Moon Spun (18 page)

Chad scrambled up and threw his arms around Ryker, who whispered to him in his strange faery 338

language and patted his back. Suddenly, he froze and murmured, “Ava.”

“Now what?” I struggled to my feet.

Ryker’s hand skimmed over Chad’s back, pointing out two knobby protrusions, one on each side of his spine. My mouth dropped open. Oh . . . my . . . God. Chad was growing wings. 339

Chapter Twenty Two

Tuesday night was cloudy. Boundless would have to wait. Fine with me. When I went outside at nine, Ryker was sitting on his motorcycle next to the cistern.

I gestured at the overcast sky. “Looks like we won’t be going to Boundless tonight.”

Ryker scowled. “It’s too early to make a decision. If the wind picks up, the clouds will go away.”

With a sigh of impatience, he dismounted and walked over to me. “You don’t understand. Melia grows weaker with each passing moment.”

I stared at Ryker, wishing I could see what was going on in his head. Never trust a faery. Kizzy’s words. I still had doubts about Ryker, despite his pretty speech about rescuing his mother. Was this whole exercise designed to further his cause? He made no secret about his ambitions. Maybe this wasn’t about Melia at all.

I lifted my hands. “Are you absolutely certain Melia will get stronger once her people are free?”

When he spoke, his voice had the ring of truth. “In Boundless, there are separate kingdoms. More subjects equal more power. As you pointed out, Melia’s kingdom consists of two pixies, a couple of water sprites, Uncle Davie and me.” He made a little bow. “Even though I am awesome.”

“You forgot me. I’m not a subject of Melia’s, but I’m pretty awesome too.”

He held out a fist. Even though I wasn’t totally convinced, I tapped it with mine. Ryker continued, “When we free Melia’s subjects, Luminata will realize Melia has regained her power. Melia will once again take her rightful place in the Seelie Court.”

And, you’ll be right there beside her. Then, I heard Kizzy’s voice again. Faeries use their glamour to make mortals believe in them.

“So, if we free Melia’s people, she’ll be back in favor with Luminata?”

“Exactly.”

I glanced at the sky. No trace of the moon. “Not tonight. Can Melia hang on a while longer?”

Ryker’s face turned grim. “She’ll have to. Of course, if you trusted me a bit more, we could go right now.”

“Trust has nothing to do with it,” I lied. “You have no idea how long this little excursion will take. I have responsibilities. So do you.”

Ryker winked. “You’re not the only one who can do magic.”

“Can you stop time?”

Ryker shook his head. “No, but I have other skills when it comes to dealing with mortals.”

I was almost afraid to ask. “Such as?”

He placed his hands on my shoulders. “For example, I have the power to make them forget certain events . . . other things, as well.”

I jerked away and took a step back. “Okay, not going to happen. Tell Melia I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

Ryker’s brows drew together in a puzzled frown. He folded his arms across his chest and studied me like I was a species unknown to him. Obviously, the Love Talker was used to getting his own way. I bit my lower lip to keep from laughing. Hadn’t anybody ever told him no? Or, maybe his mojo didn’t work on me. Thankfully, my relationship with Beck had taught me to defend myself against boys with supernatural powers.

Finally, I broke the silence. “Tell me what’s going on with Chad. When I took him home, the 340

little knobs on his back disappeared. I don’t think he even knew they were there.”

Ryker gave me a charming smile and held out a hand. “Come fly with me, Ava. Then, I’ll tell you all about Chad.”

I ignored his hand and pointed at the motorcycle. “On that?”

He picked up a helmet. “Are you afraid?”

“No, of course I’m not afraid. I’m just worried about Chad, that’s all.”

Maybe a ride on a motorcycle would clear my head, and Ryker did promise to fill me in on the Chad issue afterward. I grabbed the helmet and plopped it on my head.

“Let’s go.” I tried not to think about Faye’s dire warnings regarding motorcycles. She wasn’t home, so she’d never know . . . right?

Ryker adjusted the strap on my helmet, then jumped on the bike and started it up. He pointed to the space behind him. “Climb on. Hang on tight and don’t forget to lean when I lean.”

I nodded, scrambled into position behind him and grabbed his tee shirt with both hands. My plan was to keep as much space as possible between Ryker’s body and mine. That lasted until we reached the end of the driveway and turned onto Peacock Flats Road. He hit the gas. My head snapped back. I screamed in surprise and exhilaration. My arms flew around his waist. My legs clamped around his. I was completely and utterly super-glued to his body. His rumbling laughter felt like it was part of me. He yelled over his shoulder, “You like flying?”

