Starlight (The Lightning Strike Trilogy Book 1)

by K. A. Rygaard

  to do with me and you together?”

  “My great grandmother was a Witch Faerie, too.

  She was literally shunned to the point that she couldn’t

  even live in Capitol City; she had to move up north as

  soon as she finished school.” Zach waited for me to

  actually explain, and I sighed. “She left me a letter that

  she wrote when I was born, so I would have it at the

  point in my life when it would make sense. She told me

  that being a Witch Faerie would be most difficult in

  social aspects, but that genetics were a close second. Our

  systems aren’t compatible with anyone’s, Zach. They’re.

  . . wonky, to use her word for it.”

  “What do you mean, compatible?” he interrupted.

  “Because you have Faerie blood, and I don’t? Em, Faeries

  and Wizards have always been together.”

  I shook my head.

  “No, Zach, it’s because I have both. I have Faerie

  blood and Witch blood. My great grandmother told me

  that I had to be careful with whoever was romantically

  involved with me and, again I’m using her words here, knocking boots with. . . She and my great grandfather got lucky, because way up his family line he had a Witch Faerie, too, but. . . if he hadn’t. . .” I took a breath. “She told me that if I wasn’t careful with who I chose to be

  with, my system could destroy theirs.”

  I looked back at Zach finally, seeing the

  realization and the pain in his eyes.

  “Your—Your system could destroy mine? You

  mean you could kill me? Emma, why didn’t you ever tell

  me this?”

  “Because you never had anything to worry

  about.”

  “Emma, I don’t have a single Witch Faerie in my

  family tree.”

  I shook my head at him.

  “Zach, I never bothered dating anyone before

  everything started. Before you. I never even told my

  parents what the letter said, because I knew they’d be

  unhappy, but never mind that—”

  “You just said—”

  I grasped his hands in mine.

  “Zach, that was before I found out that I’m the

  Keeper. And with you. . . they trust you, just as much as I

  do.” He still didn’t understand, and I sighed. “The

  current. Our current, Zach. It’s the Galaxies. Somehow. . .

  they knew before we did that we’d be together.” I could almost see the gears in Zach’s brain

  turning as he processed this.

  “The Galaxies?” I nodded. “They—protected me,

  or whatever, because they want me to be with you?” “In a sense,” I started, nodding, “Yes.”

  The last trace of bewilderment filtered out of

  Zach’s features, and then he pulled my head to his,

  kissing me. I could feel his heart beating against his

  chest, against mine, and his hand slipped to my waist. . .

  and then he looked at me.

  “Does this mean we don’t have to wait anymore?” I laughed softly, shaking my head.

  “No,” I murmured, “I’m ready now.”

  A grin on his face, Zach soon had me in his arms,

  never breaking the kiss until my back hit the bed. He

  stared at me for a long moment, and at some point, I

  realized the currents had been drawn.

  “I love you,” I whispered.

  He brushed the hair away from my face. “I love you, too.”

  ****

  The current still hasn’t settled, even though we

  were now lying slightly apart, staring up at the ceiling. When we’d been together, the current felt as if it was going to explode. It was better now, but far from calm.

  We had Magic-Changed on some loungewear in case we had a surprise visitor.

  “You okay?”

  I rolled over onto my side and looked at him. Zach still wasn’t wearing a shirt, which was fine with me.

  “Yeah,” I breathed, “I’m very okay.”

  He rolled onto his side, too, propping himself up with his elbow on his pillow.

  “Your eyes are brighter,” he mused.

  “That would be because of you.”

  A smile tugged at his lips, and then Zach leaned over and kissed my forehead; the current fizzed again.

  “Any time.”

  We stayed in the room for the rest of the day, just us. We had lunch at about one and then watched the rainstorm from next to the bed, leaning our backs against it while drinking hot tea. We talked and laughed. . . but by nine we were exhausted and so crawled into bed.

