Everlight Academy Book 3: Fae Light: Everlight Academy, #3

By Tiffany Shand

A king at large. A friend in danger. A daring quest to restore order.

Silvy never thought she'd get here. After surviving the last faceoff with the fae queen, life has been almost perfect. She has an amazing boyfriend, true good friends, a real family, and one last term at the academy.

Despite how well things are going, Silvy knows she won't have the life she fought so hard for until she unravels the secrets of the past and the Unseelie King's whereabouts are known. The only way to have the life she wants is to find the ancient artefact that tore apart the fae realm.

When Silvy's best friend Mel goes missing, she's in a race against time to find the Everlight Stone and rescue her before it's too late, but can she complete her mission or will shocking revelations stand in her way?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tiffany Shand
• Release date: Jun 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201078836

Tiffany Shand

Tiffany Shand was born in Essex, UK and started writing short stories when she was a child. She has always done writing in one form or another and started writing novels in her early teens. She writes both non-fiction and fiction, but mostly fantasy and paranormal romance. After doing a creative writing course in her early 20s she is now a freelance writer and professional proofreader. Tiffany lives in Essex with her two spoiled cats and one very nutty hamster.

Book preview

EVERLIGHT ACADEMY

BOOK 3: FAE LIGHT

TIFFANY SHAND

Copyright © 2021 Tiffany Shand

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written consent of the author, except for brief quotes in reviews.

This book is a work of fiction. People, places, events and situations are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or historical events, is purely coincidental.

Editing and proofreading by Dark Raven Edits

Cover design by Ravenborn covers.

Table of contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Also by Tiffany Shand

About the author

Chapter 1

T alk to me before I murder someone, I begged my boyfriend on the phone.

My best friend, Melanie Greenwood, had dragged me along to a local shopping centre and run rampant through it over the past few hours. Now I had bags full of stuff and probably more clothes than I could ever wear in one lifetime.

I hated shopping. Sure, I didn’t mind buying stuff when I needed it, but Mel liked to shop to the extreme.

Why? What’s wrong? Tristen sounded concerned.

Mel is bloody mad! I complained. I swear if she drags me into another shop I’ll scream.

We’d only been in a few different shops so far, and we’d need an aeroplane to carry the stuff we had bought.

Save me! Tell me you need me to come home, I begged. Tell me the castle is being overrun by rabid aliens or something. Just give me any excuse to come home.

Tris laughed. But I don’t need you to. Alec and I are hanging out and having fun. And if aliens do exist, I think they would pick somewhere more interesting to overrun than your family estate.

I gritted my teeth. Make up something. I can’t deal with Mel and her shopping bonanza. At the rate she’s going, she’ll have enough debt to last the rest of her life.

Silvy, where are you? Mel called out.

I cringed and shrank back into the corner I’d hidden in and glamoured myself into. I prayed Mel wouldn’t see me. Tristen, I’m your girlfriend. You’re supposed to back me up in a battle. That’s what partners do. I lowered my voice in the hope Mel wouldn’t overhear me. Or would you prefer to be single again?

Tris laughed again. Shopping with Mel isn’t a battle, love. And you said you needed to get some stuff before we go back to the academy tomorrow.

Shopping with Mel isn’t a battle. It’s a war. I’m being traumatised here!

I’m sure you’ll be fine. Just let Mel buy whatever she wants. We need stuff for the new group home, anyway.

Yeah, but Mel has my aunt’s credit card. I swear she’ll buy half of the country.

Tristen laughed louder. Have fun. Gotta go. See you later.

But— I groaned when the line went dead.

Unbelievable. Why were boys never helpful when you needed them to be?

Typical male, they never did as they were told.

I couldn’t believe he wouldn’t help me get away from the nightmare of shopping with Mel.

Silvy, where are you? Mel called again and came around the corner. Her long curly brown hair whipped around her face and her blue eyes flashed with power. What are you doing in the corner?

I slipped my phone back into my pocket. I’m not hiding. I needed...privacy.

Mel snorted. Privacy for what?

To talk to Tris. True enough. Even if he hadn’t saved me.

You’ve been with Tris all summer. I’m sure you can be without each other for a few hours. Mel linked her arm through mine. Not trying to get out of shopping, are you? Mel pouted. Because you’ve been so busy lately we haven’t had time to hang out.

I plastered a smile on my face. Of course not.

Yeah, don’t smile like that. It’s creepy.

What? I gave her an innocent look.

Mel rolled her eyes. Look, we go back to the academy tomorrow. Can’t you at least give me one more shopping trip?

Mel knew I hated shopping, but she dragged me along anyway.

