Chapter 22

Nora and Afet were shown to the spare guest bedroom upstairs by Birdie as the rest of the family stayed downstairs to "talk." Concerned and a bit nervous, Nora's eyes flickered to Hayden many times as she helped Afet up, but Hayden didn't catch her gaze.

"Do you guys need anything?" Birdie asked as Nora spread the covers over Afet.

"No, thank you, Birdie."

"Okay," Birdie sighed. "I'll let you rest then. We can talk later."

Nora nodded, "Okay."

"Call me if you do need anything," Birdie paused, really not wanting to leave. "Or Hayden."

"I will," Nora smiled.

"Are the pillows okay?" Birdie pointed. "Do you need more blankets? Or maybe not. You're probably staying with Hayden."

"I'm not sure," Nora said, tummy feeling funny.

"Well if you need an extra pillow, I'm right next door."

"Birdie," Afet lifted her head.

"Yeah?"

"Would you like to come sit with us for a while?"

Nora couldn't help but notice the way Birdie's eyes lit up, "I don't know....Baba said I had to be downstairs."

"You can stay for a bit," Afet patted the spot beside her.

"Okay," Birdie smiled. "A little bit."

Nora stepped aside as Birdie walked towards the bed and took a seat. She stared at Afet with her eyes bright and her cheeks rosy. A playful smile was displayed on her lips as she tried to contain her excitement.

"Incredible," Afet said, taking a lock of Birdie's silver hair. "You look just like a high blood. But you're a jinn."

"Why don't you look like me?" Birdie asked. "Did all the high bloods look like me?"

"I do not have high blood or noble blood," Afet said. "I'm a common fey. My magic comes from the Shajara."

"Have you ever met a high blood?"

"No," Afet shook her head. "They vanished long before I was born."

"Where did they go?" Birdie asked.

"No one knows," Afet said. "But once they left, the jinns started to slowly weed us out."

"How did you survive?"

"Some of us retreated to our island," Afet said. "The elders said the pull to Makatza was the strongest there....so that's where we settled. They used their combined magic to cast an invisibility shield around the place."

"That's how you were able to stay undetected for so long," Birdie said. "And Makatza....I've heard that word before...or I think I've read it somewhere."

"The untamed, the wild," Afet spoke the words slowly. "Our real home."

"So it's a real place," Birdie was fascinated. "I just thought my mom was telling me stories."

"It's very real," Afet nodded.

"Have you ever been there?"

"No," Afet shook her head. "It's only open to high blood."

"Why?" Birdie frowned.

"Because they are divine beings."

"Sounds more like a class system," Birdie said with disapproval. "My mother's been to Makatza."

"She has?" Afet looked stunned.

"Yes," Birdie nodded. "When her fey magic really started to set in....she was taken to Makatza for three days."

"Incredible...."

"What did you mean when you said there was so much the high bloods didn't tell you?"

Afet took in a slow breath. She pondered Birdie's question for a while and thought of the best way to explain everything.

"The high bloods rules over everything," she began. "They controlled how much magic we were given, how much knowledge we were taught....common feys, like myself....we don't really know the extent of our own powers or history."

"Why?" Birdie looked just as stunned as Nora felt.

"It is a belief amongst feys that only the divine were pure enough....strong enough to know such knowledge. It would be an insult to our traditions and customs if we were to give our valuable information for all to know."

"But you can not dictate knowledge," Birdie shook her head. "How did people not demand to know more about who they were or what happened to them?"

"Some tried," Afet said. "My grandmother once told me that there were groups of common fey who wanted to reform the government. They wanted the knowledge to be equally and freely distributed."

"What happened?"

"They did not know how to fight the system," Afet frowned. "The high bloods stomped them out. The common bloods had no idea how to defend themselves."

Nora and Birdie looked at one another as the fey spoke gently.

"Then you must be happy there are no more high bloods," Birdie said. "You're all finally free."

"Are we?" Afet looked up. "We know nothing. We have no resources. We have no tools, no guide, no books to refer back to....we're swimming in the dark."

"But it must be better than living under the high bloods," Birdie said.

"If we had the high bloods, our children wouldn't be dying," Afet frowned.

