Wings of Shadow (The Underground Trilogy) Read online

  She wiped a tear from his cheek. “Avery, you were both victims.”

  He shook his head. “I love him, Meg. I wish I could give back to Kiernan some of what he has lost. But his wings are gone forever. Gaining the trust of our people is going to be nearly impossible, and I cannot make up for any of these losses. But, I also cannot try to take the one thing he looks at with light in his eyes, and that is you.”

  “So what you’re saying is—”

  “What I am trying to say is that I want to put my personal feelings for you aside, so you have the opportunity to see if anything can develop with my brother.”

  Meghan looked out over the rolling hills. That was what she loved about Avery. Kindness and love were such integral parts of his faerie spirit that he thought of everyone else first and never hesitated to sacrifice for them.

  “Do not be sad, Meg. It is not as though we are saying goodbye.”

  But Meghan wondered, feeling a worry deep inside her, that their goodbye might be happening. She opened up her arms to Avery, and as he moved into her embrace, she was surprised by how sorrowful she felt.

  “Avery, I…” She couldn’t find the right words, so she just whispered, “You are a really, really good brother.”

  They walked back to the cottage, hand in hand, neither wanting to spoil the moment with words. While her thoughts had been mainly on Kiernan the past week, she couldn’t help admire the goodness shining from Avery. She was even more confused about what she truly wanted.

  *

  When they entered the cottage, Wish bounced with excitement. “They are done! You must see them! Have a seat.” He gestured to the line of chairs in front of the fire.

  Kiernan was already sitting, waiting for them. Meghan settled in the chair next to him.

  “Did you lovebirds have a nice walk?”

  Meghan blushed. “I had a very pleasant walk. And that’s all it was—a walk.”

  Wish cleared his throat. “I would like to present what may be the finest costumes of the masquerade: ‘The Four Seasons.’”

  Avery stepped in the door, wearing a long tunic atop tight-fitting breeches. The browns, reds, and oranges complemented his wings. A mask of autumn-hued leaves covered his face, leaving only his springy brown curls visible.

  Meghan’s jaw dropped. The detailing on the costume was astounding. Autumn leaves were embroidered in glistening gold thread upon the tunic and appeared to be falling before her eyes. And she had never seen Avery look so handsome.

  “Wish, you created all of this yourself? You never told me you were a genius with a needle!”

  He grew bashful at her compliments. “But, what season is he? Can you guess?”

  “Why, autumn, of course.”

  Kiernan was the next person instructed to try on a costume. He emerged in trousers, a button-down shirt, and a stunning cape, all in a midnight jet-black. The cape appeared to be made of a velvety material, with a hood to cover his hair. Snowflakes were embroidered upon the hood in silver thread. Again, Meghan could almost see the snow blowing across the fabric, if she stared long enough. She wondered if some kind of magic was woven into the fabrics. Beneath the hood, he wore a simple silver mask, which also displayed snowflakes.

  Avery smiled. “Winter—perfect planning, Wish. The mask and cloak hide his face, hair, and back. It will be hard for the Light Fae to identify that he is not one of their own.”

  Meghan thought Kiernan looked stunning as “Winter.” He seemed to notice she was staring, and she looked away quickly, but she had already seen the smug grin on his face.

  Wish stepped inside next, wearing the most outlandish costume she had ever seen. He was a rainbow of colors of the most vibrant hues she could imagine. His clothes fit closely to his body which created an odd effect on somebody so tall and broad as Wish. And around his waist—was that a tutu? It was formed of rainbow-colored flowers, and he wore a mask of more brightly-colored flower petals.

  Kiernan laughed. “You have outdone yourself! What an outrageously flowery ‘Spring.’”

  Kiernan looked at her. “I believe that makes you ‘Summer.’”

  Meghan looked down. “What if I just surprise you on the night of the ball?” She felt awkward that everyone’s attention was on her.

