Wings of Shadow (The Underground Trilogy) Page 13

  Kiernan looked amused at Meghan’s discomfort.

  “Um…,” she hesitated. “I have only been to slumber parties with girls, so we talked about…, well, boys. What girls liked which boys, and which boys liked which girls.”

  As Kiernan smirked, Meghan protested. “Hey, I was twelve years old!”

  He approached her. “No, I like the idea of slumber party conversations. So, which boy do you like?” Leaning closer, he whispered in her ear, “Or should I have said ‘boys’?” As he stared at her, waiting for her response, Meghan grew very flustered. She wondered if she knew the answer to his question.

  Avery stepped in. “You are making her uncomfortable.” He proceeded to pull dried ears of corn from a sack. “I found these hanging from a rafter. Is anyone hungry for popcorn?”

  Meghan smiled in relief. Avery was always there to provide support when she needed it. She appreciated his kindness and friendship. Kiernan made her nervous with his intensity and passion. Yet, he had suffered so much. Once again, Meghan tried to avoid thinking about the two brothers, feeling more confused than ever.

  *

  The tension was thick as the popcorn popped and crackled in the old clay pot. While Avery tended to the snack, Kiernan glared at him.

  “So, brother…” Kiernan sneered as he said the word. “We finally meet.”

  “I wish it had happened sooner.” Avery looked away from the fire and met Kiernan’s eyes.

  Kiernan ignored the kind words. “I hear you have led the charmed life in the village. Must be nice.”

  Avery removed the popcorn from the flames. “This could be a new start.”

  Kiernan whispered his next words, but they still floated across the room to her. “Just remember, I met her first.”

  After finishing his bowl of popcorn, Wish bounded from the floor. “And now, it is time for slumber party games!” He put an empty bottle on the table. The bottle was an old-fashioned glass soda bottle, which looked as though it had been tucked away a half century ago.

  Meghan groaned, anticipating what was coming next. Upon hearing her complaint, Kiernan moved from his seat by the hearth, growing more interested.

  “So, Wish, tell me about your first game.”

  “According to my research, this is one of the most popular party games for teenagers. It is called ‘Spin the Bottle.’”

  Kiernan turned to her. “I am intrigued by how to play. Will you teach me the rules?” While his words sounded innocent, his blue eyes twinkled with mischief.

  She shook her head. “Play among yourselves, if you’d like, but the human’s going to pass on this particular game.”

  He didn’t give up. “The rules, Meghan?”

  “Well, somebody spins the bottle, and that person must kiss whoever the bottle opening points to.”

  Avery’s eyes opened wide. “Yes, a new game sounds much better.”

  Kiernan was persistent. “One round of Spin the Bottle, for Wish?”

  “Go ahead, and play one round. I’ll be happy to watch and make sure everybody is following the rules!” Meghan winked at Kiernan.

  The three Fae boys decided to switch to a different game, although both Kiernan and Wish looked disappointed.

  “Everybody has to agree to play the next game.” Wish pouted. “No excuses, no backing out. This is a slumber party, after all.”

  They agreed. For all of Wish’s oddities, Meghan liked him and wanted to indulge him regarding his whimsical ideas.

  “So, what is this next game?” Avery asked.

  Wish bounced up and down twice before shouting, “Truth or Dare!”

  Meghan couldn’t hide her groan. The slumber party was deteriorating very quickly. She had promised she would play, though, so she might as well be a good sport.

  Wish twirled around in excitement and explained the rules. “So, Avery, truth or dare?”

  “I think I will try… truth.”

  “Tell us one of your secrets, something you’ve never shared before,” Wish requested.

  Avery looked down at his lap. “I have always secretly desired to live amongst the humans. Not forever, but perhaps for a year or two. I knew there was never a way I could share that desire with my mother.”

  Kiernan stared at Avery. “Why? What is our mother like?” After a moment’s pause, he added, “I have often wondered.”

  “Well, you probably know she is a strict isolationist. She does not believe in any interaction with the outside world. And, she has ruled for so long, orders come far more naturally than does empathy.”