"But you would be trading away your freedom."

"Lesser of the two evils."

Birdie shrugged, "I guess..."

"Afet..." Nora spoke up quietly. "Maya has high blood magic. She's been to Makatza. That proves she's high blood."

Afet slowly nodded.

"Can she give blood to the shajara?"

"No," Afet shook her head.

"Why not?" Birdie asked.

"Because your mother is also a witch. Her magic isn't just fey magic. The same for your brother."

"But how do you know that won't work?" Birdie challenged. "You said so yourself. There is a lot you don't know about your own people, your history and your abilities."

"Yes, that's true. But Fey blood never mixes well with others."

"What about my brother and me?" Birdie asked. "We have fey blood, jinn blood, werewolf blood, and witch blood."

"My goodness," Afet's eyes widened.

"See," Birdie smiled. "Maybe you just don't know enough about what is possible."

"What are you suggesting?" Afet asked, looking at the two girls.

"That maybe...my mom or Hayden," Birdie began slowly. "Could give blood to the Shajara."

"And if it doesn't work?" Afet arched her brow.

"It's already dying, isn't it?" Birdie asked.

"She's got a point," Nora said. "The Shajara has already been poisoned by me."

"I understand what you mean..." Afet shook her head. "But we can't take a big risk like that...."

"Well, do you want another plan?" Birdie asked.

"No."

"Then?"

"It's not that simple!"

"I know, I know," Nora could see how overwhelmed the fey was becoming. "We're just suggesting ideas."

"Udara would never take a risk like that," Afet shook her head.

"Then what are our other options?" Birdie asked. "We heal all the feys? But for how long?"

"I don't know," Afet shook her head once more.

"It's okay....it's fine," Nora gently began to lower the fey. "You need to rest."

Birdie sat quietly on the edge of the bed, biting her bottom lip. Nora tucked the fey into bed and adjusted the pillows around her before turning to look back at the young girl.

"I'm gonna go downstairs," Birdie said. "Do you want me to send Hayden upstairs?"

"Yeah," Nora sighed. "Thanks."

"No problem," Birdie rose from the bed and made her way out of the room.

Exhausted physically and menatly, Nora sank into the armchair beside the glass walls and sighed. She leaned her head back and listened to Afet's slow breathing as the fey drifted off to sleep from her own exhaustion. The sun outside had made its way across the sky, getting ready to sink. Nora was caught off guard by how quickly the day had slipped through her fingers. Sometimes it felt as if she was living a thousand years in a single day.

When the sun finally disappeared behind the mountains, Nora worried about what must be happening on the island. She wanted to go back and check but realized Heyder had taken her gold ring. A part of her also did not want to leave Afet alone, just in case she was spooked when she awoke. The island was another problem for another day. Nora did her best to push the bitter taste out of her mouth.

Throughout the evening, Maya and Bridie came in several times to check in on their guests. Each time the door opened, Nora's heart leaped up, thinking it would be Hayden walking in through the door. But he was always a no show. His voice could be heard downstairs or in the halls. However, he never peeked into the room.

"I'll have Birdie give you something comfortable to change into," Maya said as she did her last round.

"Thank you," Nora sighed, suddenly too tired to even think about changing her clothes.

"Of course," Maya smiled. "Get some sleep. Heyder wants to talk tomorrow morning."

"Okay," Nora's stomach churned.

"Nora..." Maya's eyes flickered to Afet asleep in the bed. "There's a spell around the room."

"Oh...."

"You can come in and out," Maya said. "But not Afet...."

"Okay," Nora nodded.

"You both are guests and we want you to be comfortable," Maya explained. "But please understand that we have children we have to protect."

"I understand," Nora said.

"Thank you," Maya gave a small smile before slipping out of the room.

Nora didn't know what to do or say as she sat with Afet asleep. Her mind felt restless and her eyes were heavy with sleep. A few minutes after Maya left, Birdie had dropped off some clothes but Nora never changed. She was tired of wearing other people's clothes. She longed to be home, listening to her music, tending to her plants, taking a bath. She missed the life she had...the girl she used to be.

