The Ascension Read Online Free PDF Page B

had to watch Gem spinning across the floor in Sparks’
    arms, under the eyes of the Summer Queen and laughing delightedly at what was probably some inane joke on the quarterback’s part. Why did Gem like him so much better than Rio? Ok, so it turned out that Sparks was some sort of fairy prince, heir to t h e sovereign of a kingdom and possessed of iridescent beauty. So what?
    Rio drank more of the juice and he sat and ruminated on the basic unfairness of it al . It looked like Sparks might get Gem too, while Rio… al he’d had in the past few weeks were sudden rushes of anger, far more body hair than he knew what to do with, and the feeling that he no longer had control over his own body. It had been so embarrassing that he hadn’t dared mention it to the others, before.
    Rio tried to distract himself with the fairy juice.
    A solicitous fairy, apparently concerned that it might not be suitable for a human, had warned him that the stuff was strong, but so far, Rio didn’t think it was having any real effect on him. He went to put the glass back on the nearest table, missed, and settled for putting it on the floor instead.
    “Would you like to dance?”
    One of the fairy folk had approached while Rio was watching Gem and Sparks cross the floor in a tight embrace. She was as beautiful as al their kind, blonde-haired and delicately featured, with a gauzy dress that seemed to float around her like gossamer strands of cobweb caught by the wind.
    “I’m not real y interested, thanks.”
    “Oh,” the fairy woman made a disappointed face. “But your friends dance so wel together, and I was thinking we might be able to show them how wel you dance too.”
    If she was hoping to goad Rio into action, it worked. He took her hand and rose less steadily than he’d expected. The fairy woman gave him a gently mocking grin.
    “A little too much juice, perhaps?”
    Rio shook his head, and together they headed out to the dance floor, just in time for the musicians to strike up another tune. This one was lively, and he had to work hard to keep up with his partner, who seemed pleasantly surprised that he did so wel .
    “There,” she said, stealing a kiss before Rio could react, “I knew you’d be good at this.” Rio didn’t know what to say. Not that long ago, the thought of such a beautiful woman kissing him would have been a pleasant one, but now it seemed a frivolous thing when Gem and Sparks stil turned around the dance floor together. Rio started to make an excuse to go back to his seat, but the woman’s hand tightened on his arm.
    “One more dance? I didn’t do something wrong, did I?”
    Rio couldn’t think of a way to say no, even when the musicians turned their hands to a slow waltz. His partner treated him to a sensual smile, and
    moved
    closer,
    dancing
    with sinuous
    movements that Rio did his best to match. His heart wasn’t in it though, and Rio spent the whole dance looking over his partner’s shoulder to where Gem and Sparks were talking and laughing as they danced. Rio was miserable. Al summer long since they had parted at Word Castle, he had thought of Gem and how she had cared for him, stood up for him, even fought for him in Anachronia. No one had done that for him before, no one had ever believed in him like Gem did. He thought she was just another pretty rich cheerleader when he first saw her at Word Castle, but she had proven over and over again how she was the kindest noblest girl, no, person, he’s ever met. No wonder why she became the Ruler of Anachronia. No wonder why he couldn’t stop thinking about her, although he knew in his heart, she was way out of his league.
    Rio had heard what the Summer Queen had said earlier about Sparks having to find his perfect match. More than that, he had seen the look that had passed between the other boy and Gem. Even now, Sparks was probably plotting some happy life for the pair of them, ruling over a kingdom they hadn’t even known existed this time