Eternal Promise (Between Worlds Book 3)

by Talia Jager

  “Yes.”

  Opening my eyes, I said, “I had a weird feeling. I can’t describe it. Something happened just now.”

  Kallan shrugged. “I didn’t feel anything.”

  After taking a last look around, we continued our stroll through the forest, but the uneasy feeling stayed with me.

  “Do you think I could stay with you tonight?” I asked.

  He cupped my face. “You can stay with me whenever you want, but it will be frowned upon by others.”

  “Oh.” I hadn’t thought of that.

  “You want them to like you, to respect you, right?”

  He was right. “Yes.”

  “Then as much as I want to, I think it’d be better if we wait.”

  “So, you’re turning me down?” I said in a playful tone.

  “If you look me in the eyes right now and tell me that you don’t care about your reputation in this realm, I will take you with me.”

  I couldn’t do that. I did care. Not only did I want them to like me, I needed them to. I had to get in good with them so they’d look up to me.

  “See?” He raised his eyebrows.

  “This sucks.”

  “Rylie, we’ll be together soon.”

  “I know…but I want to be with you all the time.”

  “We will.”

  “Fine.” I rolled my eyes. “Will you walk me…home?” I realized I was thinking of Azura’s house as home.

  “Absolutely.”

  Kallan walked me right up to the doorstep. He brushed my hair behind my ear. “Goodnight, my sweet.” His lips gently kissed mine.

  “Goodnight.”

  I watched him disappear before I stepped inside the tree house. I stayed in Azura’s home that night and slept more peacefully than I did at home in the human realm.

  Chapter Nine

  I woke early to the sounds of the forest and sat at the window seat in my room. The morning was beautiful and I didn’t want to waste it inside any longer. I had this urge to go outside. I put on one of the dresses that lined my closet and glanced in the mirror. My wings fluttered a few times. I traced my ears with my fingers. Ever since my transformation into a faery, my ears had a little point to them. It used to annoy me, but it didn’t anymore.

  I made my bed and put my pillow directly in the center. I made sure the rest of the room was in order before scooting down the stairs and out the door. The sunlight hit my face. It was just above the horizon. I sat down in a grassy field and leaned back on my hands. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the sun. A while later, I heard whispers behind me.

  Azura sat next to me. “Beautiful morning,” she said.

  “It is,” I agreed, looking around. There were flowers encircling us. “I swear this was all grass…”

  “Your happiness changed it,” Azura told me.

  “I did this?”

  “Yes.”

  “I wasn’t even trying.”

  She didn’t respond. I guess she was letting things sink in. I had the ability to change the earth even when I didn’t realize it. The ground could feel me. The flowers wanted to show my happiness.

  “How do you think things went yesterday?” I asked her.

  “As good as can be,” she answered. “How are you handling everything?”

  I took a deep breath before answering her. “I’ve spent a lot of time feeling guilty for what I did to Adam and for disappointing my parents. It has been an incredible burden. I didn’t mean to hurt any of them. Sitting here this morning helped me realize I need to let go of the guilt I feel. I can’t change what happened and I can’t change what’s coming. I can’t let the guilt bring me down. I have to stop feeling guilty and be in the present.”

  “Sounds like you’ve been deep in thought.”

  “I have,” I agreed.

  “Figure anything else out?”

  “I’m in love with Kallan. Completely. I worry that you won’t…approve? Love me?”

  “Oh, love, that’s not a problem. I knew the first time I saw you two together. You have a love like no other.” Slowly she put her arm around me like she wasn’t sure I’d be okay with it. To show her I was, I leaned into her. I felt her arm relax around me.

  “Do you think others will come around?”

  “Yes. I know it’s hard with some of the faeries right now, but give it time.”

  “That’s what Kallan said too.”

  “An Aurorian faery is very important to the fey. You will rule the realm. Some are unsure because you haven’t been prepared for it. They’re worried you won’t know what to do, but I know you will.”

  “Thank you for having such faith in me.”

  “Look at this field and tell me how I can’t.”

  Glancing at the flowers, I smiled. If I could make flowers grow, I could do anything. Right? “You will teach me what I need to know?”

  “Of course.” She gave me a squeeze.

  I found the time I spent with Azura pleasant. The feelings of anger, confusion, and abandonment had been replaced with love as I got to know her.

  That evening after dinner, we relaxed in the living room, talking. She was brushing my hair.

  “How did your dad die?” I asked.

  Azura reached beside her and picked up a photo book. She turned to a page and showed me a picture of Móraí, Lorella, Violet, Nessa, herself, and a man with great white and red wings. “He was on duty at a toxic site, trying to figure out what was happening and heal the land, when he cut himself and the toxin entered his body.”

  “How awful! Why couldn’t he be healed?”

  “He went alone. By the time he was found, he was long gone.”

  Well that just sucked. “I’m sorry.”

  “He would have adored you.”

  I glanced down at the picture. He looked kind. “I wish I could’ve known him.”

  “I’m sorry.” Azura covered her face and cried.

