by E. A. Weston
“She is a nice fairy, but she is not for me.”
We both sit for a while, watching the ocean. My thoughts turn to Claudia. I look up at the moon, smiling, wishing I could speak to her again.
“Let us return before you are missed.” Taking her hand, I extend my wings.
“Killian?” I smile down at my fierce little sister who looks about ten summers old again. “Can I touch them?” She points to my wings and I nod.
She runs her fingers over my wings in awe.
“They are the most beautiful wings I have ever seen, brother. I am very envious.” She grins at me stepping back.
“Thank you, sister, but you would have to be male to earn these wings.” I tease, pulling her up into the night sky. We arrive home, laughing from my little detour over the trees and the castle before we landed. I instantly retract my wings. They are still something I view as personal and do not wish for other fairies to see. My father stepping out of the shadows looking very annoyed cuts our laughter short.
“Father?” He looks between us.
“My chambers. Now.”
His voice reverberates against us and we run up the stairs to his rooms, finding my mother pacing across the seating room.
“Children!” She cries, running, grabbing us to her as my father storms into the room, slamming the door behind him.
“Sit!” he bellows in his kingly voice. Ari and I sit, as does my mother, who then stands up again. They both stare at us for a few minutes.
“You are in so much trouble,” my mother warns through our bond, shaking her head.
“Killian, Prince of the Warrior King. What were you thinking taking your sister out at night and not telling me or Connor of her whereabouts?”
“I am sorry, father, I did not expect we would be out this long.”
He paces the room until he calms down then sits in the chair opposite us.
“My children, you almost caused me to meet an early demise. Please do not do that to the Queen or I again.”
He sighs, rubbing his face with his hands. Both Aurelia and I apologize again. “I am sorry, but you are both confined to your rooms after sunset.”
Ari begins to argue, but he raises his hand, cutting her off mid-sentence.
“Yes, Father,” I say, pulling Ari with me. “Come, sister, it is late.” I walk her to her room where Connor is waiting outside her door, scowling at us.
For the next thirty moons, Ari and I are stuck inside while we watch our friends dance and enjoy the warmth of the summer nights.
“Prince Killian, the King would like to speak with you.”
Turning I see one of my father’s messengers.
“Thank you,” I say, following him to the great hall where I find my father sitting in his throne, reading some scrolls.
“Father?” I say as I approach and bow my head out of respect. He waves me closer to take my own throne to his right.
“Sit, Killian.” Turning, he tells the other fairies to leave the room before he speaks to me. “Son, the Tenebrosi training camp is starting again and I want you to attend. You will leave in six moons.” I swallow the lump in my throat.
“Yes, Father,” I say, standing.
“Wait,” he calls as I step away. Looking up from his papers, he asks, “What of the warrior Avery?”
“He is capable and loyal,” I answer as my father rubs his chin.
“Good. You may take him with you. I hear that you are inseparable on the training grounds.” He lifts an eyebrow at me.
“Yes, Father. I consider him a brother and trust him with my life.” Turning, I walk away from him.
Halfway through the room, I stop again when I hear him speak. “Son,” he calls.
“Yes, Father?”
“You and your sister may have the next six nights with your friends, but be home at a reasonable time.” He smiles at me then I leave.
“Ari, we are free,” I tell her and hear a squeal in return. When I reach my room, she is there waiting for me.
“Come, brother, I fear we have missed some of the best summer nights.”
Shaking her head, we both stand on the windowsill and jump, flying straight to the grove to our friends.
“Prince!” Avery calls, running towards me. “We have made it, did you hear?” I return his handshake.
“Yes, brother, I did.”
I smile as we sit and plan the next six moons before our departure. Aurelia sits with her friends and I find Avery watching her.
“So is it true?” I ask, drawing his attention.
“What?” His shoulders stiffen even before I speak.
“You and my sister?” Sighing, he hangs his head.
“I fear it may be so, but I have not pursued it, I swear on my life, Killian, I never…” Holding my hand up, I laugh.
“Okay, Avery, I trust you and I would be happy to have you as my real brother.”
“I thought I was your real brother?” He laughs at me.
Six moons later he and I are saying goodbye to my family. Aurelia is crying as she clings to me. “Be safe, Killian.”
“I will, Ari.” Pulling away from me, she grabs Avery, much to his fright, and hugs him tight. His eyes dart between my parents and me who are looking at him and Aurelia.
“So this is the fairy she has been talking about?”
My mother asks me through our bond and I nod, laughing.
“Okay, Ari, release him or you will have him killed,” I joke and watch as he snaps his head to me. I say goodbye to my parents again and leave the castle—the only home I have ever known.
Avery grips my arm. “Killian, I fear your sister is my true mate.” He looks scared, but I reassure him that he will be fine. My father is quite okay with whomever Ari choses, as long as he is kind to her.
After three days traveling, we arrive in the camp of the Tenebrosi. It is high in the mountains and surrounded by snow. We have no time to prepare our belongings, for the minute we step foot through the hidden doorway, we are training. The sunrise and sunsets blend into one as the time at the camp moves along. Avery and I share a room and often take watch duty together. We are so in tune, we are called “cupla” meaning twins. We fight together, eat together, and talk about the future—but Avery mostly talks about Ari so much that I really miss her and my parents.
