One More Step

by Colleen Hoover

  “He used a wish to heal you?”

  “Not exactly…”

  Of course, at that moment Torin threw the door open. “I’m going to kill Angus,” he growled, slamming and locking the door in one quick move before turning his attention to her. Looking at Torin was like seeing a future version of Evin. He had the same caramel skin with the otherworldly Seelie shimmer and black hair—although, his was longer, pulled back in a ponytail and greying around the temples. His amber eyes softened as they took her in. “Hello again, dear.”

  “Don’t kill Angus. It was my fault. Evin and I had a little disagreement, and I was trying to catch up to him. I shouldn’t have crossed over into Fae. I just wanted to apologize, and I wasn’t thinking about what could happen, which was really stupid of me—”

  “I know, it’s okay. We’ll figure it out. Evin was just here but then left, I believe to return to you.”

  “Of course he did.” She rubbed her forehead.

  “I take it you know what’s going on with her then?” Maddock inquired since her explanation had been interrupted.

  “I do,” Torin confirmed, much to Callie’s shock.

  “Can you explain how she has inhuman speed and managed to summon a storm?” Maddock asked.

  “I knew about the speed, but a storm? Can you really summon a storm?” His head whipped toward her, and his awed expression took her in with a whole new perspective, leaving her unsure how to answer.

  “No!” she immediately retorted. Is that even possible? I already have Evin’s speed…could I really have summoned that storm? She remembered the wild magic coursing through her veins, echoing the heady feeling of the storm building around her. Her fingers itched, and her next words were barely above a whisper. “I don’t know.”

  Torin turned back to Maddock. “Angus claimed she summoned a storm when he captured her, even had lightning strike a nearby tree. The only other Fae I know of that could control lightning was Reid,” Maddock stated, as if piecing it all together. “What did the Djinn do?”

  Maddock’s question was a lifeline she clung to, pulling her from confusion into the known. “Now that I can answer. I was too far gone to use a wish, but she knew of an ancient spell to mix our blood and bind us together. She wasn’t sure of all the effects it would have on me. She knew it would extend my lifespan and that our lives would be bound, meaning if one of us is killed, the other will follow in death. Beyond that…it’s all guessing,” Callie explained. “But that’s not really the problem here. The problem is that if the Seelie king finds out who I am, it will blow Ianthe’s cover from when she was here last.”

  “Aye, Evin and I also discussed that. However, I believe the Seelie king may already know more than any of us thinks he does. He’s not quite as aloof as he leads others to believe,” Torin replied. “Besides, our options may have run out. Angus may be many things, but he is not a great keeper of secrets. Even if we were to somehow get you out of here without anyone else knowing, I don’t believe he would keep anything from the king.”

  “Great,” Callie muttered.

  As if to confirm what Torin had just said, Angus slipped inside. His porcelain skin flushed a deep red. “The king requests all three of you to join him in the throne room.”

  Callie gasped, and Torin shot Angus a dark look that had the color draining from the Lampir’s face. “I promise you, sir, I didn’t mean to say anything…I just…”

  “It’s fine. You were only doing your duty, soldier.” Torin couldn’t really argue with the young man’s decision. They had been trained not to keep anything from their king. “Let’s go, Maddock, Miss Callie.”

  Callie twisted her hands and rose on unsteady feet. Nervous energy racked her body, and a roll of thunder echoed in the distance.

  “Where’s Conall when you need him?” Maddock joked, gently guiding Callie with his hand on the small of her back in an effort to lend her some of his strength.

  “I could—” Angus started to offer, but all three of them barked, “NO!”

  He wisely closed his lips and led the way to the throne room.

  FOUR

  A SECOND ROLL of thunder made Torin pause at the stairs. “Deep breaths, dear. The weather mimics your emotions when you’re not in control, and to master it, you have master your emotions. If ever I wished I had my dear Indra with me…” He shook his head briefly. “A century may have passed, but I’ll try to recall what she used to tell Reid when he was learning to master his skills.”

  Callie was perplexed. Did he mean to say the thunder was her doing? Could she really control the weather? She took a deep breath in and out to calm her rising panic.

  “If what Evin and Angus have both told us is true, it would appear that not only are you a Luas like Evin, you’re also a strong Aimsir, a Fae who can manipulate the weather.”

  Aimsir? Laus? Her mind whirled. A Luas must be Evin’s type of Fae characterized by their preternatural speed. She rolled the word Aimsir around in her head. It almost sounded like I’m shirt without the T, which made her giggle, or perhaps it was the absurdity of how quickly everything in her life had changed. “I thought Fae were only one kind,” she said, squashing the giggles with her curiosity.

  “Magic is an unpredictable mistress. When magical heritage is passed down from parents to children, usually one type is dominant. Some only exhibit the dominant magic while others may keep the recessive as well, but it’s weaker than their first.”

  “And then there’s some magic that skips generations and pops up unexpectedly,” Maddock added in.

