by A. G. Henley
Calli’s scent is sharp and spicy from working in the stillroom. The potent smell calls up memories of Nerang's shady little home in the trees in Koolkuna. I long to be with him, Kora, and my other friends there again.
"How'd you get all this maiden grass in your hair?" Her voice is light, but it has an edge of cattiness. She plucks something off the top of my head.
"Give it a rest, Calli. You know I was with Peree."
She lowers her voice. "You were with him, but were you with him?"
"None of your business." Especially if you're going to act like this. I try to change the subject. "How about you and Cricket? Any progress there?"
She moans. "Fox won't let us go anywhere alone now that he knows he wants to partner with me. You're so lucky you didn't have to wait until the next Summer Solstice to announce you were intended."
I frown. "I'm sorry he's being a stickler."
"He's not being a stickler with you. It's like none of the rules apply to you anymore." Is that what her hostility is about?
"Maybe it’s because I'm not his only daughter.” I keep my voice quiet, unsure who might be listening. "Listen, I didn't plan for any of this to happen the way it did. It's not like I wanted to fall in love with a Lofty. Far from it." I reach out for her hand. "But I did, and I wish you could be happy for me."
"I'm trying. Really.” Her voice is serious now. “It’s just . . . not easy. It's so strange . . . a Groundling and a Lofty . . . and it's really hard watching Bear's face when he sees you two together."
Ouch. The wonderful—and terrible—thing about knowing someone your whole life is that they know exactly which words will have the greatest impact. I gather up the guilt and regret about hurting Bear and bury it all in a shallow spot inside me. I'll dig it up later to agonize over when I'm alone.
Ignoring the lump in my throat, I tug on her hand. "Let's forget about boys and go in my shelter and . . ." I cast around for a second, trying to come up with something fun we used to do, "and fix each other's hair. Clearly mine's a wreck."
She hesitates, but only for a moment. She loves messing with my hair. Smiling, I open the door of our shelter and pull her in behind me. My nose wrinkles at the unexpected musky smell inside. And is something . . . dripping?
Calli screams.
I freeze. "What? What's wrong?"
She can't answer; she's too busy shrieking. I yank us back outside, bracing myself for whatever might come flying out. All I hear are the sounds of shouting and running feet as her cry subsides.
She whimpers. "The poor things."
"Are you okay? What happened?" Bear grips my arms. His touch is both comforting and uncomfortable all at the same time.
"In there," Calli tells him.
He pulls us behind him and steps away. People have gathered around us. Some gasp as they apparently see whatever Calli saw; others are silent.
"What is it?" Frustration chafes my voice.
"Animals . . . a bird and a rabbit." Bear sounds disgusted. "Someone gutted them. And nailed them to the wall over your bed."
I stumble back, swallowing hard at his words. "What? Why?"
No one answers at first. Bear finally speaks.
"I think it's a message. A pretty sick one."
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About the Author
A.G. Henley is the author of the young adult series, BRILLIANT DARKNESS. The first book in the series, THE SCOURGE, was a finalist for the 2013 Next Generation Indie Book Award.
A.G. is also a clinical psychologist, which means people either tell her their life stories on airplanes, or avoid her at parties when they've had too much to drink. Neither of which she minds. When she's not writing fiction or shrinking heads, she can be found herding her children and their scruffy dog, Guapo, to various activities while trying to remember whatever she's inevitably forgotten to tell her husband. She lives in Denver, Colorado. Learn more at aghenley.com
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Sneak Peak of Chapter One of BRILLIANT DARKNESS #2
About the Author
