EVERLIGHT ACADEMY
BOOK 2: FAE BORN
TIFFANY SHAND
Copyright © 2021 Tiffany Shand
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written consent of the author, except for brief quotes in reviews.
This book is a work of fiction. People, places, events and situations are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or historical events, is purely coincidental.
Editing and proofreading by Nikita Bachhas and Dark Raven Edits.
Cover design by Ravenborn covers.
Table of contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Afterword
Also by Tiffany Shand
About the author
Chapter 1
I couldn’t believe it. Only hours my life had seemed almost perfect. I’d finally removed the block that had been placed on my magic. I had access to my full powers. Tristen Thornwood, Prince of the fae Seelie court, had kissed me. Me. Silvana Eldry had a prince who liked her. And I had found a missing piece in my search to find out who my birth mother was. Then the world had gone to hell after I had come back to find my mentor, Freya Goodwin, on the floor of her chambers. She had told me she’d been poisoned, and I sat there, helpless as she died.
Even my newly emerged powers couldn’t save her. Then, the headmaster of Everlight Academy, Forrest Thornwood, had come in, seen me on the floor beside Freya, and had me arrested for murder. Without even bothering to find out how she had died first. Talk about jumping to conclusions. Two guards had come and dragged me to a part of the academy I’d never been in before. I guessed these were the dungeons used back in the day when the academy was just a castle.
I had told Forrest and the guards of how I’d found Freya and how they needed to find her killer. Yet, they thought it was me. I might be a lot of things, including a faeling — which was what half-human and half-fae hybrids were known as — but I knew I would never kill anyone. Sure, I’d stolen things whilst I was growing up in poverty, but killing someone? No, I had never done that. Just because I had been found by Freya’s side didn’t mean I could ever hurt her. What happened to the whole innocent until proven guilty thing?
Now I sat in a dark cell with only bare stone walls and a door for company. The cell was tiny and had no lights in it. I didn’t like being stuck in complete darkness and not being able to see anything, but it didn’t frighten me. I’d been locked away in cupboards and other awful places growing up in foster care. After feeling around for a bit, I discovered a metal bunk and sat down on it. How could such a wonderful night have gone so horribly wrong? My mind drifted back to when I found Freya. I had been so excited to tell her about getting rid of the block on my powers. How could my entire world have been turned upside down so fast?
One moment Freya and I had been practising magic together. Then, I had transported myself to Eldry Woods, where I’d been dumped as a new-born. A dryad there had shown me a memory of that day and told me how my birth mum had placed me amongst the humans to keep me safe. From I had no clue. The dryad hadn’t been able to give me any more answers than that either.
I couldn’t believe they thought I had killed Freya. My chest ached, and I wanted to break down with grief over losing her. Yet, somehow it still didn’t feel real. I had a rocky start during my first term at the academy. Between being a faeling — someone usually despised by humans and fae — my unknown past and my freaky powers, I was an oddity.
“I’m sorry, I only ever wanted to keep you safe,” Freya had said as she lay dying.
I covered my face with my hands. Why hadn’t I done more to save her?
I had called for help — hadn’t I? All I could remember was watching the light whoosh out of Freya’s body. A fluttering sound made me look up. Large silver wings sprang up from my back. Months ago, my former foster dad had attempted to cut my wings off in a drug-induced rage. Even though I’d knocked him out with my freaky magic, the damage had already been done. My wings had never allowed me to fly even before Nigel had attacked me. They had been hideous things afterward. So much so, I’d intended to have them removed. Yet somehow Freya had healed them before she died. How or why she’d done it, I didn’t know. Why had she healed me and not herself? Her life was much more important than my stupid, broken wings.
I have to get out of here.
I was on thin ice with the fae high council already because of my unusual abilities. They would lock me away, or worse, if they thought I had killed Freya. The fae world had a completely different set of rules to the human one. A faeling accused of murder would be locked up and turned into a lab rat by humans. No questions asked. Or worse, killed. I had no idea what the fae would do to me. From everything I knew, they usually killed faelings since they considered us half-breed scum. They might not lock me up. They might kill me and be done with it. I wouldn’t even have any chance to defend myself. The fae weren’t big on things such as trials. Without Freya to keep the council at bay, they would probably execute me.
I had no idea if my magic would even work. They hadn’t chained me up or given me anything that would repress my powers. I raised my hand and a glowing orb of energy appeared between my fingers. I let go of the orb. It floated up into the air and chased away some of the shadows but did nothing to ease my racing thoughts. Being able to see the cell now didn’t improve things either. Dampness dripped down the walls and there was no handle or the keyhole on the door. I raised my hand and sent a rush of air against the door in an attempt to blast it open. My long silvery blond hair whipped around my face. It was no good. My magic rippled against the door, useless.
Should have known that wouldn’t work.
Mel? I reached out to my best friend with my mind. Mel had been one of the few people to befriend me when I arrived at the academy. As a Guardian, maybe she could help me get out of here. Or at least let me know what was happening with the council.
