Chapter 29 - Wings of Lies

The night faded. Eventually, the trees lost their glow and became thinner. A bronze blanket of needles covered the ground instead of vibrant mushrooms and moss. The white flowers became the size of my fist, clinging to vines that wrapped around the trees and dragged along the ground. They were perfumed with vanilla, masking the horrid stench of my hair and clothes. Their velvet petals with little blue centers continued to glow as the night waned. The only light we had left. But it didn’t matter since their size made up for the loss of light. Even in the distance, I could make out the glowing flowers.

“Tone down the crazy eyes.” Oliver moved to nudge me and thought better of it. “Celestrus are beautiful though, aren’t they? They only glow at night if someone with angel blood is in their presence. Then once they start glowing, it’s a chain reaction, and they light each other up.”

The flowers were now ten times cooler than before.

Oliver couldn’t hold back his laughter at my dreamy saucer eyes. “Come on. We need to find a place to sleep for a couple of hours before we pass out from lack of squirrel.”

“Is it safe to sleep?”

“Probably not. But Aspen hasn’t found you yet, and we need to rest, or we’ll be as good as dead if we run into anything. And if I need to use my fear on Aspen, surface-level fears aren’t going to cut it, and that’s all I’d be able to do right now.”

“How do you know?”

“Searching for my sister, I ran into people who talked about him. Plus, I’ve seen him from a distance sneaking up and down the Tenebrous border.”

“You never approached him?” I asked.

Oliver shot me a disbelieving glance, scanned himself up and down, then glanced at me again. “I’m sorry, but in what world do you think my 150-pound ass can go up against a commander who can snuff me out with a fireball?”

I shrugged. “You did it to two high-level angels and Marcus.”

“That was a last resort, do-or-die situation, and I wanted to murder Marcus. Plus, the demon prince is never alone. The ugly old male is always with him or a horde of soldiers.”

“Suppose you’re right.” He’d never stand a chance against Aspen.

We walked away from the forest. The flowers dimmed the further we went, shutting off as we stopped next to a foggy pond illuminated by Elora’s moon. We plopped onto the bumpy grass and tried to settle in without gear. From the way my bones ground against the ground and my breath clouded the air, comfort was unlikely. I curled up into a tight ball, conserving my heat. The moment I laid my head down, I focused on thoughts of my mom and the present day and let exhaustion drag me into another dream-walk, hoping it would show me where she was.

After I decided I shouldn’t follow Aspen, he was true to his word and returned every week, giving me slivers. He never returned on the same day, but he was at least consistent with the time.

That morning, huddled in an oversized baggy sweatshirt, making my rounds through the forest to see if he’d show, he luscelered in front of my face.

I flinched, falling on my ass, making him laugh. “Don’t do that!” I exclaimed, irritated but unable to hold back my smile.

“How many times have I scared you? And yet, you still end up on the ground,” Aspen snorted, holding out his hand to help me up per usual. It had become our irritating routine.

“Maybe one of these days, you’ll be kind enough to catch me before I fall.” I grabbed his hand, enjoying the way the tingles tightened my stomach.

He lifted me, then smoothed a piece of my long hair back. “But how else will I come by my weekly chuckle?”

I pushed him and his delicious hands away, trying to act indignant, but it wasn’t easy when his dimples came out to play. They didn’t grace his face often, usually because of my prying words, but when they did, I melted.

“So, what sliver will you give me today?” Yep, and there they went. Unlocking anything from Aspen was like attempting to find where my mom hid her old text about bonds. I had searched everywhere for the damned book and still couldn’t find it. Aspen was disappointed when I told him, but I said I would keep looking and tell him if and when I found it. Until then, he visited, we talked, and I tried to learn things about him.

So far, I had learned that Aspen loved apples and possessed a bonded sword, which was a weapon he could only touch and channel his power into. After he explained, I demanded an example and watched as his eyes and intricate sword lit with blue flame. I also learned he enjoyed fighting because he was excellent at it, his words, not mine, and that he wasn’t from here. But when I asked where he was from, he said those same six words and left me. So, I now resorted to letting him choose what to tell me. For the most part, my curiosity got the best of me at times and bit me in the ass half the time.

He stepped closer, brushing more of my wild hair from my face, which he did almost every time we met. I gazed up at him, smiling because I had officially become addicted to his tingly touch, stupid dimples, and even the thin-pressed scowl and frown he wore every five minutes.

“Tell you what, sweetheart.” He started to call me that after I accidentally leaped on him after he surprised me with one of my favorite chocolate bars. I didn’t mind one bit. “I’ll make you a deal. If you answer a question of mine, I’ll answer any question of yours.”

At first, I wanted to jump with joy at his offer, but then my smile dropped. Aspen liked his secrets, or at least thought he had to keep them, and I wasn’t much better with my own.

“Who is after you?”

I stepped back. Out of all the questions he could’ve asked, it wasn’t the worst, but it’d only spawn more. However, he was my guardian, so maybe he needed to know. I decided to compromise and give him a half-answer.

“Everyone.”

