Betrothed (18 page)

‘Have you heard of the term changeling?’

‘When one baby’s swapped for another,’ Hilary said, finding her voice finally. ‘But why would someone do such a thing?’

‘The reasons vary, but revenge is the most common.’

‘Why?’ Hilary persisted.

‘Children are valued here, are they not? And human life is fleeting and the possibilities for offspring many. Consider the value of a single pregnancy in a lifetime that can span thousands of years and you can understand that to someone with a grudge there is no more potent retribution.’

‘I hope it’s not common,’ I said.

‘Not common but certainly a problem. Still, my father is good at extracting the truth from his subjects and during his reign, there has only been one changeling he has not been able to retrieve—fifteen years past—a girl taken from her forest home.’

‘What happened?’

‘The two responsible held the changeling’s mother accountable for the death of their son. Arelle and Elad left their boy, Ellier, in her care with instructions to remain inside. The family lived high in the treetops and Ellier could not yet use his wings. Unfortunately, Maia chose to disregard the command and Ellier fell to his death.’

‘How awful,’ Hilary whispered.

‘For all involved,’ Leif said, ‘and at first, Ellier’s parents gave no thought to blame. But as time went on they became bitter and when years later Maia birthed a daughter, Arelle and Elad took their revenge by making a changeling of the child. Three years passed before a problem was admitted. Of course there had to have been signs before this time but for reasons unknown to me, Maia and her husband, Armand, did not acknowledge them.’

‘What kind of signs?’ Jack asked.

‘You have only to look at your friend to know. Infant Fae are born with rounded ears like a human baby, but as the child grows, the ears become pointed. Ameyah’s ears remained unchanged. Also, her skin did not behave as it should. She became brown from exposure to the sun. This is unheard of in a Fae child. Fae skin absorbs the sun, it does not become changed from it.’

‘But you have brown skin yourself,’ Jack said.

‘That has nothing to do with the sun. Just as we have different coloured eyes and hair and wings, so too do we have different coloured skins. We are like humans in that way.’

‘Except for the wings,’ Jack said.

Leif inclined his head.

‘So what happened to the human girl?’ Hilary asked.

‘Naturally after three years, Maia and Armand were besotted with her. She’s quite lovely—obviously human in appearance—but her ways are those of the Fae. She lives in the forest still, but soon the king will insist she be returned to Earth.’

‘What a sad day,’ Hilary murmured.

‘It will be,’ Leif agreed. ‘But what life can there be for her in Faera? She would have no trouble finding a partner if that were her wish. But it would be difficult. Unlike every other couple in Telophy, Ameyah would age and eventually die, but her man would not.’

‘Where will she go when she comes to Earth?’ Hilary asked.

‘Wherever my father decides to send her.’

‘Get him to send her here, we’ll look after her,’ Hilary offered quickly.

Leif smiled at her compassion. ‘I’ll see what I can do.’

We spoke of the changelings for a while longer—the conversation seeming to go some way to easing my friends’ initial shock—and then Hilary told us that she had a date with Kyle.

‘Where is Kyle anyway?’

‘He’s at home. I didn’t know if you would want him to come. Can I mention any of this to him, by the way?’

I looked to Leif for advice.

He said, ‘This is your reality, Marla. You must decide who you will confide in. Just be sure you have faith in those you choose.’

I turned to Hilary. ‘I don’t know, it’s kinda big . . . ’

‘I won’t say anything. But I have been wondering while I’ve been sitting here listening to Jack and Leif—would you rather I call you Marla too?’

‘If you’re okay with it.’

‘You prefer it then?’

‘Well . . . my birth parents chose that name for me—even knowing they couldn’t keep me, so it must have been important to them. Anyway, it’s me, don’t you think?’

‘I’ll call you Marla if you like, but it doesn’t really matter what name you use—finding out
what
you are hasn’t changed
who
you are. You’ll always be you.’

I said, ‘How did you get to be so wise, Hil?’

‘Part angel,’ Leif said with a smile.

Jack cast a soft look in Hilary’s direction. ‘You know, that wouldn’t surprise me at all.’

‘Do you think I’ll ever get to be who I was born to be?’ I asked Leif after Jack and Hilary had left.

‘I have a plan, Marla, but I will speak of it tomorrow. It’s getting late and I must return to Faera before sunset.’

‘Can’t you stay?’

‘I’ve already spent one night away. If my father calls to me I won’t hear him in this place, and if I do not answer his call, when next he sees me, he will demand to know why.’

‘What do you mean, if he calls to you?’

‘I am connected to him telepathically—to every king.’

‘You speak to one and they all hear?’

‘Thankfully no, they only hear if I choose for them to hear.’

‘Wow, built-in mobile—handy.’

Leif opened his arms for me. I went into them and he folded me against him. Silently we held each other. I didn’t know where this was going, how it would end—if I would ever get to be with him in Faera. I couldn’t know if I would ever find my birth parents or be free from the wrath of his father. But standing here with my prince, his body pressed to mine, just for this moment, none of it mattered.

‘I have to go,’ he said after a while. ‘I need to reach Mount Kosciuszko before the sun goes down.’

‘Why?’

‘It is the peak of your continent and where I need to be in order to catch the rays to Faera.’ He smiled then and said, ‘Wear your new dress tomorrow so I can teach you to fly.’

‘Who needs a dress?’ I whispered and stood on my toes to take another kiss.

With a groan, he said, ‘I’ll be envisioning that all night now.’

‘Good, I want to know you’re thinking of me.’

