“Is that even a question? I’ve wanted to go ever since I was a little girl.”
“Then we must make it happen.” I feel like it’s my duty to convince her. All she does is eat, sleep, and breathe work, leaving very little time for fun or laughter or life outside this tower. She deserves to be someone else for one night even more than I do. “Look, if we get caught, I swear to use my inheritance to bail us both out of prison.”
Wynn hesitates for only a moment more before her gray eyes lift to mine, and she grins. “All right, Allette. We shall go through the portal together.”
I manageto survive the longest dinner of my life without Aunt Marjory commenting on the way I squirm and keep glancing at the grandfather clock. Thankfully, my aunt follows her normal routine and retires at nine o’clock, leaving me to pace in my room until right before midnight.
Dressed in all black, I tie on my mask and collect the bag I packed. A warm breeze flutters my loose hair when I step onto the balcony just as a silver beam of starlight shoots into the twinkling night sky, a beacon calling daring souls into the great unknown.
The portal is officially open.
With adrenaline pulsing through my veins, I drop the glamour I wear most days, and my wings appear through the slits in my shirt and jerkin, the cerulean feathers fluttering.
For years, I’ve read and researched and dreamed of the human realm.
Tonight, I’ll finally see it.
I climb to the balcony’s edge and fall into the night. My stomach flips as I hurtle toward the puffy clouds ringing the lower half of my aunt’s tower. When their cool dampness kisses my cheeks, my wings snap out, and I coast to the empty street far below.
Stars, I love flying. I really should do it more often.
The problem is, most days, I’ve nowhere to go.
Fae lights flicker farther down the road, highlighting the way to the city. My eyes take a few moments to adjust to the murky darkness. When they do, I notice a dark figure lurking in my peripherals.
“Wynn? Is that you?”
The person doesn’t respond.
I step closer to where the figure stood only to find the space empty. “Come on, Wynn. This isn’t funny.”
Something tugs on my hood. I whirl, but the street behind me is empty as well. The hairs at the back of my neck lift, and a shuffling sound scrapes against my ears. Before I can turn, a hand clamps across my mouth, stifling my shocked cry. I buck and thrash, but it’s no use. Shadows close in on me as I’m dragged into the alley.
If I cannot escape, I may not make it out alive.
Three
ALLETTE
Bile climbs my throat,choking off my breath. Is this how I die? Never to see the human realm. Never to hold my beloved prince again. Never to experience all the glorious things a long life has to offer.
The assailant adjusts his grip on my face.
Howdarehe try to take all of that from me.
Am I really going to let this bastard win without even putting up a fight?
Magic zings through my veins, igniting a fire in my blood. My teeth clamp down on the flesh of his palm at the same time I glamour my wings. They vanish out of existence, setting the villain off balance. When he stumbles forward, I ram my elbow into his gut as hard as I can. Pain engulfs my arm, but I can’t focus on that until I’m safe.
The man doubles over, clutching his stomach.
I throw out my hands, pinning him to the wall with a torrent of air. The man’s hood blows back, and a pair of familiar silver eyes lock with mine.
“Senan?” I screech, dropping my hands. The wind vanishes, and Senan slides down the wall, gasping. “You scared me halfto death!” For some reason, that makes him chuckle. “I could’ve seriously wounded you.”
That only makes him laugh harder. Does he not take anything seriously?
He taps his closed mouth.