“Hell, yes!” I screamed. “Go faster!”

I tucked my head into the curve of his neck, loving the flood of sensation as we flew through the night. It was almost more than I could take in. The fence posts flying by faster than I could count them. The soft summer air dancing across my skin. The powerful surge of the motor beneath me. The pungent scent of a lush, green mint field. The warmth of Ryker’s strong body pressed against mine. Love talker, Allie, remember he’s a Love Talker.

We were almost to Vista Valley when he hit the exit ramp and headed back to Peacock Flats. A wave of disappointment washed over me. I wanted to keep on racing through the night until I reached the edge of the world, until I saw the blue ocean crashing over a sandy beach like the one I’d seen in Boundless.

When we reached Uncle Sid’s driveway, he pulled in, sedately, and parked under the apple tree. I was still wrapped around him like a baby chimp clinging to its mother’s back. Kind of embarrassing, really. But, it wasn’t about Ryker. It was about freedom . . . about hurtling along at warp speed, not giving a damn about the moonstone, Trimarks, faeries or anything at all. Ryker turned his head and bumped my helmet with his. “Quite a trip, huh?”

I took a big breath, peeled myself off his back and dismounted. “Can we do it again tomorrow?”

Ryker chuckled and climbed off the bike. “I believe there’s a bike in your future.”

I took off the helmet and looked around, trying to orient myself back into the real world. I couldn’t stop smiling.

Ryker came down to earth before I did. “About Chad,” he said. . We walked to the spool table and settled into the rickety lawn chairs. Ryker leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “Remember what I told you before?

About Chad belonging in Boundless? You mocked me at the time.”

I rolled my eyes. Why were guys so touchy? Even faerie guys. “I wasn’t exactly mocking you. I merely asked how I could explain Chad’s disappearance to his family. Isn’t that a reasonable question?”

“And what did I tell you?”

I thought for a moment. “You said you would think about it.”

Ryker shook his finger at me. I hate it when people do that. I wanted to grab his finger and twist. 341

He said, “I told you there are ways to help the changeling go home. You do know there’s a human child somewhere in Boundless who was taken when Chad was left in Boundland?”

To tell the truth, that bit of information had completely slipped my mind. “Of course I know that. Are you saying you can switch them out?”

Ryker cocked an eyebrow. “I’m saying Chad is following his instincts. He longs to be in Boundless, and he will find a way to get there. He already knows about the cistern.”

The image of Chad struggling to open the top of the cistern made me shiver. I could barely make myself say the words, “So, is there some sort of procedure or what?”

Ryker leaned back in his chair. “I haven’t the skill to do it, but Melia does.”

“What if it doesn’t work?”

Ryker chuckled again. “You worry too much. If the spell doesn’t work, you’ll have to stay in Boundless forever.”

I gasped, but before I could form an answer, he said, “Kidding.”

“Not funny.”

“Melia is known for the strength of her spells. So, to answer your question, it will work. I promise you.”

Faeries are not to be trusted, Allie.

“What about the bumps on his back? Wings . . . right?”

“Wing buds,” Ryker said. “Caused by his proximity to the cistern. When you took him away from the portal, they receded.”

I stood and stared down at him. “Okay, here’s my ‘to do’ list. Keep the changeling kid away from the cistern so he doesn’t grow wings or disappear. And, while I’m at it, be on the lookout for people trying to kill me and take the moonstone. Last, but not least, wait for the moon to reappear so I can stop time, go to some whacked out faerie world and, along with an army of misfit non-humans, try to save my grandmother’s kingdom. Anything else?”

Ryker stood. He was not amused. “You’re very cynical for such a young person.”

Chill, Allie. I took a big breath and let it out. “Yeah, I guess I am. Sorry about snapping at you. Remember, this stuff is all new to me. I guess I’m ticked off because it seems like I’m doing all the worrying, while all you have to do is ride around on your motorcycle, looking hot.”

He stood and trailed a finger down my cheek. “Don’t forget the wooing part.”

I slapped his hand away. “I told you, no wooing.”

Ryker nodded and gave me a quick salute. “See you tomorrow.” As he walked away, he said softly, “So you think I’m hot, huh?”