No answer came.
Tristen? I called instead.
As a Thornwood, prince, and son of one of the council leaders, he could help. I waited a few moments, hoping I’d feel his reassuring presence inside my mind.
Zoe? If my friends couldn’t hear me, maybe my teacher would. As an older Guardian, Zoe had influence and sway on the council. She might be the best person to be able to get me out of this mess.
Nothing.
This place didn’t let magic out either.
“I only ever wanted to keep you safe,” Freya’s words rang through my ears again.
What had she meant? Safe from what? The council? I might never find out whilst being stuck in this awful place.
I pushed the thought away. As much as I wanted to figure out who killed Freya, I had to get the hell out of here. How long had I been locked up? An hour? A day?
Time passed like an eternity in the cell. I had to get out before they came back to take me before the council. I had magic and new-fangled wings on my side. Too bad there was no keyhole. I had picked my way out of locked rooms several times in my seventeen years of existence. Growing up in dodgy foster homes had taught me ways to escape. Too bad this wasn’t
a normal door instead of a spelled one.
But even if I did manage to get out, where would I go? What would I do? I had no home and no family outside of the academy. I didn’t even have my last foster home to go back to. My foster parents had been arrested on drug charges. I’d end up back on the streets. But that didn’t scare me as it would most people. I’d been homeless before, and I could do it again if I had to.
Damn it, Freya, why didn’t you save yourself? What good would these bloody wings even do? I don’t know the first thing about flying. I paced up and down. Think, Silvy. You’ve faced tougher situations before. Although none of them had involved me being accused of murder.
A quick glance around showed me nothing. Only a metal bed hanging on the wall and water running down the walls. My strongest elemental affinity was with air, not water. Even if I could control the water, what good would it do? If I somehow managed to cause a tidal wave, I’d probably drown myself in the process.
Maybe I could blast a hole through the wall. Air rushed past me and light flashed over the walls as I called my magic.
“Okay, I’m no expert, but I’d say they’re spelled too.” I groaned.
What good was my magic if I couldn’t even use it? I bent down to have a look around the stone floor. Flagstones covered every inch of the cell and were too hard for anyone to move and dig through. Something prodded me in the ribs, and I looked down to see the flute Isla the dryad had given me before I left the woods. She had told me we were kin and if I ever needed the dryads’ help, I only had to blow on this flute to call them and they would come to help me. But she said to only use it in a dire emergency.
Did this count as dire enough? The guards had searched me and taken away my switchblade, but since the flute looked like an ordinary stick, they hadn’t bothered to take it off me. I continued pacing up and down. If I called the dryads to help, then what? They might be able to get me out, but that might not do much good. Could we even escape the academy? I already knew they had security in place. For all I knew there might be guards stationed around the academy now too.
Where would I even go? The academy was the only home I’d ever known. No way in hell would I go back to my last foster home, even if the place might be empty now. My heart twisted thinking of Freya. Maybe this is all a nightmare, and I’d wake up to find Freya waiting for me.
I’d had vivid nightmares before. Somehow, I knew I wouldn’t be so lucky this time. I resumed pacing and my mind raced. If I could get out somehow and make it to my room, I could grab the money I’ve saved up and a few meagre possessions. Being an orphaned faeling, I didn’t have much, but one of my precious possessions was the blanket I’d been wrapped in and abandoned as a baby. It was the only connection I had to my birth mum, and I couldn’t bear to lose it. At least then I could grab my things and make a run for it.
Anger boiled through me. No one bothered to question me before they locked me up. Didn’t they question people like the humans did instead of making assumptions? I channelled my anger into my powers. The door vibrated from the onslaught of wind. But it still refused to budge.
Tristen? I called again. Please, if you can hear me, I need help. I’ve been arrested and accused of murdering Freya. Just thinking of her dead sickened me.
Nothing.
I had to try something. I’d save the flute as a last resort. I sat back onto the metal bunk. I had nothing else. No other potential weapons.
My mind raced with all the lessons I’d done with Freya. She had given me private lessons after my classes since my magic had been partially blocked and uncontrollable. Plus, I was so new to the fae world compared to all the other students who had grown up in it. I might not understand fae things, but I wanted to fit in their world. Somehow.
“I wanted to keep you safe. I’m sorry, I failed…” Freya’s words came to me again.
I wouldn’t cry and I wouldn’t fall apart. That would serve no purpose and would make me even more useless. Too bad I didn’t have Freya’s grimoire. That probably would have had a spell or something to get me out.
Oh god, what had happened to Freya’s things? That book had belonged to her family. What if they had searched through my room and had taken the book? She had told me to keep it safe.
I forced my thoughts away from Freya once again. No matter how hard I tried, I knew my newfound magic couldn’t save me from this awful situation. I was on my own now.
