Falling For Fire

by Talia Jager

  My heart quickened as Sorin came into sight, and I came to an abrupt stop. He let out a deep breath, as if seeing me whole and unharmed lifted a huge weight of his shoulders; I could tell immediately that he still loved me.

  He was dressed in impeccably nice pants and a fitted vest, and my eyes rested on the new crown on his head, which meant he had just come from his coronation ceremony.

  He was holding his little sister, Skye, who looked adorable in her bright yellow formal baby doll dress; her hair fell in ringlets down her back. Sorin handed Skye to Dune and began walking toward me. His feelings of love hit me, and my hands flew to my face, covering my nose and mouth because I was so overcome with emotions. No longer able to contain myself, I broke into a run. He opened his arms and caught me. I threw my arms around his neck, and he wrapped his arms tightly around my waist. Holding me close, he breathed in deeply too and softly said, “Always.”

  Making sure I heard him right, I said, “What?”

  He rested his forehead against mine and interlaced our fingers. “Always. Even though I had no memory of you, I still watched the sunrise and gazed at the aurora borealis. I couldn’t help it. I didn’t remember, but I was still drawn to you in a way. It was as if the love we share is stronger than any magick they could have used on us. I know it couldn’t have kept me away forever. If that was still a part of me, I know more memories and emotions would have eventually bled through, and I would have found you.” He ran the back of his hand down my face. “Aurora…are you okay?”

  Hearing him say my name, I pulled him closer. I hesitated only for a second before my lips touched his. The electrifying feeling was still there. Our lips moved in harmony. I tasted something salty and pulled back. I realized it was from the tears running down my face.

  “Sorry,” I muttered.

  “Don’t apologize. Tell me, are you okay? Were you hurt at all? How is your land?”

  Never wanting to look away, I held his gaze. “You’re here.”

  He lightly smiled and said, “I’m here.” Then he kissed me again right there and then with everyone watching. It wasn’t a little peck of a kiss either. It was long, gentle, and passionate. “And I love you more than ever, but please tell me if you’re okay.”

  “I’m okay.”

  Keir tapped my shoulder and cleared his throat. “It’s good to see you, Rory. Really good,” he said, his voice catching.

  I let go of Sorin and hugged Keir tightly. “It’s good to see you too.” Seeing his father’s necklace around his neck, I said, “I’m sorry about your father.”

  “Thank you.”

  “That makes you the High Knight now.”

  “It does. I’m honored to have the job.”

  Dune walked forward and stood awkwardly in front of me. “Your Majesty—”

  “Don’t,” I stopped him. “Just give me a hug…if you want.”

  He grinned and leaned in for a gentle hug. “I’m really glad you guys are back. I didn’t know you guys were together before, and it threw me for a loop at first, but I saw how much Sorin loved you, and I’m glad you have each other.”

  “Thanks, Dune.” I smiled.

  Sorin patted him on the back.

  After feeling a tug on my dress, I leaned down until I was eye level with Skye. “Hey, pretty lady. How are you?”

  “I’m good. I forgot how much snow there is here, Rory.”

  “I know. It’s pretty cool.”

  “Yeah, it is!”

  “Maybe later we will go outside, and I’ll show you some more tricks again. And if it’s okay with Sorin, I’ll take you to the ice-skating rink and Lumi, Raina, and I can teach you to ice-skate.”

  “Really, Rory?” She began jumping up and down.

  I smiled. “Yes, of course!”

  Skye looked up at Sorin and tightly hugged his leg. “Can I, Sorin? Can I? Please, please, please. Can Rory teach me, Sorin? Pretty please!”

  Sorin looked down at me with amusement on his face. I just smiled widely at him. He placed his hand on the back of Skye’s head. “Of course, you can go with Aurora.”

  “Really? Oh my gosh! Rory did you hear that? Sorin said I can go! He said I can go!”

  Sorin, Dune, and Keir started chuckling.