  I curled up against him and his arms wrapped around me.

  “I love you,” he whispered.

  “Love you, too,” I whispered back.

  What Needs to be Settled

  For the next few days, Zach and I had nothing

  to do in relation to being the Kahi. We realized that when there was nothing specific to do, we could live relatively normal lives. The only thing that wasn’t normal was ignoring our parents’ and siblings’ Paths. It killed me, but Galaxia fumed when Zach and I had mentioned getting in touch with them. Zach and I decided to just go ahead and call them within the next week, to tell them of our engagement. If Galaxia fused at that. . .

  “Want to go to breakfast?” Zach queried, pulling me from my thoughts.

  I looked away from the late Ott sunrise, nodding.

  “Yeah. I hope it’s outside; the weather won’t be this nice for much longer.”

  He reached for my hand and I gave it to him. We talked the whole way downstairs, but before we got out to the patio, Zach stopped me.

  “I want to tell them we’re getting married.”

  My thumb touched the diamond still on my finger and I nodded.

  “I think so, too. We haven’t exactly had any time to tell them, have we?”

  His eyes changed only briefly.

  “No, but now nothing can stop us.” His free hand reached out and tucked some hair behind my ear. “Before or after breakfast?”

  I thought.

  “After. . . I think that would be best, don’t you?”

  He nodded and we went out to the porch. Everyone greeted us, and Zach pulled out my chair, then sat next to me.

  “Morning, love birds,” Jessie sang from her spot on the other side of me, and I stomped on her foot.

  Breakfast went by a lot faster than I thought it would, but I was not the least bit nervous. I looked at Zach, and when he looked at me he nodded, knowing what I was thinking.

  “Em and I have some news,” he said. We turned back to face the others.

  “Good God,” Galaxia said, her eyes widening, “you’re pregnant!”

  Jessie choked on her biscuit.

  “What?” I sputtered. “No, no—I’m not. . . pregnant.”

  But Zach and I were both very red. We hadn’t used any sort of protection when we’d slept together; for all we knew I could be.

  “Oh—oh, good,” she sighed. “You really shouldn’t have children out of wedlock.”

  “You see,” Zach started, “that’s the thing.” He reached down and picked my hand up in his. “We’re engaged.”

  My fingers automatically curled over the back of his hand, as his did with mine.

  Their eyes widened still more, but then all but Galaxia broke out in smiles.

  “That is wonderful news!” Louisa exclaimed, reaching over the table to pat our hands. “I am so happy for the both of you!”

  We smiled back at them.

  “Will you be having the ceremony here?” she asked.

  Zach and I exchanged brief glances.

  “Do we have a choice?” I asked.

  Louisa opened her mouth, but Galaxia spoke. “No.”


  Everyone frowned at her.

  “Galaxia—” Louisa started.

  “Where else would they have it?”

  “e2,” Zach and I said together.

  “It is not safe for you two yet,” she objected. “The Viewing—”

  “Was a while ago,” Zach reminded. From how his grip was tightening over my hand, I knew he was growing frustrated with Galaxia.

  “It is still not safe.”

  “Galaxia, have reason,” Louisa fussed. “e2 is their home!”

  “They live here now.”

  “You know as well as the rest of us that means nothing,” Horatio cut in. “e2 will always be their home, Galaxia.”

  The thin veil of anger lining his voice made me flinch.

  “Regardless,” she continued, “e2 is not—”

  “We’re getting married on e2,” Zach fumed. “That’s final.”

  “But where on e2? You cannot have it in a church or on the beach—you are too exposed!”

  “We’ll get married at my parents’,” I stated. “Their backyard’s big enough.”

  “And it’s close to my parents’,” Zach added.

  Galaxia looked like she was ready to object once again, but Louisa interrupted her.

  “Galaxia, enough.” Then she looked at us. “You are more than welcome to marry on e2.”

