by Anthea Sharp
“My answer isn’t going to change.” She stood up. “But I appreciate everything I’ve learned here.” Especially the fact that corporate culture could be like a shackle around your neck.
“Do not forget the nondisclosure contract you signed, Miss Fanalua.”
“Don’t worry.” She couldn’t help it, she grinned at him. “I’m well aware of the proprietary nature of the work I did here this summer. All your secrets are safe with me.”
Working with Intertech had opened her eyes to new things possible in the human/avatar interface. The last few weeks her mind had been swimming with notions about mods nobody had tried yet, and half-formed ideas about reality and virtual space and perception. She’d mentioned a couple of her thoughts to the Social Interface Design team, but the most prime ideas were still gelling in her brain.
When she was ready, though, she happened to know a business whiz who could help her take those ideas to the next step. And maybe a couple interns who could aid in making them a reality.
Later, though. For now, she was delighted to be leaving Intertech.
Even though it meant her time in Newpoint was almost over.
“Thank you,” she said to Mr. von Coburg. “I’ve learned a lot here. It’s been an invaluable summer.” In so many ways.
The CEO rose and give her a chilly nod. “Good day, Miss Fanalua.”
She tried not to skip down the plushly carpeted hallway as she followed Bruno’s black-suited form to the VIP elevator.
It whooshed down, stopping smoothly to deposit her on the fortieth floor. Just before the doors closed, she gave Bruno a jaunty wave. His expression didn’t change. It must be no fun being von Coburg’s watchdog.
As soon as Marny stepped into the apartment, Anjah jumped up from the couch. Wil, who had been pacing around the room, gave her an expectant look. Both of them had completed their exit interviews—and both of them had gotten employment offers, too.
“Well?” Anjah asked. “Are you joining the ranks of the corporate drones next year?”
“Nope,” Marny said. “But it’s not because I wasn’t asked.”
Wil ambled over and gave her a high five. “And it’s a sweep. Intern powers, activate!”
“Personally, I plan to attend the Data Technology Institute,” Anjah said.
Wil shot Marny a quick eye-roll. The DTI was notoriously hard to get into, and Anjah acted like she was already admitted. Then again, you didn’t reach the stars by stopping short at the moon.
“Eh, I might do it,” Wil said. “Depends on what else comes along.”
“Well, don’t decide too quickly,” Marny said. “I might have something in the works by the time next year rolls around.”
“Ooh, Spenser-Fanalua Enterprises?” Anjah gave her a knowing look. “That boyfriend of yours is a serious powerhouse.”
“Marny’s no dim bulb, either,” Wil said. “Oh, hey, I got you something. One sec.”
He went into the kitchen and came out with a bag, which he held out to her.
She took it, eyebrows going up at the sweet scent drifting up as she opened the bag. Inside lay two foil-wrapped loaves, still warm to the touch.
“Coconut bread?” It was way more thoughtful of Wil than she’d given him credit for.
“I found a local bakery who’d do them up, special. Probably not as good as homemade, but…” He lifted a shoulder in a half-shrug.
Marny set the bag down, then swept Wil into a hug, ignoring his muffled yelp of surprise.
“You’re the best,” she said when she let go, then looked over at Anjah, standing stiffly to one side. “Get over here, princess. Group hug. You both are the best roomies a girl could want.” Despite a difficult start.
Heedless of getting rumpled or smeared, Anjah joined them. When the hug broke up, her eyes were damp.
“I’m going to miss you guys,” she said.
“Same,” Wil said. “Except not the girly smells in the bathroom all the time. Perfume and ugh.”
Anjah gave Marny a superior smile. “We women understand how to use all the tools at our disposal. You know, Wil, you should really consider plucking.”
He gave her a panicked look. “Um, well, I gotta get my stuff together.”
“Thanks for the bread,” Marny said. “It means a lot.”
“I owed you.” He grinned at both of them. “Safe travels, ladies.”
“Likewise,” Anjah said. As soon as he was gone, she turned to Marny. “I owe you, too.”
“We’re way past that,” Marny said. “I’ll even wear some of the makeup you gave me. You have no idea how much forgiveness that is.”
“I can guess.” Anjah gave her a wry smile. “Stay beautiful, Marny.”
“You too.” Before either of them could tear up again, Marny hefted her backpack and duffel bag from where she’d left them by the door. “Ping me, anytime.”
“Oh, I will. I want to hear all about how your partnership develops.” There was a wicked twinkle in Anjah’s eye.
“I’ll keep you informed,” Marny said, grinning, before slipping out the door.
Next stop, Club Mysteria. And more goodbyes she was not looking forward to.
