soon turn to snores.
Aisling fetched the basket near the door and began walking north. There had been some lovely berries that she’d spotted on the flight in. As she walked, part of her recoiled at the thought of months, maybe even years of more mundane tasks, such as picking berries and tending to mushrooms. But if she was right, and she couldn’t imagine why she wouldn’t be, her waiting should soon pay off. After all, what were a few months more after already making it through a millennium? All she had to do was keep busy, and before she knew it, everything would fall into place.
Dear Reader,
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For the next book in The Autumn Fairy Trilogy, read on . . .
The Last Autumn Fairy
The Autumn Fairy Trilogy, Book #3
Coming soon…
Peter has been crowned king of the Third Isle, and Katy is married to her childhood sweetheart. Barely into their marriage and rule, however, life is far from tranquil. With tensions between their people turning bloody, Katy and Peter are struggling to keep the peace.
Their other problems pale in comparison, however, when Katy discovers that they have defied all odds, and she is pregnant. Unfortunately, after fleeing to the one person she was sure would help most, Katy realizes that her once ally just might be their worst enemy, and she and Peter must scramble to protect not only their child but the five isles from an ancient destruction.
If Peter and Katy cannot unit their people, they will lose their child and the isles. But the wrath of an autumn fairy should not be taken lightly, nor the desperation of a warrior king with everything to lose. The question is whether this autumn fairy and warrior king can succeed where the last ones failed.
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Also by Brittany Fichter
The Autumn Fair Trilogy
The Autumn Fairy
The Autumn Fairy of Ages
The Last Autumn Fairy
The Classical Kingdoms Collection
Before Beauty: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast
Blinding Beauty: A Retelling of The Princess and the Glass Hill
Beauty Beheld: A Retelling of Hansel and Gretel
Girl in the Red Hood: A Retelling of Little Red Riding Hood
Silent Mermaid: A Retelling of The Little Mermaid
Cinders, Stars, and Glass Slippers: A Retelling of Cinderella
Coming soon…
A Curse of Gems: A Retelling of Toads and Diamonds
The Classical Kingdoms Collection Novellas
The Green-Eyed Prince: A Retelling of the Frog Prince
The Entwined Tales
1. A Goose Girl: A Retelling of The Goose Girl - KM Shea
2. An Unnatural Beanstalk: A Retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk - Brittany Fichter
3. A Bear’s Bride: A Retelling of East of the Sun, West of the Moon - Shari L. Tapscott
4. A Beautiful Curse: A Retelling of The Frog Bride - Kenley Davidson
5. A Little Mermaid: A Retelling of The Little Mermaid - Aya Ling
6. An Inconvenient Princess: A Retelling of Rapunzel - Melanie Cellier
Available Autumn 2018…
Clara’s Soldier: A Retelling of The Nutcracker
About the Author
Brittany lives with her Prince Charming, their little fairy, and their little prince in a sparkling (decently clean) castle in whatever kingdom the Air Force has most recently placed them. When she’s not writing, Brittany can be found enjoying her family (including their spoiled black Labrador), doing chores (she would rather be writing), going to church, belting Disney songs, exercising, or decorating cakes.
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The Autumn Fairy of Ages / Brittany Fichter. – 1st ed.
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Edited by Kimberly Kessler
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The Autumn Fairy of Ages (The Autumn Fairy Trilogy Book 2) Page 39
