Warm. Comfortable. Silky. I stretch.

Feels so good beneath me. Like sleeping on water. But it is too small. Too tight no space. I start panicking.

My eyes snapped open. I hate small spaces. Claustrophobia is my enemy.

I start clawing at the filmy stuff around me. It is like being trapped in opaque polythene. The filmy stuff just molds around my hands.

I look at what I am lying on. Is it a huge petal? No it's too big to be one. I try ripping it but to no avail.

I am preparing to scream when I hear a muffled voice through the the filmy filament.

"Stop fighting it. It'll just wrap and hold you more so be still."
The distorted voice calls.

I take deep breaths to calm my racing heart and panic. I close my eyes and started saying the alphabet backwards, it's a calming technique for me.

The filmy stuff expands and falls away letting go and a draft of fresh air hits me in the face. I immediately jump off the the yellow whitish thing I was lying on and land straight into someone's strong muscular arms.

"Good thing I was here to break your fall"
He is serious. I look up.
"Thoren."
It is more of a breath than a word. I blush. Of all people it had to be him.

"You could have seriously hurt yourself if I didn't catch you. You ought to be more considerate of your well being."
He chastises.

I look at the bed like structure. I actually leaped before I look to consider the height. I could have sprained an ankle or broken something but bottom line I couldn't have been able to walk straight.

I remember the pain of a wounded ankle and cringe. I was so desperate I didn't think I could have been suspended six feet in the air on a huge tree.

I was mistaken, it wasn't a bed. It looked more like a bean pod, a huge golden bean pod which kept changing colour.

The tree actually has several dozens of them. Though all of them look empty.

Now I know why his voice was distorted, he had to shout. The tree is magnificent and huge but with goldish veins that are pulsating and running disappearing into the pods.

I feel them pulsating like a heart beat. An enclosing wood shelter is built spanning the tree making the branches and leaves the roof. Nice craftsmanship. It's cozy and warm.

"What are you staring at?"
Thoren snaps me out of my daze. I am still in his arms. I look down at my self dressed in the thinnest layer of pure white silk. My puckering nipples were very much visible and the dress though long does close to nothing to cover my outlines. Infact it is just accentuating them.

"Please put me down"
My voice is still a whisper. Hmm I am thirsty. Thoren gently puts me down.

Now that am sober, I really look at him. He is well built and my head just reaches his chest below his chin and am not that short. Why am I checking him out?

I decide to check myself out instead of getting flustered by the boy I have only despised since we met. My hair is unbraided flowing down to my waist and unrestrained. Good. I check for wounds and bruises, none. Good.

The dress has a free flowing skirt from the waist downwards with a halter neck upwards. My chest size is typically drawing attention with my puckering nipples even if my boobs aren't that big.

Who put me in this ridiculous clothing? Who even undressed me? I'll introduce them to my fists and sword. Where Is it even?

I fold my arms across my chest and look anywhere as long as it's not at Thoren. This situation is awkward enough. Something strikes me. I decide to ask.

"Why are you here?"
I ask him after working up the nerve to look at him. He unnerves me especially so close.

"I was worried about you"
He says it like it's the simplest sincerest thing.
I blush looking at my small protruding white feet. Am barefoot but the grass is cushion soft.

My green nail polish is chipping. I need a pedicure. I curl them in. They look terrible.

"Don't hide them. They are beautiful" He puts his hands on both my shoulders his intense black eyes smoldering mine.

What's happening? But I want to see where it goes. I stand still.

"You are beautiful. I have always wanted to say that since I saw you."
He whispers closing the space between us.

"And I thought you I'd never tell it you. I wanted to be here so that I let you know when you wake up."
His palms feel like they are scorching my pale flesh.

I take in deep short breaths, holding his gaze steadily. I can't stop looking at him. It's like time has stopped Everything stands still. Only the thrumming of the tree is what I can here as blood floods my head drowning out my senses.