Shopping is pointless. Why can’t we get what we need and go? I dropped the innocent act. I don’t need any more clothes. Or anything else for that matter.

Everyone needs clothes. Especially the kids at your new group home.

My aunt, Zenia, is a fashion designer. She has made enough clothes for a small army. And the group home isn’t even open yet.

I’d convinced my aunts to open a group home for foster kids, both human and fae alike. They had been excited about the project, knowing how I had spent most of my life growing up in poverty and being moved from one home to another. We’d got the building sorted, but we still needed permission from the council to approve the project.

Come on. Mel dragged me off to another shop. Ooh, look at all these dresses. She grabbed several off the rack.

Here we go again. I groaned and considered making up an excuse to leave.

I’d indulged her long enough, and this felt like torture. But if I made up an excuse, I’d need to give Mel proof, though. Or she wouldn’t believe me.

This would look gorgeous on you. Mel held up a sleeveless black dress.

I’m not wearing that. I shook my head. It’s so not me.

That dress looked way too sexy compared to anything I would wear. I preferred just jeans and t-shirts. Comfortable stuff.

But it’s so pretty. It’s even got matching boots. Mel held up a pair of calf length black boots with killer heels.

I’m not wearing them either. I’d fall over and break my neck in those things.

Mel sighed. Can you please be normal just this once? It wouldn’t hurt you to wear something other than jeans and t-shirts all the time. I swear you’re as bad as your boyfriend. I couldn’t get him to wear anything different either.

I laughed. Mel had somehow convinced Tristen and our friend Alec to go shopping and forced both of them to buy new clothes. Alec said he’d actually enjoyed it since he was useless at picking clothes for himself. Tris hadn’t been bothered either way.

I am normal and I’m not buying more clothes, I protested. Well, as normal as a fae could be.

Will you please just try this on? She shoved the dress and the boots into my arms. It’s your one-year anniversary with Tristen in a few weeks. Don’t you want to wear something special for the occasion?

It was hard to believe Tristen and I had been dating for almost a year. I’d never had any romantic relationships before him and hadn’t thought this would last long. I had a connection to him I’d never felt with anyone before. We understood each other in ways other people didn’t.

Fine, I’ll try it on.

I had no idea what we would be doing for our one-year anniversary when it did come around. I’d never been good at romantic stuff either. Tris, on the other hand, loved all that romantic stuff and said we’d do something special.

I headed to a changing room and slipped the dress on. It fit better than I expected.

The boots were another story. I had a hard time getting them on. They fitted but were awkward to zip up. The moment I stood up, I almost fell over. I’m going to kill Mel for this, I muttered under my breath.

High heels were something I had never worn before or mastered walking in. To me they had always seemed pointless as they served no real purpose other than making women look more attractive to men.

I had to hold on to the wall as I stumbled out of the changing room block to where Mel was waiting for me. I can’t walk in these stupid things, I groaned.

Wow, you look amazing in that dress. Mel beamed. You have to get it. And the boots.

I scowled at her. Did you not hear anything I just said?

Pull your shoulders back and stand up straight. Stand here for a second, Mel said once we reached the mirror. There. See, you can stand up in them.

But I can’t walk in them.

You just need some practice.

Like I said earlier, I am not buying these things. I fidgeted in the uncomfortable dress. This doesn’t look like me at all.

No, it’s the new sexier version of you.

I snorted. I’m not sexy and I’m fine with that.

I’d always been tall and gangly, along with being very skinny. Mainly due to growing up in poverty. But over the last eighteen months since I had joined the academy and enjoyed three meals a day, my body had filled out and now had curves.

Tris seems to think you are. He’ll die when he sees you in this dress. Come on, why not just buy this one special outfit? Be normal for once.

Would you stop saying I’m abnormal? I glared at her.

You are abnormal. You hate shopping.

I hate wasting money, I corrected.

You’re richer than God now. You can afford it. So liven up. Come and take selfies with me.

I wrinkled my nose at that. Selfies were pointless overindulgence. I didn’t need to capture every waking moment of my life.

I sighed. Fine. I stumbled in the killer boots and forced a smile when she snapped a picture of us. Then I hurried back to the changing room to put my normal jeans and T-shirt back on.

When I came back out, Mel was nowhere to be seen. That was another thing I hated about shopping. Waiting whilst Mel tried things on.

I spotted a man with long black hair outside. He watched me with unnerving intensity.

I pretended to browse and went through the basket of accessories containing things Mel had picked up whilst I’d been trying on the dress. She had got me matching accessories to go with the dress and boots. How she managed to accessorise so well was beyond me. Most of my clothes didn’t match up very well.