“Brother, you are making me homesick.” I laugh at another of his future dreams.
“I’m sorry, Killian, I did not think.” He shakes his head and I shrug, lying down on my bed.
“Get some sleep, Avery, we train early tomorrow.” He snorts at me.
“Yes, my body is crying out already.”
Before I know it, the sun is rising and we are once again on the battlefield, fighting each other until the sun sets again. This is our life every day and I honestly have lost track of the season we are in. It snows all the time here and we fight during the daylight and sometimes during the night. We have battled through exhaustion and come out fighting harder—that is why we are Tenebrosi.
* * *
Six months later
* * *
Avery and I trek home through the hills and valleys, over the lush landscape, and through the forest until we see the walls of the castle. We both smile and run towards my home. We burst through the door.
“Mother, father, Ari.” I shout standing in the main hall waiting for my family to come to me, but it’s quiet and no one is around. Frowning, I look at Avery, who has his sword at the ready. Unsheathing my own sword, we walk through the castle, finding it empty—no family, no servants. My thoughts turn to worry and I reach out to my mother and sister.
“Mother, Aurelia? Where are you?”
No reply. We run to the grove, but there are no fairies around.
“What is going on?” Avery asks, circling with his back to me.
“I do not know, brother, but I don’t like it.”
We retreat back to the castle and wait for night to fall. I feel a shift in the air as I look out towards the fore
st of souls.
“Mother? Ari?”
“Killian, my son, where are you?”
“I am home, mother, where are you? I have been waiting for an age.”
“We are coming, my son.”
I wait for them at the door. As soon as my family passes the gate, I run to them and them to me.
“Father! Mother!”
They grab me in a hug as we laugh together while Aurelia squeezes in with us.
“Oh, my son, I have missed you terribly.” My father pulls me into a hug.
“Me too, father. I have missed you so,” I tell him.
We walk back into the castle to Avery, who smiles at Ari. Taking our seats, my mother brings us food and water as we relay what our life has been like for the last six months.
My father tells me how proud he is of me, and soon it is just him and me; Avery went to the guest chambers.
“Well, was it what you expected?” my father asks me, still smiling.
“No, Father, I am afraid it was nothing at all what I had expected.” He laughs heartily at me.
“I know, Son, I could not tell you what it would be like. Some things we have to discover for ourselves.” I nod in understanding.
“Well, where did you go? I was home waiting for an age before you returned.”
“We spent a few days in the human realm. I had business to attend,” he says, looking tired.
“I will leave you, Father. I fear we are both unable to keep awake longer.” We walk up the stairs together.
“I am happy you have returned, Killian, I have missed you so.”
“Me too, Father.”
We walk our separate ways to our rooms. As soon as I enter my rooms, my feet take me to bed and much-needed sleep. I dream of Claudia again and she takes me on a wonderful journey. My body and mind are at peace knowing I am home and my family is safe.
Chapter 3
65 years ago in the Fairy Realm
* * *
Over the past ten winters, Avery and I returned to the Tenebrosi camp every year for another six months. We are trained warriors—warriors who have sworn an oath to protect the realm against those who seek to hurt us.
Summer solstice is upon us once again. Avery and I sit in the kitchen of the castle, waiting for my father to arrive. We both have grown so much these last years, not only mentally and physically, but our bond is stronger than ever. I watch him trace the knot on the wooden table and laugh.
“It will be fine. He sees you as a son already.” Avery smirks at me.
“Yes, but this changes things.”
I scoff at him. “Not at all. He knows how you feel and it has been a long, arduous affair.” He kicks at my ankle, laughing, just as my father walks into the room.
“’Morning.” He smiles, sitting down to join us at the old table. “So what do the two of my best warriors need of the King?” he asks, looking at us.
I stand and move towards the door, allowing Avery the space he needs.
Clearing his throat, he stands before my father with shaking hands.
“My King, I have come to ask your permission to…”
My father raises his hand, cutting him off and sighing. “Sit down, both of you.” He looks over at me sternly. Both of us sit as I watch Avery still shake with nerves.
“I know all about Aurelia and you.” He smiles at Avery. “She told me about you being her true mate some years ago, but I had thought it only a fancy of her mind as you did not come to me sooner.” He keeps his cool black eyes on Avery, who swallows hard.
“Yes, my King. I am truly sorry, but I wanted to wait until my training was complete so I would not have to leave again.” My father nods at him.
“Okay, I will see you both at the lighting ceremony,” he says, standing then walking out of the kitchen. Avery looks at me.
“Is that a yes?”
“I have no idea, brother,” I answer in all honesty.
I find my mother standing in the hallway, pacing back and forth. “Mother?” she smiles at me.
“Killian,” she hugs me tight, looking at me with her beautiful golden eyes, which are marred by sadness.
“You look sad, Mother.” With a shake of her head, she smiles at me again.
“We need to speak after the revelry.” She nods then leaves me. My mind races, wondering what has my mother, the Queen, in such a saddened state.