When all the lights in the house had switched off and no one else came by to check in on them, Nora began to feel the energy in the house settle down. She stared at the garden lights downstairs as the first few flurries of snow began to fall in the yard. The glass was cold to the touch, tempting Nora to fog it up with her breath and draw something.

Before she could stop herself, Nora leaned forward and blew out a breath. She waited until the glass fogged to use her fingers to trace a small smiley face. A part of her was excited to see how the woods would look with all the snow that was headed their way.

But as Nora stood watching the snow, her mind began to wander to the boy somewhere in the house. She kept her mind-link open the whole evening, but Hayden never tried to reach out. A few times Maya had mentioned he had stepped out earlier but Nora had no idea where she was or what he was doing. Her heart began to hurt as she wondered how a wall had suddenly appeared between them. Just a day or two ago they were making promises of forever. Nora felt a dark and twisted shadow crawl into her heart as her mind began to head down a dangerous path.

Did Hayden not want her anymore? Was he avoiding her? Wasn't that what guys did right before a break up?

The thoughts made Nora's throat tighten. She turned to look at Afet before quietly walking towards the door. Nora had no idea what she would even say to Hayden, but the urge to see him was suddenly too great.

Tip-toeing out of the room, Nora walked out into the hall and headed over to Hayden's room. The snow outside made everything in the quiet seem even more silent. Nora wished at least the floorboards would creak as she walked, but it was as if she walked on clouds. Absolutely silent.

As she came to a stop in front of Hayden's room, for a few seconds she wondered if he had locked the door. Nora could already feel the embarrassment crawl up her spine at the thought. But as she turned the knob, a sigh of relief escaped her lips at finding it unlocked.

The room was dark, with only the light from the garden below making an appearance. The snow fell all around them like a white curtain as Nora walked over to the bed. Her eyes found Hayden laying on his chest, his eyes closed and his dark hair a mess.

The sheets rested on his waist, dark and smooth against his back. His arms were placed around the pillow, pulling it closer to himself as he buried his nose. Nora stood watching him for a few seconds. She was tempted to reach out and push his hair out of his face. But he looked so peaceful asleep, she did not want to bother him.

As Nora turned to leave the room, she noticed her silver watch on the night stand table and Hayden's phone. Her ears began to pick up the light sound of rain playing, making her wonder why Hayden had put it on. He wasn't like her. He liked quiet things.

Quietly, Nora picked up his phone and paused the music. She placed it back down on the nightstand and turned towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Hayden suddenly asked, his eyes still closed and his voice muffled by the pillow.

Nora stood still and looked over her shoulder. Her heart began to beat faster as she waited to hear his voice once more.

"I..." Nora didn't even know where she was going.

Hayden slowly opened his eyes and lifted his head. His hair stuck up everywhere as he tried to fight off the sleep in his eyes and find Nora.

"You're still dressed," he said, noticing her jeans and sweater from earlier.

"Yeah..." Nora looked down. "Birdie gave me something to changed into but I didn't get a chance t-"

Hayden snapped his fingers, making Nora's clothes transform into a short black satin nightgown.

Nora felt herself blush bright red as she felt the breeze in the room brush against her bare shoulders and leg. Her hands clutched the smooth material of the dress as she shifted her weight from foot to foot. She could feel Hayden's sleepy eyes start at her feet and make its way up her legs and then the rest of her body. As he reached her face, he flickered his fingers once more and her hair slowly became undone from the ponytail it was in.

Hayden watched Nora's thick hair fall around her shoulders like a waterfall of melted chocolate. His eyes darkened and his mouth watered. He pushed off the bed, letting the sheets fall off, and made his way over to where the girl stood blushing as if he hadn't seen her naked.

Diving one hand into her hair and placing the other over her hips, Hayden pulled Nora closer to his chest and lowered his mouth to her. Nora's mark sparked to life, pulling at Hayden's magic. Her chest contracted and she began to tear up. Parting her lips, she pushed herself onto her toes and kissed him back.

"Why are you crying?" Hayden asked, tasting her salty tears running down her face.

"You've been avoiding me," Nora could barely speak. "I thought you didn't want to see me."