  “No fair.” Kiernan pouted. “You had the chance to goggle at us and took full advantage of it, if I might add. Don’t think I didn’t notice that.”

  Avery chimed in. “It is important that we recognize one another on the night of the masquerade.”

  When Wish made a comment about needing to ascertain that the dress fit correctly, she tossed her hands in the air and resigned herself to being the center of attention for the next few minutes. Meghan picked up the dress that was hanging in the corner and rubbed her fingers against the silky fabric. She had never felt something so light and airy before. The boys had all changed outside, but she was worried about soiling the dress.

  “Um, if you all don’t mind, can I have a few minutes, please?”

  After they headed outdoors, she slipped the dress over her head and smoothed the skirts. She couldn’t quite reach the ribbons that cinched the back, so she left them trailing. Megan donned the mask, which was in the shape of the sun and made from a piece of shiny golden fabric. Looking at her reflection in the pane of the window, she saw the mask brought out gold and copper highlights from her reddish locks. The dress itself mimicked the countryside just beyond the cottage. Green meadows, dotted with flowers, melted into a blue brook. Staring into the fabric, Meghan could see tiny butterflies darting through the meadow, and was that a fish that plopped in and out of the creek?

  “If you are done staring at yourself, we would love the chance to stare at you.” Kiernan waited impatiently at the doorway.

  And stare they did. Kiernan was rarely without words, but even he seemed speechless. Finally, he managed a few words. “Promise me the first dance?”

  To this request, Meghan simply nodded. She had a feeling that the Samhain masquerade would be a party none of them would ever forget. She wrapped her arms around Wish in an enormous bear hug, thanking him profusely for his magnificent creation.

  Looking embarrassed, Wish muttered, “You are going to wrinkle it! We need to get this back on the hanger.”

  A Grumpy Faerie

  ~ 17 ~

  As Meghan opened her eyes the next morning, she saw the three Fae awake and conversing around the fire. She sleepily closed her eyes, wanting a few more minutes’ rest before she had to rise. Fragments of the boys’ conversation filtered into her consciousness as she dozed.

  “… only one more night until the bonfire ceremony.”

  Avery’s voice chimed in. “… difficult for all of us to arrive at the ceremony together. I’ll draw too much attention.”

  “… hard to disguise such large wings.”

  “… might not be welcomed back so warmly after we were captured by the Dark Fae.”

  She heard Kiernan’s voice protest, “… not her fault.”

  “Avery’s right … the two of us should leave today.”

  “You would leave the two of us alone … overnight?” Kiernan again, sounding surprised and excited.

  “I trust you to protect her.”

  Meghan forced her eyes to open. Important plans were being made while she slept, and she wasn’t sure she would like them.

  Wish was the first to notice she had awakened. “Good morning, Sleeping Beauty,” he said, with a dramatic bow.

  “So, it sounded like you were having a serious conversation. What was it about?”

  Avery sighed. “I have been thinking, Meg. My return is going to be rather dramatic. The Council is going to need to hear the details of our capture. If I enter Solas during the festival, all attention will be on me and the festivities will be halted. This will make it difficult for Kiernan to breach the village boundaries without being detected.”

  Meghan nodded. “So, we will head for the village today. And Kiernan will meet us during the c
eremony tomorrow?”

  Shaking his head, Avery corrected her. “I will leave for the village today. Wish is going to accompany me. You will stay with Kiernan until it is time for the bonfire ceremony to begin.”

  Why would Avery leave her alone with Kiernan? She wasn’t entirely sure how she felt about being alone with him. Searching through a whirlwind of emotions, she discovered anxiety, reluctance, and, perhaps, even anticipation.

  “But Avery,” she protested. “I miss the village. I want to see Selena again.”

  He looked at her sadly. “The truth is, Mother will be reluctant to allow you to re-enter. She will blame you for my disappearance and make the case you have attracted the attention of the Dark Fae and are a danger to Solas.”

