Death’s Gate. The land of nightmares had been cold and dark as she visited the dead. Had her soul been preparing to cross? Her body was warm and heavy now, but she didn’t feel uncomfortable. There was a sense of safety in this place, but deep within her was a cloud of worry.
“Is this Heaven’s Gate?”
The bells tinkled in a series of high tones, and she realized the voice was laughing. “No, silly girl. This is Faerie.”
At the shocking answer, Dyna snapped her eyes open and immediately closed them at the sharp pins that struck her vision. She sucked in a sharp breath and slowly opened them again.
The first thing she saw was a ceiling, or what she thought was a ceiling. Vines of full green leaves hung like banners overhead. Their little white blooms glowed softly, providing light. The walls were round and made completely of wood. It was a small room with equally tiny windows looking out to greenery beyond. Little shrubs of fragrant flowers and bioluminescent blue mushrooms grew in the corners of the wall. Beyond the bed she lay in was a sitting area with couches upholstered with moss and seats carved of stone. The sheets wrapped around her were made of a white translucent material that glided over her skin like clouds. Gentle water trickled like soft music and the trilling of birds.
“I’m in Arthal?”
“No, you’re in what we call the Phantasmic Moors,” the voice said. “The Court of King Dagden, ruler of the Wild Fae.”
Dyna glanced at last at the one beside her, and her mouth fell open. The faerie girl was beautiful. Young, perhaps younger than her, with skin of rich sepia. Her eyes were a golden brown woven through with olive green. Behind her beat translucent yellow wings that glimmered under the light. Every twitch released a sprinkle of gold dust into the air.
And the fairy was no bigger than about four inches.
She smiled warmly and tilted her head in greeting. “Hello, Dynalya. I am Princess Keenali of the Morphos Court. Please, call me Keena.”
“I … hello. Oh, forgive me—” She scrambled to stand on her feet to give the princess a proper bow, but the sheets tangled around her legs and she tripped.
The fairy burst into a shower of pixie dust. Keena caught her arm before she hit the ground, and with surprising strength, steadied her back on her feet. Dyna blinked repeatedly, stunned by the fairy’s sudden change in size. She now stood a little taller than her.
“Careful,” Keena said. “You have been unconscious for three days. Give your body time to settle.”
“How did you do that?” Dyna asked. “You were tiny before. Or am I still dreaming?”
The fairy giggled again. “I can temporarily change my size with pixie dust.”
“Oh…” Well, that made sense, she supposed.
The sounds outside grew clearer. Once she got her bearings, Dyna made her way to the window. She was high above the ground, with a view of the vast forest below. Fairies of all kinds mingled about, hanging banners and adorning tables. Some flew through the air in glittering forms of all colors. From this high up, she realized she was in a tree.Insideof a tree.
“What is happening?”
“They are preparing for a royal wedding,” Keena said, though that’s not what Dyna meant, and came to stand beside her. “It will be tonight, so we must dress in our finest and pay our respects to the King. He graciously permitted me to bring you here to be healed.”
“I was sick?”
Keena nodded, glancing at Dyna’s knee where the skin had puckered with fresh scars. “Grindylows are filthy creatures. The wound had become infected. It was good I came to you when I did as fae medicine works quickly.” She frowned and crossed her arms. “Though, the Celestial could have healed you at any moment. Why did he leave you to perish?”
Dyna brushed her matted hair from her face. Cassiel must not want to give his blood anymore, not after it had bound them in a way neither of them wanted. No. The thought didn’t fit. They may be at odds, but Cassiel wouldn’t leave her to die. There must be a reason.
“Did he refuse to heal me?”
The fairy princess sheepishly shrugged. She played with the shawl necklace of interwoven brown and white glass beads that spanned her shoulders. “No.”
“So why take me?”
“I wanted to meet you.”
“What? But—” Dyna gasped when the reminder of Cassiel pulled her out of whatever dream-like trance she was in, and everything came rushing back. Her journey. The events of the fjord. Her friends.
“Where are Cassiel and the others?” she asked. Zev would never let her be taken.
“Worry not. They are on their way. My guardsmen reported they have entered the Wild Wood and will be here soon.”
Dyna relaxed. Fairies couldn’t lie, and Keena’s soft eyes were clear and kind.