  “Don’t be. I understand.” I put my arm around her.

  After the tears stopped, we said goodnight and I curled up in my bed.

  I was alone, walking in the forest. The vivid colors told me I was in the faery realm. Someone was approaching me, but it was foggy and I couldn’t see who it was.

  “Oleander,” the voice said.

  The faery came into view. Her wings were white with a shimmering pink running through them. Her platinum blonde hair was pulled back to show off her glowing face—a star-like mark near one of her eyes.

  “Are you an Aurorian?” I asked.

  “I am.”

  “Aren’t you dead?”

  “I am.”

  “Am I dead?” I panicked.

  “No.”

  My mind raced with questions, but I wasn’t sure which to ask first.

  “I’m only here to tell you to find a blue lace agate stone.”

  “A what?”

  “Blue lace agate stone,” she repeated slower.

  “Why? What do I need that for?”

  She just smiled before stepping backwards and disappearing.

  I heard a knock. My eyes popped open. I was in my room at Azura’s. But I had just been in the forest. Hadn’t I? It must have been a dream, although it certainly felt very real. There was another knock. “Come in,” I called, sitting up.

  The door opened and Azura walked in. “Kallan is downstairs. Shall I send him up?”

  “Yes, please.”

  She disappeared and a minute later Kallan walked in. “Good morning, beautiful.” He sat down on the bed next to me and looked at me sideways. “You okay?”

  “Weird dream. I think it was a dream anyway.”

  “Want to tell me about it?” he probed.

  �
�It was of another Aurorian. She told me to find a blue lace agate stone. Does that mean anything to you?”

  “We take dreams very seriously.”

  “So you don’t think it was just a dream? It felt so real.”

  “No. This was a message.” He sounded very sure of himself.

  “A message. Dead faeries can do that?”

  “I’ve never experienced it, but I’ve heard of it. It’s pretty rare.”

  “What do you make of what she said?” I asked.

  “Certain stones hold certain powers, or they can if you mix a little faery magick with them.”

  “What does this one do?”

  “It’s a communication stone.” He thought for a moment. “If there were two of them, whoever had the stones in their possession could talk to each other in their minds.”

  I thought about that. “Do you think she wants us to get one of these stones and use them with each other?”

  “That is my assumption.”

  “Okay. How do we do that?”

  “We have to find the stone first.”

  “Where do we find it?”

  Kallan sighed and I immediately knew it wasn’t going to be easy. “It’ll be an adventure.”

  “Isn’t it always with you.” I smiled and placed my hand on his face.

  “I have to keep it interesting.”

  “Better get ready.”

  “I’ll wait downstairs.”

  I hurried into the bathroom and enjoyed the extra big shower. The fey had huge shower stalls for their wings, unlike the small cramped one I had to use at my human home. It was paradise and I wished I could stay in it longer, but duty called.

  My closet was full of dresses. The female fey liked to wear dresses. I wasn’t sure what their obsession with them was. I didn’t mind wearing them, but not for an adventurous trip to who knows where. That called for jeans. I grabbed my normal human jeans and pulled them on. Then I chose a specially designed faery shirt that was cut not to bother my wings. I flapped them a few times and smiled at myself. Faery life wasn’t so bad.

  Before leaving my room, I straightened it up. Made the bed, arranged the things on the dresser, and checked to make sure the dresses in the closet were still arranged by color. Stupid obsessions of mine.

  I met Kallan in the kitchen where he was leaning up against the counter talking with Azura. He handed me a strip of red-orange fruit. I knew from experience that this fruit tasted amazing. I took it and quickly ate it.

  “You had a vision?” Azura’s green eyes studied me.

  I shrugged. “Vision. Dream. Something. I’m not quite sure what it was. I thought it was real until I woke up in my bed.”

  “Must be important for an Aurorian to speak to you.” Azura puttered around the kitchen. “That stone can be found in the caves.” She looked at Kallan. “You know how to get there?”

  “Yes.”

  “This will be a test for you, Rylie.”

  “A test? How? Why?”

  “You will face challenges and you’ll have to rely on what you’ve learned as a faery to complete these challenges.”

  I nodded. “I can do that.”

  Azura smiled. “I know you can.” She turned to Kallan again. “Who else are you taking?”

  “Drake,” he answered. “She’ll be protected.”

  Azura handed us a few items and a satchel, which Kallan packed up and put over his neck. Then she wrapped her arms around me. “Be safe.”

  “I will.”

  Drake met us outside and the three of began our journey to find the stone.

  Chapter Ten

  Lost in thought, I trailed behind Kallan and Drake while they led the way through the meadow. They were talking about sports, comparing theirs to the human ones. Nothing I cared to discuss. The hot sun shone down from the pink sky. I took a swig of water from the canteen type thing Azura had given me. There didn’t seem to be an end to the meadow. I couldn’t see anything but tall grass and blooming flowers.

