“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
“It’s been ten years since you’ve seen me?” I sputtered, sure that my jaw had fallen to the floor.“A very long ten years.” He smiledwryly, “I got yournote, by the way. I think I might’ve come a few years late, but I found it.”“I waited for you, for as long as I could, but you never showed.” I replied, my words ending on a sad note.
The next two days were filled with sweat, dirt and general exhaustion. Micah had been serious when he offered to train me, and I quickly began to see the High Lord lingering beneath his familiar skin. High Lord Micah was brutal, unforgiving and generally ruthless when it came to my training.Each morning started with a large breakfast, usually consisting of a plethora of vegetables, fruits, and some form of mystery meat. I hadn’t a clue what kind of meat it was, and I was more than afraid to ask. Micah’s reasoning behind the large breakfast was that it would help connect me to Earth, as all of the ingredients were part of that element. The fruits and vegetables came from the surrounding forest, as did the animal whose meat we consumed.Bloated and stuffed with food, I wobbled alongside Micah and made my way down to the forest below. Micah had sent Atlas off with a handful of warriors to connect with his own element, directing them towards the nearest body o
One moment I was standing in the strange clearing, surrounded by those smooth circular stones, chilled by the all-encompassing silence that surrounded me. The next, I was near frozen in fear.A gust of wind whipped through the clearing, colder than anything I had ever felt. On that gust was the putrid scent of mildew and mold infested waters. The scent made me crinkle my nose, and I couldn’t mistake the festering edge to the smell; it reminded me of rotting flesh.Apart from the monstrous Fae woman I had seen my first time here, everything else in the Fae realm had been tinged with this otherworldly beauty. It was like this world had a filter over it, heightening the colors and scents.This was my first true glimpse at what hid beneath that beautiful exterior.I had blindly followed the Wisp, uncaring of how far I ventured. I hadn’t even noticed when the trees changed, turning dark and warped. I cursed myself for being so stupid, so irresponsi