Chapter 1

Kendra paces in front of the fairy shrine. Bracken should be arriving any moment. "He said he would be here," Kendra murmurs to herself.

"I'm here," Bracken says from behind her. Kendra turns to the voice and squints at the bright light coming out of the shrine. As Bracken steps into view, the light dims.

Kendra's heart races. She tells herself to calm down. Kendra knows what she agreed to with Bracken. She just really liked him, and was going to have to get used to the idea of not dating him for a few years.

"Hey," She says, trying to act unfazed. "You ready?"

Bracken smiles brightly at Kendra. "Yep. Sorry it took so long. My mom needed an extra job done, and it took an extra few minutes."

"Am I allowed to know what it was?" Kendra asks.

Bracken walks over to the boat that took Kendra to the fairy shrine. "After you," He says, taking Kendra's hand and helping her into the boat.

Kendra oversteps, and starts to tilt into the water. Bracken lets go of her hand and grabs her waist, pulling her closer to him and back onto the land. "Are you okay?" He asks, concerned.

Kendra turns in his arms. She suddenly realizes how close her face is to his, and that he still hasn't taken his hands off of her waist. "I'm fine," she says breathlessly.

Bracken stares into Kendra's eyes. It would be so easy to just press his lips to hers and get it over with. You made an arrangement. He reminds himself.

Bracken reluctantly takes his hands off of her waist and steps back.

Kendra turns to the boat and closes her eyes. He was about to kiss her. She could see it. So why didn't he? Kendra regrets ever agreeing to wait. She thought it would be easy, but this is far from easy. Does he feel the same way? Or does he just not want to think of her in that way ever?

Bracken sees Kendra turn away from him, and gets mad at himself. You've embarrassed her. He resolves not to do it again today. "Do you want to try again?" He asks Kendra.

For a fleeting second, Kendra thinks he is talking about the kiss. She turns, but sees him standing by the boat. "Yeah. Sorry I'm such a klutz."

Bracken sees her smile, but he also sees that the smile doesn't reach her eyes.

Kendra gets into the boat without any more problems, and they set off to the shore. Bracken rows, and as soon as one oar is in the water a naiad reaches up and grabs it. Bracken wrestles with the naiad, easily pulling it out of her grip. He stands in the boat, and addresses the naiad formally. "You would be wise to avoid me, naiads. The two passengers in this boat are close advisors to the fairy queen. To upset either of us is to upset Her Majesty."

Kendra hears the naiads scoff underwater.

Well, isn't he high-and-mighty!

Advisors to the fairy queen? Yeah, we sense it, unicorn!

Maybe you should come into the lake and we can negotiate peace terms!

The naiads giggle, but the one who fought for the oar turns and disappears into the deep.

Kendra sees the naiads under the surface, looking up at her with devious smiles.

It's her!, a Mexican-looking Naiad says, giggling with the others.

Yes, yes, the one who took Lena and got her killed!

Kendra feels like she has been doused in ice water. Bracken senses her tighten up. "What's wrong, Kendra?" He asks, putting a hand on her thigh.

One adventurous naiad swims to the surface and tilts her head to the boat. This girl killed one of our own after making her become human! How can she be an advisor to the fairy queen? She is a murderer!

The naiads join in, calling Kendra names. Murderer! Trickster! Traitor! Evil girl!

Bracken speeds up rowing, trying to make it out of the pond before they upset the boat.

Kendra hears what they are saying. The words worm their way into her head, making her feel the loss of Lena all over again. She leans over the side of the boat and shouts, "Stop!"

Kendra's words echo across the lake. To her surprise, the naiads settle down. "Lena came out of this pond by choice. And she also chose to give up her life to save this preserve. You should be grateful she did, otherwise you would not be here."

Bracken reaches the shore just as the naiads start nagging Kendra again. He grabs her hand and pulls her onto the land. "Let's go." He says, pulling her out of the meadow.

Kendra apologizes to Bracken as soon as they find the path. "I'm so sorry, Bracken, they said those things to me when I went to the shrine, too. I didn't think they would say them while you were there, though."

Bracken stops and places his hands on Kendra's shoulders. "They should be the ones apologizing, not you. I know the story from being inside your head, and her death was not your fault, Kendra. Believe me."

Kendra smiles a little. "Thank you. So where are we going?"

Bracken smiles. "You'll see. It's a surprise."