  A white fog came out of nowhere and quickly surrounded us. I looked up and found myself in what almost seemed to be the eye of a storm. Where had this come from? My breath quickened and I looked for a place to run to, but there was no exit. I couldn’t see beyond the fog that trapped me.

  I felt Kallan behind me. Just his presence calmed my body. “How do we get out of here?” I asked loudly.

  “Being a faery means listening to your body. Becoming one with nature. Feeling life all around you. Let the world talk to you. Close your eyes and hear the air, let it speak to you.”

  “From a human standpoint, you sound crazy!”

  He tightened his grip. “Try it.”

  I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I remembered how it felt to bring life back to that dead field. Instead of fighting the air swirling around me, I embraced it. The change was dramatic. It felt like the air was flowing through me. I steadied my feet, letting them feel like they were rooted into the ground. My head tipped back a little. I could hear Kallan’s voice even though it was just a whisper. “Feel the air. Let it move through you. Become it.”

  I concentrated on the wind and after a few seconds I could no longer feel my body. It was like my body was the wind.

  “Now stop it.” Kallan’s voice was still clear.

  In my mind, I yelled, “STOP!” and then instantly I felt my body again. My eyes popped open and I looked around. The fog was completely gone. The sun shone down again like nothing had happened.

  I glanced over at Kallan and a smile broke across his face. “You’re awesome,” he said.

  “No. That was awesome. I’m never going to get used to all this.”

  Drake pointed ahead. “The entrance to piskie forest is over that bridge.”

  Piskies. Funny little playful faery-like creatures. This part of the adventure should be easy. The trees soon towered over us and the cutest giggling came from every direction. I loved the laugh of the piskies, it was pure happiness.

  “The faster we get through this part, the better,” Drake commented.

  I rolled my eyes. This part wasn’t dangerous, it was fun. I’d rather drag my feet through here, than be in Targore or some other part of the realm that would freak me out.

  The bridge, as Drake called it, was a tree that had fallen over a chasm. Below was a fast-moving river. I could hear the roar of a waterfall. I wondered if the party had been at the other end of it. I looked over the edge. The fall wasn’t too far down, but I’d never be able to swim fast enough to get myself out of the water. I couldn’t fall. Adrenaline pumped ferociously through my body.

  Drake went first, sliding one foot and then the next along the tree. He did it with such ease that it looked simple.

  “Go ahead, Rylie,” Kallan said from behind. “Remember you’re a faery. This is normal, natural. Don’t freak out.”

  I nodded and climbed up on the tree. Carefully, slowly, I stepped sideways again and again. I kept my focus on the other side, knowing if I looked down or back at Kallan, I’d lose it. My knees wobbled and I felt a slight wind push against my back, keeping me from falling backwards. Quickly I sidestepped toward Drake, who stretched out his hand to me. I grabbed it and my feet were on the ground again. I fanned my face with my hand and took deep breaths to calm my pounding heart.

  Kallan and Drake took the lead again. “We just go straight through the forest. Don’t stop, don’t look, just go. Should only take us a few minutes to get to the other side.”

  A giggling came from right behind me. I spun around and found a tiny blonde piskie with translucent wings fluttering in front of my face. I smiled at her. She flew in a circle and headed toward the woods. “Wait!” I called out and ran after her. Where did she go? Suddenly she peeked out from behind a tree and waved. I laug
hed and skipped toward her, feeling happy and free. She flew in circles around me and then darted in between trees. I chased her for a while, until I was out of breath. I leaned up against a big birch tree. She hovered in front of my face for a while and then reached out to touch my birthmark. It tingled when her tiny fingers met the star.

  In a little squeak of a voice, she said, “Aurorian.”

  I nodded. “Yes.”

  She didn’t say anything else. She just smiled and flew around some nearby flowers. She motioned for me to follow and we danced in the meadow.

  “Rylie?” Kallan snapped his fingers in front of my face.

  “What are you doing?” I pushed his hands away.

  “Are you okay?” His eyes were wild with fear.

  “Yes. Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “Um…you wandered off. We couldn’t find you.”

  I rolled my eyes. “So I was gone for a few minutes. Chill out.”

  “Not a few minutes, Rylie, a few hours.”

  “Hours?”

  “Yes. You’ve been gone for four hours.”

  “No…”

  Drake nodded, confirming. Not like they could lie anyway.

  I glanced over at the piskie. “What did you do?”

  She shrugged and smiled at me.

  “That’s not very nice, you know…although I did have fun.”

  “We need to go,” Kallan insisted.

  “Right. Thanks for the laughs.” I couldn’t be mad at the cute little piskie. As mischievous as they were, it was fun and I felt happier. I didn’t mind that.

  “You could have been gone for days,” Kallan chided.

  “But I wasn’t and you found me. You rescued me from the big bad piskie.”

  “Don’t make light of it. They’re dangerous.” He looked so serious and stern.

  I felt a pang of guilt. “Sorry,” I mumbled.

  He pulled me into the comfort of his arms and I slowly breathed in his earthy scent. “I worry about you. You don’t know what’s out here.”