Even as awareness crept into my subconscious, I kept my eyes tightly shut. Warmth and a thick husky scent enveloped me, nearly coaxing me back to sleep. I couldn't remember the last time I slept so soundly. Not a single nightmare had worked its way into my head. I lingered in that blissful nothingness, content on forgetting the memories that danced along the cusp of my mind. A beam of sunlight danced through the sheer curtains on the window, explosions of orange and yellow light danced behind my eyelids.
Something soft yet firm rested against my face, and I burrowed deeper into the source of warmth. My eyes snapped open as my pillow shifted, and a rough hand gripped my thigh. The hand belonged to Atlas, as did the delectable scent. He pulled my leg up and over his waist, resting his palm on my lower back. My long sleeve t-shirt had risen up in the night, and I nearly flung myself from the bed when his hand grazed my bare skin. The sparks seemed to vary in purpose, but never i
I wasn't sure what to expect once Finn opened the front door. A knot of tension had unraveled in my gut at the sight of his familiar face. I couldn't lie, part of me worried Finn no longer lived here. It was a worry that gnawed at me the entire walk here. Now that I stood in the foyer of Finn's cabin, his unnerving eyes never once leaving my face, I found myself slightly underwhelmed.The cabin was much more--ordinary than I would've expected. There were no hints of magic, at least none I could pinpoint by sight. The inside of the cabin was cloaked in shades of gold, maroon and rich brown. The furniture wasn't new, but was worn to the point of comfort. A large kitchen sat towards the back of the house, and I couldn't help but eye up the large pot of stew boiling on the stove. My stomach howled in response, demanding something heavier than chilled soup. I was immediately drawn to the source of heat in the living room, edging closer to the blistering warmth. The crackling fire
"Are you sure about this, kitten?" Atlas murmured, worry and something eerily similar to fear flickered in his eyes. He smothered the emotion as it formed, but I had already noticed its presence."I--I don't know, Atlas." I admitted, letting out a shaky breath. "If I don't do this, death will follow. If I do, the Fae will come after me and endanger everyone in your pack. If I go back to Liam's pack, they'll still come looking for me. No matter what I do, innocent people are put in danger."Once a heavy silence consumed the three of us, and our conversation came to an end, we were given some privacy to talk over how we'd want to proceed. I could live with putting myself in danger, as I knew the risks--but I couldn't risk harming innocent people. No matter which choice I made, someone would be hurt. The only difference was that with my memories, I might stand a chance at protecting myself. How? I hadn't a single clue, but Finn was able to tell me enough. My remaining mem
That missing piece of myself snapped into place, tearing the world out from under my feet and sending me plummeting into darkness. Searing light burned from behind my eyelids, and I couldn't stop myself from opening my eyes. The blinding light dimmed, leaving me wondering where the hell I was.This wasn't a memory of mine; I was sure of it. I stood in the middle of what was once a great forest. I could see the huge tree's that were now little more than lifeless husks. Branches and what looked eerily similar to bleached bones sat scattered throughout the barren wasteland. The scent of stale, putrid air wafted in my nose and I barely managed to suppress my gag before it wracked through me.Before I could linger any further, I was ripped away from the wasteland by claws like cold steel.I was lifted into the air, yanked across the sky with speed that brought tears rushing to my eyes. As I blinked back my tears, I managed to make out the world before me. Kingdom's,
As I opened my eyes and struggled to sit up from the hard table, I knew everything had changed. Everything looked sharper, brighter--and I swore I could now see the light flicker of scarlet threads draped over random parts of the house. Through the large window in the living room, I could see that the sun was beginning to rise. It had taken hours--hours to unlock my lost memories. My back should've been sore, but I felt oddly loose and limber. The gaping hole that existed in my mind--in my soul, it had vanished. Where I had once been blindly stumbling through life, I was now running. While I couldn't make much sense of the memories I saw, I knew their presence had unlocked something within me. I was no longer Raelynn, the weak girl who had lost both her Dad and Mom. I wasn't sure who I was now, but I was determined to figure it out."Give her a minute to process everything." I could hear Finn murmuring to a slightly irate Atlas."What did you do to her?" His voice was
“Though I have not stepped foot in the Fae realm for decades now, I was one of the High Lords.” Finn confirmed, the features on his face tightened in what looked like agitation and a hint of pain.“So you weren’t one of the Fae who gave up some of their power?” Atlas asked, distrust still evident in his voice.“No, he wasn’t.” I shook my head. “The High Lord looked just like him though.”“My son, Kalin.” Finn commented, his cinnamon eyes darted over to the fire in the hearth.The flames brought out the golden and orange tones of Finn’s eyes and hair, reminding me of flame in Fae form. The weight in Finn’s voice halted the words on my lips. Suddenly, I wanted to know why Finn was here and not in the Fae Realm. This world held little against the Fae Realm, with it’s otherworldly beauty and magic. Why would anyone willingly choose this place over the Fae Realm? Unless,