With utter shock I realize I want him to kiss me. My brain is actually screaming for it.

I have never wanted this, it feels like a primal desire. I want to taste him. And this is a surprise to me. We more than hate eachother.

But at this moment, I only want him to hold me and kiss me like its the only thing that can bring me back to life.

I want to tangle my small fingers into his black disheveled hair. I want his tongue to invade my senses. I want to taste all of him, all the sin and sensuality coming off him, I want it. All of it. It feels so wrong.

His dark eyes became darker as if that is possible. One of his hands slips from my shoulder into my thick silver tresses and one slides down resting on my waist.

"This hair is so enticing on you."
He licks his upper lip while his hands run through my tresses.

"I have wanted to run my hands through this hair since from the first time I saw you"
He gazes intently at it.

I reflexively swallow. To say am burning up is an understatement. I have never felt like this. I have never had a yearning like this.

"Some say kissing is like heaven. Well,how wrong they are. Am going to make you feel hot as hell and bask you in complete sin you'll love it. Make the wrong feel right"
He's mere inches from my face.

"What are you waiting for?"
I manage to choke out. Wait what? Did I just say that? Something is seriously wrong with me. His face gets closer. I can't breathe anymore.

He pulls me closer as I stand on my tip toes straining to reach him. Almost there.

"My oh my. This is intense. Do both of you need a room? It can be arranged in seconds."
A chirping voice breaks from the door way.

The spell immediately breaks. I jump out of Thoren's hold as he lets go in the process. Am sure I am berry red.

The girl I saw in the clearing, it is her. Green hair.

"I should go check on the others, give them the good news too."
And with that, Thoren leaves with a very unperturbed expression as he passes the girl like she is invisible barely even sparing her a glance.

But all her attention is on me. She moves, no, sashayes towards me her movements not like her age and body at all.

"I believe I should introduce myself. My name is Mevi. It's a pleasure to meet you warrior guardian of wisdom and battle Queen Athena."
She's standing directly infront of me.

She just reaches my chest but I can feel power rolling off her in waves. There is something ancient about her and a small hidden smile on her lips.

I take a step back from her.
"How did you......No body except my parents knows that was my name. Who are you exactly?"
I narrow my eyes at her. I am shocked.

Not even Karim knows that was my name. I asked my parents to change my name to Althea when I was five and they happily agreed.

But her exaggerations though related but I wasn't happy being named after a Greek goddess. She is freaking me out.

She just turns around and moves out leaving me there standing in a daze.
"Are you coming or you still need a minute?"
She shouts from outside.

I quickly hold up my dress and take off running after her barefoot. I need answers and I need them bad. I catch up start walking a few steps behind her fiddling with my hair.

"Shoot."
She doesn't even turn around to me.

"What?"
I am now confused. Shoot?

"Your questions. Start shooting, I'll answer everything I can."
Her deep green eyes were bore into mine with a small smile on them. She lookes so mischievous for a kid.

"For starters how did you know my name?" That I want to know above anything else.

"That, you'll know in due time but I was the one who named you Althea the Goddess of truth in ancient Greek."

"No you didn't. I chose it myself."
She doesn't even turn around to look at me. It looks like we are taking a specific path. There are actual people though not quite.

Their different hair colours is what strikes me. It almost looks like a colour bomb has exploded on them. It is so colourful. My silver hair doesn't stand out at all, I actually feel I blend in here.

Even Emmeline's pink hair is pale in comparison to this. But that's not what freezes me in my tracks. Every single person is unearthly beautiful.

They look like fine polished porcelain. I can't bear to take my eyes off them. A boy, about twenty with aqua curls I badly want to touch and light green eyes looks at me and laughs while nudging another boy with brownish hair next to him who frowns and then turns to me. He smiles.

I reach out and touch his face, it is so smooth. No contours, just like polished porcelain. I touch his hair, so soft. I can't believe such beautiful people ever exist. I am drawn to all of them and their looks.

