Beyond The Iron Gate (The Faery Meadow Book 1)

  I pump my arms racing across the street, narrowly avoiding running into other fae.

  Then I walk over to the fae at the table. Their hair is long and a dark blonde.

  "Mom...?" I ask gently. Suddenly, the fae turns around.

  "My baby! My baby! Oh my baby!" My mother cries throwing her arms around me. I slowly hug her back. My eyes flick over to Colt, who is watching with an amused expression.

  "Mom. Why did you leave me and dad? Do you know what I had to go through to find you?" I say quickly.

  "I couldn't stay. The guards would have taken you away from me. I had to leave to protect you. I'm sorry Elaine. I'm terrible." She breathes.

  "Dad's gone." I say trying to fight back the urge to cry.

  "Oh my dear Elaine. Do not worry. For your father is here." She replies. Suddenly, my father walks out of the bakery, his eyes meet mine and he drops the bag of food he holds as he runs toward me. He hugs my mother and I with a tight squeeze.

  "I knew you'd find us, my clever girl. Sorry about your stepmother-that was all staged to protect you. I needed another guardian to look out for you while I was at work." He says. Relief floods into me. Yet, I'm a little irritated they couldn't take me back here with them, they made me find them.

  "Why didn't you take me with you?" I say confused.

  "Fae aren't allowed to have children with humans. If someone saw me with you they would have killed us. I needed you to find me on your own, as cruel as that is. I'm sorry to say the fae do not take a liking to humans." My mother finishes giving my father's hand a squeeze.

  I step away from them folding my arms. I nod my head as I try to make sense of it all.

  "Don't worry dear. You're safe as a halfling in this village. Who is your friend?" she asks me.

  "Oh, this is Colt, he helped me find you. I owe him a lot." I reply with a smile.

  "Nice to meet you, Colt. Elaine, how you've grown. You've matured so much." My mother says.

  "If you'll just give me a couple minutes with Colt..." I say.

  "Oh of course." My mom says with a wink. I inwardly cringe, but then I turn around to face Colt.

  "So now what? I've found my parents, where will you go?" I ask Colt.

  Then, Colt leans down and gives me a quick kiss on the cheek.

  "I'm going to stay here with you." He whispers into my ear. Then I give him a hug, to thank him.

  "Thank you." I whisper with gratitude.

  Lorcan is still out there somewhere. Colt staying with me though, is comforting. Despite what he is, I trust him. My feelings for Colt are steadily starting to grow too. This town looks much more safer than the last town we were in. I can see myself staying here for awhile. Besides, I'm sure my parents have a lot more to tell me. And it excites me.

  At long last, I'm home.

  -END OF BOOK 1-