  Meghan was heartbroken. She had finally found a place that felt more like home to her than Portland, and the possibility that she could be shunned and no longer welcome scared her. She turned away from Avery, slumping onto the bed.

  “Meg, I am so sorry. But I want you to know the truth.”

  Kiernan scowled. “It’s good to know the thought of spending a day alone with me brings tears to your eyes.” He stomped outside, slamming the door.

  “Great,” Meghan sat up. “Not only are you going to leave me, but you’re leaving me alone with a grumpy faerie.”

  Arms folded around her, and she relaxed in Avery’s embrace. “I wish we could all go together, but our plan will work better this way. And I would not leave you with Kiernan if I did not trust him to protect you.”

  Meghan pouted while Avery packed the small amount of gear they had accumulated, and Wish carefully wrapped their two costumes. They were ready to leave within the hour.

  Avery gave her a final hug. “I will see you tomorrow evening.”

  An enthusiastic Wish picked her up and spun her around. “I will see my beautiful ‘Summer’ on tomorrow’s eve.” He whispered, “I sense Kiernan just outside. Do not worry; he will soon calm down.”

  With those words, the boys left and began the long hike toward the village boundaries. Meghan stood in the doorway of the cottage until she could no longer see them in the distance. A tear trickled down her face.

  “Still crying? I’m sorry it makes you so very miserable to stay with me.” Kiernan had approached so silently, she hadn’t even noticed him.

  “Oh, Kiernan, everything is not always about you!” Her patience was gone. Disappointment overshadowed her empathy. She just wanted to be left alone to feel sorry for herself.

  But he didn’t seem content to leave her alone. “And everything does not revolve around you, Meghan!”

  “I’m sorry if it seems silly to you, but I miss the village. I loved the weeks I had there. They were some of the best of my life. I felt a sense of peace and protection, and Selena grew to be like a grandmother to me. It breaks my heart to think I would no longer be welcome there, for something I had no control over.”

  In a voice so quiet she could barely hear it, Kiernan said, “Selena is the grandmother I never knew. I have no memories of the village, of my first three years. I have no memories of the village Fae and have had no chance to grow close to them.”

  Kiernan covered his face and turned away. Meghan could see he was hurting even more than she was. She grew quiet when she realized how selfish she had been. She hadn’t known Solas even existed before this trip, but to Kiernan, the village Fae were the only people to whom he could turn. Taking his hands, she looked into his eyes. “I… I am so sorry, Kiernan. I was so focused on myself, that I didn’t even wonder about how you felt.”

  “The truth is…” Kiernan paused, searching for the words.

  Meghan could tell that he was still getting accustomed to being honest with others, but she had to give him bonus points for trying.

  He continued. “The truth is, it scares me that I might be rejected by the village, that I probably will be renounced by my own mother. I left the Underground. I relinquished my future throne, my friends, my entire lifestyle, and they are all I have left. If they reject me, I will be completely alone.”

  His voice sounded so despondent, her anger vanished. She ran her thumbs along the back of his hands. Kiernan paused. He seemed to be waiting to see what she would do next.

  “I was thinking we are both wrong,” Meghan said. “We have been so focused on ourselves, we forgot, for tonight at least, we have each other.”

  Kiernan’s eyes gleamed. “That does lead to some very intriguing possibilities.”

  She realized she may have been a bit too encouraging. “Um, I didn’t mean—”

  “I really enjoyed the dates we had when you first arrived in London.”

  She silently thanked him for slowing down the pace. “You mean, before the date where you assaulted me and locked me up?”

  He cringed. “Yes, the ones before that one. And technically, if you remember, it was not my decision to lock you up. Or drink from you.”

  They sat in front of the fire, watching the flames dance.

  “Kiernan, I have been wondering…” She took a deep breath, and forced out a question she had been wanting to ask him. “… why did you bring me to the Underground?”

  He kept his eyes on the orange and yellow flames. “I liked you. I didn’t want to lie about who I was, but I figured that if I told you I was Fae, you would think I was insane.”