  “And yet, you convinced her to allow Meghan into the Fae village.”

  “And was nearly disowned for doing so,” Avery said. “Kiernan, I will not lie to you. It will be hard to convince the queen to allow you passage into Solas. Her mistrust runs deep.”

  Looking bothered, Kiernan turned to her. “Truth or dare.”

  She didn’t trust herself to truthfully answer any of his questions, and in his current mood, she feared he might make an especially obnoxious inquiry. “Dare.”

  A smile lit his face, causing her stomach to drop. What was he planning?

  Kiernan moved her hair aside and murmured in her ear, “I dare you to play one round of Spin the Bottle with me.”

  His breath tickled the hairs along her neckline. She should have anticipated such a request, but she wasn’t going to be the first to break the rules, so with a sigh, she picked up the bottle. She hesitated, then placed it on the weathered wood of the table and spun. The bottle, of course, pointed to Kiernan. When she leaned close to kiss him on the cheek, he stopped her.

  “I will collect later when we have more privacy,” he whispered.

  Her cheeks blazed red. “It’s now your turn, Kiernan. Truth or Dare?”

  “For you, Meghan, it will always be truth.”

  “What do you desire more than anything else?” she inquired, curious about his answer.

  Kiernan’s face darkened, and he wordlessly stared at the large tangerine wings rising above Avery’s head and Wish’s tiny turquoise wings, which never stopped fluttering. “Wings.”

  “Oh, come on! That’s the best you could come up with?” she snapped. The stress of being kidnapped and imprisoned had been released, directed solely at Kiernan.

  He stormed from the room. Wish looked troubled. “He was being honest, Meghan. Having wings is one of Kiernan’s greatest desires.”

  “But all Fae have wings! The Underground Fae chose to cut them off!”

  Avery shook his head. “I do not know any Fae who would choose to cut off his wings. They are the center of our magic, and hold our very Fae essence. Wings are very sensitive to the human pollution building within this world. Even in the village, our wings show the first signs of any toxins or poisons that might have crossed the boundaries of our land. Look at my wings after spending only a few days in the Underground.”

  Meghan realized the vibrant orange coloring had faded, and his wings looked a bit wilted.

  “I really need to learn to bite my tongue,” she muttered.

  Avery looked at her curiously. “Humans do say the strangest things.”

  “I need to find Kiernan.” And she disappeared into the night.

  *

  Kiernan sat atop a large log, along the shore of a small creek. The moon’s reflection appeared distorted upon the water’s surface.

  Meghan sat next to him, rubbing her hand along the rough bark. After a long pause, she turned to him. “I’m sorry. I was so ready to assume you were giving me a sarcastic answer, I couldn’t even hear the truth of your words.”

  He nodded, seeming to acknowledge her apology.

  “I always assumed the alternative wings were a choice, like the tattoos and piercings. Avery just explained.”

  “Our wings die. Even the blood-sharing cannot preserve the wings. They are the true indicators of a toxic environment. But Father does not like reminders that the Underground lifestyle has flaws.” His jaw clenched and his face strained. “
Part of our initiation ceremony is to sacrifice our wings, to have them cut off. All Fae go through this ceremony when they make the choice to live in the Underground.”

  Meghan remembered how sensitive Avery’s wings had been to her touch. “Your wings were cut?”

  “As soon as I was brought to the Underground. I cannot remember the village. I cannot remember my own mother. My first memory is of the pain of my wings being seared off.” He pulled his shirt over his head and threw it to the ground, revealing his back.

  Meghan recoiled, trying not to gasp. Kiernan’s upper back was covered with two long, deep scars. The raised tissue was red and twisted angrily.

  “Many of the Underground Fae wear artificials,” Kiernan explained. “They try to forget, and the other amenities—the parties, the alcohol, the blood drinking—help them to block it out. But I have never accepted substitutes.”

