Hello my favorite readers!

As you can see, SW immediately stepped up to first place! Keep it up my awesome winged-readers! (By the way you guys are doing an amazing jobs at hiding your wings! Props to you!) Your "Thank you" (/bribe) is in the chapter ;)

I'm glad many of you like the name of Aiden's peryton. I thought maybe it might be too fancy and it would sound snobbish;)

One Shots questions and answers:
First off, please write at the beginning of the one-shot that these characters belong to me and it is a one-shot for Secret Wings:)
•You can add your own characters.
•You can have more than two of my characters show up, but please have the main interest be focused on two maximum. Your story will not be disqualified if you don't, but it's less likely to win.
•You don't have to dedicate your story to me, but some people (who are super fast writers!) have done that and I think it's actually a good idea. So that part is up to you:)
•Please limit one entry per person.
•Winged don't know about Christmas, so don't really have Christmas decorations up, but that doesn't mean they can't have some hanging around because it looks pretty! Plus, they do have New Years.

Don't hesitate to ask if you have anymore questions:)
[Closed]
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Chapter 37

The center island and its temple turned out bigger than I first thought.

A bearded man in long white and gold robes was waiting for us, and greeted us as soon as our feet touched the paved floors.

"Welcome, my children," he bowed his head, tilting his wings forward.

Autumn and Chase seemed a bit put out, but bowed back in greeting. Aiden and I soon followed suit.

"Autumn White, Junior Troop Second in Command Chase Parker, Elite Archer Aiden Lark, Aeolus Princess Hailey Underwood," The man enumerated.

My eyes widened, how did he know who we were? Did the Sperodyfis magic make him a mind reader or something?

He chuckled lightly, "No, I am not a mind reader."

Typical thing for a mindreader to say, I thought, and Aiden gave me a knowing look that showed he was thinking the same thing.

The man continued, "I was told of your coming."

Cue other look exchanged with Aiden: cliche magical guy who somehow knew who we were and 'was told of our coming'? Either he had spies or he was a mind reader.

Aiden formed the word 'spy' with his lips, but I was more leaning towards the mind reading-thing.

Mind-reader/Guy-with-spies-everywhere didn't react to our thoughts.

"I received a letter from your first in command telling me the king's advisor had sent you on an urgent mission."

I glared at the ground: why did Bree have to ruin everything? There was obviously nothing special about that man now.

"Could still have spies," Aiden whispered to me under his breath.

Chase narrowed his eyes and sent him a 'Stop being rude/weird'-look.

"Your First in Command also gave me a letter for Aiden." Aiden gulped visibly as he received it. "Let me introduce myself, I am the High Priest of Sperodyfis."

"It's an honor, Sir," Autumn, a.k.a the only person of the group who could act normal in social situations, said graciously.

"Indeed," I smiled, even if I had to idea what that title meant.

Chase and Aiden interrupted their glaring contest to agree.

"You have had a long journey," the High Priest said, most likely mistaking our weirdness for tiredness. "I will have someone show you to your sleeping quarters and get you some food. Hailey, may I talk to you about what the Royal Advisor gave you?"

"Of course."

"Want me to stay with you," Chase asked, while the High Priest turned to wave someone forward.

I smiled and shook my head, "I'll be fine."

A winged woman in green robes led Aiden, Autumn and Chase away, while I followed the High Priest to a quieter place.

He motioned for me to sit down and asked, "Do you have the key?"

I tugged on the cord around my neck and showed it to him.

"See how the gemstone is glowing a bit?" he pointed.

"I thought it was just a trick of the light," I admitted.

"It's the shine of magic."

"And what does the key open?"

"Nothing yet. But when the time is right..." He trailed off mysteriously. "I want you to keep it. It was given to you for a reason. This key can only be used by one of royal blood, and the stone will burn all but a select few."

I gasped, glad I hadn't let anyone else take it for fear of losing it.

"But, Anselm held it." I thought for a second. "Wait, no, it was still in its little pouch, then."

"I do not necessarily mean a fire burn, but yes, the pouch would have protected him from its power. However, the key was hidden in a part of the castle very hard to obtain, I am surprised he was unscathed."

