Page 71 of The Fae Menagerie
"How are you holding me up?" he asked. "I thought I couldn't float. Too heavy."
"Surface tension." With my wings spread, I could keep Parker's upper body out of the water, at least.
"You feel warm," he said.
I tapped his shoulders. "Roll over. Let's get your back dry, too."
He obeyed without question, carefully balancing on my chest until he lay on top of me, head nestled under my chin. I held him and rubbed circles into his chilled flesh as I stared up at the clouds. It hadn't rained, but the gloom remained, which meant Prince Drummond was still outside, willing the shadows to congeal and take form.
The sun was still far from setting somewhere behind those clouds. I tried to close my eyes, but every time I thought about falling asleep, the overwhelming pressure to take care of Parker reminded me we were both still in danger. I didn't know whatwould happen when we reached the magical barrier that nulled all magic within my enclosure, the one that kept me from trying to loop a makeshift rope around the chandelier.
The rope, along with all my other belongings, had disappeared. If I ventured a guess, my grandmother had taken everything with her when she left my enclosure. We were at the mercy of the water, the enclosure's magic, and anyone still waiting beyond these glass walls to harm us both, should we make it through our trial.
Parker had stopped shivering above me. "Are you still with me?" I asked.
"Warmer," he said. His skin still felt too cold to the touch. I needed to get him out of the water, and soon.
The water level continued to climb, pushing us closer to the chandelier. The magical torchlight glowed cheerfully into the water, forming smaller and smaller pools of light on the approaching surface. There was no denying it when the water kissed the glass. Water flowed into the barrier spell, but would we? I wasn't close enough to touch it.
I returned my attention to trying to rub warmth into Parker's skin. We both inhaled a sharp breath when the light flickered and then went out.
"What happened?" Parker asked.
"The water must have shorted out the enclosure spell!" The tingle of magic returned to my core, my limbs, and finally to my wings. I tested them, sending ripples across the water.
It had been so long. Too long. I couldn't lift Parker like this.
"Do you trust me?"
He frowned up at me. "You're going to leave me here."
"I need to dry my wings, and then I'll be back." We were close enough to the top now. I sank into the water and helped Parker swim to the edge of the enclosure. I hefted him up so he couldgrab onto the edge, and he held himself there, the hem of his dark blue boxers even with the water.
Once he draped both elbows over the far ledge to anchor himself in place, I launched myself into the air. A shower poured from my wings as I hovered in place. I gave them an experimental flap. Gods, it felt good to feel the lift as my magic took over. I flung myself away from Parker so I wouldn't cover him with chilly rain and spun until my wings were dry.
He watched me with a slight grin, though he still looked too pale and waterlogged. I needed to free him.
I flew closer to the enclosure's wall, expecting it to fling me backward at any moment. Only when I was far over the boundary, looking down at Parker from above my mother's bench, did I swoop down toward him with a shout of joy. I was free! I glided along the outer wall of my enclosure, coming up beneath Parker's arms. He instinctively clung to me as I raised him into the air.
I held him as tightly as he held me and spun, flinging water from him. The air dried our chilled skin, and the calm warmth before the oncoming summer storm sent shivers through both of us.
"Doy'al'ini!" Mother waved to us from her bench. "I knew you could do it!"
I wanted to fly away, as far and fast as my wings would go in their disused state, but Mother's soft expression and even Aidan's grim respect from his spot beneath the tree behind her gave me confidence. I circled back toward her park bench and lowered Parker and myself to the ground with a sigh.
Mother clapped once, and both Parker and I were dry and dressed in business attire.
Parker patted his chest and thighs and then bowed to her. "Thank you, Mother Thera."
"My pleasure, Parkour."
"All my gratitude, Mother." My eyes stung as I bowed my head to her.
She shook her head. "You did this all on your own." She pointed to a glint of gold at the back corner of her park bench, tucked in the seam between the arm and the seat. "Hurry. Your grandmother returns."
I knew what I would find there, but the brush of my finger against the coin sent another shiver down my spine. I expected it to be wedged between the two boards, but it came to me as easily as pulling the mystical sword from the stone. In a heartbeat, I wrapped it in my fist.
"Doy'al'ini!" My grandmother's voice was overloud, even in the outdoor space.