"I was mad at myself from how I handled things this morning and last night," Hayden said. "I wasn't trying to avoid you. I was just trying to collect my thoughts."

Nora looked down at her feet and nodded. She couldn't stop the tears from falling as Hayden kissed the top of her head and rubbed her shoulder.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I've been a very shitty boyfriend."

"No," Nora shook her head. "You haven't...."

"You're too nice," Hayden chuckled, kissing her head once more. "I love you."

"I love you so much more," Hayden let out a deep breath. "Please stop crying. I hate seeing you cry. Especially when I make you cry."

Nora leaned forward and placed her wet cheeks against Hayden's bare chest. She wrapped her arms around him just as he did the same with her. Their skin warmed together, wrapping them up in a safe and comforting bubble of innocent magic.

"I had never felt jealousy like that in my whole life," Hayden said in the dark.

"What do you mean?" Nora pulled back and looked up.

"I get what you mean about Elsa," Hayden said. "I could tell you a billion times that I love you but it won't make the fears go away."

Nora gazed up at him with shining eyes, waiting for him to put his thoughts into words.

"You could tell me a billion times that you love me, but that won't make my fears and insecurities about Nico or any other guardian go away. When you told me about what Udara wanted, I swore my heart was going to burn up and turn to ash."

"Why...." Nora frowned. "Why would you ever be worried about Nico?"

"Because I know what you want," Hayden said.

"I don't want him!"

"No, no. Not him," Hayden pulled Nora back when she tried to move away. "I know you want to be a mother someday. You want to have a family. But I can't give you that. No matter how much magic I conjure up or how hard I train, I will always fail next to a human in making your dreams come true."

"I don't want that," Nora shook her head. "I only want you."

"Forever?" Hayden asked. "Will that be enough?"

"It'll be more than enough," Nora reached up and kissed his lips. "Unless....."

"Unless what?" Hayden asked, finding it impossible to break away from her lips.

"Unless you think we won't be enough," Nora frowned.

"What?" Hayden's eyes opened.

"Do you think I will be enough for you?" Nora asked. "Forever...just the two of us?"

"A thousand times yes," Hayden pulled her lips back. "You're all that I've ever wanted."

"And you're all that I've ever wanted," Nora spoke against his lips. "But you won't believe me."

"I do," Hayden said. "I do believe you....but I can't let go of the fear."

"Then what should we do about that?" Nora asked, closing her eyes and letting Hayden rest his forehead against her.

"I don't know," Hayden placed his hands around Nora's neck, rubbing her shoulder.

"I do..." Nora said timidly.

"What is it?" Hayden smiled, liking the way Nora blushed in his hands.

"Marry me."

Hayden's eyes snapped open, "What?"

Nora could feel her face burn up. She wanted to crawl up into a hole and stop time. Hayden's pulse quicken. Nora could feel each beat in her own chest.

"You could....marry me," Nora bit down on her bottom lip and tried to make sense of what she was saying.

My heart was lightyears ahead of her brain. She tried to slow down and think for a second but her heart wouldn't cooperate.

What are you saying? Nora asked herself, stunned by her own words.

Just seconds ago she was worried about Hayden breaking up with her and now here she was, melting in his arms, telling him to marry her. But no matter how hard Nora tried to use her brain, her heart pushed it out of the way.

She wanted this. She wanted him. She wanted the whole world to know she wanted him.

"Are you being serious right now?" Hayden asked, lifting Nora's face to look into her eyes.

Nora nodded.

"I need you to speak, Nora," Hayden said. "Words...come on. You got plenty of those."

"Yes," Nora nodded once more. "I'm serious."

"You want to marry me?" Hayden asked, the corner of his mouth curving up slightly.

"I do," Nora felt dizzy and breathless.

"You don't say that just yet," Hayden teased. "You say that at the altar, babe."

Nora closed her eyes and let the nerves work themselves out. She shivered in Hayden's arms, feeling his intense gaze watching her like a tiger. His warm hands held her face firmly as he let the seconds drag by.

Hayden moved his hand into her hair and closed his fist. Pulling her closer, he crushed her to his mouth, parting her lips and tasting the sweet words.

