Falling For Fire

by Talia Jager

  Keir stood next to me. “She’s captivating, isn’t she?” He started walking toward them.

  I matched his steps to keep up with him. “How long have you two been friends? I’ve known you my whole life, and you never once mentioned hanging out with the other courts.”

  “A couple years.” He shrugged like it was no big deal. He seemed to fit right in here.

  Looking around, I examined the Summer Fae and two Autumn faeries. Faeries looked like the Season they belonged to. Being a Summer faerie, my skin was tan, my wings a combination of bright colors. Other Summer Fae had bright hair and wings as well. The Autumn Fae had hair and wings the colors of leaves when they changed colors. The Winter Fae had hair and wings the colors of white and blue, sometimes a light purple. And the Spring Fae had pastel wings and hair. Unfortunately, just because we had wings didn’t mean we could fly. It seemed to be the only thing our wings were good for was showing what Season we were from.

  “Who are the others?”

  He gestured to the Winter faerie with bright blue and purple hair. “Raina is Rory’s best friend. Sometimes another Winter Fae comes, Ivy. You know the Summer Fae. The two Autumn Fae are Cedar and Jora. Linden comes occasionally. The Spring Fae, Navin and Iris, are usually late, but they’ll be here for the Merry Berry.”

  “Merry Berry? You have that here?”

  Keir raised his eyebrows. “Of course. We’re all here to let loose. Live a little. Don’t be a straight arrow.” He whacked my back and closed the space between him and the girls.

  I walked over to the Summer Fae. “Sorin,” they acknowledged.

  “Hey. Since I’ve never heard of you guys meeting up before, am I right in assuming that nobody will mention that I was here?”

  “Everything that is seen or said here, stays here,” Blaise confirmed.

  “Good. I don’t think my parents would approve.”

  Coral laughed. “Your mother certainly wouldn’t.”

  I grinned. “I’d probably be punished.” Observing the area again, I asked, “You guys never have any problems here?”

  “Nope. Many of us actually think the courts should interact more, but that probably won’t ever happen.” Coral played with her pink hair.

  “Why? I mean, why should we interact more?”

  “Lots of reasons, the biggest one being safety. Did you know Iron Fae were seen in the Autumn Court a few weeks ago?”

  “No.”

  “Cedar just told us that. They were able to run them off, but nobody relays information. And even if you were to go home and tell your father that, he’d want to know how you know, and you can’t tell him without outing all of us.”

  He had a point. Iron Fae were our enemies. They were a group of faeries banished long ago, but they’d been attacking for generations. They wanted revenge. They wanted the land back. They were one of the reasons we trained for hours every day…just in case they ever attacked.

  My eyes swept the area until they found Rory again. She popped a few deep purple berries in her mouth and passed the bowl to her friend, who did the same. The berries were known for making you feel good. Often used in food to make others happy, when eaten straight they caused more of a high.

  Three Spring Fae emerged from the right. The boys had pastel yellow hair and wings, and the girl had light pink hair and wings and wore floral arm cuffs and had vines running up her legs as well. They took the bowl from Keir and each had a few berries.

  When they noticed me, they nodded and then moved on to talk to the others.

  Merry Berry works quickly, and within minutes, Rory and her friend were dancing in the moonlight with big grins on their faces. Keir joined them and danced between the girls. He’d twirl one and then the other, and they’d giggle. I leaned against a tree and watched as members of all four courts forgot who they were and had fun together. Everyone was comfortable with each other, which seemed awkward to me, but I found myself feeling a little jealous.

  Rory and Raina waved their hands at the sky and light snow started to fall. The snowflakes that reached their hair stayed perfectly shaped. I held out my hand, but when the snowflake landed, it immediately melted on my warm skin.

  Rory twirled over to where I was and held out a hand full of Merry Berries. “Want one? Or two?”

  Not breaking her gaze, I reached out and took one from her. I tossed it in my mouth, and the juice exploded from it as I bit into it. It was sweet and warm as it ran down my throat.

