Maya
As I'm struggling to get into a pair of tight jeans, my mind is officially blown away by the surrounding scenery. I've never seen a place so magical, loud, and inspiring before. My lips part in wonder, and I hurry to put on clothes to explore it.
"Wow!"
I'm walking on mud, staring up at a large tree with cottages and lanterns sparking up the night. Magical flowers in pink, yellow, and orange are trailing up the trunk's path, and fairies, both tiny ones and some larger-than-life, are laughing.
It seems most fairies only use leaves and flowers for their clothes, and with heating cheeks, I turn away when I notice some are sitting at what appears to be a café, entirely naked. Fairies aren't shy, and most of them are incredibly beautiful.
My eyes travel to the left and right, and my smile only grows when I see more trees and houses and various mystic plants. The entire city is so beautifully green, and most flowers have a rich glow on them.
Finn Morning has come and washed away yet another piece of my tormented soul. Inside the walls of this room, I'm sinking a little closer to hell with every breath that I take. My sister should be here. And I should be dead. I don't have a good reason for living, and yet, the little wolf with drool glistening on her petite lips has somehow given me purpose—oh, Maya, if only I could tell you how I feel. My heart is a sinking ship, overwhelmed by ocean waves and without a sight of land. And you're the person resting your head in the crook of my neck, touching me with your icy hands, and making the world seem brighter in the dark. You make vulnerable—you're the stars, and the sky combined—you're a masterpiece, and I'm terrified because I know you can't stay in my world forever. I stare at the floor, wishing I was a better person. "And you might hate me after I've told you my story. I'm a terrible person…" Maya stirs on top of my chest. She is the woman of my dreams and too damn cute
MayaThe scent of Finn is making my brain cells go wild and jump off and die. I like him so much—his smile, laughter, and kindness—why the hell did the moon goddess make Arvin my mate? Finn is perfect. My heart beats faster as he kisses me, playing the tone of young, sad love that lacks a happy ending.Because we probably won't get one.I inhale sharply at the pain wrapping around my throat. I've had a bad feeling ever since Finn spoke about accepting his role as the fairy king, and I can't ignore it."Finn?"The fairy presses me to him, humming into my ear. "Mmm?"I lean into his touch, needing it more than oxygen. "What does it mean to become the fairy king?"He freezes and leans his head against me, sighing into my ear as if his following words are burdening him already. "It means that I have to close the portals into the human world for good—it is the only way to stop other people, like Arvin and Beatrice, coming
Finn After having eaten breakfast, Maya is holding on to my neck like a baby koala. Her legs are wrapped around my waist snugly, and when I take off, she closes her eyes on instinct. "I won't ever get used to flying!" I laugh with my lips straining to contain my happiness and fly toward the window leading out into the sunlight. "You better hold on tight!" Maya squeezes me. "Please, whatever you do, don't drop me! Flying isn't my thing." My heart squeezes when I pick up on the fear visible in her sweet doe eyes. I take a deep, calming breath not to tackle Maya to the ground and kiss her everywhere. Every bone in my body wants to comfort her, but now isn't the time to drench her with my love. "I won't—I promise." Maya's lips quiver, but eventually, she slumps her tense shoulders. "Okay, I trust you!" I smile. Size-shifting would probably be safer for traveling, but I enjoy having Maya this close to me. Her heartbe
Maya Despite Finn's earlier claim, the tree of life is what I expected—vast and colorful, with branches reaching out in every direction. The colors on the leaves are shifting in every color of the rainbow, and voices, whispering, and snickering surround me. Finn walks closer to the tree, and I hug his thumb. "Those whispering voices... What are they?" A gasp leaves Finn's mouth. "You can hear them?" "Yes." My eyes are locked on the tree. "And I can't focus on anything else while they are giggling." Finn stares at me for a fleeting second, then part his lips. "They are called sprites, and some people, with magical blood in their family, can either see or listen to their voices." Finn shrugs one massive shoulder. "Sprites also like to hang around me for some reason. They never leave me alone, but don't worry—they are entirely harmless." I open my mouth to speak. I'm about to tell Finn that I can only hear the sprites, but then I see a bl
MayaAs I take Carla's hand, the scenery around us changes drastically. The room we once stood in with its warm, inviting light disappears, along with the furniture. Soon, I see burning trees and a field with fallen soldiers on the ground. Blood colors the grass red, and there is a permanent stench in the air, making me hold my nose.My lips form an unhappy frown. "What is that rotten smell?"Carla is staring at the ground like a zombie, but eventually, she lifts her chin to watch me with glimmering eyes. Although she wears the face of a fairy, I'm having an easier time understanding she isn't a person. There isn't an ounce of emotion in her eyes, and when she steps over dead people's heads, she doesn't show remorse."We are standing right outside the city of fairies, and this is the future with the highest rate of becoming a reality. I can't tell what will happen for sure—no one knows what is written in the stars, but I fear my people are doomed. A
Maya My determination is still bubbling within me when the tree of life's roots breaks the earth. Green vines and flowers cover the plant, which opens to reveal a sleeping, human-sized Finn. I rush forward and fall to my knees. My heart is pounding in my throat as I eye the bruises covering Finn's russet skin. Thorns have pierced him, and some are left like bullets in a gunshot wounded body. "Oh-my-god," I brush his white, silky hair away from his eyes and study his dark eyelashes spread over his cheeks. He is still breathing, which takes some of my anxiety away. I hug his chest, whispering into his ear. "Thank the gods that you're okay... I don't know what I would do if you were dead..." Finn stirs, and his lips part to allow him to speak weakly. "The training almost killed me—the elders weren't happy with me and made me go through one hell of a trial to gain their abilities. Fuck—I'm sore all over my body." I smile. "Better wounded tha
MayaMy fingers are intertwined with Finn's larger, rougher ones as we head back to the city of fairies. He glances at me now and then with a sweet smile, and I'm miserable because I'm scared to be happy.Finn's skin is electric, and his touch reaches into my heart, making it flip-flop like a pancake. And the minute he squeezes my hand, it's as if something unleashes within me. The explosions of emotions are unlike anything I've felt in my entire life.Affection bounces around in my chest, and I take a deep breath as we entire the fairy city. The towering buildings are casting their shadows over us, and I have to force my steps. I don't want to find Blake and plan for the upcoming war—my heart yearns to spend every living, breathing minute with Finn, but duty calls."I guess this is it." I peer up at Finn, admiring his dimples forming on the left side of his face. "We should find Blake."Finn nods but doesn't step out of my bubble. He bends f
MayaI fall like a comet and tumble down onto the wet grass. The impact with the ground sends sharp pain shooting through me, and I whimper as I roll around, unable to stop. My head is spinning, and I'm prompted to believe I broke a few ribs, judging from the burning sensation when I breathe.'MAYA!' Finn screams my name. 'Are you alright?!'Pain is ringing in my body, and before I get the chance to answer my lover, Arvin dashes up to me with the speed of lightning. With a laugh, he summons fire and creates a circle of burning flames around us. His eyes flash with glee."At last, you're here!" Arvin claps his hands as he approaches me with anything but friendly intentions. He plants his boot on my muzzle and presses down. "My fellow witches said you would be a challenge, that you stood in the way of my plans to take over the fairy realm, but here you are, fallen already."I growl but get silenced by a surge of lightning crashing from the sky. It hu