Chapter One
Aflora
Glacier was late.
Again.
This whole long-distance relationship thing where we met in the Human Realm for dates was just not working for me. The damn Water Fae never showed up on time.
Instead, he left me sitting in this coffee shop in the middle of Orlando with a mouse-shaped mug of inky liquid. How humans stomached this stuff was beyond me. One sip and I wanted to puke.
But I came here to make him happy. Because I hadn’t seen him in over a month due to summer solstice break.
Things would be fine when we went back to the Academy in a few weeks. Maybe. Except we would always have this elemental problem hanging over our heads, what with me being the heiress to the Earth Fae throne and him being a regular old Water Fae.
I blew on my steaming liquid, more to mask my frustrated sigh than to cool the liquid. Because yeah, I wasn’t going to drink this. I had some spritemead in my fridge back home, just waiting to be cracked open.
Another glance at the clock had me shaking my head.
“This is ridiculous,” I muttered to myself. I should not have to wait over an hour for a boy to arrive. Especially one who proclaimed to adore me.
“It is,” a feminine voice replied as a puffy, blue-dotted, edible thing appeared beside my mug. “Have a muffin. On the house.”
I frowned at the muffin before glancing up at the woman who had delivered it.
My eyebrows lifted in surprise. “A Fortune Fae,” I said, glancing around to make sure no one heard my admission, before noting her vibrant green apron. “A Fortune Fae working in a human coffee shop?” It came out as a question because what kind of fae chose to reside in this realm? Particularly one of her heritage. “That must be a daunting job, what with people touching you all day.”
I took an entire course last year about Fortune Fae. While they loved to deal cards—to tell the future—they hated to be touched. It inspired visions, typically unwanted ones. And I imagined humans would have the same impact.
She tossed her long dark hair—similar to my own—over her shoulder and laughed. At least she didn’t tinkle like some fae preferred. That grew old quickly.
No, this fae wasn’t afraid to express humor.
A trait that endeared her to me immediately.
“Who are you?” I wondered out loud.
Her smile reached her blue eyes. “Gina,” she replied, taking the seat across from me. “I thought you could use some company since your date is a no-show. Oh, but it’s not through any fault of his own, I assure you. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, it’ll be the least of your concerns very soon.” She blinked, her blue irises turning clear for half a second before returning to normal.
A vision, I realized. A notorious habit of her kind, as was the cryptic commentary.
I sighed. “I expected as much. I don’t think his parents care for our relationship.” I picked at the wrapping around the muffin, trying to figure out why a human would eat such a thing. It resembled fabric. “I’m Aflora, by the way.”
“I know,” she replied, her expression lighting up. “Sole heir to the Earth Fae throne. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Your Highness.”
The teasing quality of her voice had me snorting. “Yeah, somehow I doubt you mean that.” I narrowed my gaze. “Which tells me you’re here for another reason entirely.”
“Oh, I am,” she agreed. “However, our paths crossing is just a coincidence of happenstance. I only became aware of your destiny recently when I sensed the balance disturbance. It’s going to be an interesting year for you, Aflora. Assuming you take the path left. Hmm, but if you go right, I suspect it’ll catch you eventually anyway. You’re in his thoughts now, after all.”
“Uh-huh.” This chick was proving all my textbooks right about Fortune Fae and their penchant for talking in riddles. “Well, that sounds fun.”
“It will be.” She smiled again, only to falter as her gaze flickered once more. “Shit.” She glanced at the clock and pushed away from the table. “I’d offer some advice for the road ahead, but I’ve gotta run. My future keeps finding me despite my deviations from the trail.” She gave me a little finger wave and darted out of the cafe, still wearing her apron.
I gaped after her, as did several of the patrons around me.
From what I could tell, she was the only one on duty.
And this is why hiring a fae is a bad idea, I thought at the owner. We’re not the most reliable sort in your world.
Case in point, my late date.
With a sigh, I pushed my coffee and muffin aside, done waiting. At least I’d understood that part of Gina’s prophecy—Glacier isn’t coming.
Fine. I preferred my spritemead over a date with a boy anyway.
Gathering my purse, I left my mouse-mug and the papery dough cake on the table and headed out into the early afternoon sunshine.
Orlando at least had the weather right. Muggy, hot, and oh-so bright. I smiled as I wandered toward the portal, absorbing the elements along the way. The tropical plants here wouldn’t survive easily in my home world, but maybe I could manufacture a greenhouse to accommodate them.
I paused to touch a particularly beautiful tree with large green leaves sprouting from the top. Mmm, this would be easy to—
Pain shot up my side as something hard rammed into me, sending me several steps forward. “Sorry!” a human shouted as he pedaled by on a two-wheeled contraption.
A bicycle, my memory supplied, recalling a course on mortal transportation.
I glowered after him, ready to give him a piece of my mind, when a hand brushed my arm. “Are you all right?” a deep, masculine voice asked, the accent decidedly smooth.
“Oh, I, yes. Thanks.” I glanced up into a pair of ice-blue eyes, the color and perfection of the irises stunning me into silence.
“Are you sure?” he pressed, his fingers trailing up my arm and leaving a trail of goose bumps in their wake. His lips kicked upward, revealing a pair of dimples that didn’t seem to match his ruggedly square jaw or the dark brown stubble dotting his chin.
A proper five o’clock shadow, I mused. Then blinked. Wait, why do I care about such a thing?
“Careful, beautiful,” he cautioned, his arm sliding around my waist. “You’re swaying.”
“I am?” I whispered, my throat going dry as his intoxicating scent surrounded me. Mmm, a dark spice tinted with an earthy aroma. I leaned into him, pressing my side into his hard torso.
Melting.
Falling.
Ensnared by his masculinity and grace.
That’s not right, I thought, frowning. I don’t even know this guy.
I attempted to step away, only my feet refused my mental command.
What’s happening to—
“You’re bleeding,” he murmured, his hold tightening as his opposite hand drifted across my arm.
I glanced down to see the trickle of red oozing from my skin.
And blinked.
“How?” I asked, trying to shake myself out of this daze, to force my legs to work. But I felt spellbound, lost to the stranger’s touch, as if being pulled into a dream.
A part of me recognized the magic, felt the dark tendrils of it seeping into my pores. With it brought memories of the time I nearly died, how I’d fought to cling to the source of my existence in a futile effort to save everyone but myself.