"Your are a curious one." A soft velvety voice rings out from behind me. I whirl around and come to face my object of fascination.

I stand on my tippy toes and shamelessly touch his aqua curls. I want to keep watching all of them. He just let's my hands explore.

"Meilin, Please stop charming our guest." A chirpy but firm voice rings out. I snap out of it.

I didn't realize I had even moved. Everyone has stopped what they were doing to just stare at me.

Some are in fits of laughter. I was caught ogling at beautiful boys in public before everyone. I want to bury myself.

"I didn't charm her. She just teleported to us. The blue haired boy I have been all hands at is staring at me quietly with a hidden smile.
My head snaps up at that.

"Athena, come."
She continues walking not caring if I follow. Her attitude is starting to get to me. I look at the boys one more time and follow her.

"I can teleport?" I ask silently. Am still dazed. Especially if my trigger is cute boys.

"You can but only to a short distance and when you badly want it." Well that explains the mornings I always woke up in Karim's bed when I clearly slept in mine. I blush remembering those mornings.

"Where am I?" Lately I have been asking this question alot. I fiddle with my hair once more.

"A border realm of the Amazon or what is left of the realm. Humans call it the Amazon forest. You portaled outside of it because of our defense mechanism. You cannot directly portal in here."
She turns abruptly directly looking at me like she wants me to never forget it. She resumes her match.

I jump over roots and dodge low branches following her. She is fast on her feet. People in here kept staring at me oddly as I pass.

"Why is everyone staring at me?"

"For starters, you and your sister are something of a novelty here. You created a purification barrier for the blood fae and you restored four people's life forces alone. Everyone is awestruck. Your abilities are far greater than I last remember."

At this point she had stopped and is giving me her novel hidden smile stare that makes my blood curl.

"What are blood fae?"  She is quiet for sometime.

"There are many types of Fae. There are Fairies, Faeries, Fayres, Light Fae, Tuatha Dé Denan and then us the Raelm Fae."
I just give her a blank stare. Still doesn't explain Blood Fae.

"Blood Fae have existed only three times this being the third in all of Fae history. They are created from tragdedy that involves great pain. Desperation, suffering and no survival hopes."
She looks deep into space remembering something.

"The great fire." I whisper.

"Yes. They were in pain. Desperate and torn between fleeing to save themselves and leaving the animals. They gave up hope. They died in anguished pain and they couldn't transition."

"Transition into what? Why did they even attack us? We weren't the source of their pain you know." I dare her to contradict me.

"When Fae die, they don't quite die. They become light fae. They go to a higher realm of supreme purity even none of the regular Fae can go to."

"So it's like the after life for you? You metamorph?"
It is the only logical way I can perceive it.

"Something like that. But the dead didn't transit. Instead their anguish kept them here to prey on life force of the unsuspecting."

"So they are like remnants? We were attacked by remnants?"
She looks at me sadly.

"No my dear. They are empty vessels yearning to feel life again. We are looking for a way to help them transition and try to keep them from hurting others but nothing works on them. We cannot regrow the forest with them. They kill all life."
She gives me a knowing look.

"Until I came." The pieces are falling together. Maybe I can help them.

"You are not going to heal them. It's impossible, they are dead. We have just got you back. So your not doing anything reckless again." How did she know that? Can she read minds?

"Your powers are very unstable. They grow each day. I know you feel them. The moment you cannot contain them, or you get punctured, you'll go off taking whichever realm you are in into oblivion." So am basically a fast ticking unstable time bomb?

"So be careful. And don't let them rule you too or else you will do more harm than good."
I keep quiet and look at her.

"What had happened to me after I healed everyone?"

"You gave each of them a bit of your life force to repair theirs which the Blood Fae had siphoned. By doing that, you put yourself in danger because what's was left in you was barely enough. Your condition was becoming critical each second, you were going to kill us all."

