Page 23 of Veiled Wings (Sciathain Academy 1)

We walked to Titania’s office and into a small sort of conference room off to the side. No one else was present, and I wondered if we two were the only ones who needed help.

“Endymion, I think your case is the most dire. Let’s begin with you.”

I nodded but had less than zero clues about how to proceed. “What do I do?”

“I’m going to let out my wings and enfold you like I’ve been told happened during your Testing. Just close your eyes and trust your instincts. Your wings will come out when they are ready.”

I looked over to Bain, and he nodded like he approved of the whole thing but stood close, his arms crossed over his chest.

“Okay.”

Titania came closer and let her wings unfold. I gasped again at the shimmering rose-gold beauty of them. I stood in shock as she wrapped them around me. Her energy pulsed and seemed to infiltrate my skin and call to something within me.

“Feel my magic. Allow it to awaken yours.”

Her magic flowed through my veins. It tingled every inch of my skin and my eyes rolled into the back of my head with the power of it. But in return, mine only fizzled and popped like cereal instead of powerful magic.

After about an hour of this, I was spent.

“That’s okay. I felt your magic. It is inside you, Endymion. Trust that it’s there. It will happen.”

But I barely heard any of that, and her words certainly didn’t resonate with me. I was furious and disappointed and ashamed, all wrapped up into one ball of emotions. This was who I was, or at least that was what my parents had told me.

If I was born a fairy, why in the hell didn’t I know how to be one?

Overcome with my whiplash of feelings, I rushed from the room, not wanting to face my shame or either of the two people in that room. They had been witness to my embarrassment, and the last thing I wanted was to see the sympathy on their faces. Especially Bain.

I ran like the devil was on my heels.

Chapter Twenty

I had thought I was starting to adjust, but the “tutoring” session had undone any kind of comfort level I’d achieved here in Fairyland. Or on the opposite side of the veil from that place. I didn’t know anymore. It was difficult to grow up as an average girl in an average US town and then learn that all I knew about myself was a lie.

Or maybe not quite all. I still liked chocolate too much, although I’d developed a muffin obsession since I got here. I’d never even been into the magical things so many of the kids at school were. While they raved about the latest fantasy movie, I yawned into my latte. Maybe if I’d had more interest in that stuff, seen all theHarry Pottermovies instead of just two. ReadLord of the Rings. Maybe something by the Grimm brothers or Hans Christian Anderson…

Maybe watched some of those Scandinavian movies about trolls or whatever.

Would I still be flying blind?Don’t even think about flying.I walked through the hallways, not really knowing where I was or caring. Finally, looking up, I spotted a small door, just taller than me, with a small window next to it, and curiosity cut through the pout for long enough to peek. A flower garden lay outside, and I could see nobody there at all. The hallways weren’t crowded, but solitude sounded perfect, so I twisted the knob, very happy to find it unlocked.

Outside, a path wound through flower beds in a walled garden, espaliered fruit trees lining the stone walls. I stepped out and inhaled a breath heavy with the scent of roses, lilacs, and too many others to name. Honeybees buzzed around, and birds and butterflies of all colors were enjoying the summer afternoon. When the door clicked closed behind me, I felt like I could be a million miles away from anyone and set out to follow the path.

The winged creatures reminded me of why I’d taken off to start with. Wings. I was supposed to have wings, and Titania seemed to think they were there. I’d felt very strange, but none had emerged from me yet. She wanted me to be patient and work at it, I guess, so when I got to the far side of the little garden, next to a stone fountain birds were divebombing and splashing around in, I stopped, closed my eyes, and clenched everything in me.Wings…wings…wings.I was thinking hard and squeezing my shoulder blades where I thought they might have their start when a hand landed on my shoulder, and I fell backward shrieking.

Another hand clamped over my mouth. “Shh. The walls are thick but not that thick, and you don’t want anyone catching us here.” After giving me a stern look, he let the hand over my mouth drop to my other shoulder. Outrage warred with the desire to melt into him.

Catching us?“Why is it an issue thatweare here? It’s not like we’re spray-painting the fountain or something.” I had other questions for Zephyr after this one. More important questions.

“This garden is private. Didn’t you see the sign on the door?”

“No, there was no sign. Was there?” I tried to picture it, but in truth I’d been so busy feeling sorry for myself, I might not have seen it, even if it were there. “Well, if there was, I missed it. I guess I’ll go back inside.”

I lifted my foot to move, but his grip was strong, and he smelled very good.

“Are you sure you want to leave?” His warm breath brushed my cheek when he bent to speak into my ear.

My heart was hammering so hard, if he’d been an inch farther away, I’d never have been able to hear him. “You-you said this was a private garden.”

“And isn’t it nice?”

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