Dark Promise by Talia Jager (free novel 24 txt) 📖

nonsense Azura had spouted, that I could believe. For all the “unique” talk from my parents, here was proof.

“Are you honestly going to sit here and tell us that our daughter is in danger of being seen by other faeries because of her birthmark? As if faeries live around us on a daily basis?” My father looked at her like she had grown two heads, which was kind of funny since he’d already seen her wings.

“Yes. That is exactly what I am saying.” Azura sighed. “I know it’s hard for you to believe, but she is in grave danger.” The woman addressed her next statement to me. “I want you to leave with me tonight. It’s for your safety. I fear for your life if you are caught.”

“I’m not leaving. I don’t even know you. If I’m in danger, my father can protect me.” I crossed my arms over my chest and planted my feet firmly on the ground. They would have to drag me out of there kicking and screaming.

“You heard her. Now get out of our house,” my father said, voice low.

“Please, reconsider. I understand you need to talk about this amongst yourselves. I’ll come back tomorrow, and I hope you are ready to leave. Oleander, I only want what is best for you.” She turned and left my room. A minute later, I heard the front door open and shut.

I sank to the floor, tears coming swiftly. Mom sat next to me and gathered me in her arms. “It’s okay,” she whispered, rocking me gently.

“No…it’s not,” I wailed through my sobs.

“That lady is insane,” Dad muttered. “You two can’t possibly believe her.”

I looked at my father through the tears in my eyes. “Why would she come here and make this stuff up? You saw her wings.”

“I don’t know, Rylie, but I’m going to go to the office for a couple hours.”

My mother shot him an irritated look. “Why? Don’t you think we need you here right now?”

He stopped in the doorway, one hand propped on the frame. “She touched that coffee mug downstairs. I want to run her fingerprints. Do a background check.”

I nodded. Dad needed proof one way or another. I stood, my knees still a little wobbly, and crossed to my dresser. I grabbed my hairbrush and handed it to him. “Run a DNA test while you’re there.”

His face drained of color. “What? No, that’s not necessary.”

“It’s okay, Dad. Get definite answers. I understand.”

He hugged me, his face buried in my hair. “If I do and it comes out…that you’re not…” He choked on the words. “It won’t matter. You will always be my little girl.”

“I know. But we all need to know the truth.” I fought against the tears that were welling in my eyes.

Dad met Mom’s broken stare and nodded firmly. “I’ll be back soon.”

A minute later, we heard the garage door open, the steady whir shaking the floor with its familiar vibration. I leaned my head on Mom’s shoulder. “What happens when I wake up tomorrow?”

“I don’t know.” She draped her arm around my shoulder and gave it a light squeeze.

“You believe her, don’t you?”

There was a long pause, and then she took a deep breath. “Yes.”

I knew she was going to say that, but it still upset me. If she believed the story, there had to be something to it. “Why? Why do you believe her?”

“I’m not sure, honey. Something in me just says it’s true.”

“You’ve always believed in the supernatural,” I whispered.

She was quiet again. “Yes. Never thought I’d be living it, though.”

I looked up at her. “I don’t want to be a faery, Mom. I don’t want wings. I don’t want someone after me. I don’t want any of this. I just want to be a normal teenager.”

“We won’t let anyone hurt you. As far as the other stuff, we’ll take it as it comes.”

“What if what she says is true, and the only way to be safe is to go with her? I don’t want to go with her.” I sobbed once. “I want to stay here, go to school, be with Adam and Sierra.”

“I know.” She ran her hand down my head, smoothing out my hair.

I wiped the tears off my face. “Can I call Adam? Have him come over?”

“Are you going to tell him?”

“No!” I was petrified at the thought. “I just want to see him in case…I wake up looking like a freak tomorrow.”

Mom’s face relaxed and she smiled. “You won’t ever be a freak. Even with wings, I’m sure you’ll be beautiful.” She leaned down and kissed my forehead. “Of course you can have Adam come over.”

“Thanks.” I pushed myself up and grabbed my phone off the dresser. I paced the floor once, twice, trying to compose myself. Finally, I dialed. Don’t cry. Act normal.

