Dark Promise by Annika West

45

Mom launched herself across the table. The way she tackled Adair to the ground would have made any MMA fighter wince.

Willow’s face was a mask of realization. “There’s two of them.” Her eyes met mine. “There’s actually two.”

Oh. That takedown was scarily the same way that I’d tackled Willow the last time I hugged her in this room. Huh. I guess I never realized just how similar Mom and I are.

Adair, having powers like me, disappeared. When he popped back into existence on the other side of the room, Mom was already advancing.

I decided to be the distraction.

Shifting dimensions and appearing in front of her should to the trick. I hadn’t exactly revealed my changing powers to my parents yet.

To be honest, I’d been a little nervous.

My new powers represented a lot of painful shit. My faery heritage, for one. The fact that I’ve had blocked powers for most of my life was another, and then there was the mere existence of Adair.

Mom hadn’t known who or what Adair was, and I didn’t know how to tell her.

When I shifted into the physical realm in front of my mother, the change was instant.

There were already tears in her eyes. “Aster…” she gasped.

“Don’t do that,” I groaned. “But yeah… surprise. I have more powers.” My hand instinctively touched the birthmark on my cheek.

“Different than your Unnoticeable gift.”

Dad’s hand landed on my back. “You must be so excited, Aster. That was incredible!”

“Oh no,” Willow mocked. “Look, she’s already crumbling under the weight of well-balanced affection.”

August shushed her, but it wasn’t out of anger.

Willow was right. Compliments made me concerned. Not uncomfortable or anything.

Concerned.

“I can travel into the energetic realm, which lets me hear thoughts and see magical imprints. I can also cast illusions,” I revealed. “The Great Faery Glitch was me. Surprise. Please don’t hate me for lying. I’ve only known for a little while.”

Both of my parents deflated, and their arms went around me. I don’t know why, but it made my eyes want to sweat.

Definitely not crying. Nope.

I only cried during soap operas and Disney movies. As a general rule.

I caught Adair watching us. There was an odd look in his eyes. It was as if he was a scientist watching three mammals behaving in a strange, uncanny way.

He was uncomfortable but also a little fascinated.

“Mom,” I said, voice muffled in the fabric of Dad’s jacket, “please don’t kill anyone tonight. We have a world crisis on our hands.”

She sighed, very put-out. After sending Adair one more glare, she agreed. “If you insist.”

Adair shook his head, a disbelieving smile on his lips. “Alice, time has only given you gifts of combat, wits, and beauty. I look forward to more time with you.”

My hand was snatching a banana and hurling it before I had a moment to think.

It shot through the air with a speed that shocked even me. It smacked Adair across the mouth.

The banana thumped to the ground, one side already caved and mushed.

I snapped, “You’re really pushing your luck, buddy! Behave! I’ve had it with all this fighting, willy-nilly nonsense.”

Mom grumbled, “I really want to kill the dragon, though. Really bad. Can I kill the dragon?”

“How old are you?” I scolded her. “No! If anyone is going to kill the dragon, it’s going to be me. Got it? Stay in your lane.”

She rolled her eyes, but I caught the grin she tried to hide. “Alright. Let’s do this bitch.”

Willow and August stared at us with the same expression of complete shock.

“They’re the same person,” Willow stated in horror.

“Absolutely identical,” August agreed.

Hux frowned. “I don’t get what you mean.”

“You’re an idiot,” Willow informed him.

I cleared my throat and waved. “Yup! Hey, there. We’re still here. Can we get this fucking show on the road? Dad, why are you laughing?”

I took my seat beside the self-satisfied Marigold while Hux reclaimed the stage.

He and Adair took turns describing the problems with Earth and Faery.

At first, I was worried the two men would have trouble sharing the stage, but really, it was Oz I should have been worried about.

Even when he’s not talking, he’s taking up space and attention. His legs were crossed and on the table. He sneezed five times in a row.

Five.

And blamed it on nonexistent cat dander.

He was silent for a full nine seconds and then began loudly eating grapes.

I expected to learn a few new things today. How to sew a pleat, where to find all of Willow’s nail clippers, how to measure a man’s dick by observing the angle of his nose, and the ethics of balloon animal displays in children’s hospitals all ranked higher than ‘how a dragon shifter made a grape crunchier than tortilla chips.’

At least I wasn’t the only one annoyed.

Willow was silently fuming, drinking her blood so aggressively that I worried she’d choke on it.

Oz may have been aware of it too, since he kept on shooting friendly, oblivious smiles to Willow, like they were two old friends enjoying the sun in the park.

Fascinating. Simply fascinating.

I’ve completely stopped seeing Oz as anything close to Hux. Oz was too laid back and loose in his joints to be Hux. Everything, from his clothing to his hair to how he sat in his chair, was the complete opposite of his brother.

Occasionally, when he let that immortality show, they managed to resemble one another.

After the explanation was over, I realized something. “Um, why is this happening?”

All eyes turned to me.

“What do you mean, daughter?” Adair asked kindly, causing Mom to start instantly smoking.

My upper lip curled on its own. “Stop tossing that word around like it matters to you. Alright, I get why we have to team up and make sure this mission is as successful as possible, but why involve my parents and Marigold? Isn’t this going to be super dangerous?”

Hux answered, “I gave everyone here the choice to participate. In my opinion, the more people who have your back, the better you will be protected when we place the final crystal.”

“That still doesn’t make any sense. It’s not like it’s going to be ridiculously dangerous. I got through the last one just fine. No thanks to the children,” I added, glaring at Hux and Oz.

Oz grinned and winked at me. “What? You’re a great swimmer, Aster. Ten out of ten. Willow’s the only one with some work to do in the water. If you’d like, I can give you some private lessons.”

Willow’s eyes promised murder. “You want to screw with me, pretty boy?”

He sighed and leaned back, cradling his head. “You couldn’t take it.”

“Try me.”

I sighed. “In what reality am I the only adult here?”

“Hey,” Dad scoffed, gesturing to himself. “Are you really forgetting me?”

Hands up, I relented, “You’re right. Forgive me.”

Hux cleared his throat, and everyone turned to him. “Adair has troubling news. Regarding our mission and you, Aster.”

Adair smoothed his pretty hair in place and straightened his Sunday best. “The Autumn and Summer Courts have taken over Giza. They have declared the ley line center point a faery outpost until the threat has been destroyed. By threat, they mean all of us.”

Well, fuckknuckles.