Wings of Light: The Underground Trilogy, #3

By Anna Kyss

The final book in The Underground Trilogy...

As Meghan settles into life in the Seattle Underground, disabling attacks begin to plague her. Meghan had imagined she would spend her time underground reconnecting with Avery. Instead, she fights to remain conscious. After her illness threatens to reveal the Fae’s secrets, Avery and Meghan return to England to seek out a cure.

Unknowingly suffering from the same affliction, Kiernan struggles to balance his desire for Meghan with his responsibility as leader of the Fae. When he learns of Meghan’s illness, Kiernan realizes their blood connection may hold dire consequences for his people. Kiernan may need to sacrifice himself to save everyone he loves. 

The Underground Trilogy

Wings of Shadow

Wings of Memory

Wings of Light

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anna Kyss
• Release date: Feb 25, 2015
• ISBN: 9781502229526

Book preview

Meghan wanted to kill him. She located the most inconvenient spot in the crowded lecture hall and awkwardly brushed past people until she finally reached the center seat. If she made it difficult enough for the annoying faerie to join her, maybe he would sit somewhere else.

She settled and opened her laptop. As an afterthought, she threw its case on the empty seat next to her. Hopefully, Grunge would take the hint.

Grunge pushed his way through the row and tossed her bag to the floor. Were you trying to ditch me? I was only gone for few minutes, but when I came back—

We’re not here to socialize, Meghan said. I’m not going to be late to my class because you’re flirting with every girl you meet.

Well, I should get some benefit out of being here, with the sacrifices I’m making. He sat next to her.

She sighed. School had been so much less complicated before she went to Costa Rica. With the constant threat of danger, Avery had insisted that she have protection while on campus. Grunge was the logical choice. With his casual jeans and T-shirts, the faerie appeared to be just another University of Washington student. He fit in well. Maybe too well.

He scratched his back. "Taping my wings is so uncomfortable. If you wanted to reward me, I wouldn’t complain."

Not going to happen, Meghan whispered.

The professor placed his briefcase next to the lecture podium and stood in front of the class. Welcome back to Native American Myth and Storytelling. Hand down today’s assignment, please.

Meghan added her reflection paragraph to the others’ papers as they passed by. Luckily, the professor tracked attendance through their daily reflections. In the crowded room, Grunge appeared to be just another unmotivated and off-task student.

We have learned of traditional mythology from the Plains tribes, but today we’re going to move closer to home. The Pacific Northwest is rich with native mythology.

"Boooring, Grunge said. Why do you torture yourself with school? Marry one of your faerie princes and live happily—"

Shh! I’m trying to listen. Meghan tried to focus. Grunge gave constant commentary during lectures. She had begged him to be quiet, bribed him with treats, and blatantly ignored him, but nothing shut him up. After a month, she should be an expert ignorer, but…

She had missed the professor’s first slide, and he did not post his PowerPoints online. She clenched her teeth. She had somehow managed to keep her grades up, but some days, her high GPA felt like a miracle.

…animals have power. The professor clicked on his computer, and an image of a totem pole filled the screen. By carving totem animals into wood, the indigenous tribes believed they were capturing the animals’ power for themselves.

What animal power would you want to have?

She didn’t respond.

Grunge nudged her. I would go with a dog.

Grunge’s newest response to her ignoring him was to talk with increasing volume until he disturbed the students sitting around them. Yesterday, he had even been kicked out of a class. She had to leave with him, of course.

Better to humor him and gain a few minutes of peace.

Out of all the possible animals, you would choose a dog? Meghan leaned closer to Grunge. What power do dogs even have?

He grinned. They’re women magnets. Haven’t you seen how many hot girls stop to pet people’s dogs? They’ll give those lucky animals whole-body rubdowns after just meeting them.

She couldn’t control her sigh. She didn’t need more proof that Grunge was a flirt. She had figured that out months ago. "Will you please let me concentrate?"

Miss Kelly? The professor stopped his presentation and directed his attention to her. Kindly be quiet, or take your conversation out of my lecture hall.

Cheeks flaming, Meghan stared at her laptop’s blank screen. Something needed to change. She was almost willing to risk encountering Lord Killian in exchange for a few weeks of uninterrupted learning. Almost… until she remembered Wish’s fate.