  She realized he really had been honest when he shared his heart’s desire. Without thinking, Meghan ran her finger down the scar tissue, tracing to where the two jagged lines met. Kiernan turned until she was in his embrace.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  He stared at her, his vulnerability showing in the light blue of his eyes. “You don’t have to keep apologizing.”

  “I meant that I’m sorry you suffered so much. No three-year-old should go through that.”

  They remained still for a moment, Meghan within his embrace.

  Kiernan’s eyes began to smolder. “I just remembered you owe me something.”

  Meghan knew what her debt was, and she was suddenly eager to fulfill it. Despite her anticipation, she found herself hesitating. How was she always finding herself in the position of initiating the kiss?

  Summoning her bravery, she brushed her lips against his. He grasped the back of her head and pulled her in for a deeper kiss, his warm lips dancing with hers. For a few moments, she was lost in Kiernan’s arms, consumed with his kisses and oblivious to all else in the world.

  They lay on their backs in the lush grass. “So, if you could have anything in the world, you would choose wings?” she asked.

  “I know it sounds frivolous, maybe even vain, but I want—”

  “The choice?” Meghan guessed. “You want the ability to choose the lifestyle which is best for you.”

  Kiernan studied the individual blades of grass. “It seems pointless to waste my wish on something that could never be.”

  She shook her head. “It seems unlikely, but who knows what limits or what possibilities are out there? If somebody had mentioned I would be kissing faeries on my trip abroad, I would have said faeries don’t exist. Now, I imagine anything could be possible.”

  Kiernan raised himself from the grass. “Kissing faeries? As in more than one faerie?”

  Meghan blushed, hoping he wouldn’t notice her rosy face in the darkness of the night. “Wish and Avery are going to be wondering where we disappeared to. Are you ready to head back?”

  Without waiting for an answer, she sprinted toward the light of the cottage.

  The Four Seasons

  ~ 16 ~

  Inside the cottage, Avery and Wish appeared to be in the middle of a serious discussion. As Meghan entered with Kiernan following, the two Fae paused their conversation.

  “Perfect timing,” Avery said. “We were just discussing the best plan to bring Kiernan into the village undetected.”

  Meghan was puzzled. “Why undetected? Can’t he just say—”

  “That I ran away from home?” Kiernan scowled. “My mother apparently does not miss me and would not care that I returned.” He stomped to the far end of the room and stood before the fire.

  “Kiernan, you must understand. Mother has survived by being careful to isolate her people. She is cautious, perhaps too cautious, but that is how the Fae of Light have remained undetected for so long.”

  He spun around. “You defend her? I was three years old when I was taken! I was taken from everyone important to me—my mother, my brother. And I gave up everything to leave the Underground!”

  Meghan had never seen Kiernan so furious. She took his hand. “Selena loves you. She’ll help you.”

  “Who is Selena? Why would she help me when I don’t even know her?”

  Avery approached. “Selena is our grandmother. I should have thought about seeking her support.” He mouthed thanks to Meghan.

  “How are you so certain that she would side with me?” Kiernan asked.

  Meghan grinned. “When I expressed my frustration with you, she defended you fiercely. I received an entire lecture on hydrangeas, types of soil, and why I should be more patient and understanding.”

  All three Fae boys looked confused. Kiernan turned to his brother. “So, you will talk to Selena?”

  “It will not be that simple. The village operates by consensus. The Council will need to meet and offer you sanctuary. All decisions need to be made by a majority. Six sit on the Council, and Meghan’s sanctuary resolution only had a one vote lead, but she...” Avery looked away.

  “She was not a Dark Fae. I understand.” Kiernan sank onto the bench, lowering his head.

  Meghan wanted to comfort him. He had left his home and his people to save her. “There has to be something we can do. When the Council hears how he protected me, well, wouldn’t that help?”

  “It could,” answered Avery. “We need to sneak into Solas so we are all there to testify to the Council. The Samhain festival will occur in five nights. That will be the perfect opportunity to gain entrance to the village and access to Selena. After the bonfire ceremony, there is a masquerade ball. Everyone will be in costume, and it would be the perfect time to slip Kiernan over the boundary.”

