Stars of Fortune (The Guardians Trilogy 1)

“In my . . . family. And the one who reads fates told me I would help find them. If I was—” She broke off, ate more pasta. “Willing. It’s a search. That’s not the word, but like it. It’s a . . .” She circled a finger in the air. “Qu-qu-”

“Quest?” Bran suggested.

“Yes! Thank you. It’s a quest of danger, so I must be willing. I am. I came. They must be found, and taken back.”

“Taken back?” Riley repeated. “Where?”

Annika blinked in surprise. “Why, to the Island of Glass.”

“That’s a myth.”

“I’m apology. A mist?”

“Myth. A fable,” Riley added. “Usually a traditional story regarding the history of a people, and often containing supernatural beings.”

“I like stories. May I have more wine?”

“I’ve never heard of this.” Sasha looked around. “I can see everyone else has. What is the Island of Glass?”

“A mythical island that appears when and where it wills,” Bran told her. “A place out of time. A world to itself.”

“Like Brigadoon?”

“No.” Riley shook her head. “Brigadoon appeared every one hundred years like clockwork, same place. While in Brigadoon only a day would pass. I like a good myth—obviously—and there are a lot of great stories built around the Island of Glass. But it doesn’t exist.”

“It is real. And it is always there, but only a few have seen it, only a few have been allowed. The one who reads the fates does not lie. When we find the three stars, we must take them back to the place they were born.”

“You’re saying the stars were created on the Island of Glass.” Riley narrowed her eyes.

“Yes. By the goddesses t

hree. Celene, Luna, Arianrhod, as gifts for the new queen, who is Aegle, the radiant.”

Riley leaned back, drummed her fingers. “Where did you study?”

“I studied very hard.” Annika’s face lit like the sun. “Many places. I like to learn new things, and old things, and all things.”

“Who’s Nerezza?”

“You should not speak her name in the night.” Annika looked toward the windows. “Or risk summoning her.”

“Bunk. Who is she?”

“She is the dark one, the mother of lies. She must never have the stars. I don’t like to fight, but I would fight with you to keep them from her. We are together.” She pointed to the sketch. “And you are Sawyer’s friends, so you are mine.”

“Just like that?”

“You are very curious.” Annika leaned toward Riley. “I am very curious, too. So we will be friends. And I will help. This has been foretold.”

Riley glanced at Sasha. “I can’t piss on foretelling. But we’ll see what we see. How—”

“Riley,” Sawyer interrupted. “Give it a rest. Do you have any questions, Annika?”

“I have so many. My mother says I’m made of questions. But it’s enough to be here for now. I’m very tired. Can I sleep in the soft bed?”

“Still a couple to pick from. I’ll take you up, and you can decide which room you want.”

“I won’t sleep in your bed?”