"Do you want a diamond or ruby ring?" he asked, picking her up and walking over to the bed.

"What?" Nora's heart started to flutter in her stomach.

"Ring," Hayden smiled, kissing her senseless. "Diamond or ruby?"

"Whatever you want," Nora felt the sheets against her back.

"Give me your hand," Hayden reached down and took Nora's hand.

When he began to slide off her body, Nora sat up, wondering what he was up to. Hayden held her gaze as he got down on one knee in front of the bed and grabbed her ankles. Nora gasped as he pulled her forward and took her hand.

"Nora Kennedy Rossi," he began, wrapping his hands over Nora's. "Will you marry me?"

"You're doing it right now?" Nora's eyes widened. "You're not going to think about it?"

"Trust me, I've thought about this a lot," Hayden laughed, slightly breathless.

Nora felt her hand tingle in between Hayden's. Something closed around her finger, making her gasp once more. Hayden's smile widened as he switched on the lamp on the nightstand and pulled his hands away.

"Oh my god," Nora said in disbelief as she stared at the huge diamond ring around her finger.

"Not this one?" Hayden asked.

"Um..." Nora held up her hand, making the light reflect off the diamond.

"What about this one?" Hayden snapped his finger and the ring changed to a blood red ruby. "My mom has a ruby ring."

"It's so red," Nora looked up. "It's nice..."

"Don't lie," Hayden laughed. "You'll be wearing this ring forever. Pick one you like."

"Forever...." Nora stared into Hayden's eyes.

"Yes," Hayden nodded.

"Green," Nora smiled. "I want something green....like your eyes."

Holding back a grin, Hayden took Nora's hand once more and closed his hands around her. Taking in a deep breath, Hayden closed his eyes and channeled his finger to morph the ring around Nora's finger. It was the most important spell he would ever do in his life. He used all his attention.

"Can I see?" Nora asked as Hayden opened his eyes.

Hayden slowly pulled back his hand.

On Nora's finger a gold band wrapped around a round emerald stone that matched Hayden's eyes. The gem was cuddled between two gold crescent moons with three small diamond starts above it. It was a perfect fit, made just for Nora. Hayden's vision sparkled around her fingers, making him feel proud of himself.

"What do you think?" He asked, waiting for her approval.

"Yes," Nora nodded. "Yes, yes, yes!"

Throwing herself forward, Nora jumped into Hayden's arms, kissing him. Her body sparked to life, making the butterflies in her belly act up. Hayden placed her on his lap as he leaned back and pulled her lips to his.

"I love you," he whispered to her.

"I love you," Nora said against his lips.

"Let me see the ring," Hayden laughed, taking Nora's hand.

Just as Nora was about to show off her new favorite piece of bling, Afet's scream rang out.

"Nora!" The fey yelled. "Nora!"

Nora and Hayden jumped up, running out of the room. Hayden pushed Nora behind himself as they rushed in to find the fey standing by her bed, a glass shattered at her feet. Nora's heart throbbed in her ears as she looked around.

"What's wro-" she followed Afet's eyes and froze.

Outside, hovering by the glass wall, was a figure made purely out of smokeless flames. It's dark piercing eyes were locked on Afet as it raised his hand and touched the glass.

"Hayden," Nora grabbed the boy's hand.

"Stand down," Hayden commanded the jinn. "Return to your post."

The jinn turned its eyes towards Hayden. His eyes narrowed and the glass cracked under his touch. Nora flinched at the horrifying sound, her eyes watching the smiley face crack in half.

"Woah, hey!" Heyder ran into the room with Maya. "What the hell? Who's watching your post?"

"Heyder..." Maya's blood chilled seeing the rage in the jinn's eyes. "Heyder, call Ali."

"Stand down," Heyder told the jinn. "I mean it."

In a blink of an eye, the jinn outside leaned his head back and shot up to the skies like a comet.

"Shit!" Heyder switched to his true form. Maya, put spells around the house. Hayden, watch over Nora and Birdie.

"Where are you going?" Maya turned towards him.

I can't let him leave our territory, Hayden said, The last thing we need is for Maaz to find out we have a full blown Fey in our house. 

What fresh hell will break free now?