1 Chapter 1

The summer sun beat down on me as I picked up the axe and sauntered over to the unchopped wood.

     It was my least favorite chore but needed to be done.

     My older brother, Darcio, was off in the woods hunting to ensure we had enough to eat. I had already attended the garden and it looked like we had a pretty good harvest this year.

     Everything seemed great. The best luck we'd had in awhile.

     I lowered the axe and it cut right through the wood. I wiped the back of my hand across my brow and placed the next piece of wood on the stump.

     "Miss Arkwright."

     I glanced up, midswing. It was a boy named Owen from the village. He tried to court me countless times. I had been approached for marriage by many others. A girl with a little bit of money and beauty. But I turned each of them down. Owen kept coming though. Hoping to get some money out of me.

     I set the axe down and kept the stump between us. He wasn't seeing the real me. No, that would send him running.

     His hair, the color of mud, was dry and unkept, his eyes the same dull brown. His cheeks were sunken in from hunger, his skin so dirty it was as if he hadn't had a bath for some time. He probably hadn't.

     Many of the villagers hated my brother and I. Skin full of color, meat on our bones, clean clothes. We weren't wealthy but we weren't exactly poor either.

     I missed my old home sometimes. We had a big house, a magnificent garden. My favorite part of it was our personal library.

     I wasn't from the human world. I was one of the Fae. From the Faerie Lands. A place ruled by eight courts.

     The Seelie Court was ruled by Queen Tatania. Under her control, there were the Spring and Summer Courts. She appointed High Lord Drazen to the Summer Court and High Lady Leilani to the Spring Court.

     The Unseelie Court was ruled by King Cadoc. Under his control were the Winter and Autumn Courts. And fifty years ago, he attacked the Shadow Court and killed their king. He took over the court and appointed his favorite son, Kaius, as High Lord of the Shadow Court. He assigned High Lord Jarek to the Winter Court and High Lord Xanthion to the Autumn Court.

     King Titus ruled over the Light Court.

     I came from Autumn. My father was the son of Xanthion and my mother was the daughter of Tatania.

     "Owen, I have no time for this. I already said I am not interested. I have no interest in being used for my money. Good day." I turned my back to him.

     "How is it fair that you and your brother are the only ones to prosper in this village? We all hunt just the same. Try to tend gardens just like you. And yet we all suffer while you live perfectly. The both of you are selfish."

     Thanks to my magic, I kept our garden going good and Darcio had hunting skills of a Faerie.

     I paused, halfway to the door. Perhaps I should have kept the axe.

     "What is your point, Owen? We have given money to those in need, we've given food, and clothes. Is that so selfish?"

     Being fifty-six years old, I had learned a few things about people. Humans. What drove their greed and needs. Their wants. Owen and his family were suffering. I understood why he bothered me as much as he did. But no matter how many times he asked for my hand in marriage, my answer was always the same.

     For as long as I had lived, I had never once been in love. I had reached nineteen and that was the last thing on my mind with the way my father was. And after that night when I was nineteen, when I had lost everything, I didn't care about those things.

     "Nesrin, if I don't do anything, my sisters will die. So I must act. The few coins you can spare us aren't enough," he stepped toward me.

     I met his starving, rage-filled eyes and suddenly the distance to the door became much too far.

     He picked up the axe I left on his way to me.

     "I apologize, but I have to do what I can. If that means killing you and taking what you have, then I will."

     I was weaponless and I wouldn't be fast enough to make it to the door.

     "Darcio will be home soon," I warned, taking a slow, cautious step back.

     "Not before I'm done here," Owen bared his teeth.

     I wasn't defenseless, but I didn't want to tap into that power. Not here. But still, he advanced towards me and I was weighing my options.

     He lunged forward, swinging the axe. I knocked him down, using the wind around me and made the earth hold him in place. He pulled against his dirt and grass bindings and slowly looked up at me. His eyes widened in horror.

     "You're a faerie. Your kind take pleasure in tormenting humans. You were right under our noses. Wait, why don't you look like one?"

     I narrowed my eyes. "A glamour. Meant to make me look however I want you to see me."

     Realization passed across his face and he looked back at me. "Only the High Lords or the Kings and Queen have these powers. Or their kids. Are you-"

     "No. I am the granddaughter of High Lord Xanthion of the Autumn Court and Queen Tatania of the Seelie Court. By birthright, I inherited powers of wind from my grandfather and healing abilities and teleportation from my grandmother," I explained.

     I didn't have to tell him anything. But I'd have to kill him now. He looked even more terrified. He began trembling, tears streaming down his face.

     "But you controlled the earth too," he stated. I needed to ensure my secret stayed safe. Not just about me being a faerie but about my magic as well. I didn't need to stall anymore.

     "Nesrin!"

     I glanced up to find Darcio racing towards me. We looked so alike. The same nose, the same mouth, the same golden eyes. But his hair was the color of dark chocolate and mine was the color of a red autumn leaf.

     "Darcio, Owen showed up and tried to kill me so he could rob us. I'm sorry. I gave us away. I just acted when he came at me."

     He looked astonished and grim all at once. "Nesrin, take the deer to the back so I can skin it. I'll take care of this."

     His hand moved to the dagger at his side and Owen screamed and thrashed against his restraints. My mouth went bone dry.

     I moved stiffly towards the doe and gripped her legs, feeling sick. I heard Darcio slide the dagger free and I moved away as fast as I could.

     Owen's screaming continued until everything just fell silent. My legs felt wobbly and I dropped to my knees and vomited.

     I felt a warm hand on my back and I leaned into my brother.

     "I'm sorry," I whispered.

     "It wasn't your fault, Nes. You were defending yourself. Go ahead and get inside. I'll be right behind you."

     I got to my feet and trudged to the door. This was the first time I really used my magic like that since I was nineteen and I got someone killed.

     I put my trembling hand on the doorknob and twisted it. The heat from the fireplace hit my face, and I stepped inside.

     The dark wooden walls, the polished wood floor, the stone fireplace. This had become my new home.

     I slid off my boots and left them by the door before heading to my room at the back of the house. I sunk onto the old creaky bed and lied back.

     It wasn't as comfortable as my bed back at home but I would never see that place again. Perhaps I could never enter the Faerie Lands again.

     Not as long as Darcio was being hunted. I had a mother named Haizea and a father named Drastan. I also had three brothers and four sisters. The youngest one had been three. Sarnai was her name. The second youngest was Sahar, only seven. Rhosyn was nine, Adonis was eleven, Zetta was thirteen, Adrastos was seventeen. Only two years younger than I was at the time. He would be fifty-four now.

     I sometimes hated being immortal. An immortal life of running. Darcio had tried to send me away to live my life. I couldn't lose the only one I had left.

     I heard the front door open but I didn't move.

     "Nes, I'm starting dinner," Darcio called out to me. I didn't answer.

     Sometimes I wished it would have been me. I would have traded my life for my siblings. I could have saved Adrastos. I had the chance. Because of a stupid mistake, he died like the rest.

     Even thirty-seven years later, it still haunted me. The nightmares were terrible. I could still clearly see their faces, their bodies.

     I let out a shuddering breath and buried my head in my hands.

     "Nes?"

     I lifted my face and Darcio was standing in the doorway.

     "I think I'm just going to sleep," I mumbled.

     He stared at me for a long moment before shutting the door and leaving me alone. I curled up on my side and pulled my blanket up to my chin. Soon enough, I was asleep.