Cresent Prophecy by Axelle Chandler (great reads TXT) 📕

His face shifted back into the Alex I knew, but I didn’t falter. Fae were tricksters. He was trying to pull on my heartstrings.

“Skye, please… It hurts…” He moaned and writhed, trying to knock me off him, but I was too strong.

Fae-Alex began to convulse, his eyes rolling into the back of his head. Then, he gasped and went rigid.

“The spell will be broken,” he exclaimed in an otherworldly voice. “The blood of the golden one will crack the chains, and she will return…”

“What are you talking about?” I shook him violently. “Explain yourself!”

Fae-Alex’s eyes glazed over, and he went limp. My magic had run its course and taken what I’d willed it to.

“No!” I shook him again. “No…”

His body began to emit wafts of steam, and I scrambled off him with a yelp as he began to melt and dissolve. His face sagged and bubbled, and I covered my eyes.

He was dead. I’d killed him. I’d killed Alex.

Huddling against my mother’s empty grave, I moaned, calling out for the one person I needed most but knew wouldn’t come.

“Boone!”

Chapter 9

I ran all the way to Irish Moon.

By the time I got there, I was completely out of breath, and my lungs burned. Considering St. Brigid’s was only a few hundred meters away, it was a sign I was terribly unfit.

Lucy was waiting for me out the front, a takeaway cup of coffee in her hands. When she saw me, her expression fell.

“Are you all right?” she asked. “You look terrible.”

“Thanks,” I said, making a face.

“Oh, I didn’t mean… Has somethin’ happened?”

“I’m really sorry, but I… I don’t think I’m going to open the shop today. Something’s come up, and it can’t wait.”

“Do you need any help?”

I shook my head, hoping no one had heard my argument and subsequent murder of Alex.

“I’ll see you tomorrow?” I asked with a grimace.

“Tomorrow.” She nodded enthusiastically. “If you need anything, you’ve got me phone number.”

“Sure, thanks.” As I caught my breath, I watched her walk across the road to where she usually parked her car behind Mary’s Teahouse. “Hey, Lucy?”

She turned.

“Thanks,” I said. “For understanding.”

“Don’t mention it.” She smiled and continued on her way.

Shaking my head, I turned the corner and went around the back of the shop. That woman was super understanding. Mairead would’ve thrown an epic tantrum, then fleeced me for an extra fifty euros to look after the shop. I didn’t like closing and losing a day’s trade, but Boone was more important. He was the ultimate, you know?

I spent the day walking the forest right to the limits of the hawthorns, but Boone had disappeared. He had a strong animal nature, and if he didn’t want to be found, then he wouldn’t be found.

Completely defeated, I shuffled into Molly McCreedy’s as the sun began to dip low, hoping someone would’ve seen or heard something.

Maggie was behind the bar, polishing a pint glass.

“Hey,” I said, leaning against the bar. “Have you seen Boone?”

She gave me a dirty look and flicked her ringleted hair over her shoulder.

“Maggie.”

“Nay, no one’s seen him for a few days,” she said. “Not since… You know.”

“Give me a break.”

“You broke his heart, flouncin’ off with that Australian moron.”

“I didn’t flounce anywhere!” I exclaimed. “Have you seen him or not?”

“No, I haven’t.”

Turning, I surveyed the pub. A few groups of locals were sitting around tables by the fireplace, drinking and talking heatedly about something or other.

Listening closely, I heard Roy complaining about the absence of one of his farmhands.

“There’s been a fox hangin’ about the top fields,” Roy said, sounding irritated. “Wherever that boy has vanished, I need him up there watchin’ the flock.”

“Get Sean up there with Phee,” another man said.

“Nay,” the old man replied. “I can’t leave Sean alone for too long. I’m afraid he’ll turn up drunk as a skunk and cut off a limb.”

My heart sank. Boone hadn’t shown up for work in two days, which wasn’t like him at all. He was the guy who was always on time, always dependable, and always did his work to the highest standard. He even stayed late if he had to and refused to be paid overtime. To just vanish and not let anyone know was completely out of character.

I knew why he’d taken off, and it seemed like the entire village was currently debating which side they were going to take in the breakup. Team Skye, or Team Boone. Let’s just say, it was shaping up like all my high school PE nightmares. You know, the ones where I was picked last and shoved in the back because I was the weakest link. I was totally the kid who forged notes from her parent so she could get out of all forms of team sports.

The group of men had realized I was staring at them while I was off daydreaming about my teenage years and were glaring at me.

Grimacing, I hightailed it across the room and shoved outside.

Boone was lurking around here someplace. All I had to do was be persistent. I would wander around the forest all night if I had to.

Burying into my jacket, I shoved my hands into my pockets and headed for the path behind Irish Moon. Luckily, I wasn’t afraid of what lurked in the dark anymore. I’d conquered that fear weeks ago, but I hadn’t faced the fear that even if I did find Boone, he mightn’t want to come back at all.

Shoving away the terrible thought, I resumed my search. There was no other way.

The forest was dark, and the temperature was dropping.

Powering through the trees, I followed the paths, searching the night for the elusive fox. I reached the very edge of the boundary, then I turned back, looking in on the Druid’s cave we’d once sheltered in during an unexpected rainstorm. The heavy scent of earth filled my nostrils, but it was empty inside.

The night wore on and I was really beginning to worry.

I doubted Boone had been in any animal