Rise of the Fey by Alessa Ellefson Read Free Book Online Page B

soccer ball blazes into existence from the tip of my fingers then shoots out towards the oncoming projectile. The two spheres of power collide in a sizzling explosion that knocks me backward.
    “Wendy’s down!” someone shouts in the distance, the voice breaking through the ringing in my ears.
    Blinking tears out of my eyes, I get back up into a low crouch, expecting another attack. But I find the sentry lying on the ground, knocked out cold by the force of the blast.
    A fat ball of red rags moans a few paces away.
    “Nibs!” I shout, rushing to his aid.
    The clurichaun emerges from under the remains of his large jacket, sputtering.
    “That bitch is gonna regret it!” he snarls, pumping his fists at the unconscious knight.
    “No time,” I say, dragging the dazed clurichaun after me.
    But the closer we get to the forest, the more Nibs keeps tripping over his own two wide feet, robbing us of precious seconds.
    “Come on,” I urge him as I backtrack to help him up again. “We’re almost there!”
    I shield my eyes as a sudden beam of light flashes in front of us then fades away, leaving a soft, glowing circle in the ground behind, runes twinkling along its circumference.
    And, standing next to it, is a small boy. “Over here!” he shouts, waving at us excitedly.
    The gleam of the magic circle reflects off his sharp teeth and I instantly recognize him: The Fey boy who took me to Avalon.
    “A portal!” Nibs wheezes, finding the energy to wrench himself from my grip.
    He sets off towards the Fey child at a hobbling run. I hesitate for a second before rushing after him.
    “Hurry!” the Fey boy says, his big eyes flashing in the light of the bright runes. “They’re almost—”
    A blast of wind rips through the earth, gouging a deep trench between us. As I drop to my knees, I watch Nibs disappear down the wide furrow with a cry of terror.
    “Hold on!” I huff, crawling rapidly up to the edge of the long ditch.
    The chasm is as deep as it is long, gaping like a ravenous maw below me. It takes me a while to spot Nibs, clinging to the side of the ditch several feet down. I reach for him, feeling the upturned earth under my fingers until they brush up against a head of greasy hair.
    “Got ya!” I say, my hand closing around the scruff of Nibs’s shirt before pulling him up.
    “Stop right there!” a guard shouts, his voice shrill.
    Still holding onto Nibs, I crane my neck around and swallow with difficulty—a line of guards is closing in on us, weapons out, ogham-encrusted hands sparkling with energy.
    “Just leave him and come with me,” the Fey boy says from across the ditch, his voice squeaking with fear.
    I watch wearily as the knights inch closer, their eyes cold and unforgiving. I bite down on my lip hard, straining not to drop the clurichaun.
    Two familiar faces appear in their midst, their heads towering over everyone else’s, and I feel all hope drain out of me.
    “
Bonsoir
, Morgan!” Gauvain shouts, his French accent heavy.
    “We’ve come to fletch you!” Gareth adds, his bright smile beaming in the early night.
    “Just a second,” I mutter, sweat falling into my eyes.
    It may be too late for me to run away, but I can still keep my word to Nibs. With a loud grunt, I swing my arm out and toss Nibs towards the Fey boy and his magic circle.
    “Get him out of here!” I yell, turning to face the guards.
    “I can’t leave without you!” the Fey boy says, sounding panicky.
    “Just go!” I shout back, flexing my fingers, wondering if I can bring back that ball of fire. “I’ll keep them busy.”
    “Then remember this,” I hear the Fey boy say over the crackling sounds of elemental magic being called upon by the knights. “When you can, call my name three times and I’ll come fetch you!”
    But as he tries to tell me his name, two knights pump their fists in our direction and a gale of wind roars to life, eating up the Fey boy’s words. The mini-tornado spins around me then slices