by R L Medina
I wrapped her in a hug and let her sob into my shoulder. Her emotions tugged at me. Happiness with grief—something we all shared after what had happened.
Holding her tight, I vowed I would do everything possible to nurture her joy. Without using my power to manipulate emotions because I had learned that sadness was just as important as happiness.
“We’re going to have a party. For everybody.” I squeezed her.
A hiccup escaped her, making me smile. She pulled away from my arms and wiped her face. “A party?”
I nodded. A small smile appeared on her face.
“And you’re going to need a fancy dress!” I held her hand and pulled her away.
Excitement bubbled from her as I led her to Grimera. The dryad’s translucent form hovered in the air, her emotions pouring out in waves.
“Do you think you can find something for Mag to wear?”
Grimera nodded. “Of course, Princess.”
Mag trotted after the dryad and threw me a smile over her shoulder. I sighed. It would take much more than a party and pretty dresses to heal her pain, but at least it was the beginning of her freedom.
“Will you save me a dance, Princess?” Sacha’s voice interrupted my thoughts.
I jumped in surprise, his voice sending a chill up my back. I smiled at him. “You can have all the dances, Sacha.”
His eyes darkened. I flushed at the intensity of his gaze, at the same time wishing we didn’t have an audience.
“I look forward to our many dances.” He bowed.
My heart fluttered.
The music was soft and slow. Though I couldn’t understand the words, it moved through me, offering peace and comfort. My eyes filled with tears as the melodic sounds wove a poignant imagery of serenity and beauty. It was unlike any music heard in the Outer World. This was magic at its core.
Sacha held me close. I wanted to sink into his warmth and soak it all in. There was so much happiness and love buzzing around us, it was dizzying. I felt lightheaded as we moved across the meadow. The others faded into the background as Sacha’s eyes captured mine. They were greener in the waning sunlight and the intensity I read in them stole my breath.
It wasn’t until we’d reached the trees that I realized he had moved me away from the crowd. He paused and gave me a questioning look.
Walk with me?
I beamed at him. Yes.
He led me deeper into the woods, a steady hand on my waist. His touch burned through my dress, my heart racing at his nearness. The animals peered out at us from their hiding places among the plants and branches.
I could sense their curiosity and Sacha’s strong emotions. Desire. Pride. Love.
His eyes drifted to my lips. My heart pounded against my ribcage. All thoughts of the animals fled from my mind.
Before I could process what was happening, his lips found mine. Heat rushed over me.
I wrapped my arms around him and returned the kiss. His lips moved against mine, warm and soft, making my head spin and my emotions burst. My magic spread through me as his emotions clashed with mine.
When he pulled away, I gasped, my head still dizzy.
His lips split into a mischievous grin. I blushed. The emotions continued to swell around us, making it difficult to think clearly.
“We should get back to the party,” I murmured.
He nodded. “Before Des comes looking for you?”
I laughed. “I think he’s pretty occupied at the moment.”
Sacha shared my amusement. “I never would have suspected such… ardor from an assassin.”
I gave him a playful poke in the shoulder. “Can’t be too quick to judge. Looks are deceiving.”
His gaze intensified on me, making my face flush all over again. Our footsteps echoed in the quiet. Voices drifted from the party. When we reached the clearing, it was evident that no one had missed us. Everyone was still engaged in their activities, their emotions swirled around and around.
The forest was filled with fae, both lesser and higher, though for the first time, in a long time, they were equal. The humans, goblins, and other creatures also spilled out around the meadow. Emotions swarmed around me, the air thick with happiness and excitement, but there was also wariness and anger.
Not everyone was happy about the news. I sighed.
Change was never easy and for immortals who’d ruled centuries with their discrimination and prejudices… they’d need a lot of guidance and time to adjust. I bit my lip. How could I make them see the changes would be better for everyone?
Sacha squeezed my hand. You don’t have to do it alone.
I smiled at him and returned his squeeze. No, I wasn’t alone. I had Sacha, Mag, and… I glanced at the others. Uncle Sylvain stood apart from the festivities, a frown on his lips. He would be the hardest to win over. Mom was talking with Aunt Maloret and Uncle Mortemer. Des and Aunt Cindra stood hand in hand, staring at each other.
We would restore Feylin together—all of us. My family. The thought made my heart swell.
My eyes swept over the crowd. Elves, goblins, imps, dwarves, fauns, centaurs, brownies, ogres, and trolls danced side by side along with the fairies, pixies, dryads, and—humans. The sight made my breath hitch. Sprites flitted above the crowd and the animals gathered at the edge of the trees, watching.
A new Feylin. Their thoughts echoed in my mind as their hope burst in the air.
I smiled. Yes. A new Feylin.
And it would be amazing.
The End
Acknowledgments
A huge thank you to my incredible editor, Cate Ryan from CateEdits. This story would not have been the same without her invaluable input and work. Another huge thank you to my family for all their support. Thank you for always encouraging my dreams and believing I could do this!
Also by R. L. Medina
The Inner World Series
Book 1: Princess of the Elves
Book 2: Goblin King
Book 3: Fae War
Prequel: Feylin
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Coming soon….
GRIMM Academy Series
Book 1: Shifters and Secrets (coming summer 2020)
Book 2: Werewolves and Vampires
Book 3: Witches and Wizards
About the Author
R.L. Medina was born in the Amazon, adopted and raised by two upstate New Yorkers. At age six, she vowed to hate reading forever. That hate quickly turned to love (or obsession) and by age eight she was filling every notebook with story after story. Now a mother herself, she juggles her time between a busy toddler and the stubborn characters that demand her time. When she’s not exploring all the Sci-fi/Fantasy worlds in her head, she enjoys life with her family in Florida.
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