Mariel had wings.
Her lips twisted into a smile. Shakily, she stood and tested the wings with a small flap. She didn’t even know how to control them or even if she could. The wings twitched in response, barely beating against the air.
She pushed harder.
The wings flared wide, lifting her feet from the ground.
A delighted laugh poured from her lips. Grinning, she pushed against the air. Her wings launched her forward, spinning her up through the trees. She gasped, trying desperately to control her movements, but it was as if the wings had taken over out of their own volition.
They shot her through the canopy and into the clouds. Mariel spun, darting past birds and launching toward the stars. Hope surged within her at the sight of the woods stretching wide on either side of her. They backed up to the glistening castle, the six towers basked in the glow of the moon.
She twisted toward the sea, wondering at how the ripples of the waves would look from her vantage point. How far could she go like this? Could she fly to the islands and watch the great beasts swim through the currents?
Hundreds of ships crammed the waters.
Her stomach dropped.
Not just any ships. Those were warships, great, hulking beasts with sails bearing the sigils of human kingdoms.
Mariel shot forward, spinning toward the ships. She frowned as her enhanced eyesight swept across the distant decks. There were hundreds of warriors on board. Every ship was packed full of them. Some of those ships held cannons, weapons she had only read of in books. The fae had never found need for them in Tir Na Nog, not when they’d had magic and swords.
Those cannons could take out every ship docked inside the Bay of Winds.
She watched the ships as the edged closer to Tairngire. Had the castle spotted them yet? Mavis hadn’t mentioned it, and he’d been watching the guards closely for the past several weeks. The High King wasn’t even inside the city right now. He’d gone to sign the treaty with the other kings.
How many warriors had he taken with him? He wouldn’t have thought to leave many in the capital, not when the war was over and the threat was gone. They had no enemies now.
Except the humans.
Why the hell were the humans attacking now?
Mariel frowned. Whatever the reason, she had to do something to stop them. They’d reach Tairngire in only a few hours’ time.
Should she turn back and warn the castle? Or would they dismiss her fears as nothing? Would they just lock her up again?
And even if they trusted her with the truth, would they have the ships and the weapons to take down so many ships?
No.
Mariel flapped her wings, thinking. An idea sprouted in her mind, a tiny bud of hope. If she had wings, what else might she have? Before the Fall, the fae had control of elemental powers. They used the magic of their courts to enhance their lives and fight their enemies.
She curled her hand and lifted it before her. Magic buzzed through her body, heady and strong.
“Here goes nothing,” she muttered to herself.
Taking in a monstrous breath, she rushed toward the human ships and blew. Wind burst from her body like a hurricane. It hurtled from her open mouth and slammed against the ships. Waves crashed over them, pushing them away from the shore.
Smiling, Mariel took in another breath, but her lungs squeezed tight. Dizziness crashed into her skull and drove her downward. Her wings had grown as heavy as steel, and her eyes swam with tears. Carefully, she lowered herself to the ground and took in several steadying breaths.
The magic had come to her when she’d needed it, but it wasn’t endless. She’d pushed the ships back, which was enough for now, but they would come again. More sap was needed, and rest. When the humans returned, she’d be ready for them.
38
Eislyn
It was time.
Eislyn closed her eyes, and a tear slipped down her cheek. She pushed into their shared quarters and braced herself for the sight of him. Her heart still jolted, and her mind still raced. He stood by the window, gazing out at his city. His muscular back was bare and bronze beneath the dying blaze of the sun.
