The Fae Princess (The Pacific Princesses Book 2) Ektaa Bali (free ebook reader txt) 📖

around the group to ensure they would not come close to being seen. Once they were past them and deeper in the forest, Willow took the lead again.

They passed two more groups of Bunyips practising in the forest. Each team had managed to fly in tight formations and were clearly able to use their wings now. Taking a wide berth around the groups made their trip longer, as they had to be more careful, and soon it was deep into the night, the stars twinkling above them, before they reached the Bunyip’s Nest.

They were all gathered there, great, massive, heaving, black bodies, muscular and pacing, rumbling voices taking up the clearing.

The Bunyip King stood in front of his wooden throne, addressing the group, waving his massive claws in the air for silence.

“The Fae took everything from us!” cried the Bunyip King.

The Bunyips roared in agreement, and the Fae kids covered their ears.

“Now we will take it back!”

“YES!” the group cried.

“Tomorrow,” said the Bunyip King quietly.

But during his speech, Vidya heard another voice.

“Vidya….” Came the familiar voice in her head. “I feel you close by.”

“Flower of Awakening!” Vidya said quickly in her mind. “I’m here! I’m here to save you! I have a bow and arrow from the wood of the Wollemi King…. and a fire flower. The reaction between them should create the magic you need to recharge!”

“Tired…” was all the flower said.

“Hold on!” Vidya cried desperately in her mind.

“Let’s go while they’re distracted,” said Lotus, rubbing his eyes tiredly. “Let’s go.”

Vidya frowned at Lotus. There were deep bags under the older boy’s eyes that she had not seen before. A bad feeling gnawed in the depths of Vidya’s belly, and it only increased the urgency of what they were there to do.

They edged around the Bunyip Nest, closer to the entrance of the cave where the golden light now looked dangerously faint.

Before they had left, they’d decided on a simple plan. Willow, who had the least chance of getting this wrong, would shoot the fire flower into the wall of the cavern near the Flower of Awakening. Vidya would then command the fire flower to set itself alight, and then they would leave, quick smart, letting the magic do its thing.

The Bunyips seemed to all be looking right at the Bunyip King, and caught up in his moving speech, they didn’t notice Willow as, crouched low, bow and arrow held at the ready with the fire flower already stuck to the tip, shot toward the cave, Vidya and Pancake close behind.

Vidya couldn’t help but smile as she saw how far Willow had come. He had started off as a reluctant member of the team to becoming the very person upon whom the whole mission relied upon. And he did it with square shoulders and a set jaw.

They entered the cave, Vidya’s heart pounding in her chest. She would finally get to see the Flower of Awakening in person!

The first thing Vidya saw when she entered the cave was the Flower. She sat, golden and regal, the Queen of flowers looking solemn, glowing like a softer version of the sun, wide lotus like petals delicate but strong at the same time. But she did not have more than a second to marvel at it because what they had not counted on was that there would be two Bunyips stationed inside the cave, standing guard.

Willow let out a gasp as he saw them but did not stop to think. He shot the flower arrow into the wall to the right of the Flower of Awakening, at the same time, the Bunyips let out a shout.

“Light up!” Vidya hissed to the fire flower, and it did. Bursting in a ball of red light.

The Bunyips let out a warning roar, but Willow had already begun bolting out of the cave.

Vidya spun around to follow but as she did, the Bunyips, impossibly fast, darted behind her. She made it back out of the cave but felt a painful grip around the back of her neck. She, Pancake, and one of the Bunyips tumbled together into the dirt.

“Shoot!” she heard someone cry and felt the Bunyip on top of her give a grunt and fall limp. Vidya disentangled herself from the Bunyip and leapt to her feet, just as the large group outside caught on to the commotion.

An almighty roar reached her ears as the eyes of one hundred Bunyips turned their attention upon her. Ahead, she could just make out the form of the three others in the trees, waving her on. Willow had his bow in hand as he released another arrow, hitting home on the second Bunyip close behind Vidya. She bolted, fluttering her wings rapidly crossing the dirt clearing to the trees.

She noticed what was missing a second too late.

“Vidya!” screamed Pancake. Vidya’s heart stopped in her chest as she turned to look behind her.

She watched as a Bunyip, with one huge black claw, grabbed the tiny brown ball of fur that was Pancake from where he lay on the ground, like he was nothing but a tiny rag doll.

“Pancake!” she screamed back.

“We have to go!” screamed Willow, grabbing a fistful of Vidya’s jacket and pulling her. “Fly, fly, fly!”

As Willow pulled Vidya into the air, tears streaming down her face, the Bunyip King roared into the night.

“Let them go! Because tomorrow night—”

The Fae children flew into the night, cold wind sweeping through them as the Bunyip King’s voice hit them

“—tomorrow night, you are all mine.”

“Pancake!” Vidya sobbed into Willow’s shoulder as he held her close, practically flying the both of them. Lotus and Lily came around to help support Vidya, a flutter of yellow, orange, and navy wings surrounding her.

“He’s gone,” said Lotus dully. “Poor little Pancake.”

17

A Dark Day

“There is a light that exists within that Fae. It is a light that flickers within us all. And in Fae children, that light is a roaring fire, bold and booming and strong. With time, like