by Rebecca Grey
Even the fire’s warmth had been replaced. Along my back I could feel the smooth scales of Graceson’s wings against me. Heat radiated off of him, making it hard for me to fight the urge to snuggle closer.
He stirred, rolling to face me. I tried to squeeze my eyes shut and pretend like I was still asleep, to gain just a few more seconds of rest and to enjoy his warmth before we ventured back out into the cold.
“You can quit faking it now.” Graceson groaned, stretching out his legs and arms.
With a heavy sigh, I opened my eyes. Why did morning have to come so fast?
I brought my hands up to cover my face and brush away the sleep from my eyes, trying to hide my embarrassment.
“Sorry,” I said roughly before I cleared my throat.
He chuckled some, standing to stretch out before me. The movement offered me a good view of those wings as he let them stretch out to touch either side of the cave walls.
“Do you fly?”
The words escaped me all too quickly. I wanted to take them back, because, duh.
“Yes, of course. These gorgeous things aren’t just for show. It’s actually much faster for us to fly than to keep going on foot but the cold wind only gets worse against your face at that height and I was nervous we would be spotted before we wished to be. I could take you out to fly if you want to try it? After we eat breakfast of course. I suppose we are close enough we could risk it.”
“Do I just ride on your back?” I asked, sitting up, crossing my legs.
My question must have been absolutely ridiculous, seeing as he laughed out loud in my face. Shaking his head he said, “No, no. I’m not a horse! Oh gods. That was a good one.” Sometimes, I wished I would make myself less of a fool in the presence of the fae. Other times, I didn’t care. Biting back my quick remark I chose to begin digging through my backpack, hauling out fresh clothing in exchange for the damp ones I now wore and food to start our day. I knew it was unlikely we would stop again soon. I chomped down on some cheese once I was fitted with fresh gloves and had strapped my bag over my shoulders. I let Graceson lead the way out of the mouth of the cave to enter the crystal world of winter.
The cold was the first thing to hit us. The stunning sight was next. Snow glowed under the early sun reflecting like expensive gems underfoot.
“You think you can handle the cold if we fly?" he asked, adjusting his bag.
Pulling the fresh scarf I had up over my mouth and nose, I nodded. Let’s give this a go. “Where do you want me?” I asked.
Graceson chuckled. “Well…if I get to pick any position...”
Would the innuendos ever end?
“Never gonna happen, Graceson.”
“Never say never.” He pointed directly in front of him. “I’ll carry you in my arms.” He winked before scooping me up, tightening my body into the heat of his chest. He was leaner than Daethian but his body was still strong.
“Now hold on.”
My fingers found each other as they clasped together behind his neck. Adrenaline pumped through my body. All my muscles tensed as he took off in a run and I gasped as his powerful wings beat down in a deep slow plunge a few times before they sent us skyward in one last impressive pump.
As we took to the air a small shriek managed to escape my throat. Graceson smiled and reassured me with a quick squeeze closer against his chest. Even though the wind was bitterly licking at my eyes, the feeling of flying was exhilarating. The wind whipped curls out from under my hood and I loosened my grip around his neck for a minute.
I brought down each arm, one at a time, from his neck and stretched them behind me while my head tilted back. He let me sit like this for a minute before he spoke over the rush of wind.
“Here, you think that’s fun? Grab back onto me, I’ll show you fun.”
Without hesitation I latched back onto him, waiting impatiently to be further impressed. His muscles flexed as he held onto me and in a second both wings snapped in towards his back, flattening. Our bodies began to plummet back down through the sky and he let out a wild whoop in our descent. Air whipped past us. My stomach left behind in the clouds. I screamed and laughed as he extended each wing and caught us before we lost ourselves against the white earth below.
Free. Untamed. Yes this was the feeling I’d been wanting for so long.