Or more of a non-answer.

He snuffed out the distance I had created and grabbed my hand. I wondered if he knew how easily he could sway me with his touch and the tingles that pitter-pattered their way into my lonely heart.

Maybe that was why I said it. For once, I wanted someone else to know the secrets of my past. I’d keep it vague enough he’d be safe if, for some crazy reason, he was questioned by the wrong people, but I’d give him a sliver.

“I was never supposed to exist, and my—” I gathered my thoughts before I spewed something I shouldn’t. “We’ve been hiding from my fathers.”

“Fathers?”

“Yes, plural.”

A soft glow illuminated his eyes, like he despised the fact someone so close to me was after me. Or someone was after me to begin with.

“Where are they now?” he demanded, clenching the hilt of his sword.

My lips pressed into a thin line, holding back my smile. What was he going to do? Kill them for us?

“My mom hasn’t shared that information with me.”

Determination rested in his brows. He opened his mouth, likely about to ask more questions.

“Oh, no. My turn, Aspen. Where are you from?”

He shook his head vehemently.

“We made a deal,” I said, releasing his hand to brush his cheek, giving him a taste of the delicious torment.

He squeezed his eyes shut as if battling himself or possibly the influence of the bond between us. “If I tell you, you must promise never to follow me there.”

I nodded, all too eager to know.

But when he opened his eyes, they were all flame.

“I mean it, Lucille. You are not to ever go there. Ever. Promise me.”

“I promise,” I whispered, noticing fear and agony behind the demand in his flaming eyes. The emotions were so powerful it was almost like I could feel them.

His jaw pulsed for a second before he answered. “Elora.”

Stay here, stay put, stay safe. He never meant the house we lived in. He meant on Earth. Stay here and safe on Earth.

Oh, he should not have said that. Currently, hiding under my bed were four bobby pin-unlocked books about Elora—the angelic world I was forbidden from. Just knowing the name nearly gave my mom a heart attack.

Fathers. I had two fathers. How was that possible? What else was I missing from my memories?

I feared that answer—and the lingering ache I had for Aspen.

In my dream-walk, he was everything to me. I adored the way he brushed my hair back, his tingly touch, and the cliche nickname he gave me because of my obsession with chocolate. He made me feel seen, bringing life to my isolation. Every time he left, my chest ached to follow him or make him stay. Why couldn’t I have met that male when I came to Elora?

Uncurling from my ball, I glanced around. The Celestrus from the forest glowed with warm light. Weren’t we too far away for them to glow?

I grabbed Oliver’s long leg and shook.

Nothing.

“Oliver,” I said.

“What?” he groaned, rolling over.

“Weren’t the flowers normal when we went to sleep?” I continued to stare, muscles tense. But underneath the fear, my worry felt foreign and overwhelming.

“Yeah, why?” he mumbled, stretching out before glancing toward the forest. “Shit.” He sat up, grabbed my hand, and pulled me up with him.

“But what if it’s not him?” I asked, knowing I sounded foolish.

“You really want to risk it? Say it wasn’t the evil prince. If the queen knows about you, then there’s a good chance others do, too.”

He was right. “Earlier, we ran into a blonde Dominion and a redheaded Power. They were after me. Do you think those were the ones you scared off when we were still on earth?”

Oliver nodded. “Sounds like it. And before I touched them with my power, they mumbled about a reward for finding you. That some he would be pleased. They were so focused on you that they didn’t stand a chance against me.”

“Who do you think he is?”

Oliver stared at the glowing Celestrus. “The king?”

I shook my head. “Unless he’s playing a bigger game than I’ve realized. He’s not working with them.”

“I wouldn’t put it past him. But we don’t have time to mull over why everyone wants you. We gotta run.”

“I can’t. My cuffs!”

He glared at my ankles. “I really hate those jangling bastards.” He swooped down and picked me up. “I’m not risking my neck because of your stupid cuffs. Hold on.”

Squeezing my eyes shut from the wind, he luscelered us away from the pond. We ran over flat grassy lands and continued into another forest. A typical, average-looking, non-glowing forest. Squirrels and all.

He stopped when we reached a golden field and put me down, breathing unevenly.

“Why’d we stop?” We couldn’t possibly be far enough away. But if they never saw us leave, they would never know what direction we went.

He gestured in front of him. “Because we need to walk through that, and I figured I’d tell you what to expect first.”

I stared at what he pointed at. Near us, metallic golden strands swayed, but halfway out, a shimmery haze split the field, changing the gold to silver.

“Why does the grass look like that?” It reminded me of the field near Drune Forest.

Oliver chuckled. “It’s the barrier that makes it that color.”

I craned my head up to him. “What?”

“The Ethereal Kingdom is on the other side of the golden grass. There is a barrier in place that separates The Divide from the kingdom. It keeps out unwanted species.”

I stilled, staring at the swaying silver grass, as a chill brushed my spine. “I can’t cross that.”

He looked at me funny. “Your legs look fine to me.”

My eyebrows shot into my forehead. “We just said angels were after me, and now you want to go into their territory? Do you plan on handing me over to them, too?”

