Dark Promise (Between Worlds #1)

  *

  The next morning, I got up and in the shower before Lena had a chance to come harp on me. I let the water run down my wings, making them tingle in the intimate way I had come to love. I was able to relax, if only for the moment.

  I stepped out on to the plush gray rug, wrapping a towel around my wet hair. With the hand towel from the sink, I dried off the mirror so that I could see myself.

  I ran my fingers around the outside of my ears; the points seemed even pointier than usual. It still felt weird. My fingers traveled to my birthmark, which glowed a little, letting everyone know it was there. It was like a having a gigantic pimple waving a flag on the tip of your nose. I wondered how long it would take for me to get used to the changes.

  I flapped my wings a few times, letting the droplets left on them hit the walls. They were beautiful, even if I did wish they were on someone else. In this faery world, I didn’t have to use glamour. I was free to be who I was. The person staring back at me in the mirror was who Kallan saw. But not who Adam saw. What would Adam think if he saw me like this? Would he still love me?

  A rap on the door brought me out of my daydream. “Just a minute,” I called.

  “Hurry up, Oleander. They want you there for breakfast today.” It was Lena.

  I grabbed a short blue dress from the closet and stepped into it. Then I brushed my hair up out of my face, using a clip to hold it in place. On the bright side, it was a nice change of pace not to have to use makeup. Shower and go. I’d been missing a great thing.

  “Good choice,” Lena said as she looked me over.

  “Where are shoes?” I asked her. “I’ve been barefoot for days.”

  I had actually startled her. She blinked. “Most faeries don’t wear shoes.”

  Right. Being barefoot definitely made me feel more like a faery. I sighed and motioned to her that I was ready.

  “I think I know the way by now,” I told her as we entered the hallway, and Lena pulled my door shut.

  “It’s my job to escort you to the dining hall and be there in case you or Varwik might need something.” This time, she linked her arm in mine instead of grabbing my bicep. Just that small touch of humanity made me feel a little better.

  I heard raised voices as we reached the dining room, and Lena paused, her arm falling away from mine. We were silent for a moment, both of us straining to hear through the double doors.

  “We’re not compatible, Father. She’s a light faery, and I’m not. She has an entirely different life out there. She didn’t grow up here. She doesn’t know our ways. We have nothing in common.” It was Kallan’s voice, highly agitated.

  “Then show her our ways,” Varwik grumbled back.

  “Neither of us wants this. What about me? What about what I want?”

  For some reason, I felt a rush of pride that Kallan was standing up to his father. Maybe our talk at the fountain had opened his eyes.

  Varwik’s tone was furious when he answered. “Are you talking about the faery girl you had your eyes set on recently?”

  “What if I am?” Kallan challenged.

  “She’s not right for you. She’s not good enough for our bloodline.”

  “And Oleander is? Give me a break.”

  “If you do not marry her, I will be forced to kill her. You do understand that, right?”

  A long pause followed. “Yes, Father.”

  Rage filled me, and I shoved open the door, brushing off Lena’s startled grasp on my arm. I cleared my throat as I barreled into the room. “It’s not polite to talk about your guests without them present,” I said sarcastically.

  Lena rushed in behind me, her face stricken. “I’m sorry, my lord. I tried to stop her from entering.”

  Varwik held a hand up to Lena and studied my face. “I’m sorry you had to overhear that.”

  It wasn’t worth answering. He wasn’t going to apologize for being a heartless beast, and Kallan wouldn’t apologize for being in love with someone else at the risk of my own life. I sat down and looked around the table at the huge selection. It was enough to feed an army, not four people. If I focused on breakfast, maybe I wouldn’t cry. I grabbed a croissant from one of the baskets, and piled eggs, sausages, and potatoes onto my plate.

  “What did you think of the grounds, Oleander?” Lena asked in a gentle voice.

  I shrugged, tearing a piece off the croissant. I didn’t want to admit how beautiful their world was; it felt too much like giving in. “What I saw was nice.”

  A servant passed by and refilled my glass of juice. I smiled up at her.

  “Very different from the human realm, isn’t it?” Lena prodded.

  “Yup.” I picked at the croissant and didn’t say anything else.

  Lena kept trying to get us all to talk, but it was useless. Another uncomfortable meal. I would never belong in the faery world.

  Chapter Fifteen

  After breakfast, Kallan asked, “Do you wish to take another walk?”