Prologue

I sat outside my Gran's home under the hazel tree, positioning my offerings in place. I had always loved this tree. Whenever I played hide-n-seek with Daddy, I would pretend to disappear behind its branches. Its multiple limbs held secret little places I could squeeze into. There I could pretend to open my eyes and be somewhere different.

Somewhere magical. Somewhere like Faerie.

But Daddy always found me. Reality always came back with a flood of too-bright sun and the scent of the few butterworts that Gran grew in her garden.

I glanced over at Gran's cottage to make sure she hadn't snuck outside to catch me in the act. The evening sun shone down in lazy rays, turning the green Irish grass on the hillsides a fiery red as day began to turn into night.

I looked down at my ring of flowers and couldn't help the grin that spread across my face. I sat on the edge of a faerie ring. I had placed a few gifts inside of it, herbs and wildflowers I had collected over several days when Gran wasn't looking. A pretty silver mirror I had bought on a trip in town with the money Daddy had given me for washing his car.

If Gran knew what I was doing, she would tear down the entire ring and drag me into the house by the ear. But Gran was nowhere to be seen, meaning my ears were safe for now. I could hear her distant singing from inside the cottage as she prepared evening tea. All she needed to do was look out the window from the kitchen and she would see me.

I was lucky she hadn't noticed the faerie ring growing back this time. She was always so quick to destroy it whenever she saw the little mushrooms peek up from the ground. This time I had been patient. I was sure this time my plan would work.

I would summon a faerie. They would accept my offerings. And with that, they would grant me my wish.

To take me to their world for one day, and one night, free of enchantments. I knew of the pesky faerie enchantments, it was why Gran was so determined to keep them away. But surely, I could go to faerie for one full day and no one would have to know. As long as I was sure to make sure I was safe from any tricks, nothing could go wrong.

I wanted to see it so badly. I needed it, deep in my bones. Ever since Gran had told me the first tale of the fae and their world, I had wanted to see it for myself.

It called to me. Even now, the wind brushed against my skin, tingling like there was and incoming storm.

I fiddled with one of the tulips I had placed around the ring's edge. Their pink petals were starting to wilt, making them look lost among the flurry of daisies I had woven between them to make a crown I imagined a faerie princess might wear. Not that I had such high hopes that one of the pretty, tall High Fae might appear. I would be happy with a little flower sprite or a generous house brownie. The scent of lavender filled the air from a few sprigs I had managed to steal from Gran's drawer.  Arts and crafts were never something I excelled at, and I worried it would not be pretty enough to attract a faerie. Maybe I should have brought out a bowl of milk, but there was no way I would have been able to get it past Gran.

But I really hoped it would.

Slowly, the shadow from under the tree grew longer, and the last few traces of sunlight tapered off. I looked back at the house and resisted the urge to bit my fingers. But Gran was still singing, the Gaelic lyrics carrying in the air. Gran had such a beautiful voice. I could picture her there, sitting by the living room table in her rocker, her eyes closed as she sang softly for no one but herself.

I settled on my knees just outside the ring, afraid to blink as I stared at its center. But as time passed, I pressed my lips together, and glared down at the faerie ring.

No one was there.

The darkness grew around me, the stars popping up in the sky as the moon took the place of the sun. The air grew colder, making me squirm. It was rare to have such a clear night in Ireland. But as it was Beltane, I wasn't surprised. Gran always said it was the night of fire, when the warm season began after the dark days. The night was short and fleeting, but it was one of the few chances I had to see a faerie. I didn't usually get to see Gran until later in the year, but this time I had come earlier. I would be heading back to finish off the school year in a couple of days.

This was my only shot.

A breeze blew, making the leaves on the hazel tree rustle. Its earthy scent wafted to my nose. A strange sensation prickled along my skin, making goosebumps appear along my arms. I rubbed at them, frowning. Maybe this hadn't been the best idea after all. It was dark out and I still had no faerie to grant me my wish.

