Read Online Bridge of Mist and Fog by nikki broadwell - Free Book Online Page A

say as the tiny village disappeared in a puff of smoke. What he showed her was only the beginning of what he’d planned. He muttered a few words under his breath and then Airy lowered herself onto the ground and closed her eyes.
    Fehin hurried away. He’d been a fool to trust her with this. What she’d said about destinies disturbed him considering the conversation he’d overheard between Gunnar and his parents before he left. Was she right about the two of them? Something was definitely drawing them together. And what about the butterflies and bees? This was no normal girl.
    By the time he got back to campus he was late for his math class, slinking in to find a seat in the back. The professor ignored him, continuing to write numbers and undecipherable symbols on the blackboard. This was Fehin’s most confusing class. And today, with his mind on the girl asleep under that tree, he was even more distracted than usual. He’d probably caused her to miss her next class. He had to steer clear of her until he could determine who she really was.

12
    Airy opened her eyes and gazed around, wondering why she was here. Where was Fehin? She looked down at the wristwatch her mother had forced on her and jumped up.
    By the time she reached campus and looked at her watch again she decided to skip the class. There was no point in arriving five minutes before it ended. Turning her mind back to how she’d come to be in the woods made her feel light-headed. Fehin wouldn’t have just left her there. She must have imagined it. Was talking to trees and animals so unusual? Maybe she’d had her ‘powers’ all along and didn’t know it. The medieval village appeared in her mind, complete with cows and sheep and carts pulled by horses. It did help to visualize it, but she needed a lot more if she was to pass the test. And she knew in that moment that it wasn’t a dream.
    She waited for Fehin outside the student union but he didn’t show up. Maybe he didn’t like her new look. Storm had assured her it was very ‘now’, especially with her newly pierced ears and the earrings she’d borrowed. But was it wise to take advice from a girl who dressed all in black day in and day out? She frowned. If this change in her appearance ruined her relationship with Fehin he was shallower than she thought. But then again, some of this new look didn’t even fit for her. Even so, she had to try it out.
    When she reached into her back pocket her fingers curled around the small envelope from her grandparents. They had invited her to Halston for Thanksgiving and had even offered to come down and pick her up. She wondered if Fehin had any place to go for the holiday.
    ***
    It was the week before Thanksgiving before she saw Fehin again. He’d skipped the World History class they shared and hadn’t shown up at the student union for several days. The only reason she noticed him this time was because of his plaid shirt. The bright reds and blues caught her eye as he hurried away from her. She took off after him, nearly falling in her haste to catch up. Heels were not meant for running.
    “Are you avoiding me?” she asked, trying to catch her breath as she grabbed hold of his shirt.
    When Fehin turned he stared right through her. “No. I’m just busy,” he answered.
    “Fehin, what’s wrong? Is it my hair? It’ll grow back.”
    “It’s not your hair, Airy. I just have to buckle down and study. I can’t spend my extra time talking to trees.”
    Airy blanched. “The way you said that sounded like you don’t believe me.”
    “Maybe I don’t.”
    Airy frowned. “I thought you were my friend.”
    “Do friends have to believe every crazy thing the other one says?” He moved away from her, continuing on his former route across campus.
    “You are a horrible person!” she yelled, anger boiling up inside her. How could she have trusted such a jerk? A moment later clouds massed and roiled in the sky, and a jagged streak of lightning struck a pine