  We thanked her, and then Zach tugged lightly on my arm, gesturing to me that he wanted to go. We said nothing until we got back to our room.

  “What’s her problem?” Zach demanded. “Why would she be that against us getting married on e2?” I shrugged, shaking my head.

  “I don’t know.” I paused. “Nor do I really care, either, if I’m being honest. . . Galaxia isn’t in charge of us.”

  “No,” he greed slowly, and then he took my hand, whirling me around in a complete circle and then placing his hand on my waist when I was once again facing him. I blinked back the sudden dizzy spell.

  “What was that?” I queried.

  “Are we going to dance at our wedding?”

  Then he was swirling me around the room, which made me laugh.

  “Why wouldn’t we? It’s a traditional part of weddings. . .” I stopped him moving, positioning myself better in his arms. “. . . and I do know how to dance.”

  He smiled at me as we began to move again.

  “So do I. Had to learn for my aunt’s wedding about four years ago.”

  “That saves us some time. I won’t have to teach you.”

  “That you don’t.”

  He suddenly dipped me, and after a moment pulled me back up. Suddenly he was very serious, all that laughter in his eyes gone.

  “You don’t think that I’m trying to tie you down with marriage, do you?”

  I frowned.

  “Why would I? Zach, I love you, and I’ve always been yours. Everyone knows I’m yours. This wedding is an affirmation of our love for each other, further binding us together for eternity.” I reached up and cupped his cheek. “And that’s the way I want it to be. I want to grow old with you—figuratively, but regardless. . .”

  “I’m not backing out, Em, don’t think that. I just needed to know if you were serious about this.”

  “I have never been more serious about anything in my life, Zach. Nor was I ever as happy as when you proposed to me.”

  The joy came back to his eyes and he kissed me.

  Dark and Light

  I curled into bed after lunch, determined to sleep.

  I had been far too tired all morning, even if I had gotten plenty of sleep the night before. So, I kissed Zach’s cheek and curled into a ball into the middle of the bed. I was asleep within minutes.

  It looked as if I were in a maze. One of those dark, nigh-impossible-to-escape-from mazes. I wrinkled my nose in disgust- why was I dreaming of a maze? - and used a spell to disperse it. It took a while, but then I was standing in a backyard. The shrubbery was thick, and some had tiny little flowers sprouting across the green. As I moved forward, I heard a scuffle behind me. I whirled around, but all I saw were shadows. Two of them, fighting each other. I moved forward, but no matter how much I walked, I couldn’t get any closer.

  The larger of the two shadows had the other pinned to the wall now. A sort of aurora borealis started floating from the man at the wall and into the other, and I gasped.

  “Stop!” I shrieked, finally able to sprint towards the shadows.

  His Magic was being stolen. I had to stop the other before— It was too late. By the time I got near the house, the larger shadow had disappeared, and the victim had slumped to the ground. I saw a head of gray, and I woke up.

  “Emma? Emma—are you okay? What’s—?”

  Still unable to catch my breath, I pushed myself up in bed, and he came over.

  “It was just a bad dream,” I told him.

  “Want to tell me about it?”

  I ran my fingers through my hair.

  “Someone’s Magic was being stolen. I was in this maze, and then I got out, and I was in a backyard. . . All I saw were shadows, and then the Magic was being sucked out of this gray-haired man.”

  “Did you see his face?”

  I shook my head.

  “Just the shadows and the hair. The thief disappeared before I could get there.”

  My tongue shot out and ran across my lips, moistening them.

  “It was just a dream, Em,” Zach said gently, taking my hand in his. “Don’t dwell on it.”

  I shook my head, sighing, “No, I won’t. It was too wrong.”

  Zach kissed my forehead.

  “Let me get you some tea.”

  ****

  A week had passed, and the nightmares kept

  coming. While they all took place in different spots (or, at least, that is how it seemed), what never changed was a bolder figure fighting with another, winning, and then stealing their Magic.

