Page 67 of Unraveled
“And the stars told you Nera and Sylas are fated to be together?” I ask, though it feels like the air has leeched out of my lungs. I study the same stars he’s been staring at since who knows when, trying to find something there for myself. “How does having premonitions work?”
“Like anything with magic, Monster. I feel it in my gut, how the stars whisper to me, and if I quiet my thoughts, I can understand what they’re saying. Even when I shouldn’t.”
Like me with the fae language, and the books, the roses, and anything else that has spoken to me before.
Just then, Naheli yawns loudly, stretching on her hind legs and blinking her four eyes at Ash—then me—before sprinting back inside.
Ash dusts off his pants, even though she isn’t a real wolf that leaves fur behind, and gets up. “I’m going to sleep. Please make yourself comfortable in my bed. Surely you find it more suitable than your previous arrangement.”
While I won’t deny that a king’s mattress is hard to beat, I am not about to stay here. With him. “About me sleeping here. You weren’t being serious, right?”
“Ah, but I was. You see, Monster, when a human stares into a fae’s eyes during the Hunt, we’re bound to protect you or we failour side of the bargain. I can’t rest if I’m worrying you’re running the halls while everyone is asleep.”
I press my lips tight and think of one thousand ways to murder Nera and her big mouth. Though I guess it’s possible the lunargyres also whispered to Ash. He is the king of beasts, after all.
“I haven’t run the halls other than yesterday morning, and now that Nera warned me the beasts knew what I was doing, I wasn’t planning on doing it again. I know you don’t believe me, but I actually don’t want to die.”
“You will sleep here, in my bed, and I will take the small chamber next door. It’s meant for—company.” He clears his throat and scratches the back of his neck. “I’ll know if any door in my room opens. That includes the balcony.”
“Are you going to sleep in the concubine’s room?” I tease, trying to ignore the warmth spreading in my chest. That’s too close to trouble, and I shouldn’t be flirting or obsessing about why he isn’t making me go there instead.
“Yes, very amusing. Now, please put this charm on”—he digs a hand into his pocket, pulls Finley’s green stone ring from it, and extends it to me—“and don’t take it off until we find you something else.”
I reach for the amulet, but it doesn’t want to come with me. Its threads recoil slightly from my touch, and it complains rather loudly that I stink. With a frown at the cool piece of jewelry in my palm, I meet Ash’s gaze. “It doesn’t like me...”
He laughs. “It’s Finley’s. Of course, it won’t feel right to you, but it will prevent you from killing yourself until we get to Hedrum.”
My skin tingles and... what was I thinking before? “We are truly going to Hedrum, then?”
“It seems like we have no choice but to leave as soon as possible. Finley can’t be without his amulet. We leave in two days. Try to rest, Monster. The trip is long.”
Hedrum, a city of sorcery and magic. One of the few places where humans, sorcerers and fae once lived amongst each other in peace. But after what Nera said, I don’t know if the fae remained there. She said all of them are in hiding. Still, I can’t help but smile. Not because I’ll get to see a magical city for the first time and immerse myself in a new culture. But because Nera gets her wish for her birthday.
She wants to be free, to live, and I’m happy to be there with her.
Chapter 23
Nera doesn’t looklike a statue anymore, and I stare with wide eyes as she steps into the carriage. Instead of stone features, unblemished pale skin and black hair so long it reaches her lower back. A royal blue dress peeks out from beneath her indigo traveling cloak. Her wings are gone.
The morning light bounces over her skin and sort of... blurs, creating a strange illusion that she’s glowing. Or at least that’s the only explanation my tired mind comes up with this early in the day. Even her eyes have shifted from the beautiful rose gold to a light blue.
She slides over the seat right across from me and drapes her slender, gloved hands over her lap. “It’s a glamour to make us look human,” she says, giving me a toothy smile. “It lasts for five days before it needs to be strengthened. Since Naheli is staying here, it’s easier for Ash to cast the enchantment before we leave.”
My wolf friend will remain behind to protect the lunargyres that live in the castle. The cook, a few maids, and others I haven’t met. We haven’t even left, and I already miss her.
“I knew we were traveling under a glamour,” I say. “But somehow I never expected you to adopt the guise of being human. Is the situation so bad that you can’t travel as fae?”
“It can be. Right now, most fae who are curse-free hide their nature when traveling the continent, and otherwise stay hidden in their towns around Aphelion.” Finley’s lips tilt into a strained smile as he studies Nera.
She’s looking down at her body and beaming at no one in particular. I don’t think she’s even paying attention to what we’re saying.
Her happiness is contagious, and it’s easy to promise myself that I’ll do anything I can to help her.
I glance out through the open door. The silhouette of the castle stands behind the thick morning mist, its black towers barely visible from here. “So fae towns aren’t all like Eponde?”
“No. We found crystals that help strengthen the wards to hide them from enemies. Now, only Ash and Naheli can find them.”
“And me, but I haven’t left the castle...” Nera says, and her face sobers somewhat.