She stands on her toes and removes silver strands from my downcast face. I had almost killed everyone.

"But I could still feel everything and hear everyone."
I whisper feeling very downcast. I had almost killed everyone.

"I know but the others didn't. You body shut down to slow down the process. But your mind was still alert. You were scalding hot but that boy still refused to let you go. I made you sleep so that you recover completely."
She did? I look her up and down.

"But what is that huge tree with giant pods?"

"That's a sapling of the tree of light. It is the only thing that could heal you again. We had to cook you for two whole days in there under constant supervision till you stabilized."
What?

"How long was I out?"
I gulp.

"Four days."
I sink slowly on the tree trunk I am leaning on to the ground. Four whole days. I put my head in between my knees.

"What about the rest of everyone?"

"They are fine, you did a good job. It is that boy who stayed and refused to leave your side. I think he has it in for you, but who would blame him. Your hot. Just like your mom." She snickers. I blanch.

"You know my mom?" I am surprised.

"Yes." Her green eyes glitter.

"But my parents are archeologists, how could they know you?" I am puzzled. Mom is in trouble.

"You'll know soon" Is all she says. Completely brushing off my next questions.

"Come get up. Let me show you to your quarters."
She passes me her arm to help me get up but I ignore it. My parents betrayal is so raw. How could they? How many things are they hiding from me?
I brush soil off my dress angrily.

"Where are my clothes?"
I want my underwear. I am very uncomfortable.

"In your room." She turns and leads the way.

"Who took them off?"
I blush. Good she can't see me.

"I and your sister"

"Why did you take them off ?"

"We only wear natural fibres here. They are effective and don't block natural energies. Besides you needed them off to heal faster." She strides purposely in the dense forest.

"What's this dress made from?"
I can't help but wonder. Soft, light and comfortable.

"Silk worms. We have millions."

"Ewww am wearing worm poop."
She erupts into giggles before moving on. Unexpectedly the forest gives away to a big Mansion. This is very surprising.

"We don't sleep in trees, well the dryads do atleast but not the rest of us." She smiles at my wow face. Am sure of it.

There are vines covering the entire Mansion as far as the eyes could see with different flowers. Too much colour. But it is beautiful.

The front porch is the size of a football pitch with random gardens bordering it. They are girls playing around.

I hear running water and singing. A girl with waist long red hair is crouched on the ground her hands wrist deep in the soil her brows furrowed in concentration.

An apple tree bursts out of the ground a few feet from her with full plump red apples. A woman with the same red hair embraces her.

Something whizzes in the air above me. I look up to see a bunch of boys with wings racing past with carry-ons, I turn in full circles. Something crushes into me.

"What were you thinking? I thought I had lost you. Again."
I know that voice.

"Well that's the thanks I get for saving you. Death by verbal smothering and tight unwanted hugs."
I manage to squeeze the words out despite her vice like grip.

"Now now loosen up. I didn't spend days healing her for you to kill her again."
Mevi shoos Artemis finally letting go and I double over taking in huge gulps of air.

"Sorry." She smiles sheepishly.

"Nice to see you too. Again."
I wheeze standing back straight.

Someone hugs me from the back lifting me off the ground twirling me in full circles. Karim.
"Great to have you back. The wait was killing me."
He whispers in my ear when he sets me back on my feet. I turn in his arms and embrace him. I feel content.

"I feel left out." Jake wedges himself between me and Karim forcefully. Karim laughs and lets me go taking a few steps backwards. Jake envelops me in another bone crushing hug.

"Don't you ever do that again."
He put holds me at arms distance his deep black eyes boring into mine.

"Don't you ever risk you life again or else I will die too so that I can come nag you wherever you'll be. Promise?" He looks into my eyes seriously.

"I promise Jake." I smile raising my pinky finger which is accepted. He pulls me back into a fierce hug.

