Eternal Promise (A Between Worlds Novel: Book Three)

Eternal Promise

A Between Worlds Novel

Book 3

Talia Jager

Eternal Promise

A Between Worlds Novel: Book 3

Copyright © 2014 by Talia Jager. All rights reserved.

First Smashwords Edition: September 2014

Editing by Christine LePorte

Cover Design by Eden Crane Designs

Formatting by Streetlight Graphics

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to locales, events, business establishments, or actual persons—living or dead—is entirely coincidental.

This book is dedicated to believers of faeries everywhere.

Chapter One

Introducing Kallan to my parents was going to be quite the adventure. I had never seen Kallan so nervous before. It was very entertaining. His hands were shoved in the pockets of his dark jeans and his breathing was fast.

Stop. I elbowed him. You’ll do fine.

Your parents are scary.

I laughed. "This coming from a guy whose father literally wanted to kill me. And you think my parents are scary?"

You have a point there.

I held out my hand and slowly he took it. My wings fluttered as I looked into his blue-green eyes. It doesn’t matter what they think. We’re together now and they’ll have to deal with that.

His face lit up. You really mean that?

I do.

Kallan pulled me close and pressed his lips to mine. They were soft and supple and tasted of a faery fruit called passionberry. My hands knotted in his hair as he placed his hands on the small of my back and pulled me toward him. My worries floated away and I felt safe and wanted. The kiss ended slowly and he pulled back and smiled.

I missed you, I told him. My parents and I had gone away on vacation. They claimed we all needed it this summer. After I spent a couple weeks in June with a tutor and retook some school exams that I had failed miserably, we spent a month in California. Except for missing Kallan, I had really enjoyed it. He had wanted to visit, but I told him I needed the time with my parents. We split days between beaches, amusement parks, and shopping.

Our hands locked, we went inside the house to the living room where my parents waited. All three of them stood as we walked in. Mom, Dad, and Azura. They looked completely opposite next to each other. Azura had blonde hair, green eyes, and a fair complexion. Dad and Mom both had dark hair and eyes. Nobody spoke for a moment. I stepped forward and said, This is Kallan. Kallan, these are my parents. You know Azura, but this is my mom and dad.

Mom smiled and stuck out her hand. Nice to meet you, Kallan. We’ve heard an awful lot about you.

Kallan took her hand and shook it. Nice to meet you too, Mrs. McCallister.

My father grumbled a hello.

Mr. McCallister, it’s an honor to meet you, sir.

Shall we sit down? Mom suggested.

I sat on the couch still holding onto Kallan’s hand. The ticking from the grandfather clock that sat in the corner of the room grew louder in the silence. No one knew what to say, so I announced, Kallan is going to be spending more time in the human realm with me this year.

Why? Dad asked, glaring at him from the loveseat. Mom, who sat next to him, put her hand on his. She was always trying to smooth everything over, keep everyone calm. Mom had accepted things better than my father had.

To be with Rylie. Get to know her better, Kallan replied.

What about Adam?

What about him, Dad? I sighed. We broke up. It’s over.

He’s a good kid.

My parents had loved Adam. Especially my dad—he wasn’t a fan of all the faery stuff. He’s a great guy, Dad. There will always be a place in my heart for him. But…we’re not right for each other.

Because you’re a faery?

Yes. We’re too different. We want different things. Come from different places. I’ve fallen in love… I glanced at the beautiful dark-haired guy sitting next to me. With Kallan.

Azura shifted her position in the blue armchair and changed the subject. Kallan, now that your father is gone, what do you plan to do?

Um…I’m not sure. I hope to build a house that’s more accommodating. Something Rylie will approve of.

Dad’s eyes opened so wide I thought they may just pop out of his head.

Don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere yet. It’s for later on. Tell them about your plans for our world, I said quickly before Dad overreacted.

I noticed Azura smiled a little when I said our world.

I’ve already released everyone my father held hostage. Lena has been reunited with her family, he said, referring to the healer that Varwik had kept captive. I’d like for the light and the dark to learn how to coexist again. It’s time for harmony.

Azura nodded. I’m sure our leaders would like that as well.

Rylie has a lot to do with that, Kallan said.

What? Why? I looked between them.

Being an Aurorian makes you a leader.

I was born with the mark of an Aurorian faery. It was why Azura pretended I died and switched babies. It was why Varwik had kidnapped me and was what cost my biological father his life. All because of a star-like birthmark near my eye. A leader? The thought of leading a whole race kind of terrified me. Can’t this wait until high school is over?

Most of it will, Azura responded to me before turning to my parents. She may be needed there often, but that shouldn’t interfere with her life here.

Her grades are already way below what they used to be.

I will help her, Kallan stated. I wondered if that meant he’d help me study or just use his mind control on teachers to change my grades. Not something I was going to bring up right then.

After a few more minutes of interrogation, I stood and pulled Kallan up with me. I’m going to rescue him now before he has a nervous breakdown.