  “So, you thought you would show me?”

  “It seemed easier to reveal in stages. The secret club, the wings. I was eventually going to tell you the Fae part.”

  “And you just forgot to mention your father?”

  He turned to her then. “Meghan, I never thought Father would imprison you or hurt you. I knew he was cruel, but I thought…”

  She watched him struggling to find the words.

  “… I thought that he would leave you alone if he knew you were important to me. I never imagined that he would be so cruel as to expect me to kill you.” He poked the fire, sending sparks flying. “I expected to him care, even a little bit, about my feelings!”

  She didn’t know what to say and continued watching the fire with him.

  “So, I was wondering. What kinds of things do you usually like to do on a date?” Kiernan asked.

  “You ask me that as if I’ve been on tons of dates.”

  “And you haven’t? Had many dates?”

  “While I was in school, I was very focused on my studies. There was never a boy that really caught my eye.”

  He smiled. “Ah, I see. You only have eyes for faerie boys. Human boys are just not intriguing enough for a beautiful maiden such as yourself.”

  Meghan began to protest. “Well, no, that’s not true.” But her objections tapered off as she realized his words were correct. The boys at her high school hadn’t interested her. In the few short months since she had encountered the world of the Fae, she had grown attached to not just one, but two different faerie boys.

  “How about dinner and a movie?”

  Looking around at the lack of electricity and television, she grinned. “I would love to see how you are going to pull that off.”

  Meghan rose and began to get ready for the day. Her green dress was dirty, though, and her hair felt greasy. “I would kill for a working bathroom with a hot shower right now.”

  “I have an idea,” Kiernan said. “Come on.”

  They strolled along a little path running parallel to the brook. The sun shone strongly on them, a surprisingly warm day for late October.

  “You have not talked a lot about what you have given up, before today.” Meghan said.

  “I try not to think about it. Really, the Underground is all I know. I’ve lived there since I was three, and I almost never left London.” Kiernan pointed at the grassy knolls of the countryside and the babbling creek beside him. “This is all new to me.”

  “Do you regret leaving?” She could not imagine walking away from her family and friends.

  “I regret having to leave. I developed close friendships over the years. A
nd Father…”

  “Do you think your friends would ever leave from there?”

  “Some of the Fae have been in the Underground for so long they could never be satisfied with returning to the countryside. I wish there was a way for them to remain in the Underground without the blood-sharing and the drainings.”

  Meghan looked up. “Is that even possible?”

  Kiernan shook his head. “Not right now. But I cannot get over this feeling that I am missing something, something important.”

  He paused. They were standing next to a small pool the creek had formed. An unusual smell drifted through the air, reminding Meghan of her mother’s Sunday morning scrambled egg breakfasts.

  “Feel it.” He pointed to the water.

  Meghan stuck one finger in the water. “It’s warm! Is this a hot spring?”

  Nodding, Kiernan looked smug. “I found it when I left this morning. It is amazing to soak in, if you can ignore the sulfur smell, that is.”

  A hot soak, with time to scrub off all the grease and dirt, was just what she needed. After having been worn day and night over the last week, the emerald gown was soiled and smelly.

  As if he had read her mind, Kiernan presented her with a clean shirt. “Wish found me some clean t-shirts when he was gathering costume supplies. I brought one so you would have something clean to wear. I’m going back to the cottage to prepare for our date.”

  Meghan hesitated. She was nervous about bathing in such a public manner, but the temptation of the hot water overpowered her anxieties. She waited until Kiernan was far down the path before quickly undressing and submerging herself in the warm water.

  After a long soak, Meghan pulled on the oversized t-shirt. It hung to her lower thighs. While it was shorter than what she typically wore, the sensation of being clean felt incredible. As she walked back to the cottage, she wrung the water from her hair and tried to comb the snarls with her fingers. She was surprised to see the sun sinking lower. How had the day passed so quickly? She wondered what Kiernan had planned for tonight.