I see Emmeline from the corner of my eye looking at the ground besides Thoren. All in silk, more like worm poop like everyone else here. I smile at her when Jake releases me.

She moves to me unsure, fiddling with her fingers. I hold both her hands and she looks at me startled.

"Uhh... Thanks... Thanks for what you did. For all of us"
A tinge of red colour floods her cheeks as she struggles with her words.

I pull her into a hug. She stills for a moment before relaxing and returning the embrace. I don't hate her. I avoid Thoren's gaze and look to Mevi.

"Alright everyone. She needs her rest. Come let's go Athena."

"Don't call me that. Am Althea."
Once again she ignores me. She just walks to the mansion. I turn to Artemis

"Hug me again without my permission again and I'll break your hands." I follow Mevi into the building a stricken expression on her face. Why did I even say that to her?

It is huge inside. She gives me a tour from the first floor where there is a dining room, sitting room, playrooms, board room, kitchen, some sleeping rooms and others I don't keep up with. Second floor has bedrooms as far as the eyes could reach. So is the third floor. Only residential rooms.

She stops on the fourth floor and moves to her right. Each door has individual different designs. The Fae who live here must be something.

She stops directly at the end outside a room with a silver door and opens it and steps inside. The room immediately lights up to reveal a bed growing directly from the floor with wild pink tulips littering the frame.

It is big enough to hold five people. It has a pink centre but I can see no covers whatsoever. The closet is open with different coloured clothes but it is also growing out of the wall. There is no carpet. Just really soft grass that makes my feet moan. I don't care how it possible.

There is another adjoining door to my right. I walk to it and open it. Hot tub inside with floral fragrances filling up my senses. My body immediately aches for a dip.

I go back to the bedroom and spot a vanity table stocked with make up, combs, hairpins, jewelry and other things that rouse the girl in me. It has a huge mirror with roses framing it. Beautiful.

"We grow everything we use. Food will be up shortly."
Mevi says as she closes the door behind me.

"Wait" She pauses mid close.

"We had a mission that brought us here......."
She raises her small hand cutting me off.

"All in due time. Rest up for today." Her tone is ancient.
She closes the door. My stomach grumbles. But I am itching for something.

I make short work of my dress and make a bee line for the hot tub. I tentatively poke a finger in to check the temperature. It is just perfect. I step in gingerly and lower myself letting out a sigh of contentment.

The wooden tub adjustes its self to accommodate my height. That's cool.

"Do you want coconut shampoo or Jojoba for your hair?"
A sultry voice sounds behind me. I jump from the tub.

A girl with wavy black hair holding jars and towels is behind me. I try covering my self with my hands.

"What are you doing here? Who are you?" I am furious at the invasion of privacy.

"Am Lizzy, am a water nymph and am here to help you wash up and relax." She sighes like I am wasting her time and she'd been through this conversation a dozen times already.

"Please get into the tub, I won't bite." She smiles her dark blue eyes are unnerving me. I step back into the tub carefully and sit. Not as calm as I was before.

"So which hair shampoo?"
She asks again.

"Make a choice for me."
I lean against the tub carefully. Her hands start in my hair. They are magic. I feel myself relax as she massages my scalp and my tense shoulders. Lizzy is a wizard of hands.

I must have fallen asleep because Lizzy gently shakes me awake. I groggily sit up and step out of the tub. She hands me a towel and guides me to my room. She makes me sit on the vanity chair which is close to the window.

"How did you get here?"
I let out an involuntarily loud yawn.

"I appear everywhere where there is water."
She steps a foot away from me.

"It's going to take centuries drying my hair." I whine. Lizzy laughs.

"Not the way we do it here."
She starts siphoning water from my hair with her hands. I watch her in the mirror all my sleepiness dissipating.

"How did you do that?" Am wowed.

"Am a water nymph, it's our thing."
She picks out combs and starts combing through my now dry tresses. I have no idea how she curled them, I was sleeping but when she is done combing, my hair was super curly, shiny and bouncy.