Mel insisted I had no fashion sense whatsoever. But it didn’t bother me.

Mel, I think someone is following me, I told her in thought.

Mel snorted. That’s a pathetic excuse to not keep shopping.

I’m being serious.

No amount of talking would come between Mel and her clothes. So I stayed close to the dressing rooms and kept an eye on tall, dark and creepy guy.

Mel finally emerged a while later with an armful of more clothes.

That’s the guy, I whispered.

Mel frowned. Maybe he fancies you.

I scowled. Yuck. He’s too old for me. He looks like he’s in his late twenties.

Men are men. Mel shrugged. Let’s go.

The creepy guy followed us to the next two shops.

This is weird. We should go, I insisted.

We could have some fun with him. Mel grinned. I could send him to the underworld.

We are among humans here, remember? I’d rather people didn’t see our powers.

Let’s lead him somewhere secluded and kick his arse then. All men need a good punch in the face every once in a while.

Or we could just leave. Come on. I grabbed her arm.

We headed out towards the car park near where we had transported in.

Three more guys joined Mr Creepy.

Still think I’m being paranoid? I asked Mel.

Damn, I wish I had my sword on me. Let’s spring a trap on them. We can hide around the corner.

Let’s leave and get the hell away from them. Since I had turned eighteen, I had qualified for a transportation bracelet. All fae were allowed to use these once they came of age. All I had to do was twist the device and I could teleport anywhere.

At least you’ll be able to put your fighting skills to good use. Mel stalked around the corner.

I rolled my eyes. Typical bloody Guardian, always ready for a battle.

As I rounded the corner, my wings popped out of my back. I flew up onto the ledge and put my bag down on it.

Mel blurred and hid behind one of the concrete pillars.

On cue, the four guys came around the corner.

Where did they go? creepy guy one asked.

Right here, boys! Mel blurred, using her speed, and whacked the first two men in the face with her bags.

I swooped down and kicked the other two in the head. And to think I once hated my wings.

All four men sprang into action.

Mel knocked the other two off their feet with a couple of flying kicks.

Okay, not human. They moved with an agility no human possessed.

Mel blurred out of the way as her two guys went for her. I flew out of the way, my wings flapping wildly.

The first man, creepy guy one, lunged at me. I raised my hand and sent him and Creepy Two flying through the air with a blast of air.

I landed, spun, and kicked Creepy One in the stomach.

He made a grab for me, but I blocked him and punched him. Then used my free hand to send Creepy Two flying with another gust of wind.

Mel blurred around her guys so fast I couldn’t make out her body in the chaos.

I called on another current of air, blasted the other two against the far wall.

With a flick of my wrist, my bags flew into my grasp. Then I grabbed Mel and transported us away.

We reappeared in the living room at Goodwin Castle, my family’s ancestral home. It felt good to be back in the room’s comforting warmth. Two overstuffed settees sat on either side of the room along with two armchairs. A plush cream carpet with thick rugs covered the floor. The walls were light blue with silver filigree around the borders. A huge portrait hung over the massive fireplace of a woman in a long purple dress. Apparently she had been one of my ancestors.

Argh, what did you do that for? Mel wailed. I was just starting to have some fun!

I had to admit, fighting off a bunch of Lycans had been much more enjoyable than being dragged around endless shops. For one thing, I had finally put my fighting skills to good use. Tris had taught me how to fight and defend myself, but I’d never really had a chance to test my skills in the real world until now.

Because I wasn’t the in the mood for getting captured. We had no idea why they were after us. I slumped into an overstuffed armchair and yanked my new boots off my now-aching feet.

Even though I could hardly walk in them, they had proven effective during our battle. So maybe they were worth the money just for that.

We didn’t even get a chance to ask who they were or what they were after. Mel put her hands on her hips and glanced down at her fallen bags. I hope none of my new stuff got ruined.

It’s pretty obvious they were the king’s lackeys. I rubbed my feet. We already know the king is looking for a stone that Freya found years ago.

But he can’t think one of us has it. The stone has been missing for nearly twenty years, right?

Yeah, but he thinks I’m somehow the key to getting it. Or at least that is what Maeve thought since I’m Freya’s daughter. I slipped my old shoes back on and shoved the killer boots into my bag. We’d better tell my aunt about the Lycan attack. She may want to report it to the council.

Are you going to tell Tris you love him yet? Mel arched an eyebrow and changed the subject.

I flinched. Despite being together over eight months, Tris and I still hadn’t admitted how we felt about each other. I knew he cared about me because he had told me that from the beginning, but neither of us had said the words I love you yet.

Mel kept nagging me to