Mom smiled. I’m sorry we’re being so tough. It’s a hard situation.

I want to see how he really looks, Dad said firmly.

What? I raised my eyebrows.

I want to see him as a faery.

Kallan looked at me and I shrugged. Then I will too. I shot Azura a look and she dropped her glamour first, appearing to my parents with her sparkly light green wings. I then dropped mine, letting them see my faery body. My mom always liked it when I appeared in my true form. She loved my wings—they were a mixture of pink, lavender, and a shimmering white. Kallan followed and allowed my parents to see his pointed ears and amazing black and teal wings. Both my mom and dad studied him for a minute.

Dad nodded. Thank you.

Kallan nodded back to him. I hope you’ll give me a chance to show you how much I love your daughter.

We’ll see, Dad responded.

After we put our glamour back on, I pulled Kallan to the backyard. Thank you. I kissed him quickly.

That was intense. At least with my dad, you knew where you stood.

I laughed. Yeah. He hated me.

I can’t tell with your parents.

I love my parents and they’ll come around. It’s just new and different to them. Give them a chance.

Can’t I just use my talent on them? he asked, knowing I didn’t like it when he used his mind control on someone.

I laughed and then wondered if he was for real or joking. No! As frustrating as it is, you cannot force them to like you.

You could do it. He raised his eyebrows in hope.

Every faery had a talent. Mine was being able to use the talent of any faery nearby. No. I am not going to control them that way. They’ll come around.

Still wrapped in his arms, inches away from his face, I gazed up at him as he said, We are going to need to talk about your role soon.

What about it?

Not now.

You can’t bring something like that up and then not go into detail.

Kallan smiled. You’re so nosy.

It’s my life you’re talking about.

There’s nothing so pertinent that you need to know right now, Azura said, coming out of the house. There’s still so much you need to discover. So much I have to teach you. I’d like you to come visit before school starts. Do you think you’ll have some time? she asked me.

Sure.

Azura beamed. Wonderful! We can all talk then.

Chapter Two

The week before school started, I visited the faery realm. Dad wasn’t too happy with it, but Mom convinced him that I needed to go. He gave in, but not before saying, Once school starts, you are to stay here during the week and can only go once all of your homework is done on the weekend.

Okay, I agreed, knowing full well there was no way he could stop me. If I really wanted to go, I would and he wouldn’t even be able to find me, but I wouldn’t treat my parents like that.

I waited for Kallan on the new wooden swing my dad had hung on one of our big trees in the backyard. There had been a lot of rain this summer and the yard was especially green. I let my legs dangle and impatiently scanned the edge of the forest for signs of the one I loved.

A few minutes later, Kallan came walking out of the woods, dressed in a black T-shirt and jeans. His wings fluttered when he saw me and mine did the same.

He crossed the yard and stood behind me, giving the swing a small push. You look relaxed.

I am when you’re here.

Don’t you have a swing up on the deck? he asked.

Can’t have enough swings, I retorted.

Kallan laughed, which was like music to my ears. Are you ready?

I am. I hopped off the swing and took Kallan’s hand. Leaving my shoes behind, we walked toward the woods.

You sure you have to go to Azura’s now? he questioned.

I told her I’d spend some time with her.

I want to spend time with you.

I giggled. And you will, but after I’m there for a little bit. Besides, the five days I’m spending there is more like two weeks in the faery realm. That’s plenty of time to hang together.

Fine. He pushed his bottom lip out.

I came to a halt and yanked on his hand. He turned and faced me. Stop pouting. I drew him close to me and kissed him. My lips melted to his and our tongues gently played together. When I pulled away, I nibbled his lip a little.

Ow! He licked his lip.

That’s what you get for sticking it out.

Maybe I should do that more often.

I laughed. We’ll have lots of time together.

Good.

Hand-in-hand, we passed through a barrier of sorts that still made my stomach flip-flop. I felt an immediate change in my body. It hummed as if being awoken from a deep slumber.

I smiled at the beauty of the faery realm. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to it. Pastel-colored flowers surrounded us and the sun was low in the pale pink sky. I scrunched my toes in the bright green moss I was standing on and listened to the sounds of the creatures that lived here.

Kallan let go of my hand long enough to pick a yellow daisy and place it in my hair. For you, my love.

I smiled and stood on my tiptoes to kiss him again. The flowers around us hummed. I hadn’t gotten too used to that either. Singing flowers. A piskie flew between us and I heard her sweet giggle. I missed this, I told Kallan.

He smiled in response and we continued to Azura’s house.

As we got closer, I noticed concerned glares from light faeries. Dark faeries used to be banned from entering light faery territory. Since Varwik died, and Kallan was changing things, the light faeries were allowing him in. According to Kallan, the rest of the dark faeries hadn’t tried to mingle yet. It was something that needed to change, but faeries didn’t seem to like change. Not that humans did either.

