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
Maya I'm a wreck of emotions, driven by anger, when I take the shape of my midnight wolf and lounge for Arvin's throat. The man is laughing and easily evades my rage-motivated attempts to kill him. I land in the grass and growl at the man, who seems more than amused by my temper. "Oh, Maya, you have to think before jumping at your enemy. Your attacks are way too predictable. You're not thinking straight; perhaps you should lie down and take a break!" Arvin kicks me in the stomach and sends me flying. I cough up blood and lift my head, eyeing the hybrid while he burns Finn's unmoving body. He seems to be absorbing Finn's powers while the witches are chanting, including Alice. "Soon, I will be the most powerful werewolf that has ever lived, and once your lover's powers are mine, I will make both this world and earth entirely mine. My mother will be given your wolf spirit, and together we shall reign over every other living creature!" I s
Maya I run as fast as my paws can carry me, away from the burning field and into the forest. A storm is brewing, and the shadow creepers are not far behind. I can imagine their crazed eyes locked on my form. I'm their prey, the one they want dead, but I'm a wolf on a mission. My limbs feel like jelly, and my muscles ache from the effort of running over sticks and stones. I'm not sure if I can save anyone with my plan, but the reminder of how safe it was to rest my head in the crook of Finn's neck and breathe him in keeps me fighting. Alice and my sister are important to me too, but a spot in my heart is reserved for Finn. He came in like a hurricane and rocked my world—I fell in love, hard, without even noticing. The grief in my chest spreads and wraps around me, and I pant into the air, watching my breath evaporate as I stare at the tree of life before me. The branches still hold colorful leaves, but they are rapidly turning grey as if the tree of li
Finn When I watch the human girl, the first instinct to strike me is hunger and a watering mouth. I reach out my hand, ready for breakfast. Fairies eat her kind for dinner, but her teary eyes and joy-filled smile speak volumes, and although I have no clue who she is, my heart flutters. "What are you doing?" The girl asks innocently and tilts her head to let her white hair fall to one side. There is a hickey on her neck, and she flushes when she notices where my eyes have landed. "Uh? Hello, earth to Finn?" I take a deep breath, wincing at the sprites whispering around me. They seem invisible to the smiling girl, but a shock wave travels through me once one touches my shoulder, and then I'm a goner. Images of the girl standing before me flash inside my head. She is either smiling or calling my name in a grumpy tone, and then I hear my voice chuckling before saying, "little wolf." And then I hear the girl yell into my mind. "TEN YEARS?! THAT'S W