Age Recommendation: 16+
In the aftermath of Summer Garden, not everyone is living their dreams. Not even close.
Kru of the Kruei has been expelled and labelled a traitor.
Yio is still in love with the man she can never have.
Something else is coming. Something that concerns even Kao, the first of the gods.
The hall descended to a hush, and the guests rose and turned to the carpet laid down the centre of the seating. They were outside, on a beautiful day, in a beautiful garden, witnessing a once-in-a-lifetime event. The marriage of their queen, Summer, to a man who wasn't a man. He was human once, and then he was an undead ghoul. Now he was something more than most of the guests.
Yio wasn't like the majority. They were Fae, winged creatures born into a reincarnation cycle, powered by the magic that flowed through their veins. She was a Fate. A pink-haired, black-eyed humanoid creature that existed outside the normal flow events, influencing and guiding them towards peace.
She glared at the red thread tied to her wrist. She couldn't get rid of it, and most people couldn't see it. It tied her to the man waiting for his bride. Waiting for the one everyone was waiting to see. Made her heart feel for him, even when she didn't want to. He didn't care for her. Well, that wasn't fair. He invited her to the wedding. But he didn't love her. He never would.
He chose Summer.
The bride emerged, and Yio ground her teeth. She looked beautiful, every part queen and every part drop dead gorgeous. The dress flowed behind her, floating in a breeze that wasn't there. Her red locks were brushed into a side part, the hair trailing down to her knees. Her purple wings flashed as the dust on them glistened in the sunlight. It wasn't that Yio hated Summer. She didn't. In fact, she didn't care one way or the other about Summer, really. But she was jealous. She couldn't help but picture herself in the dress, walking up the aisle towards that bloody man.
Trei.
She turned to see him, failing to hide her wince at the awe written on his dumb face. For the most part he looked human. Apart from the eyes. They were the swirling endless depths of a Fate's black eyes. The eyes of a kind man. A kind man who had killed without hesitation when the woman he cared about was put at risk. A kind man who had resurrected everyone he cared about. A man whose own belief could reshape reality.
He was utterly terrifying. And he utterly made her feel awkward and out of sorts.
This sucked.
© Copyright 2023, James Milne