"You have beautiful hair."
She whispers softly to me. I notice a tray of food on my bedside table. She follows my gaze and smiles.

"Of course." She fetches the tray for me. Her movements are elegant. She almost seems..old.

She places the tray of assorted fruits, a bowl of soup, rice and pancakes infront of me. I immediately pick up the bowl and start gulping the soup managing to choke myself as I finished it. I ignore the spoons and how the food relatively doesn't match.

I start coughing while she pats my back gently and takes the bowl from my hands.
It tastes like apricots. Apricot soup is tasty? Oh well.

I start on the pancakes and sigh in contentment. Divine. I finish them in record time and start on the fruits ignoring the rice.

"How old are you?"
I ask her as I chew the most delicious cherry I have ever tasted in my mouth. It melts in my mouth. The fruits are glazed with syrup or atleast that's what it looks to me.

"Old enough."
Is all she says as she finishes dressing my hair. I look in the mirror at myself and forgot my fruit bowl. This woman has skills. She has braided my hair on both sides and looped the middle. She pulled it into a high ponytail. The braids and loops disappeared into the golden band.

She moves to the closet and brings out white silk high waist pants with golden waist buckle and a matching dress with long sleeves that end in gold. It is ankle long with a large parting in the middle that ends around the waist. Now I know why the pants are a high waist.

"No underwear."
I raise a brow. I was tired of going commando.

"You won't need it in these clothes." I drop my towel not minding her prescence and she helps me into the clothes.

They fit perfectly and she is right, I don't need underwear. They are so comfortable. I look at myself in the mirror turning full circles admiring my new look. My eyes dart to the window. Thoren is staring at me from under the apple tree they grew earlier.

I take an involuntary step back and crush into Lizzy. She draws the curtains blocking him out. The sun has set. It is late. An involuntary yawn escapes me.

"Go to bed." She silently leads me. Even though she barely looks nineteen, she holds authority in her power and her manner is beyond her looks.

I move to the bed and gingerly lay down. It feels like sleeping on air. Huge petals draw them selves like curtains. I don't even need a blanket, the bed adjusts itself.

Lizzy leaves with the tray silently after bidding me a good night. I lay quietly. A green light makes me sit up abruptly. It flys close to the petals. I peek at it, it is a firefly. The kid in me beams.

They are coming from the grassy floor. They fly around in a hypnotic pattern. I lay back down and watch them wondering if all rooms look like this as my eyes flutter closed.
***************************

I am hungry and thirsty. I sit up. A soft glow fills the room. Am not sure where it's coming from. I rub my eyes groggily. A mouthwatering smell makes me jump out of bed.

There is a tray of food on my bedside table. I grab it immediately to see what contents the covered bowls hold. There is warm rice, more Apricot soup as I'd come to call it and glazed strawberries with a pitcher of some kind of juice. Bless Lizzy.

She must have brought this in while I slept. I eat ravenously and drink to my fill. The rice tastes like fruits. Sweet and fruity, weird but I like the taste. I put the tray away and lay down to sleep again.

The light dims out and fireflies comeout again. I watch them for a while unable to sleep. The petals that act as automated curtains fold themselves again as I step from the bed.

I feel drawn to something. I go to the closet and open it. There under the clothes is my sword. I grab it and silently exit my room. I close the door behind me.

A pair of golden slippers is put out for me too. I step into them. So soft. Vines of gold wrap themselves tightly around my ankles to secure my feet more. Pretty.

I walk silently through the mansion holding my sheathed sword. I have no idea where am going but I just need some air.

The doors are open and give me exit to the silent starry night. I decide keep vigil under the recently grown apple tree. I sit there for a while looking at the leaves fall and the stars twinkling brightly.

I don't remember being this peaceful. I have missed holding my sword. I unsheath it and stand up. Testing it's weight from hand to hand.

