I shrugged, and he placed his hand on the small of my back, leading me to the center of the room. Multi-colored gowns and feathered masks parted before us like the sea.
“I do,” I whispered, then inclined my head toward the onlookers. “Just not with all this.”
“I wish you’d make friends with the nymphs and pixies I send you from court.”
A lone flute played the first notes to a popular song, and some of the crowd lost interest in us. Instead, they turned back to watch the musicians or join in the dance.
“I can make my own friends,” I told him for the millionth time. “I’m not going to fabricate friendships just to appease you.” I bowed gracefully, preparing for the dance. “Besides, I have Brea.”
He nodded reluctantly. “Yes, you have Brea. But you are a Lady of Summer. You need to have more than one friend.” He opened his arms and I stepped into them. We swayed to the slow tempo, letting our wings extend to their full height.
“Maybe I don’t want any,” I told him.
His eyes rolled toward the ceiling. “What am I going to do with you?”
“Nothing.”
“I must do something.” The Summer king guided me into a quick spin, and my olive gown swirled around my legs, followed by my wings. He grabbed my hand and waist when I teetered, close to losing my balance. “Do you have a special someone?”
I glared, righting myself. “This again? Father, I am not having this conversation with you.”
“There are plenty of nobles who would love to have your hand in marriage—”
Enough was enough. “I’m not ready,” I snapped, stepping out of his grasp. I grabbed my green-feathered mask, meaning to fling it to the ground, but it caught in the waves of my black hair instead, cutting short my dramatic intent. “And don’t you dare try arranging anything. I want to live life on my own terms.”
“It’s customary for all members of the Royal Court to have a lifelong partner. You should settle down—”
“I have eons before I must marry.” I stuck one hand on my hip. “I don’t understand why you keep insisting. We’re immortal. There isn’t any rush.”
“As you wish.” Oberon turned from me, but he always had to have the last word. “For now,” he tossed over his shoulder as he stalked back to his throne, leaving me in a sea of brightly colored fairies.
I adjusted the mask to cover my face then stormed out of the masquerade, stewing over his last statement about marriage. I firmly believed someone would enter my life when the time was right, but until then, I would live on my own terms. I didn’t need a fairy at my side, despite what my father said. In spite of my objections, every few hundred sundowns he raised the topic again, then set off on some fairy hunt to marry me off. So far I’d managed to squash all requests.
As far as my only having one friend, I saw absolutely nothing wrong with that. It had to be better than faking friendships with fairies that were only there because my father had instructed them to be there—or because they thought it would help their court status.
The lush gardens around Aestas Castle had begun to sprout, and their vivid colors glowed in the moonlight. Small flowers poked through the ground, and tree branches thickened with fresh buds. The soft new grass shoots invited me to touch them, so I removed my lace slippers, enjoying the squishy terrain beneath my bare feet. Encouraged by the warm breeze, I peeled off my shawl and let it fly into the wind.
As I walked the pathway toward the Wild Forest, sprites flew past, intent on cleaning the many statues. Some waved, others bowed toward me, and though I was in a hurry, I smiled back. In the distance, the moonlight shimmered like white magic on Lacus Pond. Every once in a while, something splashed on the surface, meaning the merfolk and water nymphs were probably frolicking. Goblins and gnomes romped the wooded grounds, scrounging for food and causing mischief, but I paid no attention to them.
The only thing on my mind was getting to my secret spot in the woods. I craved the peaceful atmosphere, away from prying eyes and fake smiles. In the woods I could be myself. I could say whatever thoughts crossed my mind. No one ever answered me, but that was okay.
When I finally arrived at my destination, I nestled onto the chair I’d fashioned a few seasons ago. The oak had stood solidly against the harsh winds and rain that sometimes pelted the area.
Yes, I was a fairy. But my life was not all about unicorns, rainbows, and parties, though—out of duty—I attended every royal event, no matter the size. There was hardly a night when something wasn’t going on inside the castle or in the city of Aestas, whether we were throwing a royal festival or cheering up a pixie who had accidentally broken a flute. I was well aware that my father hated the sullen behavior I displayed whenever we received guests or listened to the problems of his subjects, but I never deviated. I had always been true to myself, and I knew deep down that the true me didn’t quite fit in at Aestas Castle or at the royal outings. I much preferred to be in the forest. Alone.
In the peace and quiet of my favorite place, I remembered back to the celebration my father had thrown when I’d entered my fifth season. The whole city had been invited, of course, and all members of court had attended. I had been showered with gifts. Only one present still stood out in my memory, though. That was the gift which had shown me what I really was.