Nyx was closing the place down, since Marny and Royal had to head back to Crestview. That pesky detail of finishing high school had to be taken care of, after all, and keeping the club open without any Feyguard around was way too dangerous.
Keeping it open with them there had felt risky enough, though they’d done everything they could to minimize the danger. Over the last few weeks, Brea had collared a couple minor fey folk trying to slip through and shoved them back into the Realm, and Roy had turned back a stray redcap. Other than that, though, the bubble world had stayed benign.
At least Nyx had made back his investment, not that he seemed to care too much.
“It was an interesting experiment,” he’d said. “Time to try something else. Something less dangerous.”
Then he’d shot her that smile that made her feel soft inside, and she’d folded her arms.
“I know that you and Royal are talking about a way to keep a bubble world going, for Brea,” she’d said. “Doesn’t sound entirely safe to me.”
“Yeah, but it’s not going to be a bubble where unwitting humans can wander in and out all the time, tempting the fey monarchs. Trust me.”
She did, mostly—and she was relieved he was planning on setting up this next attempt in Crestview, where the Feyguard were thick on the ground. Although she was also a little scared of having him on her home turf. Uncle Zeg was coming around, but the rest of her family hadn’t met Nyx yet. What if they hated him?
One thing at a time—and the next step was taking her leave from Brenna, who waited downstairs to collect her badge and see her out.
“Help you catch a grav-taxi?” the liaison asked as Marny handed over her Intertech ID.
“Sure.” Marny took a last look at the spacious lobby, the huge vase of flowers—wildly colorful dahlias, this time—and all the busy worker-drones of Intertech buzzing in and out. She wasn’t going to miss it.
“So, how’d the interview go?” Brenna asked as they headed for the front doors.
“Good,” she said. “You probably know I was offered a job.”
“Mhm.” The doors slid open, and they stepped out into the fresh autumn air. “And?”
“Much as I like you,” Marny said, “and the rest of the Social Interfaces Design team, working for Intertech’s not for me. Probably not a surprise to you, is it?”
Brenna smiled and tucked her silver strand of hair behind her ear. “I figured you’d turn von Coburg down. Our loss. I predict you’re going to do some interesting things in the field.”
Marny nodded. She was hoping to—but didn’t want to say anything where Intertech’s cameras and sensors could hear. She stepped forward and waved down a grav-taxi.
“It’s been quite the experience,” she said. “Thanks for everything.”
“My pleasure.” Brenna gave h
er a hug, then stepped back, her expression serious. “I admire you a lot, Marny. Keep being true to yourself.”
“I will.”
Even if that self meant encompassing a bunch of new ways of being. She’d spent the summer figuring them out: roommate, girlfriend, Feyguard. Not a corporate employee anymore though, thank goodness.
“Take care of yourself, too,” she said to the liaison.
Marny stepped into the taxi and told the driver where to go, then waved at Brenna as they pulled away from the curb. Her last time paying exorbitant city fares.
The Intertech skyscraper cast a long shadow down the street, but after several blocks they emerged into bright sunshine. In another minute, the grav-taxi dropped her off in front of what had been Nyx’s club.
The warehouse door was open, but Nyx had removed the lettering on the walls. Only the faint shadow of the words Club Mysteria remained. Marny went inside, a pang going through her. The club had become so familiar, like a second home. It was hard to see it being dismantled.
No more dance floor and flashing lights, no more twinkly lights twined in green gauze. No juice bar—although that had been repurposed into a portable espresso cart that Emmie and Sula were going to run at their school. No doubt they’d end up making bank.
One thing remained, however, and it still made Marny’s breath catch.
The enchanted forest.
The pale-trunked trees disappeared into shadows above a carpet of green mosses studded with white flowers. A small stream burbled along one side, silver-lit where shafts of sunshine struck it. The leaves stirred and whispered in the breeze.
On the bank of the stream a boy and a girl sat, holding hands. She had white flowers in her dark hair, and wore a gossamer gown. He was dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt, and though he was smiling, Marny could see the sorrow in his expression.
Yeah—she thought leaving Nyx was going to be hard, but her heart went out to Roy and Brea. It was never easy to say goodbye to the person you loved.
But they’d see each other again soon, when Nyx came to Crestview. And hopefully, something a little more permanent could be worked out for Brea. Nyx had even mentioned the idea of giving Brea tiny, personal anchors so that she could move around in the human world, while technically still being in the Realm of Faerie. If that worked, it would be a brilliant solution.
Nyx sat cross-legged on the warehouse floor, facing a little away from the couple in the forest. He looked up and smiled as Marny strode across the floor toward him.
“Hey,” he said, patting the floor beside him. “Pull up a seat.”