Oh, but if one appeared, how much fun I would have!  We could sing and dance through Faerie, and maybe it would even show me some magic. Gran had told me about faerie magic, and I wanted to see it so badly. I looked down at my hands, feeling the welcoming way the breeze flit across my fingers. That happened sometimes, especially out here at Gran's. Maybe the faerie could show me how to use magic too.

I rocked back on my heels, glaring at the empty faerie ring. Gran had told me all about them, and I was certain this was the way to summon a faerie. Maybe my offerings just hadn't been good enough. For some reason, that upset me, and I felt disappointed tears filling my eyes.

I had wanted to see one so bad.

A shadow next to the tree separated against the dark grass, a small movement in the darkness making me freeze in place. My eyes went wide, and my heart started racing. This was it!

A faerie had come.

The shadows moved, coming closer. A twig snapped under its feet, along with the gentle exhale of another creature breathing, panting sounds filling the air. I squinted into the night, my heart thumping with nervous excitement. What kind of Faerie was it? Could it do magic?

A sweet scent filled the air, mixing with the lavender. I found myself leaning forward, trying to make out its shape. It was smaller than I expected, it's form low and hunched on the ground as if it were crawling towards me. Smaller than I expected, but my excitement didn't waver, giddiness making me smile.

"Hello," I called out. "Are you a faerie?" I asked the shadow. It stepped closer, reaching the part of the ring where the moonlight shone down on the ground. A faint shimmer filled the air all around the hazel tree, but I didn't pay much attention to it. My eyes were on the creature in front of me.

Jagged fur came into focus; golden markings glinting under the moonlight. Bright green eyes met mine, and I stumbled back in alarm. Fear overtook my excitement, and I cried out.

"No!"

It was a wolf, not a faerie. I scrambled back, and I heard Gran's singing cut off abruptly. The door slammed open.

"Heather? What is it wee little one?" she called out to me. But then she must have caught sight of the wolf. It looked up, and I heard rapid steps along the grass as Gran ran. I couldn't look away from the wolf as it stalked around the perimeter of the ring. Its eyes fell back on me, ears twitching. It sniffed the air then came closer.

I cried out, "Gran!"

Gran was already beside me, lifting me up off the ground. I wrapped my arms around her neck, smelling her comforting lilac scent. Her long gray hair was loose around her shoulders where it had once hung in long blond waves, the necklace Grandad made for practically glowed in the darkness against her chest. Her blue eyes glinted violet under the moonlight. Even I felt a bit afraid as I stared up into her enraged face. But she was looking at the wolf. I saw it take a few steps back, its ears flattening as its head bowed.

"You and your master, I should have known you would come sniffing about one of these days. Get out of here. Tell him he can't have her. None of you can. I will not have her involved in your wicked games. He knows very well how to solve his own problems." I wasn't sure what Gran was saying. It almost sounded like she knew the wolf, but that was silly.

The wolf lifted its head again, sniffing the air. Gran held me tightly to her, and I turned into her arms. I wrapped my legs around her as she held me against her side.

"Go," she commanded, a force in her voice I had never heard in her voice. The wolf slunk back into the shadows, eyes never leaving me.

Tears were falling down my cheeks and I sniffled. She glanced at me and smoothed my hair down as we turned away from the wolf.

"It's okay sweet one. You are okay now. I have you, you're safe. No one will ever take you from this world. Not as long as I can help it," she whispered to me, her Irish accent particularly thick.

I watched over her shoulder as she carried me to the house to see the wolf still there, watching us. Gran didn't bother looking back. It never left the faerie ring. I narrowed my eyes, tracing the ring of mushrooms up to the wolf's gaze. Its golden eyes were fixed on me, and something in it made me think it knew me. Finally, I looked away.

The next day when I went to look, the wolf was gone. But the feeling it was there, somewhere out of sight, lingering, remained. I didn't go near the hazel tree for some time after that. I could feel its eyes following me from the shadowy branches whenever I got too close. I stopped playing hide-and-seek with Daddy, my favorite hiding spot tainted. Eventually, the memory faded away, but I had learned my lesson.

I never tried to summon a faerie again.