Page 24 of Shattered Heir
“I have to go to school tomorrow,” I said, leaning my head on his shoulder.
“I know, we all have to.”
“How can I just act like everything is normal? Act like I am from Earth? I mean, I now know that magic, melodies, and other realms exist, Ryker.” I raised my hands and dropped them dramatically onto my legs.
“Well, you just have to do it. It would be pretty bad if people here on Earth found out about us; I mean, they would capture us and run experiments on us–nightmare,” Ryker shuddered beside me.
“I hate this,” I groaned and remembered to keep myhatredat the surface level.
“I need to tell you something,” he said, touching my hand.
“What?” I asked as I looked up into his stormy, blue eyes. His blond curls were unruly.
“It's about Ash,” he started, and I stood up.
“What about her?” I felt fear for her and guilt for not thinking, even for a moment, about her because of all the madness in my life.
“She is also from Terra,” he said, laughing at my surprise.
“She is from Terra, too?” I wiped a hand over my face as the shock hit me.
“Yes, I just wanted you to know because she has been bursting at the seams, not being able to tell you.”
“Why does she live in foster care?” I asked
“Her guardian knight set it up,” Ryker shrugged.
“She has a knight, too?” My eyes went wide. “Is she a princess?”
“I am not sure what she is, exactly, but I know she is pretty important or else Glasson wouldn't be her knight.”
I nodded, my eyes so wide, and I couldn't help but be shocked by the news that she was from Terra and that she had a guardian knight. That was probably the same big guy, with the scar on the right side of his face, who I had seen at school, talking to her.
“Anyway, they are here now.” Ryker stood up and walked to the side of the building and out to the parking lot. “Hey, you guys can come over now,” he called.
Ash smiled as she turned the corner, her red hair and vibrant purple eyes alight in the afternoon sun. She actuallybouncedas she ran over to me and gave me a hug.
“It is so amazing to finally talk to you about this and not have to keep it a secret,” she laughed and pulled away from me to punch Ryker in the arm.
“Hey, what was that for? Glasson, take care of your charge. She is attacking people.”
I looked behind Ash to see the same tall and strong man who I saw at school harassing Ash. His brown hair was cropped short on the sides and a tad longer on the top, and the scar on the right side of his face made him look tough. As his grey eyes flashed atRyker, I couldn't help but notice how smug he looked. He didn't respond to Ryker at all.
“Anyway, I heard you were bornhere,” Ash said as she pulled me to sit beside her on the rock.
“Yeah, born and raised right here, never had any clue that I was anything but from Earth.”
“I left Terra when I was young.” Ash looked into the forest, and I watched as her violet eyes became serious.
I put a hand on hers.
She shook her head and cleared her throat.
“What is Terra like?” I asked
“It is beautiful,” she said with excitement. “Even though I was very young when I left, I remember the sky and the trees. I remember they were so much more brilliant than here. The smells, they were unlike anything here.” She looked at me and smiled.
“Ryker said that we are going home—going to Terra.” She smiled, and it was a sad smile that barely reached her eyes.
