Ever Fire Read Online Free Page B

daybreak, so you have to get your things together right now.”
    The disgust on Shade’s face did not faze him one bit. She stood, flinging one of the sofa pillows at him, and marched away towards her room. She was seething and wide-awake now. How dare he not tell me this until now? He had been extremely silent on the way home from Guildrin, though that hadn’t seemed too unusual to her. He was always pretty much keeping to himself, especially since he had to hang with her constantly, and yet he seemed to flare up her temper easier than anyone else she knew.
    She flopped down on her bed, stuffing her face into her pillow. She wished things were different. Sometimes she wished she had never met Jack and hadn’t been introduced to Faerie at all. It had done nothing for her except cause more pain and confusion. She could be heading straight to college with Brisa, with nothing but parties and studying to worry about. Not now, now she was stuck with the concerns of her Faerie lineage and obligations. She didn’t want to return to the hikes and dirt that were sure to come. She hated the outdoors, maybe a little less now than before her journey to the Fountains, but she was sure-as-hell not wanting to repeat her adventure at all.
    Sitting up, she glanced around her room. Nothing would make her happier than staying here, in her own house, with her brothers and sister running around. Nothing more.
    Shade sighed and resolved to give in. She couldn’t refuse, no matter how she felt. The Fey were her people now; they were the only way she would ever understand who and what she was. She grabbed her backpack off the floor and whispered the shrinking spell into it, like Ilarial had taught her. She smiled as the pack’s insides blackened into the bottomless pit that would let her pack whatever she wanted into it without the bulk. She began stuffing clothes and essentials into it. She made sure to grab her family’s picture with her human stepfather in it. She was feeling pretty sure that this was not going to be a day trip.
    When she finished, she left her pack by her door and slipped into her pajamas. Under her sheets, she laid back, cradling her head. Sighing, she turned to set her alarm to a forsaken early morning hour and flicked the light off, welcoming sleep quickly.

Chapter Four
     
    “ WHO’S JOINING US this time around?” Shade asked as she sat on a fallen log near the Guildrin Mound entrance. Soap was standing near her. He smiled as he also plopped down on the log and gave her a hug. He was absolutely gleaming from seeing her again, even though they had talked just the day prior. He was always happy to see her. He breathed in deeply, like the air was fresh and exhilarating. Shade rolled her eyes and leaned her chin in her hand as she drew in the dirt with a stick.
    Whatever, thought Shade. Her mood was still no better than the night before.
    “Oh come on, Shade, don’t be such a pickle. We get to trek through Faerie again. How exciting is that! We won’t even have to stay at the Teleen Caverns this time, what a relief! You’ll get to see a whole new side of Faerie. Aren’t you even the least bit excited?” Soap frowned at her and shook his head as she shrugged.
    “Thrilled.”
    Dylan walked up to her just then, his lips in a tight line as his eyes narrowed at the sight of Soap. He cleared his throat and turned his attention down to Shade.
    “Shade, we’re pretty much ready. Rylan is coming with us, but so are Than, Sary, and Stephen. Camulus joins us from Prince Lotinar’s guard to lead us to the meeting point. Are you ready? We won’t be traveling too much by foot.”
    Shade’s eyes widened. “Wait, what do you mean, who’s Camulus and where’s Jack?”
    “He is on a special mission from the Queen herself,” Dylan informed her. “I’m talking about Camulus. He has the ability to teleport. If we link together while holding on to him, he can teleport us to wherever we want to go. He’s one of Prince