  She traipsed away, making sure everyone got enough before returning to Raina.

  Within a few minutes, I felt my shoulders slump and my muscles relax. The warm tingly feeling spread from the inside of my body to the tips of my fingers. For once I stopped thinking about being the eldest son of the Summer king and queen. The pressure of being perfect faded away. I was just here in the now and it felt good.

  “Sorin.” Keir strolled up next to me. “Feeling better? You look better.”

  I laughed. “Bro, yeah. Much better.”

  “Then mingle.”

  “All right. All right.” I followed him around as he introduced me to everyone else. I chatted with Cedar and Navin, but found myself looking at Rory again.

  “Talk to her,” Keir encouraged.

  I shuffled my feet over to where she was talking with Raina. The corners of her mouth quirked up. “Hey again.”

  “Hey.”

  Raina said, “I’m going to grab another berry.” She wandered away, leaving us alone.

  “I haven’t seen you here before,” Rory said.

  “Keir decided I was too tense.”

  “You don’t look it anymore.”

  “I’m doing okay now.” I glanced around. “How often do you all do this?”

  “Once a month. It lets us all relax a little, leave our troubles behind, all that. Sometimes more show up, sometimes just a few of us. Depends on what’s going on.”

  “What about you? Are you always here?”

  Her cheeks deepened in color again. “I’ve only ever missed one.”

  “Everyone gets along?” I asked, still not believing it. I had never heard of the courts getting along. Tolerating each other, sure. But not hanging out like this. Occasionally we had reason to associate, but it was always for business. We had traders whose job it was to trade with the other Seasons or to relay messages if the High Knight needed to talk with someone, but dancing, eating together, was unheard of.

  “Sure. What’s there to fight about?”

  “We’re complete opposites. I can’t fathom that there’s no animosity between anybody.”

  “Maybe we’re here because we’re sick of treating each other horribly. Or maybe we just understand each other. Or maybe we’re escaping the problems we have at home. It really doesn’t matter. There’s no reason for any of us to fight over the nonsense the old royals wrote. The fact is we will go back to our Seasons and carry on with our families and obey the laws. But once every month we come together and forget.” I could hear the passion in Rory’s voice.

  “So what do you like to do?” I asked.

  She smiled. “You could ask me anything, and that’s what you want to ask?”

  “What should I ask instead?”

  “You could ask if I have a beating heart. Or if I’m as cold inside as I am outside.”

  I snorted a little and then realized she was serious. “Do you? Have a beating heart?”

  “I do.” She took my hand and placed my fingers on her neck. I felt the rhythmic beating. “See?”

  My fingers lingered on her neck. Then I licked my lips and asked, “Do others think you are heartless?”

  “I was asked a few times when I first started coming here.”

  “Well, now that I know you have a heart, what do you like to do?”

  “Ice-skating.”

  “Of course. Anything not so cold?”

  “Dance. I like music.”

  “All faeries do.”

  She pursed her lips to the side like she was deep
in thought. “I like to do my sisters’ hair.”

  “You have a sister?”

  “Two.”

  Not wanting to spend any more time just talking, I asked, “Dance with me?”

  Her eyes twinkled. “Okay.”

  I took her hand and the shock of how cold she was gave me pause, but then I twirled her around and pulled her back to me. I put one hand on her back, just below her wings, and took her other hand in mine. We danced to music that was only in our minds.

  At the end of the dance, Keir whistled, but I ignored him. Snow was falling harder, but still didn’t stick to the ground.

  Our eyes stayed locked. I felt as if I couldn’t look away. My heart pounded as she parted her lips a little, just enough for me to know she wanted me to kiss her. My lips grazed hers ever so softly, and a shock ran through my body. I kept the kiss tender and gentle. Her hand slipped around to the back of my neck, sending a shiver down my spine, and the kiss grew deeper and more passionate. Pulling back, she left me breathless and wanting more.

