Feathers (Sapphire Wings Book I)
Feathers
****The 1st volume of the Sapphire Wings Series**** "This was going to be my new start in life." Mia Renaldi's world is forever changed one fateful Christmas Eve, when her grandmother forces her to leave the house they live in with her mother and sends her back to her father in Maryland. Coming home to the small town of Madison, Mia does her best to adjust and see the bright side of this sudden event. Her father's family, the Renaldis, have plenty of money and status, and her father Michael is kind and loving. The only thing she didn't count on was meeting Sean Morrison. Charming and handsome, Sean draws Mia in like a moth to a flame. Though warned repeatedly by her family that he's dangerous, she finds herself pulled more and more to him and the mystery that appears to surround him. But as she gets closer, Mia also realizes that not everything is as it seems, not only with Sean, but with her own family... A tale of Nephilim, Foxes, and how two sides of reality connect, Feathers is the first volume of Sapphire Wings, introducing the Renaldi family and following their extraordinary journeys and self-growth as they seek to understand their place between the seen and unseen world. **Available on Inkitt**
Excerpt
It was nearly one in the morning when I woke again. I had the distinct feeling that something was looking at me from the window over my bed. I slowly sat up and rubbed my eyes, turning my head to look at the window. I immediately snapped to attention as I realized that there was something out there. A giant fox was sitting on the outside windowsill. The fox was glowing silver in the bright moonlight, and their golden eyes were regarding me with quiet expectation. Those eyes; I recognized them. It was Sean. Though he had startled me, I didn’t feel threatened at all as I looked we looked at each other. After a few minutes of this, I moved to the window and unlocked it, opening it for him. As long as it was opened from the inside, I knew that the alarm wouldn’t go off. The fox hopped down onto the bed with me. “I guess you wanted to visit now?” I surmised as I sat back against the headboard. Sean quickly transformed back into a human form and pulled the piled blanket over his waist to keep himself covered. “I didn’t think you’d mind, and you did let me in,” he responded. “And give me one good reason why I shouldn’t start screaming now.” I challenged. No, he was not going to act haughty about this. “You can if you want, but I’ll just run away. Besides, it’s not like I care much about what Michael does to me now. I rather enjoy pushing my luck as it is.” Sean responded. I let out an exhausted sigh, “Fine, but seriously Sean, couldn’t you have brought some clothes with you? This feels a little weird.” I admitted. I couldn’t believe I was being so calm about all of this. Maybe I wasn’t letting myself freak out because I feared my father killing him for coming there like he had. Sean shrugged it off, “Normally I would have, but I was in a hurry tonight, and to be completely honest, I needed a place to crash for a few hours. A dog’s been running around out there, and I’m not one to take it on.” “A dog?” I said flatly. Surely, he wasn’t scared of someone’s dog. As a fox, he was bigger than any dog I’d ever seen. Sean easily caught my thoughts. “I don’t mean an ordinary dog. I mean a demon dog. They come around the mortal realm from time to time, and it’s best to avoid them when they do. Besides, dogs and foxes aren’t exactly the types to get along. I’m sure you’d realize that.” he explained. “Okay, seriously, I’m not even going to ask anymore. I never knew that there was this much weird stuff in the world, and I think I would’ve preferred not to know half of it now.” I stated. “I’ll take it that you had no idea of your heritage after all. How strange. I never would’ve thought that Michael would be one to keep his daughter in the dark about such things.” “We’ve already been through this. Michael just wanted to protect me. It’s not like I came from the best place you know.” “Yes. I do recall some of it.” Sean relented, “Don’t get me wrong. I respect your father very much. After all, if it wasn’t for him, my mother certainly wouldn’t have the normal life that she does now. Honestly, if it wasn’t for me, she’d probably be much better off.” He looked pretty remorseful as he sat there with his chin resting against his hand. It was obvious that this had been bothering him for a long time. “Sean, you know that’s not true. She loves you.” I reminded him. “No. I’m sure it is. I was born an abomination. The ones like me always are. That’s why we’re so rare. We’re ostracized from both worlds, and never quite fit in no matter how hard we try.” Sean responded. “But that doesn’t change that you’re her son or how much she loves you. If she didn’t, I don’t think that she would’ve been so desperate to save you after what happened to me.” I reasoned. I could recall Sara very well from that day, and the night afterward when she came over to talk to me and Michael. She’d been so scared and desperate. All she wanted to do was save Sean and make sure that he’d be okay. Sean looked thoughtful, “You think so?” “Of course I do.” I replied, “Trust me, I know about real love when it comes to a parent. I see it whenever I see my dad, especially after living with my mom.” I looked down as I said that, unable to face him. I knew how much Michael loved me. He’d been so good to me through all of this. My mother may not have been able to anymore because of her illness, but he did. He loved me so much. I could sense Sean looking at me, and glanced at him. He looked puzzled. “If you don’t mind my asking, why exactly did you move up here so quickly with him? I had heard through the grapevine around town that you only spent summers here before, yet you came here on Christmas Eve. There must have been a reason for you to do such so suddenly.” he noted. I knew that it would just be better to tell him the truth. There was no way around it. “I lived with my mother and grandmother in Miami up until then. That was the day that my grandmother suddenly made me come up here to live with Michael. She packed my stuff up and gave me a plane ticket all at once, and wouldn’t tell me why.” I explained. “I see now.” Sean moved closer and brushed some of my hair over my shoulder, “So you are damaged as well.” “Very funny,” I muttered, pushing his hand away. It didn’t stop him, “I wouldn’t joke about such a thing. After all, I can understand what it feels like to think that you don’t belong anywhere. Besides, I didn’t come here to argue with you. I simply came because I wanted to be close, as I’ve done for quite a while now; and also, I wanted to keep the promise I will be making tonight.” “Promise?” I repeated, making myself look at him. Sean moved closer to me, resting his forehead against mine. I have no idea why I didn’t push him away. Guess I was just memorized by the closeness. “I know you don’t believe me, but I do care about you. I will never let any harm come to you, and I will do anything in this world and all of the others to protect you and keep you happy with me,” he whispered. I blushed, but I still couldn’t make myself pull away. “Sean?” I heard myself whisper. But he just smiled as he pulled back and faced me, “I promise that I will remain with you for as long as I am able. I know my truth and why I’ve been so drawn to you ever since the night that I first saw you. I’m in love with you Mia Renaldi, and I will do anything to prove that to you.” Now one would’ve thought that this would completely freak me out, or that I’d doubt him. But the only thing I felt at that moment was a sense of relief. For whatever reason, I believed him. Maybe it was my wanting to get over my first love so badly, or maybe it was something more, something that told me deep inside that he wasn’t lying about any of this. Either way, I accepted all of this without hesitation. “All right. I believe you, but I do have one request.” “Yes?” Sean replied, sounding a bit expectant now. “Will you stay by me for the night and keep me company while I sleep?” Sean chuckled, “Of course, but we’ll have to be careful about all of this for now. I may have to leave quickly.” “That’s okay. You can stay in fox form if you want. It doesn’t bother me.” I assured him. Sean nodded and transformed back into a full fox. As he lay down beside me, I curled up against him. His fur was soft, and the gentle movement of his breathing lulled me into a comfortable sleep. I’d end up sleeping against him for the rest of the night. And it was one of the most comfortable nights of sleep I’d ever had.