  Wish, who had been silent, smiled in agreement. “The Samhain festival is one of the few times in the year that outside faeries come into the village. The boundaries are more open on that night. And it means we will get to wear some fabulous costumes. I love masquerades!” He winked at Meghan.

  Kiernan and Avery seemed satisfied with the plan. The night had grown long, and Meghan was ready to sleep again. She crawled into the bed, while Wish, Kiernan, and Avery arranged the bundles of moss bedding in front of the hearth. She fell asleep to the crackle of the fire, exhausted from the physical and emotional challenges the last few days had presented.

  *

  The days passed quickly. Avery spent hours helping Kiernan grow familiar with Solas and its inhabitants. He drew maps of the village layout, described the individual Fae who resided there, and detailed the bonfire ceremony. Meghan spent much of the time watching the two brothers, who appeared to grow closer during their strategizing.

  “They seem to almost like each other,” Wish observed.

  Meghan nodded. “I hope it continues. They need each other, though neither of them realizes that yet.”

  Wish did not spend much time inside the cottage. He fluttered in and out throughout the days, consumed with his part of the plan which involved making the costumes for the masquerade. The cottage table had been converted into a crafting surface, filled with all sorts of wonders of nature. He had disappeared for one entire day, and returned carrying bolts of glossy silken fabric and rough plant-based fibers. The kettle simmered each afternoon with different berry and root concoctions until each piece of fabric had been dyed. Meghan attempted to help, but Wish was in his element and did not want to be disturbed. She was curious how the piles of feathers, leaves, and other treasures from nature would be transformed.

  Everyone had an important role or task, except her. She had difficulty thinking of a way in which she could contribute to the plan. She tried to cook and keep the cottage tidy, but housekeeping wasn’t her favorite duty.

  She began taking long strolls through the grassy hills and along the winding creeks. The countryside was amazingly beautiful. She walked along stretches of grass-covered knolls, and occasionally she would find herself meandering through old pasturelands. While she could spot small villages in the distance, she
never encountered another person. Wish had ensured they would be safe, expanding his spell far into the countryside.

  “Do you know what this reminds me of?”

  Meghan jumped, startled out of her daydreams. She spotted Avery behind her. “You scared me! Next time, give me some warning.”

  “I am sorry. I forget that you have endured so many scares at my people’s hands.”

  “Not your people,” Meghan began.

  “They are all my people,” said Avery, shaking his head. “We should have never divided.”

  “So, what does this remind you of?” she asked, remembering Avery’s original question.

  “Our first picnic, of course.”

  Meghan smiled at the memory. She couldn’t believe that only a week ago, she had been so carefree. She realized how little time she had spent alone with Avery since then. “I’ve missed you.”

  “Oh, Meg, I have missed you, too.”

  They reached an old wooden gate at the far end of the pasture. The lock mechanism appeared rusted and wouldn’t open, so Avery nimbly jumped over the gate. He assisted Meghan with the climb, holding her hand. As they continued walking, she noticed he hadn’t released his grip.

  After a few quiet minutes, Avery turned to her. “I was not sure about your feelings for Kiernan, so I thought to give you some time.”

  Meghan wasn’t sure of her own feelings for Kiernan, either. At times, she was drawn to him, especially when he revealed his vulnerable side. She definitely felt the passion between them, but that wasn’t enough on which to base a relationship. At times, she could see the obnoxious Kiernan who was so skilled at pushing away people.

  “Avery, I don’t—”

  “Meg, you don’t need to give me an answer right now. I am not even sure what I want your answer to be. Kiernan had everything taken from him: his mother, grandmother, Fae family—even me, his twin. It was wrong. We should have grown up together. I always wanted a brother, and that was taken from me.” He stepped closer to Meghan, eyes filling with tears. “They cut off his wings. I cannot imagine maiming a three-year old. He has had a rotten life. And I, due to the privilege of being born seven minutes later than him, have had everything.”