When I wasn’t with Mom or Dad, I played outside with Finch and Aisla. I showed them how to build sand forts, and I created shallow wading pools that they delighted in for hours. I loved to watch them play together. They took joy in the simplest things and never asked for more than my company. Humans could learn a lot from sprites and nixies about making the most of life. As could Court faeries for that matter.
It wasn’t until my second evening there that Dad and I were able to sit and talk again. He asked about Faerie, and once I began, it all came pouring out of me like a dam that had burst open. I described the court, the town, and the people there. His face creased with concern when I told him about getting sick, and he asked a ton of questions when I described the market.
Then I got to my reunion with Gus. I described the nerve-racking flight across the valley and cliffs and over the ocean to the island. I got to the part where I saw the ke’tain in the temple, and I don’t know who was more shocked when I said, “The next thing I know, Aedhna is standing beside me, asking if I can feel the ke’tain’s power.”
My father stared at me as if he wasn’t sure whether I was joking or delusional. “Aedhna, the Fae goddess, appeared to you?”
“Yes,” I replied hesitantly. When nothing bad happened, I laughed breathlessly. “Her magic gag doesn’t work here.”
“Jesse, what are you talking about? You’re not making sense.”
I sank back in my chair. “Wait until you hear the rest.”
He listened raptly while I recounted my whole conversation with Aedhna, including her stunning revelation that I would help her repair the barrier between our worlds. I concluded with her disappearing and Gus returning me to court. I left out the part where the king walked in on Lukas and me kissing.
“She said I wouldn’t be able to tell anyone about it until after the job was done.” I looked around, half expecting a bolt of magic to come at me out of nowhere. When nothing happened, I let out a breath. “Either her magic doesn’t work on me here, or it only applies to me telling other faeries.”
Dad’s brow furrowed. “She didn’t give you any clue about what you have to do? Or when?”
“All she said was that I would know when the time is right.” I drew my legs up under me. “What can I possibly do for her that Lukas or the king can’t?”
“Maybe it has something to do with you being a new faerie. Or it could be your goddess stone. Maybe it allows you to do things other faeries can’t.”
I’d considered that already. “Then why wouldn’t she tell me that?”
He rubbed his chin. “You’re asking me to explain the reasoning of the Fae deity?”
“Well, when you put it like that.” I heaved a sigh. “I’m in way over my head, Dad. What if she’s wrong about me, and I can’t do it?”
“You can do anything you put your mind to, and I’m not saying that because I’m your father. You’ve been like that since you were a little girl. Look at what you’ve done in the last six months. Aedhna gave you that goddess stone because she saw what I see in you. If she believes you can do this, then you should believe it, too. I do.”
I scooted across the couch to hug him. I hadn’t realized how much I needed to hear that from him until this moment.
From inside the house a phone rang, and I moved away so he could go answer it. It was the first time I’d heard that sound in weeks, and it amazed me how easily I’d adapted to life without phones and computers. It was going to feel strange when I returned to city life.
Dad came back a few minutes later, smiling. “That was Maurice checking in. He said to say hi. And your mom’s up and wants to know what we’re having for dinner.”
It was the first time Mom had expressed interest in food since I got here. A huge grin split my face. “Whatever she wants.”
* * *
The moon created a path across the ocean and lit up the beach as I walked barefoot through the sand. A light tropical breeze rustled the palm fronds, and somewhere in the underbrush, a small creature stirred. The only other sound was the gentle lap of water against the shore.
Behind me, the house where my family slept was dark and silent. I didn’t know why I wasn’t asleep too, only that something had drawn me out here to the beach. It was strange when I thought about it. I’d been on the island for five days, and this was the first time I’d felt the urge for a midnight stroll.
Something made a light splash on the water. A few seconds later, the surface of the water rippled closer to shore. Something white slowly emerged from the ocean, taking the shape of a horse’s head.
The kelpie moved toward me, its white coat gleaming like silver in the moonlight. I felt no fear as it left the water and walked up to me. Two feet from me, it lowered its head and dropped something into the sand. Then it looked me in the eye, bent one leg, and bowed to me.
I could only stare at the kelpie as it stood and turned back to the ocean. It wasn’t until the majestic head disappeared beneath the surface that I remembered the object it had brought me. I knelt in the sand and picked up a small white stone that immediately turned the color of my hair.
“Jesse,” said a distorted female voice. “It is time to come home.”
I looked around, but I was alone. “Hello?”
“Jesse,” the voice called again.
I stood. “Where are you?”
Something touched my shoulder and gently shook me. “You’re dreaming, Jesse. Wake up.”
I opened my eyes and stared up at my mother, who was leaning over me. She smiled and straightened. “That must have been some dream.”
“It was definitely a weird one.” I yawned and rubbed my eyes. “What time is it?”
“Seven-thirty. I was going to let you sleep in, but you kept calling out. How about I make us some breakfast?”
“Pancakes?” I asked hopefully, earning a chuckle from her.
“Of course.” She walked to the bedroom door. “They’ll be ready in ten minutes.”
I stretched my arms over my head and smiled up at the ceiling. The first few days had been rough, but my mother was more like her old self every day. When the time came for me to go back to Faerie, I could do so knowing she was going to be okay.
Tossing the covers off me, I rolled out of bed and froze when I looked down at my feet, which still had dried sand caked on them. Turning back to the bed, I threw back the sheet and stared at the sand where I had lain.
I sat heavily on the edge of the mattress. It wasn’t a dream. My stomach twisted as understanding dawned.
Aedhna had summoned me back to Faerie.
Chapter 14
I crested the top of the hill and let out a whoop as I pumped my fist. I did it!
Breathing hard, I bent and rested my hands on my legs. I was hot and sweaty, and my chest ached from exertion, but that did nothing to lessen my jubilation. I’d made my first trek up the steep hill without stopping once to rest, and it felt good.
I walked a few feet and lay on my back on a small patch of coarse grass to smile up at the blue sky. Soft footsteps came toward me, but I didn’t turn my head to look at my companion as she flopped down on her belly beside me. I reached out and scratched Kaia’s head, and she emitted an aggravated growl.