Planting my feet apart I swing cutting through some of the falling leaves mid air. I almost killed these people.

I move my right foot forward a bit and thrust forward. Am dangerous to everyone around me. I swing spreading my left arm to keep balanced remembering Thoren's lessons easily.

I moved in circles parring, and thrusting. I pivot my waist while cutting through the air and falling leaves. The sword leaves gleaming arches in the air. Mesmerizing.

Clang.

The impact of another sword on mine doesn't make me fall but resonates through my arms. I look forward quickly making me plant my legs for stability.

Thoren.

He swings at me but I push back and he misses me by mere inches. I thrust at him but he parries sweeping me from under toppling me. What the hell?

I fall but I roll fast and kick him in the shins getting up. He instantly dodges with a little jump managing to land a blow on my ribs. I fall back a few steps wincing a bit holding my side.

"Be more light" He smirks. That does it.

I stare at him silently for minutes, catching my breath. A fast unexpected attack will have to do. I drop my sword. He lowers his guard.

I run at him and instead of elbowing him like expected, I turn slowly gathering enough momentum behind him and kick him. He drops his sword from the force. My toes ache. I kick his sword away as I punch him in the ribs.

Pay back feels nice. Taking the distraction to kick him in the back oh his knees bringing him crushing to the ground with a grunt.

All this happens in a space of seconds. He grunts infront of me kneeling holding his ribs. I pick his sword, it's the closest and point it at him feeling good.

"Why are you attacking me?"
Is he missing a few screws?

"Not bad but am better."
He looks impishly at me. In seconds, kicks the pointed sword to the ground. His arm around my throat, he pins me against the tree trunk with unnatural speed and strength. I can't beat that.

"No student can be greater than the teacher." He smirks his face inches from mine.
"Another lesson. Never show a moment of weakness when you triumph over your opponent".
He adds loosening his grip on my throat. I breathe more deeply.

"Your such an asshole." I spit at him burning with shame.

"Tell me something I don't know." He is very arrogant. I match his stance and gaze.

"Did I invite you to spar with me?" I am angry. He has a way of getting on my nerves.

"Now if you are done manhandling me please let me go." I add with annoyance. His closeness is bothering me. I am getting flustered.

He narrows his black eyes while he holds both my wrists in his one hand and presses closer to me. My heart almost skids to a stop.

"Do I bother you?"
He asks silently his smirk gone. He is all quiet and dangerously serious now. I gulp.

"No, I just want to go back to my room. Your presence just annoys me." I try to say that as cynically as I can.

"Admit it. You want me."
He is pressing into me more. I shiver despite the lack of the cold.

"No I don't. Now let me go. Please" I stammer gritting my teeth. What did he want? I am getting agitated. I don't want him. I want someone else.

"Let's test that then. I seem to remember we have unfinished business." But before I can ask what he means his lips crash to mine. Oh no.

I start wriggling around to move away from him but his hand holds my neck firmly pulling at my ponytail painful. The hell. This seriously can't be my first kiss. Well not exactly.

His tongue forces it's way into my mouth. He tastes like a sin that I constantly want commit. Like every delightful bad thing.

He tastes like forbidden cravings, like a sinfully delicious secret recipe of evil and grapefruit?

All my protests are forgotten as he invades me. I want more. Resistance and logical thought are flushed down the drain to the back of my mind.

I melt as I moan softly into his mouth leaning into him. He lets go of my hands as his fingers digs into my waist and hip painfully but good. He carries me unexpectedly and I wrap my legs around his waist.

He crushes me more into the trunk of the apple tree and I grunt in painful pleasure as his fingers dig further into my hips. My hands wander under his silk shirt. He is so muscular though lean.

His hand snakes around my waist as he holds me up with his pelvis.

I remember I am not wearing any underway. I blush more. I bury my fingers into his hair and tug hoping he'll stop.