  “Yes, I heard, but I’ll have to get you some warmer clothes and a pair of skates.”

  “My own?”

  “Yes, skates just for you.”

  Skye threw her arms around me, knocking me a little off balance. I hugged her back, and that’s when I heard Kailani coming around the corner.

  “Hey, Rory? Can I get changed out of this dress yet—” Kailani’s voice trailed off when the group turned to look at her.

  “Okay, but before you get changed, I want you to meet these faeries.”

  With her heels in her hand, she walked over to me and tripped on her dress, which was dragging on the ground now because her shoes were off. Keir caught her before she hit the ground. They stared at each other, as if they were lost in their own little world.

  “Wow…” Keir said, just staring at her.

  “Hi,” she said with a small smile on her face.

  Sorin cleared his throat. Keir quickly put Kailani upright on her feet.

  “Kailani, this is my friend, Keir. Keir, this is my cousin Kailani.” I didn’t know exactly what she was to me but cousin would do.

  Seeing the crown on her head, Keir bowed, took Kailani’s hand, and kissed it. “It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”

  Her cheeks turned pink. “It is an honor to meet you too.”

  My eyes met Sorin’s, and I smiled. He winked at me and again cleared his throat.

  “Sorry,” Keir murmured

  I continued with the introductions. “Kailani, this is—”

  “Sorin, I know.” She held her hand out to shake his.

  He took her hand. “What gave it away?”

  “The crown for one. Plus no one looks at a person the way you two are unless there are some serious feelings.”

  “Well, it seems you have me at a disadvantage. You know more about me, and I only know your name.” Sorin took her hand.

  “With what you two are about to accomplish together, we will have all of the time in the world for you to get to know me.”

  “That we will. I would also like you to meet my little sister, Skye, and my brother, Dune.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet both of you.” She studied them and then leaned toward me. “They all have suns.”

  “Yes,” I answered. “They’re all Summer faeries. Their markings are suns as mine are snowflakes.”

  Her eyes widened. “Sorin has them too?”

  “Yes. On his shoulder.”

  “So your sun—”

  “Your sun?” Sorin questioned.

  I turned around, showing him the small sun on my back. He ran his warm fingers over it. “Somewhere deep down inside of me, I knew the sun was special and wanted it to be part of me.”

  “How did you get it?”

  “Kailani did it. She’s a tattoo artist.”

  “What does that mean?” Keir asked, looking at Kailani.

  Kailani lifted up Keir’s arm and turned it over so his palm was facing up. Then she gently ran her fingers over the sun tattoo that was just below the inside of his elbow. “It means I am capable of creating stuff like this and much more.”

  She held out her arms, showing him the beautiful tattoos that graced her skin. “I wasn’t born with these. People helped me create them. And I help others make the things they envision come true too.”

  Keir ran his fingers over her tattoos and turned her arms to see more of the artwork. “Amazing.”

  “Thank you. I brought my equipment with me, so hopefully there will be a few here who will try it.”

  “I’m sure there will be. I’m thinking I may need a few more.” I smiled.

  Kailani turned to face me. “I knew I’d get you hooked.”

  “Maybe if they see mine, they’ll be more comfort
able getting one. Fae are finicky at trying new things. We’ll find you a room to use. Right now everything is a wreck, but with help from the fae, it shouldn’t take us long to clean up.”

  She smiled. “That would be great. The area will need to be sanitary.”

  “It will be.”

  “All right, well, I’m going to my room to change into something more comfortable.”

  “Okay, I’ll see you later.”

  I watched as she and Keir exchanged smiles before she left the area we were standing in.

  “Keir, isn’t she beautiful? So pretty, just like Rory!” Skye exclaimed.

  “Very beautiful…” Keir said, never taking his eyes from her.

  I knew that look all too well from Sorin. I would never tire of looking at his handsome face.

  Keir looked over at Sorin with a huge goofy grin stuck on his face. “She’s amazing. One of a kind.”

  I laughed. “You have no idea.”