  Before I could say anything, Raina called, “Rory, c’mon, let’s go.”

  “In a minute,” she said, dismissing her friend with a wave.

  “Aurora! We’ve got to get home before the sunrise.”

  Her face fell, and she sighed. “Fine.” She stood on her tiptoes, placed a soft kiss on my lips, and then turned and rushed away.

  I stood unmoving for a long moment, and then it hit me. “Aurora? She’s the Winter faerie princess?”

  “You didn’t know?” Keir asked.

  “You called her Rory!”

  “Everyone calls her Rory.”

  “I can’t believe I…”

  “Can’t believe you what? Made out with the Winter princess? Enjoy it, Sorin. Own it. You let yourself have some fun, now don’t let the lesson go to waste. Loosen up a bit.”

  I smiled, trying not to show that I was freaking out. I had just kissed the Winter princess!

  Chapter Two

  Aurora

  “Did I just see you kiss the Summer faerie prince?” Raina’s eyes were bright with interest.

  “I don’t know. Did you?” I flashed her a smile.

  “Well?”

  “Well what?”

  “What did it feel like?”

  “His lips are warm.” I swooned.

  “Oh! You have a thing for him.”

  “I don’t have a thing for him. I just met him.”

  “Fine, but you think he’s cute.”

  “He is cute.” I fiddled with the three snowflake rings on the fingers of my right hand and sighed. I wouldn’t win this with her. She could feel my emotions. I did like him, but it was just a crush. It could never be more.

  As my winged horse, Mistale, took us home, I closed my eyes and thought about how his lips felt on mine. I hadn’t felt that spark with anybody else. Was it just because he was a Summer Fae? Some sort of fire and ice reaction?

  The horse landed, and we quietly snuck back to the village, leaving fresh tracks in the snow. A quick wave at the sky sent snow falling. Our footprints would be covered in minutes. The white castle with blue trim and cascading towers stood before us in all its wintry glory. Ice surrounded the castle, and wide bridges arched over the ice to the doors. Fountains surrounded the castle, giving us a constant supply of running water.

  I turned to Raina. “You can’t ever tell about tonight.”

  “Rory, you know me better than that. When have I ever spilled a secret?”

  Guilt washed over me. Raina and I had grown up together. She had been my best friend since we were babies. “I know, but I’ve never done that before.”

  “First time for everything.”

  I laughed and hugged my best friend. “See you in a few minutes.”

  “Of course.”

  I walked away from her as the eastern sky was just starting to lighten. I had to hurry. All the royal families greeted their subjects just after sunrise, and if I wasn’t ready, there’d be hell to pay.

  I slipped into my chambers and out of my clothes. Picking out a white, beaded, long-sleeved dress from the wardrobe, I quickly stepped into it. I stood in front of the mirror and brushed my hair. Then I took a snowflake clip and pulled my hair into it. My makeup needed to be reapplied, but I didn’t have time to do it all, so I put on blue eye shadow and lip gloss. Then I dipped a brush in the sparkles and swept it around my eyes. I picked up the crystal snowflake crown and put it on my head just as the morning song started playing.

  I opened my door and made my way downstairs. In the hallway, one of the servants was playing the celesta, a piano-type instrument that made a beautiful twinkling sound.

  “Hurry up, Rory. You’re late!” My youngest sister, Lumi, waved to me.

  I took my spot in the line between my mother and my sister Eira. My father turned back and shot me a look. His blue wings stood tall and proud. “Rory.” The tone of his voice said enough.

  “Sorry, Father.” I cast my eyes down.

  “Eyes up, Rory,” my mother said.

  Being the eldest child—the one who would inherit the kingdom—was stressful. It’s not that I didn’t want to be queen, it was the attention and responsibility that came with it. No need to stress now though. I had hundreds of years before I had to worry about that.

  I took a deep breath and raised my head just as the doors opened. “Winter Fae! Presenting your royal family.” We walked outside onto the front steps and waved. My parents sat on their thrones, and we stood in a half circle behind them.

