Chapter 2 Aerin
AERIN
To any of the creatures around them, the spread of food between Aerin Tolvare and Quinn Kelly looks obscene. Multiple plates span the table—some savory, some sweet, all washed down with much needed coffee. They pick over the food while Quinn talks.
“And the thing is, I really don’t care. About the company, the tech.
Any of it.” Quinn’s fork moves wildly as she rants.
“But of course he doesn’t care about that.
He’s all, you will do what is expected of you.
” Quinn’s awful impression of her father has Aerin covering her mouth as laughter pours out.
Her friend’s expression blooms into a grin: white, bright, and warm enough Aerin practically feels it on her skin. She has always loved Quinn’s smile.
Quinn Kelly is a Viper Shifter, the rarest of the Snake Shifters and the most powerful, magically and otherwise.
The Vipers run Kelly Enterprises, the largest tech company in Novhelm.
One day Quinn is expected to take her father’s place on the board, next to her cousin Vyx.
Quinn would much rather be doing, well, anything else.
They have this in common: two heiresses who want nothing to do with the enterprises that makes them so.
“So, you ditched the meeting and called me instead?” Aerin theorizes.
Looking at her knowingly Quinn says, “Of course,” before burying a bite of food in her mouth.
This cafe is one of Quinn’s favorites. It sits at the base of the Westward wall of Valtara. The wall looms behind Aerin, an ever-present weight on her shoulders, taunting her with its power.
Despite not looking at it, Aerin knows the wall intimately.
The red brick towers multiple stories, encircling the entirety of Valtara aside from cliff edges and the small section of beach Aerin walked away from not thirty minutes ago.
Rich green ivy climbs thick in some places, thin in others, with white flowers speckling their vines.
The wall is more than just brick. It, too, is magic.
Old magic put into place when the City-State was established.
After The Curse caused the fall of Altrios, the Fae who lived in the now abandoned city fled and settled in new homes: Valtara, Zeneith, and Keylar.
Each of the City-States are encircled by this magic.
Magic that keeps things out.
Magic that also keeps things in.
Of course, for most Fae the walls don’t feel like a monster lurking over their shoulder.
For most creatures, Aerin knows, the walls simply are.
Are there, always have been there, and always will stand, marking where Valtara, Zeneith, or Keylar begin and end.
Where the Fae Kings rule. Where the most valuable thing about someone is the magic that runs in their blood.
All of Novhelm crawls with magical creatures, big and small, weak and powerful.
But those walls demarcate the territory in which value is assigned.
Full-magic Fae, Shifters, and Mer are welcome in abundance: to live, dine, work, and play.
For the Rogues, those species with weaker or shared magic, things are a bit trickier.
In Zeneith, they can do anything but live inside the walls.
In Keylar, they can only enter to work or trade.
But in Valtara, no Rogues are allowed. It’s touted as a haven for Fae, Shifters, and Mer alike, a place where they can use the full extent of their magic and not worry about lesser creatures getting under their feet.
Aerin knows what it really is though: control. The thing her father seeks above almost all else.
Quinn’s voice drags Aerin back to their conversation. “But in any case, I’m going to require more than just greasy food as stress relief. Tonight. Tower 77. No arguments.”
“Quinnie, I’m neck deep in midterms,” Aerin whines.
“Oh please,” Quinn deadpans, “First of all, I know for a fact that you can get extensions on any assignments like ever. And second, Party Princess, you owe me a night out.”
Aerin would put up more of a fight, but she knows when she’s bested. Quinn can be just as stubborn as Aerin, especially when it comes to something as serious as having a good time.
“Fine, fine,” Aerin concedes, to which Quinn flashes her another one of those grins.
Aerin stands. “But if I’m going out tonight then I need to go study.
” Quinn opens her mouth to protest but Aerin cuts her off, “and you’re paying for this.
” Aerin gestures to their mostly empty menagerie of plates and coffee cups.
“Okay, agreed. Love you,” Quinn calls as Aerin walks away. Aerin throws her friend a wink over her shoulder and Quinn blows her a kiss in return.
Aerin leaves her friend and the quaint café behind, mourning the fact that despite her current proximity to the Valtara City University campus she has to travel to her apartment downtown for her books and come all the way back before she can dive into her studies.
Working on her sixth degree in eight years, classes keep Aerin busy and mostly out of her own head.
Quinn and Vyx don’t understand why she does it, but they are heiresses that matter, both only children.
Aerin is not even the spare heir, that title falling on her older sister.
Yet, her father still goes to great lengths to control her.
Aerin, like a golden bird in a gilded cage, often finds herself convinced she wouldn’t have survived these last eight years without the focus university brings her.
As Aerin crosses under the arch at the entry to campus she does a double take.
The coffee shop across the street is normally bustling, today being no exception.
It isn’t the crowd that catches her eye, but rather a male in line.
His towering, brown, membranous wings hide the rest of his features, but Aerin would recognize the species anywhere.
Their kind are reclusive, rare, and exceptionally powerful.
Almost never seen inside a City-State, let alone as far South as Valtara.
Despite her awe and downright curiosity, Aerin doesn’t let herself stare at the Dragon-Fae.
She’s well aware of the eyes that follow her constantly, ones who find her much more interesting than a Dragon-Fae.
They track her every movement, ‘Party Princess’ on their breath same as their coffees.
Aerin forces herself to keep moving, leaving the rare creature behind.