Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 84072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“But I find the drama fascinating!”
I ignored him. “When do we leave?”
“Ten minutes.” He smiled grimly. “They don’t like it when people are late.”
“A warning would have been nice,” I grumbled.
He shrugged. “Had I warned you, you would have questioned everything and then sat in anxiety, which for the record, I can feel miles away, which also makes me anxious. Really, it was pure selfishness on my part, you understand.”
He may be a lot of things, but Aengus wasn’t selfish, not even a little bit. Something passes between us, and I know had I not loved his brother, I could have easily loved him.
“All right,” I said. “Let’s do this.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Luna
It didn’t take long, and it bothered me that while we traveled across the mist with Aengus, that the fairy realm was so close, so within help, yet they didn’t.
Was that my heritage? Selfish people that did nothing but listen to myths and then curse their very own? My nerves had already been shattered the minute the mist went from searing hot to cold, only to darken like the night sky, then shine like the summer.
It was thick, like a fog.
Lexis was holding onto Malcom, terrified since she’d been in a freakin coma that entire time, and my son looked ready to throw up.
Get in line.
Meanwhile, Aengus was, of course, whistling, like it was a walk in the park to go through creepy fog for close to fifteen minutes,
“Are we there yet?” Malcom asked.
“Spoken like a true teenager.” Aengus laughed. “I forget how young you all truly are.”
I frowned. “Are you calling me old?”
“Nah.” He kept walking ahead of us like a light in the darkness. “You’re sort of new. Your memories and powers are old, just like your soul; your body, however, is very, very young.”
“Gross.” Malcom joked.
I rolled my eyes at him. “Still your mom.”
“So, shouldn’t you be doing my homework since you’re in college and I graduate next year?”
I stuck out my tongue.
He burst out laughing. “Oh yeah, old soul, soooo mature.”
“Shhh.” Aengus holds up his hand.
Lexis let out a little whimper, clinging to Malcom even harder.
“Here we are.” Aengus closed his eyes and then opened them, the green burned brighter somehow, and then the entire mist lifted, and I’d never seen anything so beautiful in my entire life.
Six waterfalls joined together in one river of colors that pooled around a silver castle. Storm clouds sat on one side of the castle, and summer was on the other, almost like dark and light met in the middle, like the center of the universe. On the top of the castle was a small cloud producing snow next to one producing rain. It was like every season existed.
Several guards were in silver and gold armor; in unison, they all turned our way and did a slight bow, then the horses moved back, creating a path all the way to the castle.
Aengus laughed. “Welcome home, kids.”
Massive helmets with demon-like spikes on either side made it impossible to see faces, but I saw cut jawlines and beauty. Every shield had something on it, a tree, a snowflake, a drop of rain, or the moon. I assumed this was the army of the different courts.
I was silent as we walked, afraid to talk. By the time we made it down the winding path of tall trees and grass, I was terrified.
The castle gate was open, and more guards, taller ones with black armor, stood guard. Their swords were at least five feet long. They didn’t so much as flinch as we walked by.
“Oh.” Aengus stopped and turned toward us. “Yeah, you’re about to be presented to the high King and Queen. It would be best if you changed.”
I could strangle him. “Where?”
“Here.” His grin was infuriating. Eyes ablaze, he flicked his wrists. When I looked down, I was wearing a white gown that seemed to be made out of crystals and snow. I was officially in my own movie, of Frozen. I had a blue fur cape that ran down my back like a train. The front of my gown was strapless except where the cape was attached by something red, a clasp? A button? I turned to see Malcom in similar attire as Aengus, black leather pants, black boots, and a green jacket with a white shirt made out of snow, the crest of my family on the front.
He was, after all, a combo of spring and winter.
And Lexis was in a beautiful black dress with a high neck, long sleeves, and a train engraved with ice; in the middle of her gown was a snowflake.
“Now you’re ready.” Aengus turned. “Come along,”
The castle was huge and magical, one minute it was sunny, and the next, darkness descended. The moon fell behind a giant throne made of ice with flowers surrounding it. Hundreds of FAE of all different shapes, sizes, and beauty stood on either side of the room. Snow fell softly from the ceiling, only to vanish into thin air as flowers swayed in the light wind surrounding the throne.