No Such Luck

Megan's been through some pretty crazy adventures over the last year and a half, but nothing compares to being crowned queen of the fairies.

Most of the creatures are happy with her as queen, but others think a human has no right to rule the fairy world, and they want the throne for themselves.

Megan and her friends must find a way out of the fairy world and pass on the crown to the next ruler without Megan dying in the process. Will she find a way to break the curse keeping her prisoner, or will she be stuck there forever?

The air was still as the fairies waited for my answer. I’d just destroyed the Fairy Queen, and Ethan, the former Far Darocha, expected me to take her place. I tried not to laugh, which is what I really wanted to do, but I knew I couldn’t. These creatures needed a new leader, and I couldn’t take it lightly. I glanced over at Jared and Beth, whose expressions
showed the same shock I felt. Adam’s eyes narrowed, and his jaw clenched. It was me. Always me who had the limelight. This time, I didn’t want it. This time, I would gladly give it to him.

A look down at Louie and his son, Eoin, told me I had to say something. I swallowed and faced the fairies in front of me.

“Thank you for your confidence. Please … please just give me a few days.” I looked over at Ethan. “Is that okay?”

Ethan sighed. “Yes. That’s fine. It will give us time to work on your etiquette as ruler.” He turned back to the fairies and other creatures. “We will hold the official ceremony in thirty days’ time.”

Wait. Whoa, what? “Thirty days? I need to go home. My mom is going to be worried sick.”

Louie stepped in front of me. “What she means is that she’s okay with the arrangements.”

The creatures watched us, looking uncertain. I needed to do something, and making them feel better seemed like the best way to get out of there the fastest. “Right. Thirty days sounds awesome. Er, wonderful.”

With that, the creatures murmured between each other before cheering loudly. Ethan and Louie turned to me, and I backed up into Jared.

“Seriously, guys, I can’t do this.” I pushed down the panic as Louie and Ethan glared at me.

Louie stepped forward and spoke quietly. “You have to—at least until we can find another ruler. Potential kings and queens will come. These creatures saw you fight, and will believe you are the rightful ruler. But others will not want a human as
their leader.”

Jared took my hand. “So how do we get home?”

Ethan sighed. “We can help you find another way. But until then, you have to watch your backs. Louie’s right. Humans don’t really belong here. We just have to ensure that you live long enough to make it home.”

“Right. So Jared and Megan can stay here. Beth and I will go find a way out.” Adam took Beth’s arm and moved away from the group.

Beth jerked him back. “No way. We’re not leaving her here. Megan, come on.”

I looked between her, Louie, and Jared. “I … I don’t think I can.”

Beth rolled her eyes. “Of course you can. We need to get home. We saved your mom, like we came here to do. Life is waiting for us back home.”

“You guys can go find us a way home, but I need to help them. I just killed their queen, and their king is gone because of me too. The queen was evil from what I could tell, but the king—” I paused, not wanting to think about what had happened. “The king died saving me. I’ll follow as soon as I can, but I have to stay.” I
couldn’t believe I was saying that. I wanted to go home. I’d just sent my mom back, and now it was just the four of us and a bunch of fairy-tale creatures from bedtime stories.

Jared put his arm around me. “Let’s at least get back to the castle. We need to find out what everyone knows before we can do anything anyway.”

Adam stared at Jared for a moment before nodding. “He has a point. Plus, we need supplies. Who knows how long we’ll be traveling through this fairy world.”

“Right. Now that we have that settled, we need to get you out of here. I worry about you being out in the open.” Ethan turned to the leprechauns. “Will you escort them
to the castle? I’d offer to carry them, but Megan has already made it clear
that she doesn’t like that form of transportation.”

Louie nodded. “Aye. I’d be surprised if we made it back before anyone else arrives to demand their right to the throne.”

“Wait—how will anyone else know? The portal is right here, so these creatures are the only ones who can see that it’s closed. Well, besides those who are stuck on the other side now.” My mind was still reeling with what had just happened.

April fluttered down to sit on my shoulder. “Megan, you just defeated the queen of the fairies. Every creature on this planet knew the moment she died.”

Right. Magic. Fairy world. I’d just messed up big time, but what was I supposed to let Oona do? Enslave me? Take my luck? That wasn’t about to happen.

The leprechauns took us back with a snap of their fingers. I’d hoped never to see this castle again. Now this place would be mine if I didn’t find someone else to rule. I watched as Adam stormed toward the rooms we’d been given, and Beth followed
after, appearing worried.

I glared down at Louie. “You just had to steal my luck, didn’t you?”

He chuckled. “Sorry about that.”

“So, what do we do now? I don’t have a clue how to lead a nation. I barely survived being student body president, and I didn’t even do much then.” I sat down in the chair they set behind me. It was unnerving to have the fairies standing around me.

“You do nothing but learn how to govern. We do our best to keep you alive.” Louie snapped his fingers, and his clothes turned from the familiar brilliant green suit into an old-fashioned suit with way too many ruffles. “Now that I’m your royal advisor, I advise you to change into something more appropriate. Anything humanlike will be burned. We can’t remind anyone of your origins. Once your wings start to
grow, we’ll need to readjust your dress.”

I jumped out of my chair, feeling the space between my shoulder blades. “My … wings? What do you mean, my wings?”

“Every fairy queen must have wings and the crown. They will come. Now focus. Go to your room and change. We’ll have everything ready for you when you come back out.”

I leaned down into Louie’s face. “I. Am. Human. I’m not a fairy. I’m not a leprechaun. I’m not an elf. Get it? I can’t have wings.” I thought I’d panicked before, but wings? How was I supposed to explain something like that to my family? Oh, I was just off trying to save the fairy world, and now I have wings.

Louie swallowed and backed up. “Look, I don’t make the rules. And to be quite frank, you’re the first royalty who wasn’t a fairy already.”

I growled and stormed toward my room. Everything was such a mess. Beth sat in front of the mirror, staring off into space. She jumped when I dropped into the chair next to her.

“What’s wrong with you?” she asked.

“They want me to grow wings. As if the rest wasn’t insane enough.” I pulled out what was left of the twist in my hair and brushed it.

Beth stared at me in horror. “How do they expect you to do that?”

I shrugged and leaned forward to rest my head on the table in front of me. “What’s wrong with me, Beth? Why can’t I just have a normal life? I want to go to college, and get married, and move on with life. And then things like this happen.”

“Normal wasn’t meant for you. This is your normal.” Beth stood and took the brush from me. “And while I’m not exactly thrilled to be here right now, I’m actually enjoying myself. We were bored out of our minds while you were gone. And instead of easing us back into adventure, you just kind of shot us into the fairy world.”

“And now everyone hates me for it.” Or at least Adam did. I needed to talk to him, but figured I’d give him time to cool off.

“We don’t hate you. This isn’t your fault. You had to do what you did. We just didn’t realize what it would mean for you afterward.” She brushed through my hair until the tangles were out, and then I pulled it back into a ponytail.

“Thank you.” An overwhelming feeling of drowsiness suddenly hit me. I dropped my head into my hands.

“Are you okay?” Beth asked.

I shook my head. “No. I think I need to sleep for a few years.”

Beth helped me over to the bed, and I climbed in. I was vaguely aware of voices as they moved in and out of the room. I heard something about a transformation just as I slipped into welcoming blackness.