His eyes glowed with amusement and pure unbridled joy as I watched him in wonder. His happiness was contagious and I loved that. The feeling like it was easy to just be me and that I could do what I wanted with no repercussions. It made it easier to push down my distrust and anger toward the fae as a whole. There were good ones out there.
The world below was dusted white but the farther we made it into the territory the more I saw movement of fae below. Their pallor of their skin ranging from the crisp white of the snow to muted blues as if they were always frozen.
We flew like this for the remainder of the day. Graceson occasionally mumbled information in my ear as I pressed my face into his chest to protect myself. My eyes watered from the wind, the tears freezing against my lashes. Shivers ran through my body despite Graceson’s warmth, my muscles aching from the constant, uncontrollable trembles. Every inch of me hoped they would accept us for the night and allow us to stay in an actual bed.
Eventually the cold turned my lashes to ice as they brushed against my reddened cheeks, but I was willing to trade the discomfort, until it became dark, for this feeling of freedom.
The noble fae of the Twinity Court would know we were on their land by now. It was only a matter of time before we arrived at their castle. They probably knew once we made the decision to come. What did they think of us when they saw us in their dreams?
“We are here,” Graceson rasped, voice hoarse and strained against the polar wind.
Trees neared in our descent. A large structure, plainly built of stone rose above the forest top. The castle was plain, no banners, or flashy jewels in sight. Just stone and mortar. The sun had begun setting and was casting pink and orange hues over the snow, outlining the square towers in its glow. This was their royal residence, I reminded myself when it didn’t feel like we were in the right place.
Metal clanked loudly below us, I knew it was guards coming to meet us. I tried to slow my pulse, to remain calm, even as I spotted archers with their bows drawn waiting above the towering outer wall.
Snow kicked up in a cloud around Graceson’s boots as he met the ground in a jog. He leisurely eased me down to walk, taking my hand until he knew I was steady. I shivered under the expanse of the gates before us that remained unopened, overly aware of every sound of the forest around us. Anxiety bounced through me as I waited to be greeted by these noble fae, waiting to see what fate they would give me. We took a chance by sending me here. Windre was confident that they would want no part of Ganglin and his qualm with me but would that mean they would also want no part of this war?
Peaceful people often became pliant slaves under the restless foot of those who sought power. I knew from experience.
Iron bars crossed and ended in tiny bulbs on top of the gates that opened without a sound. A man with blue tinted skin and sea green hair motioned for us to come forward.
“Graceson of the Acture Court, and Ryker leader of the nymphs, Queen Couley and King Henrick are waiting for you.”
Leader of the nymphs? Was that my new title? I wasn’t the one leading this, I was just a part of it. Or had they seen something that I was not yet aware of?
Nature stilled like a bad omen as we passed through the gates and into the courtyards. Manicured lawns were edged by perfectly round bushes, coated with the thinnest layer of frost. Everything glittered in this court. Light reflected off of the crystals of snow and ice that covered even the tiniest leaf or petal.
Guards trailed behind us as the man led us through the courtyard and into the castle. Their walls remained as bare as everything else. Inside the throne room where the king and queen waited only one banner hung. The blue Twinity Court banner
with its twisted thorns and detailed snowflake.
I wished now that I stood before them that I had somehow fixed myself up before we got this far. My hair was windblown back against my hood, my cheeks and nose burning a brilliant red from the uncomfortable wind.
Couley rolled her wrists then extended her arms before her in welcome. “My friends, you have traveled a way to seek our company. It’s been some time since Windre has sent some warm bodies our way.”
Graceson lifted his head nodding, all formalities. “He sends his blessings to your court.”
“His blessings received.” She mused a small smile gracing her perfect lips. “And you are here to try and rally my Court for your war?”
Graceson’s features did not waver as she spoke. Of course she knew we were coming and exactly what we wanted. But that didn’t stop her words from feeling like a knife to my gut.