My one and only real friend, Brea, had given me parchment paper and some colored quills, and I’d used them to draw. Father discovered what I was doing, and though he wasn’t angry, he seemed shocked that I could create pictures without glamour. But what choice did I have? When I was born, he’d sealed my magic. Since I was a Lady of the castle, it was important that I act properly. I couldn’t be seen as a failure or someone who mistreated power. As a child I couldn’t understand my powers or how to use them, so he’d kept them from me until I got older.
Brea’s father hadn’t sealed her glamour, so she taught me a few things over the seasons. One afternoon after that fifth birth’s celebration, we sat in the garden, and I drew make believe worlds in which square towers loomed over the horizon and carriages moved without the aid of horses. On one side I swirled a lake of deep blue water, and on the other I created a vast green countryside. Brea guessed it was supposed to be a park, and she asked where it was since she’d never seen anything like it in Fairyland. When she told me my lake looked more like a fire pit, she was smiling. That’s when she showed me a trick.
She held my hand palm side up, then cupped hers over mine. With her eyes twinkling, she said, “fire” then moved her hand away. Just like that, a green flame appeared, dancing in the center of my palm. Then she turned my wrist and said, “parchment” while tapping the area of water I had sketched on the paper. I stared in fascination as the flame transferred from my hand and hovered above the drawn lake like a sun.
Just then, the wind howled. It blew the green flame across the parchment and onto the grass. Real fire erupted and spread through the grass, hopping swiftly from branches to trees. Panicked, we flew to the castle for help and screamed the news to the first fairy we saw. Horns sounded, and a flurry of pixies and house brownies rushed to the garden. We ran back to watch, and my father materialized ahead of us. He snapped his fingers, and just like that the fire extinguished. Everything was as it had been before, with lush green grass and full flowering trees, though a charred stink lingered in the air.
It was then that my glamour training started. It was done under my father’s guidance, and practiced in private. I guess he realized that my ignorance might be less dangerous than keeping me in the dark.
Hello Reader!
I hope you enjoyed Arrows & Angels (Enlighten Series, Novella). I have to tell you, getting into the mindset from a male perspective was fun. Many readers have told me: “Is this near the end for you and the series?” Maybe. I’ll have to see where the writing journey takes me.
I’d love to hear from you. You can write to me EMAIL, visit me on the web at www.KristinVanRisseghem.com, follow me on TWITTER, like my Faceboo
k: Author page, and join my Enlighten Series Street Team!
Finally, I need to ask a favor. I’d love a review of Arrows & Angels (Enlighten Series, Novella). Reviews can be tough to come by these days. If you have the time, please leave a review on the outlet where you purchased this book. Not a writer? Don’t worry. Just a couple of sentences will do it.
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Thank you so much for reading Arrows & Angels (Enlighten Series, Novella) and for spending time with me!!
Read On,
Kristin D. Van Risseghem, Author
Acknowledgements
Thank you to my husband, family, friends and all my author connections I’ve made over the years who continue to support me in my writing endeavor; thank you!
To my wonderful friend Angie, who provides me my sane moments when I need to bounce off ideas.
To the Querying Authors, The Sit Down and Shut Up Team, AAYAA Group, and the YA Rendezvous . . . you all inspire me to keep writing, answer my questions and are my cheering sections when I want to give up.
To my critique partners: Ann, Tiea, Genevieve, and Jena. You give me words of wisdom.
To my wonderful content editor: Tera Cuskaden and my line editor, Natalia Brothers. You help me create deeper characters we grew to love, set in a realistic, but still a make believe place.
A HUGE thank you to Angela for a fantastic cover with so much colors, sparkles and swirls!
THANK YOU!
~Kristin~
About the Author
USA Today bestseller and award-winning young adult author, Kristin D. Van Risseghem grew up in a small town along the Mississippi River with her parents and older sister. Currently, she lives in Minnesota with her husband and two Calico cats. Kristin also loves attending book clubs, going shopping, and hanging out with friends. She has come to realize that she absolutely has an addiction to purses and shoes. They are her weakness and probably has way too many of both.
In the summer months, Kristin can usually be found lounging on her boat, drinking an ice cold something. Being an avid reader of YA and Women’s Literature stories, she still finds time to read a ton of books in-between writing. And in the winter months, her main goal is to stay warm from the Minnesota cold!
Kristin’s books are published by Kasian Publishing LLC.
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