  “Maybe I could help her scope out rooms for her to set up in?”

  “Be my guest.”

  “Oh, and Keir?”

  “Yeah, Rory?”

  “Treat her well. She is my cousin, so that means we could possibly be family one day.”

  He smiled wide. “And what a great day that would be.”

  Keir walked away, and Dune took Skye and walked over to Lumi, giving us a minute to ourselves.

  “The past two years? They were okay?” Sorin asked, holding my hand.

  “I had a good two years that I’ll tell you all about later. We have so much to figure out. My land is hurting. Eira is in a cell now.”

  “You were able to charge her with something?”

  “Treason and attempted murder.”

  “On who?”

  “Me.”

  “She tried to kill you?” His face turned red with anger.

  “Yes, but obviously she didn’t succeed, and I promise I’ll give you all the details.” I studied him for a minute. Other than his hair being longer than it had been the last time I saw him, he looked the same. “Let’s fix this.”

  “Are you ready for this? Being queen and having all of the responsibility?”

  I let go of a sigh. “Yes. No. Yes.”

  Sorin smiled and wrapped his arms around me again. “We could go back to the human realm together, with our memories. We’d be giving up our lands and thrones, but we could do it and be normal together.”

  “You’d do that for me?”

  “Absolutely.”

  There was a beat of silence while I thought about that and how easy it would be. Life hadn’t been bad at all in the human realm. But this was home. This was where I belonged. My wings. My family and friends. As much as I wanted a quiet, normal, and happy life, my land and faeries needed me. There was no way I could abandon them. “No. I want to be queen and make some changes around here.”

  “Then let’s do it.”

  “Any idea what’s first?” I asked.

  Kissing my forehead, he said, “We get word to the Spring and Autumn royals to meet us to talk.”

  “That’s kind of what Artin said.”

  “He’s a good faerie. I met him a few times. Loyal and intelligent. He won’t steer you wrong.”

  “Rufus is still High Knight, although Eira had him locked up. Tannon will be second. Artin seems to be the leader of the guards.”

  “Good. They’ll protect you while I make a plan.”

  I shook my head, and the tears welled up in my eyes again. “Do you have to go? I know there are things we both have to take care of, a lot of things actually, but right now I need you here. Not just you, but my family, Raina, Keir, Dune, and Skye. I need to know you’re all safe, just like you need to know I’m okay. I know it seems a little silly and a little irrational, but I feel if you are all here together, you will be safe.”

  “I could stay and meet with the advisors here instead to sort some things out, but then I need to go. The Summer Fae need me to guide them just as yours need you.”

  “What if something happens—”

  He pressed his lips to mine, shutting me up and making me melt. Such wonderful, sweet lips. I wanted more and made that known. The kiss grew in intensity, and I savored every second.

  “I love you, Aurora. Always. I need you to trust me. It’s just one night. I have an idea, but I need to figure out the logistics.”

  “I understand.”

  Sorin walked down the hall and talked to one of his guards. When he returned, he said, “As soon as everyone gets here, we’ll hold a meeting.”

  As soon as Sorin’s essential faeries got to the Winter castle, we led them along with my essential faeries to the great hall, which was in the middle of being cleaned out.

  “Both the Winter and Summer castles have suffered damage in these wars. What I have to suggest is unorthodox, but I think it would give the best of two worlds.” Everyone stared at Sorin, hanging on his every word. “I think we should move the castles and join them together.”

  “Move them? Where to?” I questioned.

  “To the border of our two lands. Your castle will stay on your land, being able to always be protected by Winter powers. My castle will stay on my land, but they will be joined as well. There’s an area that will work perfectly. It’s big enough for the castle with room to build up a new village. Of course, we can keep the one here. Faeries can live where they are comfortable. And we’ll be together as one. United. Protected. What do you think?”

  The Winter Fae shifted their stares to me, waiting to see if I’d agree. Join the castles? Could we?

  “What about Spring and Autumn?”

  “I’m not in love with them.”

