by Hazel Grace
“I haven’t gotten to thin—”
He began sucking on my neck, bringing chills down to my center.
“I’m not letting you out of this bed until I hear you agree,” he quipped. “I will devour you for hours. Do you want to test my stamina, sweet Avie?”
A smile graced my lips. “It’d be fun to watch you try.”
He hummed. “I will take you to the brink and back down, repeatedly, until you can’t stand it.”
“Such a romantic sentiment to the woman you want to be your sex wife,” I teased.
Garrett brought his head up from my neck and looked at me. “I’ve never wanted someone so much in my life. I’ll make you the happiest woman alive.”
I knew being with him would be marvelous; it would be an adventure I’d never anticipated. It was spontaneous and mysterious, and I wanted it all with him.
Wrapping my hand around the back of his neck, I brought his head down, placing soft kisses on his mouth, wanting him more than before.
“Say yes,” he breathed against my lips.
I nodded. “Yes.”
He pulled away. “You’re serious?”
“I am.”
“You can’t back out, Avie. I’m serious about all—”
“I said yes.”
He smiled, and my heart filled with something I wasn’t used to—hope. Pure, natural hope.
He kissed my temple. “You’ve made me the happiest man in the world. Nothing will keep us apart.”
Garrett
Chapter 32
Torture.
That’s what it’s been, these two weeks away from Ava, here in Wellerent. The townspeople were in disarray, miserable, and dispirited. I’d arrived days after most of their homes were burned down, livestock stolen, and they were left with nothing. A similar scene of the last town I’d seen pillaged played out in front of me.
I had tents made up, and my men were rebuilding homes while I was having some of my own livestock being brought in from Aruna. My men trained both men and women in basic steps of defending and fighting for themselves.
It wasn’t going well.
These were farmers and mothers; they’d never touched a knife in their lives, unless it was for cooking or hunting. Most of them looked at me with weary eyes, like I had lost my damn mind for even thinking of the idea. I honestly didn’t know what else to do, or how to stop it from happening again. I felt responsible, not being able to find the men accountable for this. This should have been over years ago.
Picking up my axe, I swung down on the wood we were using to make lumber. My body hadn’t worked this hard in a while. My muscles ached, and my back throbbed from being hunched, but it was worth it. These people needed our help, and I was going to do anything I could to rebuild their town.
“My Lord.”
Peering over my shoulder, I watched as one of my men marched toward me, a letter in his hand. My shoulders immediately tensed. I’d had enough letters and reports to last me a lifetime. He briskly handed it over to me, then turned on his heel, going back to whatever it was he was doing. The red seal flaunted that it was from the palace; the cream and gold paper taunting me to open it. Ripping the imprimatur, I forced myself to skim the contents.
To my handsome fiancé,
The castle is still boring; nothing new to report here. I wish I had some exciting or funny story to tell you, but I have none. Just that I miss you. Never thought I’d miss your ongoing chastising and annoying nature, but I do.
Evelyn has been enjoying your mother’s company immensely and all the lavish parties that she is throwing. She has been planning to take some of the Arunian dresses home with her, which I have highly suggested her not do. Her mother would die of shock.
Come home safe.
Love,
Avie
P.S. Papa is going to send some supplies to Wellerent to help.
Smiling, I folded the note and deposited it into my pocket. She had a heart of gold, and I was falling hard for the beauty. I wrote her every night, like an obsessed adolescent. Every decision I made now had her in mind. It was nerve-wracking—I was going to have a wife.
Holy shit.
I never thought I’d say those words. Never imagined asking a woman to be my soulmate and partner through life.
Hell. No woman caught my attention like Ava did. Plain and simple.
Piling up my cut wood, I thought about all the places I could take her. I’d start in Aruna, show her my home and the culture. Then maybe Vunmia; the country was full of mountains and rivers, covered mainly in white with all the snow.
“Cranfield.” John’s voice beckoned behind me, the sound of it solemn and cold. When I turned around, he looked at me with pity in his eyes. He was frowning, his eyelids drooping from lack of sleep.
“What?” I said anxiously, my gaze locking in on the letter in his hand.
Of all the fucking things in his hands right now.
John took a step closer, fidgeting, and his knuckles were white from holding it so tightly.
“John,” I said, furrowing my brows. “What is it?”
He didn’t answer me. I’d never seen him speechless in the whole decade I’d known him. As he held out the letter, I hesitated before taking it. One of the townswomen came to bring me my lunch, but John shooed her away.
I opened the blasted letter quickly, while John shifted his weight back and forth, his presence making me uneasy. Skimming the letter, my breath caught, and my throat closed. I re-read the words over again. I opened my mouth to speak, but couldn’t form any words.
I dropped to my knees and buried my face in my hands. I had failed.
Ava
Chapter 33
“People actually do this for fun?” Lucy sniffed as she placed another losing card on the table. She’d been complaining ever since she lost the first round, and I chuckled at her impatience.
And I thought I was a sore loser at times.
