flight and that sunflower looked an awfully
high climb. In the past, he never doubted himself. There was no point starting
it now. He forced his wings to move.
It was similar to moving fingers or toes
in synchrony. Just the thought sent his wings into motion and his feet lifted
off the ground. There was a slight sting in his back but nothing he couldn’t
handle. His eyes remained on the yellow petal edge, and it slowly inched closer.
Sweat began to bead his forehead. His hands clenched into fists and a throbbing
began in his temple. He surpassed even his high expectations and passed the
flower. Pushing harder and flying higher, he finally reached the thin
transparent barrier that separated the two worlds. Thame landed on the surface
in a patch of three leaf clovers. Blood rushed through his veins as his quick
breath began to ease.
“Impressive.” Mord spoke from beneath the
willow tree. His blond hair loose and the ends curled without restraint.
Thame nodded, his back stiff from disuse.
However, his feet were steady as he shuffled forward and sat beside him. That
took more out of him than he would ever admit.
“Looks like cold weather is on its way.”
He glanced at the muddled blue sky. Winter
was always mild here but the group of gray clouds did give off an ominous feel.
“I like the snow. It’s easier to track.” It always made the hum of the distant
ocean muffled and enhanced the natural sounds around them. “Where’s Brielle?
She’d love this view.” The sun began to fall toward the horizon.
“Home. I just came here to think.” He
turned toward Thame. “I’m trying to convince King Carrick that we need to take
more drastic measures. The queen is not yet with child.”
“What measures?”
“We can’t wait for the women to stumble
upon us. We should go out, gather those that can see us and return them here.
They could have a wonderful life here with us.” Mord shook his head in disgust.
“We’re dying out and the King is only thinking with his heart.”
Thame frowned. “I think when the time is
right, we will find our female match.”
“That’s not good enough.” His voice rose
then his shoulder slouched as if he was defeated in a major battle. “How long
will we have to wait? Five years or twenty or one hundred?”
“I don’t think it will be that long.
Finding the Queen has started a chain reaction, it seems.”
“What do you mean?”
Thame hesitated. He was not the sharing
type but it would be known soon enough. “I found my female, I think.”
“The woman that saved you?”
Thame squinted. “How are you aware of
that?”
“Wick gossips like a woman.”
Thame snorted. Wick did indeed. “First
the king, now me, I do believe soon the others will follow.”
“...and what of Brielle and me? Or Flance
and Bray?”
“That I do not know.” Would their
connection become stronger when the others began to mate? Would anything help
them create a child? “Nothing but time will tell.”
Mord shook his head, looking as lost as a
child in the forest. “I must return...”
Thame simply nodded and watched the fairy
fly down and out of sight. Mord was taking the whole kingdom on his shoulders. No
wonder the man was stressed and ignoring Brielle. Once things settled down with
Breena, he’d address that issue. Brielle was like a sister to him and her
unhappiness dulled her glow. He wanted her as happy as she could possibly be. She
deserved it.
There was a swift blur of blue and Thame
knew it was Whisper but on instinct, he extracted the sword from his hip. It
was the best move he ever made.
“Watch your back!” The words were deep
and growly.
While Whisper leapt into the surrounding
forest, a troll charged its hideous hide toward him. He was about to find out
if revenge was sweet.
Chapter Eight
Thame’s sword clashed with the blood-crusted
blade of the troll. Dark flecks sprinkled the ground from the impact. It hissed
with its fangs bared. He showed his
high climb. In the past, he never doubted himself. There was no point starting
it now. He forced his wings to move.
It was similar to moving fingers or toes
in synchrony. Just the thought sent his wings into motion and his feet lifted
off the ground. There was a slight sting in his back but nothing he couldn’t
handle. His eyes remained on the yellow petal edge, and it slowly inched closer.
Sweat began to bead his forehead. His hands clenched into fists and a throbbing
began in his temple. He surpassed even his high expectations and passed the
flower. Pushing harder and flying higher, he finally reached the thin
transparent barrier that separated the two worlds. Thame landed on the surface
in a patch of three leaf clovers. Blood rushed through his veins as his quick
breath began to ease.
“Impressive.” Mord spoke from beneath the
willow tree. His blond hair loose and the ends curled without restraint.
Thame nodded, his back stiff from disuse.
However, his feet were steady as he shuffled forward and sat beside him. That
took more out of him than he would ever admit.
“Looks like cold weather is on its way.”
He glanced at the muddled blue sky. Winter
was always mild here but the group of gray clouds did give off an ominous feel.
“I like the snow. It’s easier to track.” It always made the hum of the distant
ocean muffled and enhanced the natural sounds around them. “Where’s Brielle?
She’d love this view.” The sun began to fall toward the horizon.
“Home. I just came here to think.” He
turned toward Thame. “I’m trying to convince King Carrick that we need to take
more drastic measures. The queen is not yet with child.”
“What measures?”
“We can’t wait for the women to stumble
upon us. We should go out, gather those that can see us and return them here.
They could have a wonderful life here with us.” Mord shook his head in disgust.
“We’re dying out and the King is only thinking with his heart.”
Thame frowned. “I think when the time is
right, we will find our female match.”
“That’s not good enough.” His voice rose
then his shoulder slouched as if he was defeated in a major battle. “How long
will we have to wait? Five years or twenty or one hundred?”
“I don’t think it will be that long.
Finding the Queen has started a chain reaction, it seems.”
“What do you mean?”
Thame hesitated. He was not the sharing
type but it would be known soon enough. “I found my female, I think.”
“The woman that saved you?”
Thame squinted. “How are you aware of
that?”
“Wick gossips like a woman.”
Thame snorted. Wick did indeed. “First
the king, now me, I do believe soon the others will follow.”
“...and what of Brielle and me? Or Flance
and Bray?”
“That I do not know.” Would their
connection become stronger when the others began to mate? Would anything help
them create a child? “Nothing but time will tell.”
Mord shook his head, looking as lost as a
child in the forest. “I must return...”
Thame simply nodded and watched the fairy
fly down and out of sight. Mord was taking the whole kingdom on his shoulders. No
wonder the man was stressed and ignoring Brielle. Once things settled down with
Breena, he’d address that issue. Brielle was like a sister to him and her
unhappiness dulled her glow. He wanted her as happy as she could possibly be. She
deserved it.
There was a swift blur of blue and Thame
knew it was Whisper but on instinct, he extracted the sword from his hip. It
was the best move he ever made.
“Watch your back!” The words were deep
and growly.
While Whisper leapt into the surrounding
forest, a troll charged its hideous hide toward him. He was about to find out
if revenge was sweet.
Chapter Eight
Thame’s sword clashed with the blood-crusted
blade of the troll. Dark flecks sprinkled the ground from the impact. It hissed
with its fangs bared. He showed his
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