"He wasn't... But his burns were because the city was on fire," I explained.

"Perhaps some, but I gather some of his wounds will be harder to heal than simple fire burns." He sighed. "I fear some greater losses are coming than just our capital city."

"Why would Anselm get the key if he knew he would get hurt?" I had been able to put him out of my mind with the constant traveling, but now I felt like crying again.

The High Priest closed his eyes. "The way of those with the sight is full of surprises. One may only hope he will heal enough to pass on the warning."

"Er, what?"

He opened his eyes. "Sight. Visions from the Great Goddess to guide us."

"Oh," I still wasn't sure I understood.

"Well," The High Priest stood up, "If you'll excuse me, I have duties to attend, but feel free to ask for me should you have more questions."

I nodded, still a bit lost. "Thanks."

He opened his large grey wings and flew off.

I sighed, feeling a headache coming. Night was falling, but I doubted I would be able to sleep.

***

"You're still here?" A soft voice reached me, breaking me out of my reverie. Chase emerged from the darkness and came to sit next to me. "You missed dinner. Here." He handed me some bread and an apple.

I took them gratefully. "Thanks. I hadn't realized time had gone by so fast." I had been so deep in thought I had felt like the High Priest had just left a few minutes ago.

He nodded, and we stayed in a comfortable silence for a little while longer.

"Are you tired? I can show you where Autumn and you are sleeping, if you want." He offered.

"I'm fine for now. I don't think I could sleep."

"I know what you mean." He gestured to the waterfall glowing in the darkness, which will could just see from our vantage point. "All of this is a lot to take in."

"I don't think my brain has fully realized what is happening yet," I half-joked.

He looked up. "Do you want to fly to the roof of the temple? I bet the view is amazing there."

I smiled, "Yeah, of course."

He stood up and held out his hand. I took it, hoping that my palms weren't sweaty.

We flew up to the roof of the temple, and as Chase had said, the view, was breathtaking, even with the cover of the night.

"What's so funny?" I asked, noticing he wore an amused smile.

"Nothing, I was just remembering that night on top of that office building in the human world."

"Yeah, that seems ages ago..." I trailed off. "I couldn't even fly then. My wings were too small."

"And I was hoping that mission wouldn't turn out a total fail... Thank the goddess you were here to pick things up."

I laughed, "I did absolutely nothing. Except maybe ask stupid questions."

He shook his head. "No, you were perfect."

I felt my whole face heat up and looked away, hoping that the night would cover my blush.

"Look!" Something caught my eye, "A shooting star."

Chase whipped his head to the side, but said, "Aw, I missed it. Don't forget to make a wish."

I closed my eyes. My wish was rather related to the cute boy next to me.

When I opened my eyes, Chase was looking at me with a soft expression. "Don't forget, you have to keep your wish a secret, or a fairy might steal it."

I giggled. "A fairy might steal it? That's cute, I never heard that before. I like it."

A gust of wind blew my hair in my face, and it was his turn to laugh as he pushed it away.

Suddenly, his face grew serious, and I became aware of how close we were standing.

Thankfully not letting me the time to say something stupid, Chase bent his head towards me and pressed his lips to mine.

When he pulled away, I felt a bit short of breath and my knees were weak.

Best first kiss ever. (I'd decided long ago that Jake in second grade didn't count.)

"Oh, you two must be guests." A voice made me jump two feet into the air. "Are you lost? Sperodyfis can be a bit overwhelming at first." A young girl in white robes appeared out of nowhere.

"Never thought I'd say this, but some people are too helpful for anyone's good," Chase whispered, his breath tickling my cheek.

He turned to the new arrival. "Actually, could you show Hailey to the girl's dormitory? And maybe get her some food, she hasn't eaten dinner."

The girl nodded, "Of course."

"Good night, Hailey," Chase said softly, stepping off the ledge and flying off, his brown wings melting in the night.
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Ta-da!
As said earlier, this is your 'thank you for getting Secret Wings number one in Fantasy again!' gift;)
I will be standing right there to accept thanks from Chailey shippers;)
For non-Chailey shippers, I will still be standing right there, but hiding safely behind all the Chailey fans. ;)