Sam's eyes snapped open.
Their heart pounded like thunder in their chest. The dream again rainbow light everywhere, people yelling, and something dark chasing them through the clouds.
"Just a dream," they whispered, but their hands shook as they reached for the special cape hanging beside their bed.
The magic cloth felt warm and tingly against their fingers. Nana Rose had made it years ago, sewing protection spells into every thread.
Sam wrapped it carefully around their shoulders, making sure every inch of their wings stayed hidden underneath.
Click, click, click.
The sound of Nana Rose's walking stick on the wooden floor echoed through their small house.
Sam quickly smoothed down their messy dark hair and tried to look normal.
"Morning, little star," Nana Rose said, peeking her head through the opening. Her silver hair caught the morning light, and her kind blue eyes crinkled with worry.
"Bad dreams again?" Sam nodded, not trusting their voice.
How could they explain that the dreams felt more real every day? That sometimes they could swear they felt real rainbow magic buzzing under their skin?
"Come eat breakfast," Nana Rose said softly.
"We need to talk."
The kitchen smelled like honey cakes and warm milk. Sam's stomach growled, but they felt too nervous to eat. Something was different about Nana Rose today. Her movements seemed jumpy, and she kept looking toward the windows.
"Sit down," Nana Rose said, setting a plate of golden cakes in front of Sam.
"Eat up. You'll need your strength for school."
Sam took a bite, but the sweet cake tasted like cardboard.
"Nana, is everything okay?" Nana Rose's weathered hands shook as she poured tea into two cups.
"Sam, you know why you wear that cloak, don't you?"
"Because I'm different." Sam's voice came out flat and tired. They'd heard this speech a thousand times.
"No." Nana Rose's voice was sharp.
"Because you're special. There's a big difference." Sam looked up, shocked. Nana Rose had never sounded so fierce before.
"Listen to me carefully," Nana Rose continued, sitting down across from Sam.
"Strange things are happening in the country. People's wings are losing their colors. Dark clouds are forming at the edges of Aetheria."
"What does that have to do with me?" Nana Rose reached across the table and took Sam's hands.
"Everything. The old magic is rising, little star. And when it does, colorful wings will either save the kingdom or destroy it." Sam's heart stopped.
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying you need to be extra careful. Keep that covering tight. Don't let anyone see what's underneath. Not yet."
"Not yet?" Sam's voice cracked.
"Nana, you're scaring me." Before Nana Rose could answer, the morning bell rang across the land. Time for school. Sam grabbed their leather school bag and headed for the door, but Nana Rose caught their arm.
"Promise me," she said quickly.
"Promise you'll be careful today."
"I promise," Sam said, but the words felt heavy in their mouth. Sam stepped outside and immediately felt the magic in the air. It was like electricity before a storm, making their skin tingle and their secret wings itch underneath the cloak.
The drifting kingdom of Aetheria stretched out before them in all its crystal glory. Towers of pure light reached toward the sky, and bridges made of solidified clouds linked the floating islands. It was beautiful, but today it felt different.
Dangerous. Other kids their age soared through the morning sky, their wings catching the sunlight like living gems. There was Marcus with his bright green wings, diving and spinning through the air.
Twin sisters Flora and Fauna glided past with their matched butterfly wings of pink and orange. Even little Pip from down the lane flew circles around the crystal towers, his tiny blue wings beating fast as a hummingbird's.
Sam's chest ached with anger. What would it feel like to fly free like that? To not have to hide who they really were? "Sam!
Wait up!" Riley Moon came running up the path, her silver wings folded nicely against her back.
Her dark hair bounced as she ran, and her brown eyes sparkled with joy.
"Did you hear about what happened last night?" Riley asked, slightly out of breath.
"What happened?"
"The Weatherby family's wings all turned gray overnight. Completely gray! No color at all!"
Riley's voice dropped to a whisper. "And they can't fly anymore. They're stuck on the ground like... like normal people." Sam's secret wings twitched underneath their cloak.
"That's terrible."
"I know! My mom thinks it's some kind of curse. She's been making defense potions all morning." Riley studied Sam's face.
"You look pale. Are you feeling okay?"
"Just tired," Sam lied. They couldn't tell Riley that their wings had been glowing brighter under the cloak all week, or that their dreams were getting more vivid and scary.
They walked together toward the Royal Academy, a massive castle made of living crystal that floated in the middle of Aetheria. Other students flew past them, talking excitedly about the wing curse and what it might mean.
"I wish I could fly to school," Sam mumbled, watching a group of older kids race each other through the clouds.
"Why don't you ever fly?" Riley asked for the hundredth time.
"I know you have wings under there. Everyone does." Sam's heart hammered.
"I told you, I have a skin problem. The cloak helps protect"
"LOOK OUT!"
The shout came from above. Sam and Riley looked up to see a huge golden blur diving straight toward them.
Sam had just enough time to push Riley out of the way before the golden figure crashed into the path right where they'd been standing.
Dust and crystal chips flew everywhere. When it cleared, Sam found themselves looking into the most beautiful golden eyes they'd ever seen.
Alex Storm lay sprawled on the ground, their beautiful golden wings spread wide. Their sandy blonde hair was messy from flying, and there was a cut on their face that made them look even more handsome.
"Are you hurt?" Alex asked, jumping to their feet. Their voice was deep and warm, with just a hint of a royal accent. Sam's mouth went dry. They'd seen Alex around school, of course.
Everyone knew who Alex Storm was the future ruler of Aetheria, the best flyer in the country, the most skilled warrior their age. But Sam had never been this close to them before.
"I'm fine," Sam managed to say. Alex's golden eyes studied Sam's face closely.
"You're sure? You look shaken."
"She's okay," Riley said, helping Sam dust off their cape.
"Just surprised."
"Good." Alex's wings folded behind them elegantly.
"I was chasing a shadow thing. Did you see where it went?" Sam's blood turned to ice.
"A dark creature? Here?"
"Don't worry," Alex said quickly.
"I scared it off. But we should all be careful. Strange things are happening in the land." Alex's eyes lingered on Sam for a moment longer than required.
There was something in their face curiosity? Recognition? Sam couldn't tell.
"I should go," Alex said finally.
"I need to tell this to my aunt. Stay safe, both of you." Alex launched themselves into the air with powerful wing beats, their golden wings catching the morning light as they flew toward the crystal castle.
Sam watched them go, their heart still rushing. But it wasn't just from the scare. Something had happened when Alex looked at them. Something electric and scary and wonderful.
"Wow," Riley breathed.
"Alex Storm talked to us. Actually talked to us!"
But Sam wasn't thinking about Alex's royal position. They were thinking about the shadow thing. And the way their wings had started glowing the moment Alex appeared.
"Come on," Sam said, pulling their cover tighter. "We'll be late for class." As they walked through the school gates, Sam couldn't shake the feeling that everything was about to change.
The dreams, the gray wings, the shadow thing, and now Alex Storm looking at them like they were important. Nana Rose's words echoed in their mind: The old magic is stirring, little star.
Sam touched the cloak around their shoulders and felt their rainbow wings pulse with secret power. Whatever was coming, they had a terrible feeling they were going to be right in the middle of it.
The question was: would they be ready?
High above them, dark clouds gathered at the edges of the kingdom, and something with black wings circled in the shadows, watching and waiting.