  I spotted Raina in the crowd. Her expression was composed, but there was a hint of playfulness in her eyes. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep myself from thinking back to a couple of hours ago when I was kissing a sexy faerie.

  Of the opposite court, I reminded myself.

  As soon as breakfast was over, I changed into a shorter dress to allow for easier movements and then went outside to the crisp air. My wolf, Zev, perked his head up and then got to his feet. “C’mon, boy,” I called and ran down to the training grounds. Looking between the different groups, I decided to work on my sword-fighting skills first. While Zev got comfortable under a tree, I picked up one of the training swords and waited for a partner.

  As soon as one was available, I took my position, and the duel began. Stepping around an imaginary circle, we traded thrusts and parries.

  After losing one fight, I won the next and then excused myself to practice with my bow and arrow. All faeries were trained to fight from a young age. We were required to go through all of the training, which usually ended around the age of sixteen for girls and eighteen for boys. Then we could continue on if we wanted. I wanted to. I wanted to be the best I could be, which had surprised my parents but made them proud.

  I only had about an hour in the mornings to train before my first class started. Raina was leaning against a tree waiting for me as I put down the bow and arrow. She hadn’t continued on with the trainings as I had. “You’re good,” she said, standing up. She had pulled her wavy hair back, but left a strand of light purple hanging down on one side of her face and a strand of light blue on the other side.

  “But not the best.”

  “You don’t have to be the best. You just have to kill the enemy.”

  We walked down the dirt road and grabbed a treat from one of the merchants. Zev waited outside as we walked into our two-room schoolhouse. We went into the room on the right and sat down. There were ten of us in the class, which was about herbs and plants and making elixirs.

  I took my seat next to Raina in the middle of the class. Everyone’s wings were mixtures of white, blue, and purple, but the number of colors and the designs on each of the wings were different. Most Winter Fae had blue eyes, and hair color varied between white, blonde, blue, and purple. My mother set the dress code, and she liked girls to be in dresses. We didn’t get cold, so it wasn’t a problem, although every once in a while I would have liked to wear a pair of pants.

  This week, our teach
er, Geneva, was teaching us what to mix together to make a healing elixir. We had made simple ones, but today’s was more complex. It was supposed to heal severe injuries.

  Ivy and I were paired up to find the ingredients, make the elixir, and bottle it up. Ivy was my next closest friend after Raina. Her short hair was thick and light purple, streaked with lines of pure white.

  We headed toward the woods and began our hunt. Ivy picked some berries off a bush. “How was last night?” she asked in a whisper.

  “Good. Why weren’t you there?”

  “My mother was still awake. By the time she fell asleep, you guys would have been long gone.” She rolled her eyes and dropped the berries in the bucket. We started walking to find the next item. “Anything fun happen?”

  I reached up and snagged a few leaves off a tree. “Actually, one of the Summer princes showed up.”

  Her jaw dropped. “No!”

  “Keir brought him.”

  “Shut up!” she laughed. “Was he cool?”

  “Yeah. He was a little shocked but ended up enjoying it.” I filled her in on everything except the kiss at the end.

  “Do you think he’ll show up next time?”

  Before I could answer her, galloping interrupted us. We looked up just as a centaur emerged from the thick trees. His long white hair matched the hair of the horse part of his body. He looked from Ivy to me and then relaxed. “What are you two doing out here?”

  “Good day, Jopul. We’re collecting ingredients for an elixir,” I answered.

  “You’re far from school.”

  I looked around. We had wandered farther than I realized. “Sorry.”

  “It’s okay, Your Highness. Would you like me to escort you back?”

  “No, thank you. We’ll go now.”

  Once we were far enough away, I leaned close to Ivy. “Wonder what that was about.”

  “I don’t know. Seems like he thought we were a threat until he saw who we were.”

  “Yeah, he was tense.”

  In the clearing, I whistled five short tones, and a few seconds later, a piskie with black hair flew down. “Your Highness.”