King Henrick turned, his sharp jaw reminding me of his son’s as he fussed with the arm of his throne like it was worth more of his time than us. Dace would have been back by now. Where was he? Graceson had said that in formalities the entire family should be present to greet us yet Dace was missing. His throne sat empty next to his fathers. That couldn’t be a good sign.
“On behalf of my dear king, we have come in hopes of revolution. Of beginning a new year where peace reigns and thrives between our courts and all the races within.” His words were animated, a reflection of his own passion for this new era.
Henrick looked up but he didn't watch Graceson, his attention narrowed on me. I’m sure he wanted me to be timid. That he was that kind of man, as most the fae rulers at least appeared to be. Yet I couldn’t bring myself to lower my chin or to stop returning his gaze with a leveling stare of my own.
“I’ve brought first hand experience of the brutality that lies within the Heathern Court,” he said, one hand gesturing toward me.
Couley’s eyes stared down on me like a brand burning into my skin. It took all of my strength to break eye contact with Henrick and drag my gaze to her majesty. I had power too, I reminded myself. She tapped her chin, her long slender fingers coming to a point at her well manicured nails, thinking until she rolled her gaze back toward Graceson.
“Mmmm. I do not at this time wish to aid your cause. It is not a war that we seek.”
She hadn’t even let me speak. It was the one thing that I had prepared to do and she hadn’t even let me get it out.
“I’m asking that you reconsider.” His eyes began to spark as if the fire within him might burst out just as it did from his palms before. “Just hear what the girl has to say.”
“Dear, we know more than you may think. We do not wish to rally with you. Please send our regards to Windre. Before your long journey home, you will be allowed to stay one night and one day in our court, but not in our home, before we will ask you to leave.” She turned to walk away.
I jumped up to respond. “Queen Couley, if you know Ganglin like I do, you know that even if you choose no side he will consider you against him if you are not with him. Wouldn’t it be best if we work together? We stand a chance at winning this war and bringing peace to our land. Whether you want this war or not, it is happening.”
The swish of her dress sent glittering stars dancing across the space between us as she turned back to face me. “You, girl. I know of you. We have seen you in our dreams.” She closed the space between us as she talked. Her hand rising to touch my chin. “You fight two wars in your life. One of freedom, the other of heart. You can’t see it, but the answer is right in front of you. One of these two wars, we know you will win, but it will break you in the process.”
Her fingers were as chilled as the snow covered ground. Her grip tightened on my chin before she let go and dropped her hand. Turning, she walked away waving behind her.
“I’m sorry your travels have been for nothing.” With that she flicked her sparkling white skirts behind her and walked away.
TWENTY-TWO
Ryker
Their quick dismissal of us was not what I had pictured happening. The cryptic message I was given left a lot to the imagination as well. What question was I asking myself? The answer was right before me? Literally or metaphorically? With the Twinity Court you could never know for sure what they were actually talking about.
The muted colors of the court and the people around us slowly faded away as we were escorted off the castle grounds.
Graceson’s jaw clenched, the threads of the muscles along his face ticking under the movement. Swiftly he twisted on his toes offering his arms to me as the gates closed behind us. So, I let him. In the midst of our disappointment and anger, I let him carry us off into the evening to find a place to lay low for the night. His arms were rigid and tight, holding me close.
I watched him bite his lip. His teeth scraped against the rounded bottom of his mouth. The line of his jaw still tensing and untensing in thought. His green eyes stared straight ahead either ignoring or unaware of my close examination of his face.
“What do we do now?” The wind caught my words tossing them over his shoulder.
He did a double take, looking down at me, concern was etched in his features. “I don’t actually know.”
Silence filled the space around us. Even the wind that lifted us up under Graceson’s reptilian wings was hushed, almost completely unheard. We continued on in this silence until we eventually decided we wouldn't luck out with a cave and settled for a small space between two trees.
Snow was blown away by the beating of his wings as he landed. I dropped to the ground before my travel companion and went to work gathering sticks for a fire while Graceson pulled out what was left of our food.
