Page 2 of Oleander
OLEANDER
Slamming the dusty old textbook shut, I peer out the open window, letting the bright Aurorian sun warm my skin and give me strength. The rolling green hills are imbued with vibrant splashes of color, and the ancient pines tower over the stone courtyard. A fifty-foot perimeter wall protects the castle and its inhabitants from the unpredictable, deceitful, and often violent creatures of the wild Fae forest.
I close my eyes and breathe deeply, taking in the beauty of my kingdom using another sense. Floral notes permeate the wind, as lovely as always. The soft, sweet scents of rose, orchid, and my namesake, oleander, mix together, creating a soothing balm for my fairy soul.
I live peacefully with my plants up here, at the top of the East Tower. I have the entire floor to myself, as well as the roof, and it’s a jungle, to say the least. I prefer to stay home in the safety and solitude of my own space, cultivating rare plants and developing new tonics, salves, and other medicinal remedies. I want to help my kingdom. Do somethinggood.
My eyes flare behind closed lids, and my powerful Fae magic pulses with the need to expel energy, but I justcan’t. I refuse. I won’t hurt anyone else.
“Never again,” I say aloud, telling myself the same thing I always do: you cannot use your magic.Ever.
It’s been five years since I’ve tapped into that part of myself. I was only a kid then—fourteen years old—and I had no idea what power my magic would manifest as or how horribly it would go wrong.
My twin brother, Flame, and I were once inseparable, sharing everything like our clothes, a room, and a best friend, River. Some even joked that the three of us were triplets since we were never apart.
Until the ill-fated day that Flame caught us in the treehouse behind the castle. River and I were moments away from sharing our first kiss, which is known to activate Fae powers, and Flame was there to witness it all. Thank the goddess he was, though, because no matter how much it broke his heart, my magic is poison.I’mpoison. Toxic. Tainted.
My touch. My kiss.My everything.
I take a deep breath, letting the worries slip away and into the wind. Our mother had been following Flame, knowing we were all up to something and was able to save River from my magic and an excruciatingly painful death.
Vines wrap around me, offering their comfort. Although I don’t use my magic, I can’t stop the way the plants react to me.After all, Iaman Earth Fae, just like my mother.
I caress the heart-shaped leaves, smiling at the array of colorful flowers blossoming. “Gorgeous,” I tell them, infusing my positive energy butnotmy magic.
The moment I find any semblance of peace, releasing my past burdens from my mind, the bedroom door flies open, aggressively slamming against the wall.
“Talking to the flowers again, brother?” an abrasive voice asks, abruptly breaking my solace.
Flame.
“Yes. You know I do this. Why must you ask me in such an insulting manner?” I’ve had enough of his antics lately. My troublesome, outspoken twin gives the entire kingdom a constant headache.Especiallyour mother.
“It was a simple question, Ander.Chill,” Flame replies obnoxiously, knowing I hate that human phrase. He storms into my room like I invited him, grabs an apple from the wooden bowl in the center of the table, and takes a giant bite. Juice drips down his chin distastefully, landing right on my tabletop, sure to leave a sticky residue.
“What do you want, Flame?” I ask in irritation.
“Oh, sorry. Am I interrupting your busy schedule of reading and staring out the window longingly while fondling your plants?Alone.” He takes another bite of the apple. “Hmm?”
I huff, folding my arms across my chest. I refuse to dignify his question with an answer.
My twin is a dick.
But he wasn’t always like this. We used to be so close.
I lean against the windowsill and wait for him to explain his unexpected arrival.
Flame finishes his apple and tosses the core into a trashcan across the room, making a loud thud. The grin of satisfaction on his face is exasperating, as is the spliff he lights up with a simple flick of his finger.
He keeps the small spark in his palm and strolls over to the window, perching next to me on the cushion. He lets the fire dance between his fingers before shaking his hand, extinguishing the flame.
He’s done that ever since we were fourteen and felt the need to rub in the fact that he has control of his powers, and Idon’t.
“Pack your bags, brother. You’re going to Elemental Academy.”
“No, thank you,” I say calmly, even though my heart immediately starts to race at the thought.
I donotwant to go to college and study with other Fae. I don’t want to make friends. I don’t even truly want to be king. I can learn everything I need to from books and the human Internet.