‘You’re all I think of,’ he said, but he was peeling my arms away and leading me to the balcony.

‘This really sucks. Your father is so mean,’ I complained.

‘Everything will be well, Marla. I promise you.’ He kissed me one last time and then opened his wings and smiled as he said, ‘Until tomorrow.’

‘Tomorrow,’ I repeated.

And he flew away.

I watched him until he was no more than a spot of dazzling light, winking out like a star at dawn. Then, with a heavy sigh, I came inside, fell onto the lounge and began torturing myself with reasons why this new relationship would fail: it was just a dream and I would wake at any moment; it was all a mistake, Leif had got the wrong girl; I was too human now, unfit for Faera; his father finds out . . .

I shuddered and forced the subject from my mind, allowed my thoughts to drift to Jack. It made me uncomfortable to consider how close he and I had come to changing our friendship to romance the night before. I wondered how he was feeling about that. Was he bothered about me and Leif? Was I being conceited to even consider that he might be? I didn’t know—Jack was so cagey with his feelings. I thought about phoning him, but what would I say? It’s not like anything had actually happened between us.

In any case the decision was taken from me, because not a minute after I’d had the thought, Jack called. He wanted to know if Leif had left, and asked if I would go for a drive with him. He said he needed to talk and would pick me up in five minutes.

We drove to the beach in silence and when he had parked the car, switched the headlights off and turned in his seat to watch me—his face a shadowy mix of emotions that I couldn’t decipher the meaning of—it didn’t take me long to realise my friend had an awful lot on his mind.

Eventually I said, ‘What’s wrong, Jack?’

He frowned. ‘You’re going to pretend you don’t know?’

I didn’t know what to say.

Jack sighed. ‘I’m sorry—I probably don’t even have a right to . . .
feel
what I feel.’

‘No one can help what they feel.’

But Jack wasn’t paying attention and his face was twisted when he said, ‘I never in a million years thought this guy existed.’

‘But you said—’

‘Doesn’t matter what I said. I thought he was just some crazy dream. I mean, geez, Marla—a fairy, betrothed to you—how the hell am I meant to compete with that? How can any of this be real? It’s insane!’

‘I know,’ I agreed quietly.

‘This is going to make me sound full of myself, but I always thought . . . when I was ready to make my move you’d be there, you know . . . all waiting and wanting.’ He kept his eyes on the windscreen—either that or the crashing waves beyond.

The thing was, if Leif hadn’t come along, I
would
have been.

‘Did you really, Jack?’

‘You
must
have known I did.’ He sighed heavily. ‘I just took it for granted that one day we’d be together.’ He smiled and caught my eyes with his. ‘I’ve spent long nights imagining the moment I kissed you again—proved to you how much better it could be than that last time.’

‘How could it get any better? I loved that kiss—hidden away in your dad’s boat shed, almost breaking each other’s teeth.’

‘You tasted delicious.’

I laughed softly. ‘That’s because I was prepared. Hilary told me you planned to kiss me, so I raided Mum’s herb garden and scrubbed my teeth with mint leaves. I was so excited.’

‘Yeah, well, I’ve been looking forward to exciting you some more.’

‘I didn’t know that.’

‘Seriously?’

‘Seriously . . . I mean, I supposed I figured it out last night, but before that . . . not really.’

‘I’m an idiot.’

‘No, you’re not.’

‘Obviously I am, or I wouldn’t have left my move so late.’

‘Why did you?’

‘I wasn’t ready, I guess, and I didn’t know such ridiculous competition would come along. I knew I could lure you from Jason any time I wanted—or any other guy for that matter. But Leif . . . ’ He shook his head.

‘Oh, I see how it is—it’s all about your competitive streak.’ I smiled—an attempt to lighten the mood.

It didn’t work. Even the night shadows couldn’t hide his frown. ‘No, that’s not how it is. I just always thought there was plenty of time. No rush, you know? We’re young and I didn’t want it to be one of those stupid high school things. I wanted to wait for the perfect moment. Last night, if that idiot Jason hadn’t interrupted . . . I should have told him to get lost. I should have taken that kiss when I had the chance. I knew you wanted me.’

‘Jack . . . ’

He sighed. ‘I’m sorry. I don’t want it to be awkward between us. You’ll be with Leif now; I get it—born for each other and all that, and I’m happy for you, really.’ I could tell he meant it, but there was an edge to his voice.

‘Jack, you know that if Leif hadn’t come along . . . ’ I hesitated, wondered at the point of what I was about to say.

‘Go on.’

‘It would have been you . . . Only you.’ I felt myself blush as his eyes stayed locked on mine, but it was the truth and it was a relief to admit it to him.

‘I know . . . that’s what makes this so damned hard.’ He leaned close and kissed me—too soft and sweet for friendship. When he pulled away, he smiled and said, ‘And, Marla?’

‘Mmm?’

‘I got the first kiss.’

I smiled. ‘Yes you did, and I’ll remember it forever.’

‘That could be a long time for you.’

‘Do you mind
so
much, Jack?’

‘I’m going to try really hard not to. Seeing you with him today . . . anyone could tell you belong together.’

‘Thanks, Jack, I’d hate for me and him to get in the way of me and you.’

‘It never would. Surely you don’t think I’m
that
pathetic. The world is full of beautiful women—I just never thought I’d have to pay much attention.’

We went for a walk on the beach after that—a dark moonlit walk on the beach. Jack held my hand and to anyone watching we could have only looked like lovers. And I couldn’t deny the little corner of my heart that ached because we never would be.