  “So you only know which magic is dominant when you see the baby’s eye color?” she asked, trying to remember all she had learned from Ianthe about how to identify Fae.

  “Well, eye color does often have something to do with a Fae’s dominant magic, but not always.” He scratched his chin. “What’s your normal eye color?”

  “Hazel, but Evin said earlier when I was using my speed he could see flecks of gold like his eyes and yours. Why?”

  Torin stared into her eyes, which were now fading from stormy grey back to hazel. It seemed their conversation had distracted her enough to calm her magic. “Well, after the roll of thunder, your eyes were grey, but now they’re back to your normal color. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  A throat was cleared, interrupting their exchange as Angus stood at the bottom of the stairs, impatiently awaiting their descent. The two Fae ushered her down, careful not to rush her and provoke another thunderstorm.

  She hesitated at the grand doors, the breathtaking opulence of the palace overtaking her worry. It was surreal, like stepping onto a movie set or entering the Palace of Versailles. Before she knew it, they had entered a large room the size of a basketball court with high ceilings and ornate tapestries amidst beautiful wood accents on the walls. There was a raised platform with a golden throne in its center, and on the throne, studying them, sat the Seelie king.

  He was an imposing figure with short black hair and tanned skin. He possessed the usual sharp, chiseled features of Fae, but what made him truly unique were his lavender eyes. They were lighter than her best friend Ianthe’s, but still the royal hue showed through. There was something about him that put her on edge yet calmed her at the same time. He didn’t seem like an aloof king, more like an expert poker player. But for a brief moment, there was a flicker of curiosity—then his carefully constructed mask slid back in place.

  “You can imagine how surprised I was to bump into Angus in the hallway and hear we have a guest.” The king addressed them coolly, casually relaxing into his throne as if waiting for a long story to unfold. Maddock flinched while Torin merely rolled his eyes.

  “I was just assessing the situation myself when we were told to come see you, my liege.” Torin explained.

  “And what did you discover, Torin?” Lachlan’s lavender gaze drifted down to his spotless doublet, which he scratched at with his fingernail.

  “It seems my son has been quite busy.”

>   “Wasn’t our last unexpected visitor also due to your son?” His gaze cut back toward Torin, and there was a sharpness to his voice that sent Callie’s pulse skittering, though Torin remained unfazed.

  “Yes, she was, and while you may feel differently knowing my part in all this, please consider that I always have your best interests at heart.”

  Torin began explaining who Callie was and how she’d come to be. Callie studied the king while Torin spoke, watching the changing landscape of his face, how he arched an eyebrow or scowled slightly at different points. Once she even caught the brief flicker of an amused smile before he caught himself.

  When Torin was done, the Seelie king rose from his throne and approached her. She swallowed roughly as he neared, and the sky darkened to mirror her uncertainty, causing his eyes to widen slightly.

  He reached forward, tipping her chin up to see the light grey swirls in her eyes. “Her magic is strong…stronger than I would have thought knowing how she was made.” The king turned toward Angus, who was standing guard by the door. “Angus, you may leave us now. Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention.”

  Angus straightened with the words of praise and left them alone.

  “Now, about the other visitor…” The king withdrew his hands and crossed them over his chest.

  Callie’s breath shortened, chest heaving, and a crack of lightning flashed outside. Maddock moved toward her, but Lachlan beat him to it.

  He gently put his hands on her shoulders and stared into her eyes. “Take a deep breath, Callie. No one here is going to hurt you.” When that didn’t seem to have the effect he wanted, he added, “Or the girl you’re trying to protect. I won’t hurt her. I’m not mad at anyone here, not even Evin. In fact, I understand more than you think. She may have had those bloody contacts in the entire time, but heightened emotion tends to bring out our color more than we realize. When I last spoke to her, there was little she could do to hide the violet shining through.”

  “So…you already know the truth about Ianthe?” Callie asked, her breaths evening out.

  “Is that her name?” he asked, and Callie nodded in reply. “Then yes, I already knew the truth about Ianthe—the exiled Unseelie princess—and contrary to what some may think of me, I have no desire for war. I remember what the last one cost.” His lavender eyes flashed with pain for a moment, and she understood what he’d meant about heightened emotions.

  “I quite enjoyed her while she was here. Tell me, is she still with Conall? Is that why he left his post?” Callie nodded, her mouth opening slightly in shock. The Seelie king certainly did know more than he let anyone realize.

  “I wasn’t sure after what she witnessed in the garden, but it does confirm parts of Bronwen’s confession.” He glanced back at Maddock. “Was she telling the truth about the Changeling then? I mean, it still doesn’t justify her behavior, but now I am curious.”

  Maddock bowed slightly, eyes cast down to the ground as he responded. “Yes, sire. I apologize for not saying anything sooner. I felt it was—”

  “The best way for us to avoid a war—yes, yes, I understand that. However, I wish you would give me more credit.” The king waved his hand dismissively. “I assure you all I’m quite content with things as they are, and if anything, I look forward to making the future Unseelie queen an ally.”

