Chapter 3

Questions itched at me as Kai walked between Violet and me on our way to some sort of Healing Hut.

The moment after my unwanted guide had used his flute, a vibrant campus of faeries had appeared. Not all of them had wings, but those that did knew how to use them. They fluttered everywhere, sending a pleasant thrum through the air that reminded me of hummingbirds.

And the music… I’d never heard anything like it. Voices and musical notes from various instruments made me feel like I’d just walked into a dream.

I wonder if Killian’s home was like this, I pondered as I listened to a faerie female hug books to her chest and hum a tune.

Her voice was clearly incredible, even at its low volume.

She shyly smiled at me before hurrying past, her elegant wings flitting behind her as a massive tower came into view.

“Here we are!” Kai said cheerfully.

“That’s a hut?” I asked as we approached a shimmering spire right out of a fairytale.

Kai had been flirting with Violet the whole time, treating me like a third wheel now that the gorgeous female had joined our little party. He chuckled at my surprise. “Every village has one. Don’t tell me you really don’t remember anything?”

Violet swooped around him, her purple wings floating behind her long, purple hair with delicate strokes. She smiled at me as she slipped her fingers through mine and gave my hand a squeeze. “Vivienne is a special breed. You probably haven’t even heard of her village. Did you know she has a dragon?”

Kai’s laughter turned into a choking sound. He made a fist and cleared his throat. “What?” he glanced up as if looking for one, but Solstice was keeping well above the clouds so as not to be seen, just as I had instructed. “I thought she was kidding.” He swallowed, then nervously glanced at me. “So… where is it?”

“Where is she,” I corrected, adding a glare for good measure. Violet seemed like she knew her way around, so she had intentionally revealed my dragon for a reason. For now, I’d use that to my advantage. “Solstice is scouting and waiting for my signal. So far, she doesn’t like you very much.”

Violet hummed in agreement as fire burned in the backs of her eyes, but when she flicked her gaze to me, the fires were gone.

She was outing me, but hiding herself. That was a brazen move.

“Would Solstice like to join us? You’re safe here, Vivienne, and so is she,” Violet suggested.

I would be the judge of that.

Kai’s gaze went skyward again, his red eyebrows shooting up in concern. “Is she large?” he asked.

Seeing the blood drain from his too-perfect face gave me a smug sense of satisfaction.

“Enormous,” I bragged as I sent an image to Solstice in my mind, one showing her where to land. “And she’s probably hungry,” I added for good measure as the clouds swirled.

I was about to really rub it in when Violet’s fingers squeezed and her nails bit into my skin, making me suck in a breath. Pain shot up my arm, crackled over my birthmark, then settled into my chest.

A golden glimmer rushed down and Solstice approached.

I didn’t realize she had shrunk in size until she flapped her tiny wings and landed on my shoulder. She released an adorable little roar, then curled around my neck just like she used to when she had been a baby fledgling.

Kai blinked at us a few times, then burst out in laughter. “You have a pet wyvern! You’re a Companion Faerie. That’s neat. Why didn’t you say that? Starlight, you had me going there for a minute.”

He chuckled as he disappeared into the spire, leaving me glaring at Violet.

I ripped my hand away from hers and rubbed the skin, surprised I didn’t find any wounds.

But the amethyst stone on my bracelet was glowing, and so was hers.

“What did you just do?” I whisper-yelled at her.

Violet tilted her head and lowered her long eyelashes while Solstice began preening my hair, surprisingly content with her smaller size.

“I’ll explain later. Now, if you value your life, you’ll follow my lead.”