Finn became somewhat overbearing after that, though I knew it was more due to the strange nature of my abilities. He insisted that not a single Fae could see magic as a physical substance, and seemed somewhat worried at how easily I had unraveled his heat spell. After explaining what I had done a hundred and one times, I finally managed to escape Finn and commandeer his shower.It had taken a total of ten minutes for my sweat to freeze and dry on my body. I basked in the steaming water of the shower, letting it wash away the sweat and chill from my body. I was sure if I were a normal werewolf, I would've had a cold from the temperature fluctuation by now. If anything, I felt great. Better than great, I felt near invincible. I couldn't help but wonder if all of the other Fae felt the same, gorged on power and enamored by the beautiful light that seemed to shine from beneath their skin. Even as I wiped the condensation away from the mirror and stared at my own reflection, I cou
"When Shen built the bridge between our realms, he needed the help of each of the High Lords. A shred of power from each one to forge the connection." Finn continued, "The Fae Lords often disagree, and it can take millennia to gather them all in one room. You, Raelynn, are the living embodiment of that spell. What the six Fae Lords can do together, you can do on your own.""She can smash open the door between our realms, or seal them completely." Atlas murmured, his eyes darting over to meet my own for just a split second."She is the Fae's salvation, and the Human's doom." Finn nodded morosely.Eventually my exhaustion won and I managed to convince Finn to continue training tomorrow. After a heavy lecture regarding the Fae that were bound to arrive, I retreated up to the spare bedroom. The heat radiating from the fireplace nearly lulled me into a deep sleep before I could stumble over to the bed.My stomach snarled pitifully as I crawled beneath the warm
'If we lose any fingers or toes, I'll never talk to you again.' Lila huffed, but remained quiet as I slid the window open.'It's just a few minutes.' I murmured, taking a deep breath of the icy air as it flooded into the room.'It would've been smarter to master the powers of the Fire Court before sitting out in the ice and snow.' Lila countered, but I ignored the edge in her voice.I pulled myself out the window with ease, letting a shudder run down my spine as the sweat that once clung to me turned cold. I brushed aside a clump of snow on the sloped roof and plopped down. Water seeped into my clothes, but I couldn't bring myself to care.My eyes were instantly drawn to the sky, to the network of stars that hung in brilliant clusters. I had never seen the sky quite like this. The stars in Texas and California were bright, but not nearly as dazzling as they were here. I could make out each constellation, and traced my eyes over the invisible lines connect
One Year Later “You could be over here with your true mate and not sweating your ass off, but no—violence prevails.” I sighed dramatically, grabbing a grape, and plopping it into my mouth. Atlas was easily a hundred feet away, his skin porcelain and shimmering with sweat. I eyed the thick muscles that spanned his shoulders and back, running down the length of his thick arms. “Well, I guess the view isn’t that bad.” “Speak for yourself, I love a little violence to start off my day. Nothing gets the blood pumping like political intrigue, vigorous training or a good old-fashioned fight.” Nicki grinned manically, leaning against the thick truck of the tree she sat in front of. Her chestnut hair had lightened from spending the year in Liam’s court, beneath the blistering sun and thick humidity. It now held golden undertones that matched her tanned skin. The dress she wore was bound at the shoulders with golden pins and reminded me of the Greek goddesses taught in
I pulled Nicki into my arms, my heart swelling with the strength of my best-friend. I said nothing because Nicki needed no reassurance. She could see the flame that burned within her as well as everyone else; Nicki never once doubted her place in the world, or her own importance. Even on my darkest days, when Atlas’s rejection sapped the happiness from even the smallest of things, the undying confidence Nicki had in herself and the people she loved fueled me. Once Dustin appeared and dragged her away, I was able to catch up with Liam and see how things were going—and to get some elaboration on the previously mentioned assassination attempt. Atlas had kept his snarling to a minimum when Liam pulled me in for a bear hug, even if his eyes were hardened shards of granite afterwards. “Really, it was awful. Not even a whole-hearted attempt.” Liam shook his head, disappointment for the unskilled assassin. His lips twitched into a smirk, and the teasing note in his v
Three Months LaterMy stomach was twisted with nerves and excitement as I stood beneath the magically crafted arch of waterlilies and cherry blossoms Tyra herself had created. Atlas was at my side, his arm looped through mine as I leaned against him for support.We were initially skeptical about the pure white flowers, but the delicate aroma they emitted was well worth it. Clusters of tulips, orchids, and peonies were strewn throughout the courtyard, which had been completely remodeled for the grand ball I had been planning for months now.With Atlas by my side, I stood atop a long staircase looking down at the arduous work of countless fae, myself included. It was easy to forget about the sprawling crowd down below, watching us with interested and eager eyes.From the decorations to the guest list, I had full reigns of this project. Of course, I had a near endless supply of assistants at my side, all of which were introduced to me by Alette and Adelina.