  “But she’s not their future queen. She never will be,” Callie stammered.

  Lachlan smiled at her sadly, knowingly. “Some fates cannot be avoided, no matter how hard we try.”

  A commotion outside the door interrupted their conversation, and Evin burst through a moment later, a flash of movement before Callie was pulled behind him. He knelt before the king. “I humbly accept whatever punishment you see fit to give me, Your Majesty. Just please spare the girl. She had no choice in the matter. It was done against her will.”

  “Rise, Evin. While I wish you had disclosed this information sooner, the situation is not as dire as you make it seem.” Lachlan suppressed an eye roll, wondering when everyone had started to think him so callous and savage.

  Evin stood as Callie piped up from behind him. “I would also like to note that it was not done against my will.”

  He swung toward her, grasping her hands. “What?”

  Her gaze met his. “It wasn’t against my will, Evin. That’s what I stupidly ran into the Fae realm to tell you. You have to stop blaming yourself. If I had been conscious, I would have told you to do it. I wouldn’t have wanted to die and leave you. Sure, right now it’s a lot of change, and I’m going to need your patience, especially with the whole Aimsir thing—”

  She was silenced by the press of his lips, and his mouth swallowed whatever else she was about to say. She eagerly returned his kiss, wrapping her arms around him until a throat was cleared to their right. She pulled back and blushed, embarrassed to have kissed him so passionately in front of his own father. Evin, however, wasn’t the least bit embarrassed. He looked relieved and smiled widely.

  “So, we’re okay?” he whispered, and she nodded before the king also answered his question.

  “Everything will be fine. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have something else to attend to,” he declared, effectively dismissing them all as he walked out of the room. He paused at the doorway and turned back. “Oh, and Callie, you’re a Seelie now, so you’re welcome at my court any time. In fact, Evin, the sooner you can bring her here and teach her some control, the better. I’m not sure if our villagers would appreciate another Aimsir ruining crops.” He chuckled. “Or what the humans will make of the unpredictable weather in her area.”

  Evin turned toward her, looking her over with a raised brow. “Aimsir?”

  “What can I say? I’m just full of surprises.” She grinned up at him with a wink.

  WANT MORE OF THE FAE REALM?

  Check out:

  Fate (book 1, where it all begins)

  Exile (book 2, where Callie and Evin first meet)

  Sacrifice (book 3, Ayanna’s story)

  Peril (book 4, where Callie and Evin’s paths intertwine)

  And stay tuned for book 5 (Maddock’s story) coming in late 2020

  ABOUT CATHLIN

  Cathlin Shahriary lives in North Texas with her husband, cats, and dog. By day she is an elementary teacher, nurturing future book nerds and writers. By night (weekends and school breaks) she is an avid reader and writer. You can usually find her fangirling over books, authors, and TV shows (like Supernatural, Dr. Who, and The Walking Dead, to name a few). She still believes in the existence of magic and the power of love.

  Follow Cathlin on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorcshahriary

  Instagram: @cshahriary

  Twitter: @cshahriary

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  First, thank you to the Bookworm Box for putting together this awesome anthology and taking a chance on me by featuring Fate in one of the 2019 YA boxes.

  Second, thank you to my readers, who continue to inspire me and ask for more.

  A huge thanks to my awesome beta readers, who give me the best feedback and are truly fans of the series—Tonya Shaw, Callie Vestal, and my husband, Hassan Shahriary. I always appreciate everything you have to say, and you each manage to add something different to my writing.

  Finally, thank you to Caitlin (Editing by C. Marie) for your awesome editing skills, which are always appreciated!

  SAVING AVA GRACE

  * * *

  JULIE SOLANO & TRACY JUSTICE

  Copyright ©2020 Julie Solano and Tracy Justice

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owners.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or d
ead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people without the written permission of JT Authors or The Bookworm Box. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to the appropriate retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of these authors.

  This story is dedicated to our dear friend, Janett Gomez. She always gave us the confidence to continue writing. We could still feel her presence as we finished this story. Fly high, beautiful angel.

  ONE MORE STEP would mean certain death … and now, it was no longer a choice. Time had run out. It was my last chance. My only chance. Tonight would be the night of The Obliteration. The night that anything and everything with breath in its lungs would meet its end. The mercy in the situation, for the few authorities who cared, was that two generations of vile prisoners inhabiting the island would never know what hit them. Murderers, rapists, child abusers, drug lords, all of those who had escaped the death penalty when it had been repealed at unification, would finally get their just reward. Death. The explosives had been strategically planted beneath the soil. The potent chemical cocktail loomed above the ceiling of grey clouds, waiting to descend upon activation. F-15’s were stationed on a nearby carrier, ready to demolish any sign of survival. The Global Order had left no room for error in planning the destruction. No expense had been spared. Even the shoreline had been secured by the Global Sea Guard. In exactly two hours, Tabu Island would be nothing but a barren land of sand, cleansed of the sinners who once wreaked havoc on the planet.