His mouth opened and closed. “But that’s where we can eat food,” he whined.

What a child.

“Aren’t there other places we can eat? Or hunt more squirrels?”

Oliver frowned. “This is the closest place to find real food. Aren’t you sick of squirrels? Wouldn’t you like some homemade bread or stew or anything else?”

I threw up my hands. “Of course, Oliver. I’d love to have my fill and not be on the brink of starvation! That doesn’t change the fact I, for some reason, have everyone after me!”

“Okay, okay, don’t have a panic attack.” He mulled over the rest of what I said. “I promise if we see any angels with armor, we leave. But they normally don’t come to this village. Plus, it’s just over the border. Then, after we eat, maybe we rest a second. Magda won’t fly away on her broomstick before we arrive,” he said, bottom lip sticking out as his blonde lashes fluttered.

Such a baby. But my stomach rivaled with the need to reach Magda.

“I swear, Oliver. If we run into trouble…”

He hugged me. “You’ll love this place, trust me. Plus, I’d never risk our deal for a second time.”

We walked to the edge of the golden grass. A hum of energy vibrated into my feet and up my spine. “So, we just walk through? Easy peasy?”

Oliver nodded. “As long as you have angel blood, you should be good. But once we cross, we need to move fast again. I only stopped to be considerate and let you know what the barrier was.”

I was sure that wasn’t the only reason.

“Okay, what about my cuffs?”

“What about them? I’ll be carrying you.”

I bit my lip. “But what if they have demon energies in it? Do you think the barrier would pick up on them?”

Oliver glanced at my cuffs, analyzing them. “I don’t think it’ll register with border control. They may like to make sure what walks onto their side is angel, but I’ve seen mix-breeds in the villages, some even part demon. They’re not as strict about their rules in this area, but once you pass the villages and near their capital, they’ll hunt you down if you’re not pure angel.”

“You’re sure?”

He grabbed my hand, the devil sneaking a peek through his bold smile. “Any danger, and we’re out, I promise. Plus, you already agreed. Too late to back out now.”

“Okay,” I sighed, trusting him.

He pulled me through the shimmery barrier before I could finish my sentence. It tingled against my skin like pins and needles.

“Did you feel that?” I whispered, awed by the golden field butting up to a stream that bordered a forest of pink trees.

“No dilly dally, remember? We need to run.”

Oliver swooped me up and luscelered us over the stream and through the pink trees. His puffs of hot morning breath hit my cheek until it changed to sprays of spit. After nearly missing a couple of tree trunks, his long strides shortened, slowing our pace to a jog. A pink root caught his shoe. He tripped, and I landed in a bush.

“Oliver! What is with you and dropping me?” I yelled, swatting away the branches trying to rip out my hair.

“Sorry, jailbird,” he panted, laying stomach first on a bed of pink leaves. “Olivmobile is out of commission. It’s time to use those scrawny legs of yours. It’s just by those trees.” He pointed without looking.

“Get up. Someone promised me bread and stew,” I said, walking over to his sprawled body, holding out my hand to him.

He smiled like an idiot as he looked at it. “Does this mean you forgive me?”

“No. But I want food. For that, I need you.”

His goofy smile widened as he latched on. “I’ll take that.”

I rolled my eyes. “Come on.”

We shuffled—okay, I shuffled while Oliver strode—until we arrived at an edge of thinning pink trees and a view of the village—a very unmodern village, with thatched roofing and wood siding. Some, very few, were made from plain stone.

Oliver noticed the look on my face and chuckled. “It’s not Earth, Lucy.”

“Well aware. What are they doing?” I asked. Figures moved about, but from this distance, I couldn’t tell why.

Oliver grinned as he rubbed his hands together. “It’s their daily market, with lots of food.”

Thank heavenly.

He stepped into the clearing. I hesitated. I’d be completely exposed the moment I stepped away from the forest. They’d see us coming. They’d see me.

“I promise, I got your back. Any trouble and we’re…” Oliver turned back to me, words trailing off as he gazed at something over my head. “Fuck-a-duck.”

I turned, gaze landing on a piece of paper at my back, and almost sank to the ground. We should’ve never stepped over that border. Crushing pressure gripped my chest at finding my face on a piece of paper with the words WANTED ALIVE at the top and an outrageous sum of money on the bottom. But before I had another panic attack at the fact that someone named Michael put a bounty on my head, something flashed through the clearing.

There wasn’t enough time to warn Oliver as the red blur luscelered toward him at top speed. I shoved him out of the way as the figure, meant for Oliver, slammed me into a tree.

I cried out, feeling a snap in my ribs. A scrawny redhead with dark skin grabbed my neck and held me against the tree with one arm. I latched onto his wrist, summoning my Infernus.

“Michael wondered if you’d be stupid enough to enter Elora and come to Etherea. I guess it’s a good thing he had me stationed here,” he said, unfazed by the ice spreading across his skin as he reached to his belt and took out a feather. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of your parlor tricks with a Binding Rune.” Then he slammed my head back into the trunk.