Read Reflection Pond for Free Online Page A

away.
    “Like home?” he supplied, feeling his throat close around the word.
    Callie bit her lip. “Never mind.”
    Rowan kept Callie firmly in his grasp as she was passed from person to person. Some of them hugged her and whispered, “Welcome home,” while others touched her forearm, her face, her hair. The sweet scent of flowers and honey with an earthy undertone enveloped them. He knew the welcome ceremony was overwhelming Callie, but for some reason, the gentle return pressure of her fingers on his relieved him.
    Callie inspected the palace with a silly, half-smile on her lips. The room rose two stories above them. Glowing orbs danced like a million stars in the space—so many that he couldn’t make out the ceiling beyond them. Blue fabric that matched Callie’s dress lined the walls. It spilled onto the floor and ended in a waterfall of azure flowers that people crushed underfoot. A five-piece string band played on the stage. Already several people danced to the haunting music, twirling around the golden wood floor.
    Willow sashayed up, flinging her hair over her shoulder. “Can I get you something to drink?” She gave Rowan a pointed look.
    “I—uh…sure,” Callie said finally. “Is there soda, or something?”
    Rowan smirked and let the dancers swallow him up. Across the room, he leaned against the bar and grinned at the faerie bartender. He didn’t have to get drunk to see her unglamoured. She smiled back, showing him teeth that tapered into sharp points.
    “Rowan.” She shook her hair, blinked, and her eyes changed from vivid green to sunshine yellow. “I saw you with the girl.”
    “Mmm?” He said, noncommittal, leaning in close to hear her over the party.
    She blinked again. Yellow to florescent pink. “Pick your poison. I’m sure Callie will be amicable to our…selection.”
    Rowan felt laughter rumble in his chest. “Just give me whatever.”
    The bartender disappeared for a moment and returned with two champagne flutes, one filled with a deep blue fizzing drink that puffed violet smoke, the other was a dark shade of indigo that swirled and sparkled. She winked at Rowan, one eye teal, the other pitch black, iris-less. “Have a good time,” she cooed, trailing her tongue over the sharp daggers in her mouth.
    Rowan thanked her and pushed his way to the crowd, shuddering over thoughts of the faerie’s teeth and the rending they could deliver.
    When Rowan neared the group, he saw Callie fidgeting with her hands, scanning the crowd. He let himself think she was looking for him. He crept up from behind and whispered in her ear. “Looking for someone?”
    She jumped and spun, nearly knocking the drinks from his hands.
    “Ooh!” Willow exclaimed. “Drink the blue. It makes you—” Ash shushed her. “It’s good,” she amended.
    Callie inspected the drinks, skepticism all over her face. “What is it?”
    “Oblivion,” Ash said with a grin.
    Rowan handed her the blue drink, giving the other to Willow, who thanked him and downed the flute in one swallow. Callie was slower, pressing the glass to her lips and inhaling before tipping it back. If it tasted strange, she didn’t comment. She took another sip of the wine and Rowan wondered how long it would take the drink to affect her.
    “Shall we dance?” Ash asked, nodding to the dance floor, making Rowan regret not being the first to ask.
    “Um…no. Not really.” She took a few steps back, distancing herself from them as if she thought they might drag her on the floor against her will.
    Ash frowned. “You have to dance, it’s your ceremony.”
    “It’s like the law or something,” Willow chimed in, looping her arm through Ash’s. Standing side by side, their features were nearly identical, down to the way they tilted their heads and waited for Callie to answer.
    “I don’t dance,” she said. “Besides, there’s tons of people out there. No one is going to notice me standing over here, drinking my…oblivion.”
    Ash and