  I kept telling myself that they were just nightmares, brought on by my fear of Lucas that would undoubtedly take years to taper off. The figure in the shadows that was stealing people’s Magic was bound to be a version of Lucas. . . one in which he won.

  Death is Reversible

  I had a feeling that it had to be done. While it

  was possibly dangerous, I couldn’t put it off anymore. There would be some objections to this trip, I’m sure, but I’m stronger now.

  I was up before Zach for once, pacing around the room waiting for him.

  “What’s wrong?”

  His groggy voice stopped my pacing and I turned around to face him.

  “Nothing—I just need to talk to you.”

  He yawned, climbing out of bed and coming to me.

  “What’s up?”

  I hesitated.

  “I need to talk to Keenan.” His eyes shifted into mistrust. “No, Zach—I have to do this. He has to know— to get it through his thick skull why we were keeping secrets.”

  “I’m coming with you.”

  I didn’t hesitate.

  “Okay. You can, but we just need to do this. . . Like today.”

  He started.

  “Today?” he queried. “Why today?”

  I shrugged.

  “Why wait?”

  “You have a point. . .” He scratched his back. “We’ll let Galaxia know after breakfast.”

  He took my hand in his, then, pulling me to the table. Fresh, steaming coffee appeared, along with an assortment of foods.

  “Eat,” he instructed. “You’ll need your strength.”

  I gave him an exasperated look, but obliged.

  ****

  I don’t think you should,” Galaxia insisted.

  “It needs to be done,” I insisted. “Or would you rather we hide from who we are?”

  This got to her, just as I knew it would. She sighed.

  “Fine, you may go. But do not underestimate him, Emma.”

  “I won’t.”

  She hesitated.

  “Zachary, I need to speak with you befo
re you leave.”

  He frowned.

  “What about?”

  Her eyes flickered to me.

  “If this is about us getting married on—” he started heatedly.

  “No, no, this isn’t about that.” She hesitated again. “Could you meet Emma in Keenan’s office, after I speak with you? He went after her, primarily, after all. I know Keenan; Emma speaking to him alone first will make him quicker to accept what she has to say.”

  “No,” he objected immediately.

  “Zach, it’s just Keenan,” I whispered. “He’s not going to attack me, even if he was furious with us before.”

  He stared at me in silence, and then sighed.

  “Yeah, guess you’re right. . .” He kissed me. “But still, Em,” he whispered, “be safe.”

  “Always.”

  I stepped back from them and vanished.

  ****

  I appeared not too far from Keenan’s office in an

  empty hallway, and walked down to the door. I opened it quietly when I felt only one person in there, slipping inside. The large desk chair was facing away from me, and I should have left the moment I got there. Because when it turned around—

  “Hello Emma.” My heart stuttered. “Surprised to see me?” Lucas asked, his smirk in full form.

  “You’re supposed to be dead,” I refuted, shifting on my feet.

  “Am I?”

  “Your house collapsed and they found bodies.”

  “I don’t die that easily, Emma. Tess and I were at another home of mine, but the Abarims didn’t even check that house in Farbreach before they crushed it to the ground.” A smirk fell onto his face. “We saw the Viewing of you and Stone that Galaxia put together. I told you I was not mistaken about that force, Your Majesty.”

  “Don’t call me that,” I demanded.

  “Works for me. I prefer Emma, myself.” He paused, frowning. “Why are we both still here? Last time you and I were this close, you refused my deal and sent me away. That wasn’t very comfortable, by the way.”

  “It wasn’t meant to be. It doesn’t even matter. I’m done running from you.”

  “Probably not your best decision.”

  I forced the change of subject.

  “Where’s Keenan?”

  “Let’s see. . . by now, he’s probably in Hell, seeing how much he spited you.”

  It took me a moment to answer.

  “You killed him?”

  “Of course, how else could I have gotten in here?” Lucas cocked his head to the side. “Killed him in his backyard.”