  I laughed. “Fair enough. Do you think they’ll be cool with it?”

  “Does it matter? I sent for them. Hopefully they accept my invitation and join us.”

  “Here? Now?”

  “Yes. We all need to be united. If they want to move their castles together or stay separate, that’s okay with me.”

  “I love the idea of our castles being joined, but how is that possible?”

  “Elements.”

  “The elements will push our castles together even though they’re miles apart?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Okay. So let’s say we’ve done that. Then what? I’ve got Eira in a cell. I’m not sure how many of the fae are loyal to her and might try to take me out. We have homes, shops, and schools to be repaired. We’ve got relationships to mend. I don’t even know who’s alive in Spring or Autumn. And we’ve got the Iron Fae to worry about.”

  “After our castles are joined, we’ll find the Iron Fae together.”

  “How do we start to move the castles?” I asked.

  “I need the Autumn Fae for that, so let’s hope they come. In the meantime, those of you from Summer Land, I want you to protect the Winter Land and Fae just as you protect Summer. We’re to be united. There should be at least one guard to each member of the immediate royal family. Element and Weapons training should start back up again. Be prepared for anything.” Sorin addressed the faeries in the room. “Questions? No? Let’s get to it.”

  I sat down with one foot tucked under me after everyone had filed out. “My head is spinning.”

  “We haven’t had any time to just talk.” Sorin sat facing me and gazed into my eyes for a few seconds.

  “Are you going to talk? I mean, I certainly don’t mind looking at you, but there’s so much to do.”

  “Shhh.” He put his finger to my lips and then kissed me. Pulling back, his body visibly relaxed, and he said, “I ended up in Alaska—”

  “No…”

  “Yup. It was freezing. Much like this. I worked at the gym teaching self-defense and then volunteered at a national park and took classes in forestry. I had a couple good friends and dated a girl a few times. I wanted to tell you because I want us to be honest in what happened. I didn’t remember you at all, but I did remember loving someone so much that it stopped me from
loving anyone else.” He reached out and took my hand. Seeing the ring he gave me, he said, “You still have it.”

  “Yes. I always wondered why I had a bunch of snowflakes and just one sun, but something told me it was important. I never took it off.” I fiddled with each ring, making sure they were centered. “My time in Hawaii was similar. I had a job at a hair salon and met some people who treated me like family. I learned to surf and enjoyed ice cream. I flirted, and I, too, went out with someone. But that deep down love we have…I held on to that and never let myself get involved. There’s nothing to explain. Even if we had found someone else for a while, it’s over now. We’re home, and we’re in love, that’s all that matters.”

  “They’re here,” Lumi said, sticking her head in the room.

  Sorin took my hand, and we followed Lumi outside. Two carriages arrived from different directions. They carried royal families and head knights who weren’t too happy to be summoned.

  “What is the meaning of this?” King Septimus demanded.

  “It’s time to put aside our differences and stand together,” Sorin stated.

  “You two were always so pushy when it comes to this stuff. Can’t you just leave well enough alone?” Queen Crisanta whined.

  Sorin shot her a look. “No. We can’t. We were banished for a ridiculous old law, and the Iron Fae weren’t treated fairly—”

  “You’re sticking up for them? They’ve destroyed us!”

  “No. We destroyed ourselves and each other,” I blurted.

  “Nobody is sticking up for what the Iron Fae have done, but had they been given the chance to come back and stand trial again, maybe this would have all been avoided,” Sorin said.

  Silence fell over the crowd.

  “You broke your own laws before we fell in love. You punished us so you wouldn’t have to think about that law. Now we’re asking you to trust us. Stand with us. Stand against the Iron Fae who have destroyed us, but after we issue them an apology, we will ask them to stand down. If they refuse, we go to war. If they agree, we give them a second chance in our lands.”

  “Fine,” King Septimus spouted. “But don’t say we didn’t warn you.”

  “What about that sister of yours?” Queen Crisanta asked.