Micah and Liam could only stay for a few short days, each one packed full of planning and introductions. Micah and Finn were helping Atlas and Liam, teaching them the differences between High Lord and Alpha—though they technically were both. We hadn’t figured out a way back to the human realm, but there was plenty here to keep us busy; for now. Our first day in the castle, Alette confided in me that during the last moments of battle, she had flung a gust of ice and rage at Aralia, sending her flying into a portal. I followed Alette through the castle, while Adelina rejoiced over the fact that Melia was alive and well, along with her five sisters. “There’s no way she would have survived it. Not when it hit her square in the chest like that.” Alette insisted, her eyes welded forwards as we wandered the maze-like halls of the castle. She knew where she was going without a fault, while I had become lost an hour ago. “I assumed she would end up here, in th
Nicki and Dustin had taken charge, helping the newly turned Fae that came through the wall. Every five minutes another blinding flash of light would appear, leaving spots that danced in our vision and more fae in our wake.My attention momentarily flickered over to Atlas, who was speaking with a group of warriors, some of which had passed through days ago. Duke stood at his side, silent but always watching. A flash of midnight hair and clothing darker than the night sky appeared from the western corridor. Ambrose, High Lord of the Night Court’s slender form appeared from around the corner.Ambrose was the only one to have improved in looks after the battle we had all endured. He had been thin before, a testament to the damage his sister had done on his body and court. His face had filled out since the battle ended; his slim frame now etched in lean muscle. He approached Atlas and Duke, nodding at the various warriors who bowed in his midst.“Oh, don&
We formed a line, with each of us walking in pairs of four.Most who chose not to pass through lingered, watching with eyes that bordered on curiosity and fear. It was that flicker of curiosity that gave me hope, because sooner or later they might feel the call of this place.There was a part of me that trembled with excitement, almost desperate to return to the vibrant colors and scents, and the rush of magic within every gust of wind and drop of water. I wanted to learn the secrets of this realm and explore the hidden corners of the court under Atlas’s rule, mastering the wild magic that fluttered in my chest.Another part of me, the small part that would always remain mortal, mourned the memories, and ghosts I was leaving behind.At the very back of the line were the warriors. A sea of metal headpieces and colorful armor stood out as fae from every court gathered. Those who fought to the death days ago, now walked side-by-side.There had b
Surprise and indecision rippled across countless werewolves faces as the word spread, and they finally began to understand the decision that lie ahead. I never enjoyed public speaking. Having the attention of so many eyes burning into my skin was unsettling, but I wasn’t alone. Along with the steadying presence of Atlas beside me, I had friends who had stood by me through all of this. Each of us had taken turns speaking, sharing our story and what we had come to learn. I told the crowd what I had done, merging the two realms together, separating them with a wall of pure magic. It was the only choice I had, the only thing that would have saved them both. The very connection that brought our realms together would have destroyed us both. It was Atlas who revealed the truth of the past, that werewolves were not from the human realm. A very small few of us had come here a long time ago, forgoing immortality for this new world. The only thin
Something rippled behind Liam, towards the center of the charred circle of earth.The scent of rain filled my nose, marred only by the slightest hint of blood. The fae and werewolves must have been busy, identifying and burning the dead. My heart threatened to sink for the families who had lost loved ones in the battle, but I couldn’t let myself drown in the emotion, forever stuck in the past. I needed to press forward.The ground crunched beneath my feet, and I stopped when Liam placed a hand on my shoulder. I tilted my head, watching closely as the sun crested the trees, hitting the spot where we all stood.It looked like a thin film that spanned west and east, far into the sky where it vanished within the fiery light of the sun. I marveled at how it shimmered, the colors rippling like shaky water. When its color rippled like that, it was near impossible to see through. There seemed to be nothing on the other side, just the rest of the park.&ldqu
I woke Atlas as the sun began streaming through the curtains, turning his platinum hair silver. His eyelids were pale blue, the dark circles beneath an even deeper shade.He shifted in his sleep, eyebrows furrowing as he felt my guilt. He really was exhausted.I tried to pry at the thick arms that were wound around my torso, pinning me to his chest. His plush lips moved as he mumbled, letting out a satisfied hum as he tightened his hold.The voices coming from the first floor of the house were growing louder. Tyra and Dustin were talking, heading through the kitchen and towards the stairs that would lead to Atlas and me.I smirked and pinched his bicep, “Tyra and Dustin are seconds away from knocking on this bedroom door. Either I can get you up, or they can.”A surprised yelp escaped my mouth when he rolled in bed, never once loosening his grip on me. My legs dangled uselessly as he stood from the bed, holding me against his chest.