Ever After (Unfinished Fairy Tales #3)(15)
But when I get back to our apartment and shut myself in my bedroom, the tears start to fall. That new guy simply pales in comparison to Edward. Then I feel guilty. I shouldn’t be comparing other men with Edward, just like I hate others comparing me with Paige.
Just stop it, Kat. If you don’t want to meet new guys, if you are determined to stay single in memory of Edward, then stop letting yourself being pushed in that direction. I wipe the tears from my face, and vow I won’t even think of finding love again. I won’t shut myself indoors, but on the other hand, I will continue my quest to return to Athelia. If it’s going to take me a lifetime, then so be it.
* * *
As I drift off to sleep, there is a popping noise. Probably a bottle cap that fell to the ground. But then it happens again, and someone speaks.
“Girlie, wake up!”
A familiar high-pitched voice. My eyes fly open; there’s a semi-transparent being in the air, with pointed ears, a sharp chin and wings flapping in its back. “Krev?”
He flies in front of me and huffs. “Geez, girlie, do you know how long I had to search for you? First you moved out of that city of your boyfriend’s, then you weren’t at your house in Oakleigh, and you didn’t even leave a clue where you went.”
“Because we didn’t want reporters hammering on the door.” Excitement runs through my mind and I sit up. “Oh my God. Are you here to take me back? Have you found a solution to the oxygen problem?”
He starts to shake his head, but then pauses. “Can’t give you a definite answer on that, girlie. But you can try if you want.”
I don’t get what he’s saying. “Try what?”
“Remember that annoying little half-fairy kid called Meg? Well, her father worked out a spell that could transform a mere mortal into a fairy, ‘cause he wanted to bring her human mother back. Meg got her to the fairy world, and they performed this spell on her. She’s now a fairy and can live forever, like her husband. Then she sent you a letter of thanks, Eddie got it, and he begged the fairies to help you.”
My heart leaps when he mentions Edward.
“Anyway, Meg contacted me and told me that her father could do something similar. He could perform the spell, it might change your body to the same body of an Athelian, and you’ll be able to live in Athelia. The thing is, they aren’t certain of success. So, are you willing to go back?”
“Of course.” It feels like I have died and am offered a chance to live again. “Of course I want to get back. When can we go?”
“But there’s a problem: you won’t be able to breathe in the fairy world, either. We have to wait until they can bring you a spell that allows you to survive a few days, so they can perform the transformation spell on you.”
As long as I can return to Edward, I’m willing to do anything. “You mentioned the fairies aren’t sure whether this spell will work. Are there going to be any side effects? Like, will I be turned into a half fairy or something?” I hope I won’t look the same as Lysander, but I’ll take it if that’s the consequences.
“No idea,” Krev says. “Girlie, are you sure you want to risk this? If you can’t be transformed into an Athelian, they don’t know what might happen to you. There could be fatal consequences.” He looks concerned—something that’s rare for him. Krev normally loves it when I get into trouble.
Memories of the days I spent with Edward flash through my mind. “I want to try. Even if I die trying.”
10
Edward
I dream of Kat that night. Perhaps it’s because I gained a tiny flame of hope from Meg. Or perhaps it’s because I still miss her terribly. She is standing next to my bed in her pearly white nightgown, her auburn hair spilling down her front. The curtains of our bed are pulled to one side, and from what I can see in the windows of our bedroom, it is not yet dawn.
“Edward,” she says my name in the exasperated tone I would never tire of hearing. “Time to get out of bed. You have a meeting this morning with the Prime Minister.”
I yawn. “It’s too early, love. Come back to bed with me.”
She shakes her head slightly, making the curls across her chest bounce. I let my gaze wander down her body, at those tantalizing curves concealed under that flimsy nightgown, and the primitive side in me takes over.
“Edward? You should be getting up…” Her voice dies away when I grab her arm, making her fall into bed with me. She lets out a gasp of surprise, but I muffle it by covering her mouth with mine. She is stiff and unresponsive, no matter how I kiss and caress her. My Kat isn’t usually like this. Even when she is exasperated at me, she would not behave like a wooden mannequin.
This isn’t Kat. My eyes fly open, and instantly I realize I’ve made a terrible mistake. Katriona Bradshaw stares at me, her eyes round and wide, her hands pressed against my chest, her body rigid and paralyzed with shock.
I back away and get off the bed. “When did you come in?” My voice comes out harsh and intimidating. Like I’m interrogating her. She probably doesn’t deserve this, but I cannot bring myself to be gentle with her.
Slowly she sits up, and I make myself look away. She looks remarkably like Kat, and having just dreamed of my wife, it takes every ounce of my discipline to force myself realize that I must not confuse her with Kat.