“He’s the owner of this compass?”
Vespertine nods.
“Wait. Will this lead us to the four kings with the crowns?”
“The false kings?” Soren adds.
Vespertine’s lips form a thin smile. “As clever as a raven. Yes, there are four kingdoms in this realm that were overthrown by four evil kings, all lead by Nikolai, the vampire I’d mentioned.”
“How do we stop them? If they’re immortal, how do we destroy them?” I say.
“With light.”
“Like a laser or something?” I ask.
Both Soren and Vespertine look confused. The latter says, “With magic.”
“What about Count Nikolai? Did he try to get the demon to stop from sending me the note?”
Vespertine shrugs.
“Then how to destroy him?” I ask.
“That’s where your sisters come in. Together, the four of you will overcome his darkness.”
“Why not just go to the source—the vampire—first?” Soren asks.
“He’s hidden. Remember, I said no one knows where he is. First, you need to find the four stones, insert them there and then it will lead you to the count.”
I open the top of the compass again and the needle lands on Soren. I clasp it shut with a little gasp that heats my cheeks.
“If you’ve had this all along why didn’t you use it sooner?”
“My power wouldn’t vanquish Nikolai.”
“What about other mages? Couldn’t you have roused the kings or something?”
“Only the original curse caster or those related to them can break this curse. How? I do not know.”
It takes me a minute to understand what he means. A sinking feeling drops into my stomach.
Before I can ask more questions, Vespertine passes Soren a parcel. “A gift for you.” He reveals a horn that is smooth on one end and white, fading to yellow-gold, and carved with intricate swirls and symbols on the other end.
“This is the Hero’s Horn. When the time comes it will bring all who you’ve befriended to your aid...and then some.” Vespertine claps him on the arm. “Trust yourself. Tell the truth. Remember love. Quest for freedom. The people are waiting and until we hear otherwise, the kings and battle arms are too.”
Soren’s expression remains blank as though in shock.
“Thank you,” I say to Vespertine.
I eye the mouth of the cave. It’s stopped snowing.
“You should set off.
I get to my feet, fortified by the cake and tea.
“Wait, there’s one more thing,” the mage says. “It would be faster for you to fly.” Apparently, I’m fae so clearly, the words are for me, but I’m not licensed to operate wings or any other form of transportation. I lived in New York. There was no need to have a car. Anyway, his eyes remain fixed on Soren.
“Do you have an airplane hiding back there?” I ask.
Soren gives me a funny look.
“Kiki, summon your wings.” Vespertine flashes me the same exasperated look I’ve given him during our stay.
“How?” I understand what he’s been doing—trying to get us to find the answers for ourselves. My karate sensei was like that too. I close my eyes, imagining the crystalline wings I saw when I discovered my mother and on other fae since arriving here.
I feel normal at first if not a little cold. I concentrate on what I imagine are the shifting ribbons of invisible energy all around me. Nothing.
I continue, even out my breathing, feel myself balanced on two feet, then lighter, visualizing myself lifting into the air with wings, and taking flight.
The cold along my shoulder blades turns into a prickling feeling like icy fingers on winter skin. It sharpens and then warmth floods me and I tilt backward, nearly toppling over.
Soren’s eyes are huge. Vespertine smiles for real this time.
I glance to my right and left, seeing the wingtips that are much like the crystals in snow. “Whoa. This is cool.” Like breathing or walking or riding a bike I take flight, floating at first and then zip around, doing loop-the-loops. My laughter and glee echo off the mountainside. “I’m flying,” I shout. What is this strange magic? I don’t know, but I like it.
“Don’t forget me, hotshot,” Soren says, emphasizing the word hot.
When I land lightly, I flick his collar. “I didn’t know you had a thing for fae.”
“Just you,” he says then wraps his arms around me and we disappear into the horizon.
Chapter 21
Soren
I’ve never quite felt the kind of thrill I do when flying, except maybe when I first saw Kiki...and when I kissed her on the cheek. I’d like to do that again. A lot.
When we’d reached our destination, I was overcome with a sense of homecoming even though I’d never visited the Morgorthian Mountains before. I felt free and like anything was possible—even a future with Kiki.
Vespertine was right, I’ve always felt like something was missing, something was off. But I chalked it up to everything I’d lost. The wild beating in my chest, the restlessness, the urge to take flight points to something else. Something I’m not sure that I’m ready for. But I feel the call, like birds in the sky that are just out of sight...and know that at some point I will have to answer.
I’ve already lost so much and losing the girl who’s so close right now terrifies me the most.
The ground looks impossibly far below as Kiki’s wings power us back toward the peninsula.
We consult the compass, only knowing which direction is south because it’s the opposite of where we’d left.
Kiki says, “Vespertine said those stones help aid and guide him and he indicated they each have different properties. In the dream I had, I saw a stone in the king’s crown.”
I nod. “It’s called the frost stone and is meant to destroy. They say it’s