Meghan and Grunge moved into the crowd of students leaving the lecture room. She did her best to remain inconspicuous.

We need to head to the food court for the old switcheroo. Grunge took her elbow and guided her to the student union.

Meghan shook his touch off. Switcheroo? What are you talking about?

I missed my last detox rotation while on protect-the-human duty. Grunge gestured over his shoulder. Avery noticed my wings were more wilted than ever, so I’m being sent to the islands.

Meghan focused on keeping a straight face. Not easy when a gigantic smile threatened to escape. Free from Grunge for two entire weeks? What a lucky break. I’m finally going to fly solo for a while?

Sorry to disappoint you. Grunge held open the door of the student union for her, then entered himself. "This is a changing of the guard, not a disappearing of the guard."

Meghan couldn’t hide her groan. She was sick of being babysat and of constantly worrying about her safety. If Grunge made another terrible British pun, she might even scream.

As she walked through the union’s large atrium, she spotted examples of the other students’ freedom. People hung out—smiling, joking, and laughing—on small groupings of couches and chairs. None of them seemed worried about being kidnapped by an evil faerie tyrant. Along the far wall, nearly every small table was occupied; students studied textbooks or typed on their laptops alone. Thoughts of being cut and bled—again—didn’t appear to be interfering with anyone’s studies.

Maybe she wasn’t quite ready to give up her guard.

So who’s replacing you? Meghan tried not to get her hopes up. But just maybe… Between her hours of homework and his rebuilding of the Seattle Fae’s new Underground, she and Avery had barely had time to see one another.

Grunge grinned. I’m not ruining the surprise, pretty girl.

"How many times do I have to tell you? Don’t call me by demeaning terms." Only a few more minutes, and she would have fourteen Grunge-free days.

I was complimenting you, he argued, guiding her into the food court. They wove among the long lines of students that snaked through the crowded area.

With the loud din of dozens of chatting students, she didn’t have to worry as much about being overheard. "Did you pay any attention during Feminist Theory?"

My job was to prevent you from getting human-napped by Avery’s big bad daddy, not to get an education. He smiled. I give myself an A+.

Are the two of you going to bloody bicker all afternoon? Raine glared, hands on her hips. The position accentuated her toned arms, easily visible through her sheer blouse. It’s bad enough I have to wear this awful garb, but if I have to listen to your row for another minute…

Out of her century-old ball gowns, the faerie looked uncomfortable. She was pulling at her tight miniskirt, which barely covered her lacy leggings.

Grunge picked up her hand and kissed it. Darling, you’re by far the most fashionable here.

He was right. Everyone around them was wearing jeans or pajama bottoms. Raine, as always, looked like she had just stepped out of a magazine photo shoot. She pulled off any look effortlessly, Victorian or modern.

I feel almost naked without my wings. Raine twirled around as if giving a personal fashion show. A black tank covered up most of her scarring, so only an inch of raised skin lay nearly hidden under her see-through black blouse. She obviously wasn’t as sensitive as Kiernan about revealing her scarring.

Don’t even complain, Grunge raised his voice. You get to take yours off and leave them in your bedroom. I have to tape my stuff all up.

Don’t bother being inconspicuous, Meghan muttered. "So you’re going to be guarding me, Raine?"

Unfortunately. The faerie rolled her eyes. Darkness forbid we let anything happen to the princes’ favorite little human.

What had happened between London and Seattle? Back in London, her interactions with the faerie had been nothing but friendly. Raine had even freed her from the Underground—not once but twice.

Since arriving in Seattle, though, Raine had been aloof and downright rude. But only to Meghan. Raine chatted with the other Fae and acted as Avery’s primary assistant. Meghan had racked her brain, trying to figure out how she had upset Raine, but only had one guess. Kiernan. Raine had been a close friend of his when he lived in the Underground. Maybe she felt more than friendship for Kiernan.

"I’m taking off, pretty girl." Grunge waved and slung his backpack over his shoulder.

"Now I know you’re trying to annoy me," Meghan called as Grunge headed out of the food court.

Raine folded her arms and stared in the opposite direction, toward the crowds filling the area.

