Page 129 of A Whisper of Cinders

In the hours we were upstairs, the halls of the Academy have somehow changed. The big floating lights are replaced with floating candles casting the hallways in a golden hue. Flowers with closed buds are placed everywhere, and if the sensation in my chest is correct, they will blossom when the moon is at its highest.

Ami guides me towards a very green courtyard. I barely recognise the normally snow and ice-covered garden. “How?”

“See it as a one-time gesture for the ceremony. The moon can’t melt the realm, but manages just fine with this courtyard.”

The moon is enormous as we enter the courtyard and although I didn’t understand why Ami made me wear this cloak, it makes sense now. As soon as the moonlight touches the hem of my cloak, it starts to twinkle, just like the stars in the sky.

“The moon moved closer to us, so we bring the stars to it.”

It feels like we’re walking through a celestial dream. The small fountain isn’t frozen and the sound of water hitting the surface creates a serene melody.

The courtyard somehow seems larger, which could be the case, since there is apparently no limit to what magic can do. In the centre of it now stands a circle of six tall pillars, a priestess next to each one of them and Mrs Delalune stops in front of every female whispering soft words and exchanging sweet smiles.

She is the moon reincarnated. Her robe is woven from starlight itself, the silver threads catching the light of the moon just as it does with our own cloaks. It’s tighter around her waist and falls in a long skirt to the floor. Her arms are bare and for the first time, I notice how muscular she actually is. Her nearly white hair hangs loose in perfect glamorous waves.

“Thank you all for coming on this beautiful evening. The moon is our protector, a guide and a harbinger of change. In her light, we renew our bonds with the stars and ask the moon to lend us her strength in these troubled times.”

Mrs Delalune now moves gracefully through the circle, her fingers tracing symbols in the evening sky. Light trails where her hands pass. She whispers words I cannot hear every time she passes a priestess and with it, threads of white light form between the pillars and the other fae.

I glance at Ami out of the corner of my eye and see how her skin is glowing and her eyes have turned a little hazy. When I look at the other fae around us, I notice a similar expression. But I still feel the same.

“It’s because the sun gives us strength, not the moon.” Conláed’s low voice makes goosebumps spread all over my body and nearly causes me a heart attack.

I place a hand on my heart. “Could you maybe tap my shoulder next time?”

One corner of his mouth tips up and I have to restrain myself from jabbing my elbow into his ribs. “I’ll keep it in mind.”

We stand there in silence for a minute and I watch in awe as Mrs Delalune finishes up her ritual. A small sprinkle of light rises from the chests of most of the fae. But not for Conláed and me.

“I’ll let you know when it is time to honour the sun. You’ll like it, feather, really.”

And with that he disappears and Ami looks like a glowing, very happy version of herself. “Come on, babes, it’s time for the fun part.”

We change into our party attire and Neo enhances my beauty, so she says, with some sparkling dust along my eyelids and cheeks, an intense black liquid that defines my lashes even more and a soft pink tint on my lips.

“I didn’t even realise my lashes were this long.” I say when I take a quick look in the mirror.

“You don’t need much, I only made your stunning features pop. This is all you, darling.”

“Your hair somehow has gone lighter,” Ami notices.

I nod. I have seen it too. The dull black more leaning towards a dark chocolate brown, the red flock still stands out though. I thought it was just my imagination, but apparently others notice it too.

“Everyone’s ready?”

Our outfits are very diverse, but we complement each other in the best way. When we leave my room, I already hear some music swirling up the stairs and my excitement grows.

Bubbles float through the sky and the flowers are in bloom, spreading a soft scent on the breeze that lifts my hair.

“Come on, let’s dance!”

A few fae sit or talk on the outer edges of the dance floor, and although my friends move as fluently as what I imagine professional dancers look like, I have not a single idea what to do and decide that off the dance floor might be a better idea.

Ami hugs me from behind as she brings her mouth close to my ear. “And where do you think you’re going?”

“You know I don’t know how to dance, Ami. This is torture for me.”

“Just move with us, babes. Fae are naturally good dancers, it’s literally in our blood. Just listen to the music and feel.” She releases my shoulders and places her hands on my hips as she moves against me. “Follow my lead.”