Mostly small twigs with a few, luckily found, larger logs poked my chest and arms as I walked forward daring to make eye contact with Graceson. He looked up. His eyebrows knitted together and he rolled his eyes. Cranky, I supposed. Understandably.
I dropped the bundle I had gathered at his feet knowing his magic would keep us warm another night. No thanks to the Twinity Court for a warm welcome. The queen was as icy as the terrain around us, her family likely just as bad. With the exception of their son, who conveniently, or inconveniently really, wasn’t there. What they had said to us didn’t sit well with me. I replayed the conversation in my head again and again while the intensity of it ate away at my stomach and made the thought of eating hard.
A large root from a nearby tree made for an uneven seat but better than the wet cold snow that was sure to soak through my clothing. One of the many sighs that had parted my lips since we began our journey home left me now. Slightly dried cheese waited to be eaten from the pile of what we had left. I picked up a piece. Chewing slowly, I took in another bite and another not thinking about the taste or how it hit my stomach roughly.
Graceson propped his hand under his face. “It’s going to get very, very cold tonight. I almost think we should continue on for the evening. Do you think you are up for it?”
“Well, you are the one doing all the work. Shouldn’t I be asking you that question?” I decided to keep the way my face felt both numb and burnt from the cold to myself. Some things were just more important than my own measly complaints. Soon we would be back in the comfortable temperature of the Acture Court. Soon.
Soon we would find out if there was any news on Hattie’s own adventure. Oh, I wanted to know how it went. I wanted to know that the one part of my family that I knew was alive and well would stay perfectly alive and well.
Graceson flared his wings out, showing them off in the moonlight. The glow from the fire he had started radiated off the leather of his wings. “I’m fine, these beauties could take you wherever your heart desired.”
My fingers and toes curled in the warmth from the fire. This would be my last bit of warmth until we reached the Acture Court.
Unhurried, I tried to enjoy the last few bites of cheese, chewed on a bit of bread, and watched Graceson put out the fire. The haunted figures of the trees cast thei
r shadows from under the moonlight, swaying to wave the forest’s goodbye. I climbed back into Graceson’s arms, thankful for his magical heat. In a few heavy strokes we began to rise above the treeline into the night sky.
I felt the rush of excess wind scrape against my cheeks. A savage roar ripped from Graceson’s throat. The levelness of his arms dipped and shook as he tried to right himself. Shrinking against him, I cringed away from the noise while holding him as tightly as I could. Ragged pieces of flesh waved opened then closed then open again inside the small hole that had appeared in Graceson’s wing. He flapped in sloppy strokes as he tried to keep us from catapulting straight down. Pain laced each grunt, the sheen of a cold sweat over his brow materializing with the effort.
Something had hurtled passed my face and struck his wing. Someone wanted us out of the skies.
The tree line grew closer and closer as he snarled. Another hiss of air. This time the arrow was visible as it pierced clean through right next to the hole that had already been created. The shot was strong enough to send us spinning.
Time slowed as I felt one finger at a time lose its grip on me. Tornado-like winds ripped at my hair and clothes as we tumbled from the darkened sky. My arms stretched helplessly out toward Graceson and his to mine but our fingers only brushed as we slipped further apart. Time slowed so much that we could have easily been painted like this. Or so it felt.
I screamed out as I was caught by the trees we had just barely left. Branches cracking against our descent. The twigs slapped and cut at my face and arms like the many whips of the Heathern Court lashed against my skin. The ground finally broke my fall.
Air wheezed from my chest at the impact, a small shout erupting with it. The world above me spun in slow lazy circles that blurred with each adrenaline pulsed heartbeat.
Frantically, I got myself to my feet attempting to listen past the ringing in my ears for Graceson. Sorting through the sounds of the forest I heard the shuffle and a moan nearby as he dragged himself out from behind a tree. I let go of the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.