After a solid minute of silence, Meghan studied the faerie’s black combat boots. Grunge’s flirtation and teasing were bad, but Raine’s blatant hostility was even worse. I think you look cute in that outfit. Maybe we could go shopping together sometime.

No bloody chance. Raine leaned close. I’m here as a favor to Avery. We attend your classes, then we head straight back to the tunnels.

Whatever you want. Meghan joined the line at the closest vendor, a sandwich place. More awkward, silent minutes passed until she finally reached the counter and placed her lunch order. Ready?

No, I need a latte. How else am I going to stay awake during—Raine pulled a folded piece of paper from her pocket and scanned it—Advanced Botany?

That class is more interesting than it sounds. As Meghan grabbed her soda, pain pierced her back.

The attacks have never happened at school before. The sharp pain spread to her shoulders. Her fists tightened.

A moment later, they went lax, and her soda hit the ground. Meghan collapsed on the soda-soaked floor. Waves of agony raced through every limb then receded, only to return.

Blast it! I just bought this shirt. Raine’s voice echoed in Meghan’s head.

Everything faded to black.

Kiernan blew a perfect black ring of smoke in the air. His best yet. He watched the toxic cloud rise high above him until it disappeared from view. At least he was accomplishing something while on the Fae’s blasted island.

His kin—the Seattle elders—had been welcoming enough, and Kiernan had to admit—somewhat reluctantly—that he was growing stronger. But his dark mood worsened with each passing day. He couldn’t stop imagining his brother snogging Meghan while Kiernan passively waited in this rain-sodden land for...

What was he even waiting for? Meghan would eventually realize that Avery was the better choice. Even Kiernan didn’t doubt Avery’s bloody selflessness.

It didn’t help that Kiernan had asked his brother to pursue Meghan in his absence. That request was probably the biggest mistake of his life.

Kiernan selected a glossy stone from the pebble-ridden beach. He rubbed it between his fingers as he stared out at the white-capped waves. When the stone warmed from his touch, he examined the black rock. With its funny indent in the middle, it appeared to form a perfect heart.

Another reminder of Meghan.

He tossed the stone as far as he could. It sailed over the waves and plunked into the sea. The rock’s small splash blended in with the ocean’s swells. Before he turned away, a face poked out of the water, right where the stone had fallen. Wide black eyes, as glossy as the stone, studied him.

Kiernan startled as the seal swam closer. The animal poked its pearl-gray head from between the waves until its whiskered face became visible. Even after six months away from the city, Kiernan hadn’t acclimated to the wildlife. A side effect of a lifetime spent living beneath the streets of London, he imagined.

He needed to remain focused. As leader of Solas, he had come up with three priorities: master expelling the toxins from his own body; learn how to teach the process to the other Fae; and save Wish from his father’s cruel clutches.

When he was thinking as a true leader should, Meghan didn’t even factor into the equation, yet he thought of her constantly. Exactly why he made such a piss-poor leader.

He forced himself to focus on the other person who tormented his days: Wish. Kiernan had heard nothing of his closest mate since they departed from Costa Rica. He didn’t have to imagine how Father might be hurting Wish. Kiernan had a lifetime of memories to haunt him; worse, he had experienced Father’s cruelty firsthand.

Pain seared in his upper arms then radiated throughout his entire body. Not again. Kiernan fell to the beach, battering himself on the rock-laden surface. During the other bouts of pain, he hadn’t been to move, hadn’t even been able to think…

When Kiernan finally came to, waves lapped at his feet. That didn’t make any sense, though. He had been farther up the beach before he fell. No, that couldn’t be right. He wouldn’t have been able to slide down the rocky surface. Enough time must have passed that the tide had begun to come in.

As his scattered thoughts cleared, one thing seemed certain: the episodes were getting worse.

Kiernan closed his eyes and tried to summon magic. Each bout sapped away more and more of his energy. He could scream in frustration… if only he had the energy to raise his voice.

Maybe a short nap would help. He stopped resisting his fatigue and allowed his eyelids to sink shut. But before he could succumb to the slumber that tempted him, the feeling of knives being drawn against his upper arm startled him wide awake.

Not knives. Bristles. The seal poked Kiernan’s still-sensitive upper arm with its whisker-covered snout.

Bloody sea mammal! What do you want? Kiernan scooted away then