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My sister is a fairy, correction, half-fairy. How in the world did she end up being that? I, of course, know the mechanics of it. And I’m also wondering which of my parents strayed. Is Stella from Winter or Summer?
“Penny for your thoughts?” Shay breaks me out of my wondering as he leads me to his car and opens the door.
“I’m just thinking about my sister. What was that look you and Kieran exchanged? Yeah, I saw it.”
“Crazy isn’t it? You think you know someone, and you find out something like this. But she’s still the sweet, younger girl, who despite everything, has a crush on me.” He winks at me. “We find it interesting that you are an angel and she’s a Vate. Two very unique circumstances in the same family.”
Only he could see the bright side of this. Maybe it’s not so bad. I didn’t want to drag her into all of this. She’s so young and innocent. But she’s already a part of it.
“Where are we headed?” I ask. My eyes stare out of the window, watching the city change into fields.
“Since your sister has soccer practice now, we can’t do anything about the sword. I thought we could go flying and see what else you can do.”
Shay drives to the same location where we had our first-second date. I remember it so well: the tiki lights leading to a blanket, him feeding me strawberries, and taking me on a flight around the city.
Today will be a bit different since I now have my own set of wings, and it’s the middle of the day.
“Can you make yourself invisible like I can?” I ask Shay as we step out of the vehicle. “Don’t you think people will notice a person with wings flying around?”
“I’ve been doing this a long time, Zoe. I know how to blend in. But no, I can’t make myself invisible like you.” He takes my hand and leads me out into the open field. “It’s past planting season, and it’s during the week. We probably won’t run into anyone out here. Okay, let’s see what you’ve got.” His shirt disappears and silver wings flap around him. He lunges and launches himself into the air. “Come and catch me!” he yells. “If you can.”
His body is becoming a faint dot in the bright sky. I won’t let him win. Light surges through me, and instantly my purple wings appear. They take me higher into the air, and I soar on the currents, feeling the wind brush against my face and around my wings. The sensitivity of them makes me shudder.
Shay zooms by, startling me. My body flails, and I lose my balance. The ground comes rushing up to meet me, but I manage to straighten myself out.
Tucking the tips of my wings, I shoot myself across the sky, barreling fast toward him. Tears gather in my eyes, blinding me. I can still see his form and using my Light, I seek his silver Light. It’s a shining, ball floating a few yards from me.
I turn myself invisible and think of quieting my flight. I’m in stealth mode. No sounds escape me.
Shay’s back is facing me. He’s looking around on the ground. He knows that I faltered.
My body tackles him from behind, and the force of it sends us careening toward the ground. The impact makes me reveal myself.
“Gotcha,” I scream as our bodies tangle, trying to right themselves. “And you thought I wouldn’t catch you.”
“Zoe!”
The ground is coming into our view much too fast. We break apart. My heartbeat spikes. This is going to hurt. At the last possible moment, I grab a wind current, flex my wings, and soar back into the sky.
I do not need to clean my face of mud. Pride, yes, but dirt, no.
Shay did not make it out as well. His body is splatted on the soil, face down and not moving. I drop and kneel next to him, my smile wiped from my lips.
“Shay?” I ask. “Are you okay?” Gently, I shake his shoulder. “Oh, God, please be okay. I didn’t mean it. You were supposed to pull up.” I sniffle. “You’re the better flyer.”
There is no one around. I can’t call for help.
Pishh. I don’t need others. I have angel Light. It’s humming under my skin and moves to my fingertips. Warmth spreads through my hands as I lay them on Shay’s body. I send healing thoughts to him.
“You just have to be okay. I can’t do this without you. You’re my protector.” Real tears from sorrow slowly make their way down my cheeks. “You said that you’d always be by my side.”
“I will be if you can move a bit.”
I scrunch my eyes and free them of tears. Lying my body against his, I squeeze. He groans and I back away.
“I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay, Zoe. You’re a bit stronger now.” He turns and sits up but not without some grunting. “I think you knocked the wind right out from me.”
“Shay—”
“Don’t worry about it. I know it’s not your fault. I’m just surprised, that’s all. I didn’t think you’d get all of the Nephilim enhancements. We can add strength to the list now.” He rubs his chest as he stands. “That’s hearing, sight, and strength.”
“And maybe talking through minds.” I tick off on my fingers. “How do you know about the hearing?”
“Remember last night when you heard footsteps coming?” I nod. “You heard them before I did. I noticed them on the middle of the stairs, but you knew earlier, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I heard the couch move, and my dad hit the coffee table. Plus, I could tell by his shuffling.”
“Thinking maybe smell, too?”
“I don’t know. Never tried it.”
“Let’s rest a bit.” I raise a brow at him. “Fine. I need a break. You see how far you can smell something.” He points to his right. “See that farm house?”
“Yes?” I sit yoga-style as Shay rests on his back.
“They must keep animals because of the fences. Use your nose or senses and tell me what they have.”
I feel terrible for hurting him but does as he asks. Inhaling, all I get is a nose full of pollen and sneeze. But in there buried deep are flowers, freshly cut grass clippings ... mud?
It’s like I’m sitting at a pond near the shore and splash the water line, making ripples. My senses are the ripples and as each band gets farther away, I smell more things: corn, hay, and gas. They must have a barn someplace.
My vision narrows; I can see that all around the property are cats. They run to and fro, darting in and out of the lawn ornaments. Fenced in lays an older German Sheppard. The smell of oats, leather, and a faint whiff of iron lingers.
If the residents raised crops only, would they need leather? Maybe gloves, but the smell is stronger than that. Cattle? I think I’d smell more hay and milk, at least cream or something. The squealing sounds of pigs would tip me off, so that’s a no.
“I smell a ton of cats, a dog, and the smell from ...” I inhale. “Horses. I don’t know how many, though.”
“Not bad, Zoe. Not bad at all.”
“Do you know how many?”
“Nope. Just seeing if you did.” He chuckles.
I punch his shoulder, lightly.
“Ow.” He rubs his arm but grins at me. “I think we can safely assume that smell can be added to your list.”
Switching positions, I snuggle against his chest as his legs form a barrier around me. He places his hands over mine. We are content with each other’s silence, listening to the birds and insects fluttering about on this sunny day.
“Are you feeling better?” I ask. “I’m really sorry.”
“I know you are, and don’t worry about it. I’m almost back to normal.” He kisses my check.
“Can I try something with you?” I can feel a smile creep onto his face. “Um. It’s not anything sexual. Get your mind out of the gutter.” I shake my head.
“I’ll always be at your mercy.” He waggles his brows. “You can try anything with me.”
“Shay?” He doesn’t respond in my mind, but I have so much to say to him. To tell him everything I felt when we were a part. “I love you so much. All the days I was gone, I knew you were looking for me. It’s our connection and your love that carried me forward each day, not giving up.” His eyes gaze into mine, waiting for me to say something. “You would go to the end of the world for me and I for you. We’ll be by each other’s side from this day forward, until your heart stops beating.”
Kieran never returned my mental message to him, but I needed to confirm something. Can I only talk with Aiden? Or is it a soul mate thing? If that’s the case, I should be able to mentally speak with Shay, too.