Chapter 2
I sat back on the metal bunk. Fatigue clung to me like a heavy blanket. I couldn’t use my magic again or I’d knock myself unconscious. For the millionth time, I wished I had a watch so I could know how long I had been locked in here for. The coldness of the bunk chilled through my skin and I pulled my wings around me. It felt so weird seeing them so opened up. Normally, I’d only ever used them for warmth. I hadn’t wrapped them around me like this when they were broken. What was I supposed to do with them?
I still had no idea why Freya healed them. It made no sense. My deformed wings hadn’t bothered me — in fact, I’d always wanted to get rid of them. They served no purpose other than to make me stand out more. I’d wanted them gone for as long as I could remember. Laying back on the cold bunk, I closed my eyes, but I knew I wouldn’t get any sleep. My thoughts were too troubled for that. If only I could sleep. Sleep would refresh my mind and help me figure out a way to get out of here. Part of me wanted to give in to grief and cry my eyes out, but I wouldn’t let myself. Not yet. I gasped as my wings swept back and retracted into my body.
Why had they done that? What did it mean? I had never been able to retract my wings before. Although I knew many of the fae could do that. I had seen some of my classmates do it.
The sound of a key being turned in the lock broke through in my thoughts and the endless dripping of water. I waved my hand and the orb of light snuffed out. I winced at being plunged back into darkness, but I didn’t want anyone to see I could use magic. It might get me into even more trouble.
I froze, then stood up. Now I knew I had to tell my side of things. Running away would only make me look more guilty. I had to stay for now at least and find out who had killed Freya.
I gasped when Tristen’s familiar face greeted me. With his short black hair and electric blue eyes, he looked handsome, although pale. “Tristen? Have you come to break me out?” I couldn’t deny being relieved to see him rather than his uncle, Forrest.
He came over and wrapped his arms around me. “No, you’re being released. I’m sorry I couldn’t get to you sooner.”
I clung to him. “Why? Did they realise they made a huge mistake?” I couldn’t believe he had come to help me. I had been convinced Forrest wouldn’t let him come to help me.
“Let’s talk somewhere more private.” Tristen took my hand and led me out into the passageway. Light stung my eyes. We headed up the narrow spiral staircase until we reached another corridor.
To my relief, it was deserted. The last thing I needed was for everyone else to find out about my arrest. I wanted to ask Tristen more questions but decided to wait until we had some privacy. I didn’t want to risk anyone overhearing us.
It felt surreal walking back to my dorm room. I felt like I had been gone for years rather than a few hours. Yet it looked the same as usual. It still had the same blue coloured walls, two desks, and a bed on each side of the room. My side of the room appeared sparse and tidy, with only a small selection of books stacked on my desk. My roommate and best friend, Mel’s side of the room, had clothes strewn everywhere, weapons propped against the wall, and books stacked up in messy piles.
To my surprise, Mel wasn’t there when we walked in and her bed didn’t appear to have been slept in. Where was she? I had expected her to be here when I got back. I couldn’t decide whether to be disappointed or relieved by her absence.
“Where is Mel?” I glanced over at the bathroom, but the door stood open and the room remained in darkness. So, she couldn’t be in there either.
“She came with me to talk to the council,” Tristen explained. “She went home for the night to see her grandmother.” He threw his arms around me and pulled me close. “Shit, Silvy, are you alright?”
I had never been a huggy-type of person. Most of the time I didn’t know how to deal with people. But I hugged him back. I knew he had feelings for me, and it meant a lot he had come to help me. “I don’t know.” Numbness had washed over me. I’d gone through a whirlwind of emotions back in the cell. Now I didn’t know how to feel. Relieved of course, but at the same time, it didn’t feel like my ordeal was anywhere near over.
“I went to the council after I heard about your arrest. My uncle wouldn’t listen to me — so I made my mum listen instead.” Tristen pulled back. “We told them how we found you in Eldry Woods and convinced them you couldn’t have killed Freya. I can’t believe they even thought you could do such a thing.” His hands clenched into fists. “Did my uncle or the guards do anything to hurt you?
“No. Freya was still alive when I found her.” I sat down and went on to tell him everything that had happened. How I found Freya laying on the floor and watched her die. “She told me she was poisoned. Who would do something like that?” I paced up and down. “Why would anyone hurt her? She was… The kindest person I’ve ever known. She was a librarian for goodness sake. Why would anyone want her dead?”
Tristen bit his lip, holding something back.
“What? What aren’t you telling me?” I demanded.
“A healer already examined Freya’s body. Her death has been ruled as an accident. That’s why my uncle agreed to let you go. They are saying no crime took place.”
My mouth fell open. “What? No! Why would they do that? It’s a lie.”
Tristen shrugged. “They are saying she ingested too much of a potion. The stuff she took is used to calm people’s nerves and they think she took too much by accident.”
“That’s not possible.” I resumed pacing the floor, and the floorboards groaned in protest. “Are they going to do some sort of post-mortem?” I had read a few crime novels over the years, so I had a rough idea of how suspicious deaths were treated. In the human world, at least.
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