She settled beside him, shoulder leaning against his, and Roy glanced up, noting her presence. The sadness in his eyes deepened as he leaned forward to give Brea a farewell kiss.
“Don’t worry,” Nyx said, catching Marny’s gaze. “I’ll be in Crestview soon.”
“I’m not worried. But I’ll be glad to see you.”
There were a million details to work out. Nyx wanted to rent an apartment, and though they hadn’t talked much about it, she’d already started planning her next app. Then family, and school, and—oh yeah—the little detail about being a Feyguard, and things were looking fairly complicated for the near future.
That was okay, though. She’d never been afraid of having an interesting life.
Slowly, Roy stood up and walked out of the enchanted forest. He paused at the edge and lifted his hand in farewell, and Brea blew him a kiss. It turned into a white moth that flew to land in his reddish-brown hair.
“Ready?” Nyx called to him.
Roy’s shoulders fell in a sigh, and he walked out from under the silver leaves. They rustled at his departure, and the moth took flight, disappearing against the pale trees. Further in, Brea stood, then dove into the stream. A bright splash, a shimmering ripple, and she was gone.
“All clear,” Roy said, a catch in his voice.
Nyx opened his hand, where a shimmering leaf rested in his palm. He picked it up, held it between his fingers, and snapped it in two.
A single, clear chime sounded, resonating through the warehouse like it was the inside of a bell. Between one heartbeat and the next the forest faded, until only mortal sunbeams sifted through ordinary dust in the echoing space.
“Well,” Nyx said. “That’s the end of that.”
“Not to sound all woo,” Marny said. “But every end is another beginning. I thought you knew that, mister Zen philosopher.”
That made Roy smile, just the faintest bit.
“Hi, Marns,” he said. “I’ll take your bag to my grav-car. Meet me out back when you’re ready to go.”
“Right.”
She wasn’t looking forward to the long drive back to Crestview with him, especially the way he drove. On the other hand, it beat taking the bus. And she figured they’d have enough to talk about. Royal Lassiter had turned into a fairly decent human being, after all.
As soon as Roy left, Nyx got to his feet and drew her up beside him.
For a long moment they looked into one another’s eyes. Hopes and dreams and unspoken promises flickered in the air between them, but there was no need for words.
Softly, patiently, their lips met—and that was all the magic Marny would ever need.
~ THE END ~
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Discover how it all started – FEYLAND: THE FIRST ADVENTURE
THANKS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
As ever, it takes more than an author to see a novel through to final publication. I am immensely grateful to my wonderful editor, Laurie Temple, and my amazing critique partner, Chassily Wakefield. Thanks to Ginger, always, and to the fantastic Arran McNichol of Editing720 for his quick and stellar copy editing.
Ravven has designed another fabulous cover, despite the scarcity of big Samoan girls as models. Thank you for always getting it right.
Special thanks to Colin, for fight scene choreography and youthful woodland adventures.
I also greatly appreciate the readers who have taken the time to contact me, leave reviews, and give me reasons to keep writing. This series wouldn’t be here without you! Thank you.
MARNY draws on a number of traditional resources, including my go-to books for Faerie lore: An encyclopedia of fairies: Hobgoblins, brownies, bogies, and other supernatural creatures by Katharine M. Briggs, and Faeries by Froud, Larkin, and Lee.
OTHER WORKS
Find all Anthea’s books at antheasharp.com
~The FEYLAND Books~
Prequel novella ~ FEYLAND: THE FIRST ADVENTURE
Book 1 ~ FEYLAND: THE DARK REALM
Book 2 ~ FEYLAND: THE BRIGHT COURT
Book 3 ~ FEYLAND: THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM
Marny Novella – HOW TO BABYSIT A CHANGELING
Feyland short story ~ TRINKET
Faerie tale ~ BENEATH THE KNOWE
SPARK – FEYGUARD Book 1
ROYAL – FEYGUARD Book 2
MARNY – FEYGUARD Book 3
Novella – BREA’S TALE (2016 late summer)
TALES of FEYLAND & FAERIE – Coming late 2015
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anthea Sharp writes USA Today bestselling, award-winning fantasy. Her Feyland books have sold over 200,000 copies worldwide, and garnered over a million reads on Wattpad. In addition to novels, she writes and publishes a lot of short stories, which are available at all major online retailers.
Growing up, Anthea spent most of her summers raiding the library shelves and reading, especially fantasy. She now makes her home in the Pacific Northwest, where she writes, plays the fiddle, hangs out in virtual worlds, and spends time with her small-but-good family. Contact her at [email protected] or visit her website – www.antheasharp.com
In addition to fantasy, Anthea writes Victorian-set historical romance under the pen name Anthea Lawson. http://anthealawson.com/
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Anthea Sharp, Marny