He grunts pushing himself deeper into me. There's basically no space left and am sure all the small atoms between us are dead.

He breaks the kiss his head burying in my neck kissing me there with little bites. I throw my neck back to give him access. Thank God my hair is in a ponytail.

He plantes kisses across my collar bone. My breath spikes. My back arching as strange sounds ensue from me. He chuckles. I didn't know I could make those sounds.

"Say it and I'll stop."
He whispers biting my earlobe I feel goosebumps spread all over my neck. I whimper. This isn't fair.

"I want you." I finally break admitting what my body wants though am not sure my mind is in sync. I have been bullied into this state. I shiver.

He then kisses me again ferociously. I am ablaze. My mind is definitely in sync as I kiss him back equally.

"You guys put up quite a show." Somebody claps from nearby. Thoren breaks the kiss but doesn't put me down. He frowns and turns his dark eyes to look at Meilin, two other boys and one girl looking at us with smug smiles like the caught us and we are in trouble.

I bury my face in my hands. I want to die. Twice.
"Queen requests for both of you in the Moonlight court. Everyone else is there waiting."
And with that they turn and leave. The brownish haired guy is staring at Thoren intently before he turns to leave with a frown plastered on him.

Thoren puts me down. I adjust my clothes and hair while he picks up my sword sheathing it up for me. He hands it to me. He has his in his other hand.

"You okay?"
His black eyes bore into mine. I take my sword and shake my head avoiding his eyes. I don't trust my voice.

"Let's go. Follow me."
I move silently behind him my head blank. He weaves through the forest fast that I have to run to keep up.

We reach a clearing where there is a tiny gathering. Meilin and the others are there. I ignore their smirks. Karim looks at me and Thoren before he looks away. Artemis avoids my gaze.

I ought to apologize to her. Jake waves at me. I feel very self conscious as everyone looks at me and Thoren. He has a poker face on.

Meilin pats a seat between him and the brown haired guy. I go and sit next to him because there are no other seats.

"You have hickeys."
He whispers making me blush deeply as pull my collar up. He laughs handing me an aqua blue scarf which I grateful wound around my neck.

"Now that you are all here."
Mevi pointedly looks at me as she speaks. I shrink in my seat.
"Let's proceed. Your memories are stored on Hy-Brasil on the waters of Ireland."
Mevi continues. My ears perk up.

"It's outside of time. Appears every after seven years. Its just Legendary phantom Island of Ireland."
I intervine remembering the myths mom used to tell me.

"It's a Fae island that rightly exists out of time. But it's not a myth. We only made up such a myth to stop humans from finding it because it's a precious island where all memories are stored for all Fae folk. Because we live long, we store our individual memories not to forget."
Mevi explaines to me but the others are listening too.

"It's eternal uncreated. Immaterial. A place outside of the physical world. It's probably some humans lucky enough to see it say it's a mirage when they see it. Mostly sailors. It's ambiguous and interconnected but intangible to humans because it's beyond them".
She clarifies. Everyone is silent.

"So if it is intangible, how do we get there?"
I ask sacarstically. I am in a foul mood due to my shame. I seriously ought to learn how to shut up and draw less attention.

At this point everyone is watching me and Mevi quietly.
"I am the only one who can take you there."
She says with a smile.

"Why you? No offense but nothing is special about you. You are an annoying twelve year old."
I blast at her folding my arms across my chest to make my point while I glare at her.

She sighes like I am a kid throwing a tantrum. Maybe I am.

A soft golden glow bursts around her. I put my hands over my eyes. When it disappeares I gape. A woman who looks so familiar to me is standing before me where Mevi has been.

She is dressed in elegant green silk. Her hair is as red as berries and her eyes are venom green. She wears a crown made of four seasons on her flowy red hair. She was strikingly beautiful.

All the Fae present bow.

"Because my dear I am Queen Maeve of the Fae."
Whoa. I clearly did not see that coming at all.