I pulled myself up onto one of the smooth stones that lined the lake, my body near dripping with sweat. I wasn’t sure if it were the fire-magic or Atlas’s soft-spoken words that brought heat rushing to every corner of my body.
I had seen Atlas angry, upset, and indifferent—but never full of awe. To be the subject and source of that awe was unlike anything I had ever experienced. It was a validation I had never known. Half of my soul accepting the other.
“Don’t even think about it.” I warned, eyeing Atlas warily as he swam over to the smooth stone beside me.
As usual, Atlas did not listen to me. I had just enough time to turn on my back before Atlas pulled himself up on the stone beside me. I saw a flash of porcelain skin before turning my eyes to the stars that dripped from the sky, and the brilliant clusters of fire that hung like twinkling lights.
“Have you always been this innocent?” He smirked, stretchin
“You’d be correct. Naturally, Duke took my side. The minute you left, he realized what a mistake he made bullying you. He chewed me out more times than I could count for rejecting you, but I never had a reason for why I did what I did. Even now—I can’t tell you why I did it, and I hate that I don’t know. I think Shaina wanted to side with us, but Michelle always had a way of sinking her claws in people. Her and Shaina slowly stopped talking and once Michelle realized she’d never get me back, she surrounded herself with new friends. Now, she wants nothing to do with Dean. Your friend is going to be very unhappy with her mate, if she doesn’t reject him the moment she finds out.”“Nicki wouldn’t do that.” I shook my head; certain I was correct. “I talked to her before we left. She’s a lot more accepting than you think, but she also doesn’t play games. If Dean tries to reject her, she’ll giv
While we had come up with a plan days ago, it did nothing to ease the fear in my gut. Part of me had refused to accept that the Fae would come, that they wanted anything to do with me. It all felt like some kind of fever dream. People didn’t just suddenly change species, only to find out they housed an incredible amount of earth-shattering power. Yet, the thick black smoke that spilled into the sky was proof enough. The Fae were here, and they meant business.The plan was such; Finn would lead them as far away as possible while Atlas and I escaped back to his pack. Finn insisted the Fae wanted nothing to do with him and wouldn’t care about his presence. It was me they wanted; it was me they were willing to kill for. They wanted the power that had chosen me, that was now embedded in my body and soul. I knew without a doubt that taking the power from me would leave me dead. I wouldn’t survive a second transformation. I would be left nothing more than a lifeles
“Never did I think you would be the one to find me.” Micah laughed, a sound rich as fresh earth.He waved a hand at the warriors surrounding us, and one by one they lowered their bronze swords. I mindlessly threaded my fingers through Atlas’s fur, briefly marveling at how it felt cool to the touch. The deep rumbling in his chest halted and slowly his hackles lowered.“Here with a shifter, haven’t seen one of those in nearly a hundred years.” One of the men surrounding us mused, his accent thicker than Micah’s but just as musical.The man who had spoken looked just as much a part of the Earth Court as the others. His long mahogany hair was straight, and fell down his shoulders in a sea of silk. His bronze sword was placed at the hip, and strapped to his back was a bow. What drew my attention most was the thick scar running down the length of his angular face.From what Fae I had met so far; they were all pristine a
“Well, that wasn’t worrisome or anything.” Atlas grunted as we followed Elden down a long catwalk, and I couldn’t help but agree.Some of the trees had been hollowed out in the middle, full of intricate carvings that seemed to radiate old magic. Even though the many of the tree’s had been carved into, they thrummed with life. We traveled up a wooden staircase that wrapped around one of the trees, climbing higher and higher into the sky.The stairs let off onto a platform, which lead to one of the many houses carved into the woods. A wooden door made of gold and emerald was built into the tree, as well as multiple windows with green tinted glass.“Someone will bring you food shortly. There will be a change of clothes inside for you.” Elden murmured before leaving Atlas and I to fend for ourselves.The inside of the house was beautiful, much more elaborate than I had thought possible. Directly inside was the bedroom
“So, the catacombs—they have Fae remains in them?” I grimaced.We had left the village within the tree’s and made it back to solid ground. Micah took the lead along with Atlas and I, but had brought along a handful of warriors. They would be stationed just outside the catacombs. While we were safe here for the time being, Micah wanted to take no chances.“They do.” Micah chuckled lightly, “It is only natural that us Earth Fae return to the earth when we pass.”“So much for immortality.” Atlas muttered, his pace faltering for the slightest moment.Nervousness twisted in my gut and I picked up my already fast pace. Atlas wasn’t looking too good. I couldn’t help but glance over at the dark circles lining his eyes, and the pale pallor of his skin. Even his hair looked different. Instead of the dazzling platinum I had come to admire, it was now a washed-out shade of blonde. Each passing se
Atlas and I descended into the darkness. Even with my Fae vision, there was very little light to illuminate the arched walls of the cavern. I briefly grazed my fingertips over the emerald flame and was surprised to find that it was hot to the touch.“You’re surprised that fire is hot?” Atlas chuckled, his laugh rough and somewhat raspy.“It’s green fire, Atlas. I didn’t know if it was different or something.” I snorted, narrowing my eyes at him.“Fire is fire, kitten.” He snickered, wrapping his hand around my out stretched fingers. “Don’t burn yourself.”“I think we need to worry about you right now, not me.” I retorted, turning away from the fire to venture deeper into the cavern.Our voices bounced off the earthen walls, sending echo’s back and forth. I trailed my fingers over the rough surface of the walls, trying to forge that connection Micah was talking
“You—” I exhaled in wonder, taking in the beauty that was Fae Atlas. “You’re Fae.”Atlas had been a beautiful human, but as a Fae—I had never seen anything like it. Even Micah, Finn, and the other Fae I had already met—they were nothing, nothing compared to this.His porcelain skin was creamy and smooth, but also emitted a faint glow. Where his eyes had been lighter than a clear sky, I could now see the wisps of white dancing behind those orbs. The colors merged and separated, caught in an endless dance of beauty and grace. His platinum hair was full and thick, perfectly messy as though it had been professionally styled that way. Every curve of his muscular body had been chiseled from stone by the greatest artists to ever exist. Even his nose, which had been broken during childhood, was perfect and angular. Everything beautiful about him had been amplified during his transformation.I wondered if I looked the same
While Micah was fine with us wandering the towering city in the treetops, he had asked us not to step foot on the ground below. As the sun dipped into the sky, and brilliant stars dotted the horizon, a large manner of creatures claimed the night as their home.Even when exhaustion filled my bones and weighed down my limbs, I was unreasonably restless. A dull throb filled my head that refused to balk, and I chalked it up to information overload. In such a short amount of time, nearly everything had changed. Two weeks ago, I had been in Atlas’s pack, horrifically angry and hell-bent on accepting his rejection at all costs. Everything was moving so—so fast. From Werewolf to Fae, from one realm to another. In the midst of training to master the power that breathed within me to running from