When I walked to the trailer, I was glad it was dark, because Ryker had succeeded in making me smile.

It was three days later, Friday, and we were still in the “the dark of the moon,” as Ryker called it. The weather had cleared. In a few more days, the tiniest sliver of moonlight would appear, and I would be out of excuses. I wasn’t so much afraid as I was frustrated. Every time I asked Ryker what I could expect when we got to Phaedra’s fortress, he said the same thing. “Phaedra’s a dark faery and dark faeries are dangerous.” To which I’d reply, “No shit, Sherlock,” earning me one of Ryker’s haughty glares. I had the feeling there was a behind-the-scenes conspiracy to keep Allie (Avalon) in the dark, so she wouldn’t get cold feet.

Chad promised to stay away from the cistern once I told him Ryker was working on a way to take him to Boundless for a short visit. Other than constantly nagging me about when, he’d been a perfect 342

angel.

That night, I’d just finished up at the fruit stand. Mr. Hostetler swung by to pick up Chad, and Faye was working the dinner shift. I had no plans other than a Cup-O-Noodles and a good book. When I got to the trailer, the message light was blinking. Faye. “Call me.”

When she came to the phone, I heard clanking dishes, snippets of background conversation and Harold hollering, “Order up!” Harold was the short order cook and owner of the diner where Faye worked.

“Oh, hi, Allie,” Faye said. “Could you do me a huge favor?”

Goodbye dinner and good book. “Sure, what do you need?”

“Leon is stopping by later. We might take in a movie. Would you be a doll and bring me my black jeans? And . . . iron them first? And, also my pink tunic with the beaded neckline? And my black shoes?”

“Yeah, okay,” I said, not even trying to work up some enthusiasm. “What about Chad? Am I taking care of him?”

“He didn’t say anything about Chad, so I guess you have the night off.”

I ate a peanut butter sandwich while I ironed Faye’s jeans and then headed for my car. When the motor sprang to life, I put it in gear and started down the driveway.

That’s when I noticed the gas gauge. The tank was empty. Unfortunately, so was my bank account. Saturday was payday for my work at the fruit stand, and Mr.

Hostetler paid me every other Monday. Broke, busted and disgusted.

Yes, I thought about using the credit card Junior had given me, but I didn’t want to start down that slippery slope. Faye would just have to drive home after work and change her clothes. I parked the car, locked it and headed for the trailer to call her back.

“Avalon!” Ryker was walking toward me from the barn. “Do you need a ride somewhere?”

I took a few seconds to weigh the consequences of Faye’s anger if she caught me on Ryker’s motorcycle. No problem. I’d have Ryker park it behind the diner. She’d never see it there. At least, that was my theory at the time. Besides, I really, really wanted another ride on that bike.

“Sure,” I said. “I need to take some stuff to my mom at Bea’s Honey Pot Diner.”

A few minutes later, with Faye’s change of clothes carefully stowed in a saddle bag, I was seated behind Ryker as we flew down Peacock Flats Road. When we got to the diner, I should have told Ryker to keep going. The dusty parking lot was jammed with clusters of chattering teenage girls. Very strange, since Bea’s was most definitely not a teen hangout. That was only part of the problem. Parked at the far end of the lot, I spotted a vehicle I knew well. Beck’s Ford Ranger. 343

Chapter Twenty Three

I knew it was Beck’s truck. I recognized the license plate. But, why would Beck be inside the diner? Okay, whatever. I’d just run in with Faye’s clothes, wave at Beck and scurry out the door. Sounded like a good plan. But then Ryker insisted on coming inside with me.

“Um, I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

“Why?” He had that stubborn look I was coming to know well.

“My ex-boyfriend is in there. It might get ugly.”

“Boyfriend? Boyfriend?” He repeated the word as if it was a term completely unknown to him. Maybe it was. “Why must I stay out here if he’s a boy and a friend? Surely, he is not my enemy.”

I really needed to explain the whole boyfriend concept to Ryker, because it was obvious he wasn’t catching on.

“Don’t call me Ava or Avalon in front of other people,” I cautioned. “They’ll think it’s weird.”

“But, it is your true name.”

“I know, but other people won’t understand.” He looked offended, but nodded once. When we walked around the corner of the diner, I saw Faye peering out the front window. Much to my relief, she met me at the door. Maybe this would work out after all.