“Killian!”
Ari sweeps down the stairs in her training gear. “Are you ready?” Smiling, I nod as we walk out to the training grounds, finding Avery waiting.
“Am I needed here?”
I ask, looking at both of them just before Connor appears through the tree line.
“Yes, you are now.” Ari sighs, pulling her staff from the ground.
I watch as she and Avery battle back and forth and I have to admire her. Her skill has come a long way since I first started teaching her.
“The princess should not be training with weapons.” Connor scolds me while his eyes, train on my sister.
“Connor, you have been with us for many years and you know as well as I that my sister is quite capable.”
Crossing his arms, he ignores me and continues to watch. Avery, Aurelia, and I train for hours. We take turns against one another and with different weapons. As we sit under the shade of a large tree, resting, Ari sings for us.
“You should sing tonight, Ari,” I say when she finishes.
“No, it is only for private.” She blushes a little, sneaking a glance at Avery.
“We need to get back now,” Connor announces from the shadows. Standing, we say goodbye to Avery.
“I will see you at sunset,” he calls before racing through the trees.
“Killian, have you ever been to Avery’s dwelling?” Aurelia asks as we walk back to the castle.
“No, never. Why?” She shrugs at me before extending her wings and jumping into the air. A laugh escapes me as I follow her, keeping my strength to a minimum.
“Killian,” she calls, holding out her hands for me. I beat my wings and take hold of her hands. Soaring into the sky, we laugh. “Faster, Killian!”
I fly fast—very fast—not even Connor can keep up with me, which I think Ari was trying to break free from him. We land on the cliffs and rest.
“So has father given Avery permission?” she asks once we are seated with our legs hanging over the edge.
“No. Sorry, sister, he didn’t give any sign to us.”
I watch her face fall in disappointment as she looks over the sea. We sit quietly, watching the sun descend before we fly back to the castle. I land on my windowsill and hop into my room.
After I bathe and change my clothes, I make my way to the grove. Every year it amazes me how many fairies come from all over the realm to enjoy in the revelry and every year I keep a watchful eye for a particular fairy. But every year I am left watching, for she never comes back.
We take our seats as my father stands, raising his hands for the fairies to quiet.
“Fairies, I have an announcement to make,” he calls.
“Tonight is to be a double celebration.”
There are gasps all around from the fairies. I glance over at Ari, who is on the edge of her seat, breathing hard. My father continues.
“Tonight, we celebrate the summer solstice and the Queen and I would like you to join us in celebrating the betrothal of Princess Aurelia of the Summer Court and Avery, fairy warrior of the Tenebrosi.”
Avery steps up beside Ari, who has tears in her eyes. Getting down on one knee, he presents her with a gold ring. Our traditions suggest a fairy must offer three gifts to his betrothed before she is allowed to accept him. Ari nods yes; taking the ring from Avery, she slips it onto her left hand. We all clap and cheer for them as my parents light the bonfire to start the celebrations. Turning, I see Connor with a mask of horror and rage on his face as he runs off into the night. I watch as the fairies dance and sing. My mother sits down beside me, offering me food.
�
��I went to a seer, Killian,” she announces to me while watching the fairies.
“Really, mother? I did not take you for the future-glimpsing kind.” She switches to our bond for the rest.
“I am not one to go, but after spending time within the human realm, I felt the need to go.”
I watch her smile at the crowd of fairies as the light of the fire dances in her golden eyes.
“And what did this seer have to say, mother? I hope you did not waste your day,” I ask, knowing that a real seer fairy is very rare and those who try to pass as one usually flee for fear of being killed.
“She said that your future is in the human realm and that you have a hard road to travel.”
I scoff at her for believing in such things. “Mother, please tell me you do not trust this seer?”
“I do, my son, for she is wise.”
“How can you tell, mother? Maybe she is pretending.” My mother turns to me.
“I know she is real because I spoke with her a long, long time ago.”
With that, she stands to leave, taking my father with her. Her words have left me with a mixture of trepidation and excitement. I think back to my summer with Claudia, who also told me of my future.
I have too many fairies warning me of a bleak future, but so far it has been quite pleasant. I am no longer looking for my true mate only because the pain is too great. I am beginning to feel that the fairy goddess did not smile upon me and create a mate for me. I dance and laugh all night long, taking my sister from Avery. She squeals when I throw her into the air. Avery swoops in, catching her before I can.
“Brother, are you afraid I would drop my baby sister?”
“No, Killian, I am afraid you will drop my true mate.” Winking, he spins off around the fire, taking Aurelia in his arms.
Finding my seat, I relax in the warmth of the open fire, allowing the heat to infuse my skin and warm my bones. Closing my eyes, my mother's words come back to me. I have no idea why she sought out a seer—they are all charlatans. A shadow falls over me. Springing my eyes wide, I find a pink-haired fairy smiling at me.
“Tatiana.” I nod in greeting, watching as she sits at my feet, resting her arm across my knees. Her closeness makes me uneasy. It has been years since we fooled around. I don’t want to give her the wrong idea, but I see the glances from all the other fairies as they pass us by.