Azura was outside of her tree house—literally a tree house. It still amazed me that there was a house inside of the tree. Welcome, Oleander, she greeted. The light faeries were the only ones I tolerated calling me by my faery name. I insisted that everyone else still call me Rylie. Just before summer, Azura had called me Rylie. Now that she was back to calling me Oleander, I wondered if that was a one-time thing. Thank you, Kallan, for escorting her here.

It was my pleasure.

Will you stay for dinner?

I’d be honored, Kallan answered, surprised. He acted so formal that I had to stop myself from laughing.

When the front door opened and Móraí and Aunt Lorella stood inside, I knew it wasn’t just a quiet dinner. Kallan shot me a pointed look and I shrugged. Maybe they’re just here to get to know you better.

I doubt that.

Móraí wrapped her arms around me. Good to have you home, Oleander.

I stepped back and glanced at her beautiful white wings with gold tips. I’m happy to be here.

Aunt Lorella hugged me quickly. The girls are looking forward to hanging out with you. She was talking about her daughters, my cousins, Violet and Nessa.

Me too. I’m not used to having cousins. It’ll be a lovely change.

We walked through the hanging vines that separated the living room from the kitchen and sat down at the table where my mouth—which had been watering for hours just thinking about faery food—finally got a taste of Azura’s delicious home cooking. It was amazing. I had to admit the food here was a million times better than at home.

After the main course was done, Móraí dabbed her mouth with a napkin and said, Kallan, our elders would like to know what you plan on doing now that you’re in charge.

Kallan took a deep breath. There’s so much to do, I’m not sure what will be next. I’d like to have some sort of meeting where the council comes together again to discuss things.

What’s the council? I asked.

Both the light and dark elders, Aunt Lorella replied. Your Móraí is one.

I glanced over at my grandmother. She hadn’t mentioned that she was part of the council. I wondered what her role was.

Oleander needs to be a part of this, Móraí said.

My head snapped in her direction. Why?

You’re a huge part of our future.

How?

Aurorians are meant to lead us, Móraí responded.

I keep hearing that, but nobody will tell me what I’m supposed to be doing.

Azura smiled at her. We don’t want to overwhelm you. You’re so new at all of this, we didn’t want to drop more on top of you.

I looked at each of them. It has been quite a lot to digest and I’m sorry that I haven’t been mature about everything. I did a lot of soul searching since my father died. I want to make you all proud of me. I just hope that when I stumble and fall, you’ll understand and help me.

You can count on it, Kallan said, squeezing my hand.

Azura beamed. I’m already very proud of you.

I felt my cheeks turn red. Thank you.

We’ll all be here for you, Móraí said. Your mother told us that you’re still planning on finishing school in the human realm.

Yes. I only have a year left. I know it may seem silly, but it’s important to me.

You could be schooled here.

I had thought about it, but graduating from high school was important to my parents and me. I didn’t want to let them down either. It was hard to talk about that with Azura and her family. Many of the faeries thought I should leave the human realm altogether. And maybe they were right. I was a faery. I never should have been raised by humans, but I was and I had a life there I didn’t want to leave. Why couldn’t I have the best of both worlds?

Azura must have seen the look on my face, because she changed the subject to Nessa and the boy she had just begun dating. After dinner, she ushered my grandmother and aunt out of the house. I apologize for them. They’ve had a hard time understanding what I did and why you’re not here with us. I assure you they mean well.

I know. I stood. I’m going to walk Kallan out.

Of course.

Kallan followed me outside. The sun had set, leaving the sky full of pink, purple, and turquoise stars. Seeing all the faeries that were out and watching us, I opted for a quick kiss instead of a long, drawn-out one. I didn’t want anyone saying I wasn’t being proper by showing public displays of affection.

Why don’t you come hang out here with some of your friends? I suggested to Kallan before our final goodnight.

You think the light fey would be okay with that?

They have to get used to it. We might have to force the change to happen.

Kallan nodded. Okay. I’ll come hang out. He blew me a kiss and walked away.

Once he was out of sight, I went back inside. Azura was waiting for me on the couch. I plopped down and tucked my feet under me. We talked for a long time about my vacation, school, and just about everything but what was expected of me as an Aurorian. I didn’t push it. Azura was wise and I trusted her to know when I’d need to hear it.

That night, I lay in my bed in my room at Azura’s. The windows didn’t have glass, so I could hear all the night creatures. I found them peaceful. Every now and then a gentle breeze blew through my room. The last thought that floated through my mind before I fell asleep was how easily I could get used to this.

The second day, I sat in the yard surrounding the faery homes watching Kallan and his friends play some version of human rugby. It was just him and the four friends he had brought. The adult light faeries stood back watching, but the young ones didn’t seem to care that dark faeries were playing on their land. They were running about playing. The faery teens also didn’t seem to care much, but they hadn’t joined in either.

Violet was flirting with the blond faery she had a