Fragile Destiny (The Aether Chronicles) by Suzanne Lazear

Author:Suzanne Lazear [Lazear, Suzanne]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: young adult, ya, steampunk, fiction, fantasy, fairy
Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD.
Published: 2014-08-01T00:00:00+00:00

The air grew chilly and Elise wished she’d thought to bring her cape. Instead, she huddled closer to Aodhan. Thirst burned her throat. The wood faeries had been kind, bringing them berries and acorn caps filled with water. But there was just a sip in an acorn cap and she hated to burden them, since it was probably quite the trip for such little beings. She could leave Aodhan and find water, but she feared someone taking him away—like that man.

Instead, they waited. He told her all sorts of things about the Otherworld that she didn’t know. In exchange, she told him about the mortal realm. It was proving difficult because he’d never seen flying cars or airships. Perhaps she could show him the way she showed things to wood faeries.

“Here’s a flying auto. This one was the one Noli had before she and V broke it.” She sent him the image, mentally, of Noli’s blue-winged auto. “Can you see?”

He sucked in a breath. “And you ride in it? That’s wondrous!”

“It takes you places, like a carriage without horses. There are also non-flying autos—and hoverboards. My brothers love to hoverboard.” Elise showed him a mental picture of hoverboarding.

“I want one.” He grinned. “Do you have one?”

She shook her head. “Girls don’t hoverboard, silly. Though Noli does sometimes. But she’s different.”

“How?” His face screwed up.

“My father says she’s not a proper girl. That’s why he doesn’t like her spending time with us. I suppose it’s because she likes to do things boys do and her family is poor.” Elise shrugged, not really understanding what that had to do with anything. “But she’s always nice to me. I hope she becomes my sister. I’ve always wanted one.”

“I miss my father,” Aodhan sighed.

“I miss my father too, and Quinn. He takes care of me and teaches me things.” She looked up at the darkening sky, going from pink to a dusky purple. “I hope they come soon.”

He put his head on her shoulder. “Perhaps you should return to the house and get help.”

“I don’t want to leave you—they’ll come.” They had to.

They sat in silence for a long time with only the little faeries for company. The green faery, the one she’d sent for help, came barreling toward them, chattering so fast she couldn’t understand.

“Elise,” James called in the distance. “Elise, where are you?”

“James, James, over here,” she yelled. Hope swelled inside her.

Her brother stood over them, a rucksack over his shoulders. His eyebrows rose. “You can get out of that.”

“But Aodhan can’t. I … I didn’t want to leave him.” She pulled him closer. “He’s hurt.”

“Oh, hello there.” James peered at them through the darkness and waved. “All right, let’s get you out.” He set down the rucksack.

Elise scrambled out and helped James hoist Aodhan out of the hole.

“Can you walk?” James asked as he helped him stand, arm around his waist.

Gritting his teeth, Aodhan took a tentative step, winced, and shook his head.

“Hold this.” James handed Elise his rucksack.

Its weight made her sink as she slung it over her shoulder.

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