“Hey, you,” he answered.

“Hey.” My voice came out weak. I cleared my throat.

“You okay?” he asked, concern in his tone.

“Yeah. Can you come over for a few minutes?” Please say yes. I needed to see his face and feel like my world wasn’t spinning out of control.

“Um…okay.” He paused. “Are you sure everything is okay?”

I hesitated. “I just miss you.”

“I’ll be right over.” Adam only lived a few minutes away, so I knew it wouldn’t take him long to get to my house.

I put the phone down and glanced in the mirror. Other than my red eyes and blotchy face, I still looked normal. I went down the hall to the bathroom and splashed water on my face before I put on some cover-up and lip gloss. Thank goodness for makeup.

There was a knock at the front door. “I’ll get it for you,” Mom yelled.

“Hi, Mrs. McCallister.” My boyfriend’s voice drifted up to me, and I fought the urge to cry again.

“Come on in, Adam. Ry will be right down.”

I heard the door shut as I descended the stairs.

“Is everything okay?” Adam quietly asked my mom.

“Yeah. Just a little emotional. Our little girl is turning sixteen tomorrow.”

I turned the corner and smiled as soon as I saw Adam. He was my rock. I felt much better being near him. I couldn’t help but run to him and throw my arms around his neck. I buried my face in his shoulder and inhaled his scent. I didn’t want to let go. I wished I could hold onto the moment forever. My mom quietly slipped from the room.

“Hey.” Adam pushed me back. “Rylie? What’s going on?”

“Nothing. I just had to see you.”

“Something is going on. I know you.” He stared at me intently.

Adam wasn’t stupid, but there was no way I could tell him about tonight’s events. “No. Everything’s fine. Can you please just hold me for a few minutes?”

He cupped my face. “Of course. Whatever it is, you know you can talk to me.”

I stood on my tiptoes and planted my lips on his. My heart raced and my breathing sped up. I knotted my hands in his hair as I kissed him faster and harder. Deep passion rose inside of me. For all I knew, this would be the last time we’d be together…if Azura’s story was true.

Adam pulled back, breathing hard, and held me at arm’s length. “Whoa. Calm down. Your mom is here.”

“I know.” I led him to the couch and sat down, pulling him next to me. He put his arm around me, and I melted into him. His heartbeat beneath my ear was comforting. Closing my eyes, I imagined us going to prom together in a couple years. We’d graduate together after that and go to the same college. And then he’d ask me to marry him. We’d have a big wedding, a family, and grow old together. This was my dream.

What if it was only just that? A dream…and nothing more.

Adam rubbed my aching back. I had almost forgotten the pain that I had been dealing with for the past week. A pain which meant I was growing wings. Freaking wings! If I told Adam, would he still want to be with me? Would he still love me? I couldn’t lose him. I loved him.

I sniffled and looked up into his eyes. “I love you,” I told him.

He gave me the crooked grin that always turned me into mush. “I love you, too.”

After Adam left, Mom sat with me until Dad got home. I could tell the news wasn’t good the second he walked in the door. He sat down across from us, rubbing a temple with one hand. “I couldn’t get a hit on her name or fingerprint. All that means is she’s never been arrested.”

“And the other thing?” I asked softly.

“DNA tests take longer. We won’t know for quite some time, unfortunately.”

“Oh.” I looked down, hiding the tears in my eyes. I had a suspicion what was going to return in that test was going to wreck our world.

Dad got up and sat on the other side of me. “Rylie, if there is some evil man out there who wants to hurt you, I will find him and kill him if I have to.”

I met his eyes and knew without a doubt that he meant it.

“I don’t want to fall asleep.” I leaned my head against my father’s shoulder. “I never thought I would say this, but I wish tomorrow wasn’t my birthday.”

“No matter what happens when you wake up, you are my little girl. I’ve loved you since the minute I laid eyes on your tiny little face. Nothing will ever change that.”

My mom made a noise of agreement, her hand rubbing my back.

“Thanks. That means a lot.”

I took three soda cans to my room, hoping the caffeine would keep me awake. I fought sleep tooth and nail, but before dawn came, it eventually won over.