As I watched Eve study her cards, a clap of thunder boomed through my bedroom. All four of us jumped, while Miranda let out a small shriek. Eve placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and giggled.
The rain had been pelting my bedroom window for hours, but I welcomed it. The cool summer rain was made for cozy days like this. Curled up with a good book, a simple game of cards with friends, or snuggled up to one’s lover.
Eve placed down a King of Desire and looked at me with a grin. Rolling my eyes at her, I waited for Miranda, who fumbled around with her cards.
“Does a Queen of Fools beat a King of Desire?” Miranda asked softly.
Lucy scoffed. “You’re not supposed to name off your cards.”
I smiled at her. “Any Queen beats a King.”
Eve groaned. “But you don’t have to lay it down right now; you can always keep it for another hand.”
I raised a brow at my best friend. “Are you steering her in the wrong direction to win?”
She tsked, shifting in her chair. “Of course not.”
“Go ahead. Lay it down, Maddy, and take the hand. You won it,” I told her.
Madelyn smiled, picking up the stack of cards.
“So, when does the infamous Cranfield come back?” Eve inquired. I gave her a hard stare, then glanced over at my ladies, who were looking at me with curiosity.
“I have no idea,” I replied coolly.
“It didn’t say in the letter you received from him today?” Madelyn asked, obviously not catching on to my dodging of the conversation.
“No.”
“Interesting,” Eve commented, fiddling with her cards.
“Well he’d better start getting used to keeping you informed,” Lucy stated. “It’s rude and selfish to keep you wondering.”
I went to open my mouth, but Miranda spoke first. “Especially when he gives you open affection in public.”
I cringed at her words, knowing exactly what she was referring to. The day Garrett left for Wellerent, he leaned over his horse, cupped my chin, and placed the most
heartfelt kiss on my lips that I’ve ever felt. In that kiss, I could perceive that he’d miss me, that he didn’t want to go, leaving me dizzy and weak at the knees.
I furrowed my brows. “How did you know that?”
Madelyn averted her gaze to her cards. “Well...I was outside the stables, and—”
Eve raised a brow. “Did he now? Please go on, Maddy.”
“No, please do not go on, Maddy,” I retorted, feeling the heat grow on my cheeks.
Eve ignored me. “Don’t leave out any details.”
Madelyn looked at me, not knowing what to do. I let out a heavy sigh and threw down a card.
“He gave her the most passionate kiss,” Lucy chatted, taking it upon herself to continue. “Maddy said it was quite romantic.”
Eve chuckled while I lowered myself in my chair, wanting to disappear from embarrassment. “I think it’s sweet. He wants to let you know he is committed. Now we’ll be counting down the days until he asks you to marry him.”
Eve smiled as I peered over my card at her, guilt settling in that I hadn’t told my best friend yet. And I hadn’t, for selfish reasons. One, I didn’t want to hear her high-pitched squealing, and two, I wanted to keep Garrett’s proposal a secret. It was something that was just ours; something no one could take from us.
“Ava,” uttered a voice from behind me. Looking over my shoulder, George stood in my doorway, his skin pale and his eyes blank. The silhouette of his body was frozen in place, his shoulders hunched over; in misery or agony, I couldn’t tell. It was almost cryptic, the way his chest heaved in and out, a blank stare covering his face.
The thudding in my chest restricted my breathing; something was horribly wrong.
The silence of the room was deafening as I pushed back my chair, the feet scraping against the hardwood floor. Forcing myself to move, I tried to swallow back my panic and the goose bumps that prickled over my arms and back.
“George, what’s wrong?”
He stared at the floor, no movement or acknowledgement that I was in the same room. It was as though he wasn’t there mentally. With my hand behind my back, I shooed the girls from the table, pulling George deeper in the room, so they could leave. Eve shot me a worried look before turning the corner, making me feel more anxious.
“George,” I repeated softly. His gaze came up slowly until it locked onto mine. His eyes were icy blue and filled with despair as he furrowed his brows at me. Movement behind him brought my attention to three armed guards, stoically staring at me.
Letting out a shaky breath, I turned to George. “Why are there guards with you?”
Silence.
Bringing my attention back to the men, I walked to the door and said, “If you need to speak with him, just come in.” The door clicked as I closed it, my attention immediately landing back on George.
George’s chest rose and fell in sporadic movement, which sent my own breathing out of control.
“Did something happen to...Garr?” The words scratched at my throat as I clenched my hands at my sides.
More silence.
My pulse raced as I tugged urgently at George’s sleeve. “What happened?”
George’s face didn’t change; it remained blank and distant. Pulling on his hand, I led him to the fireplace.
“George, please talk to me,” I pleaded. “Is he hurt? Did something happen?”
Placing my hands on his arms, I shook him, hard. “George! What happened? Where is he?”
My body began to tremble as tears pricked the back of my eyes. Fear had a unique way of taking control of your whole body. The unknown was something that always frightened me. Fate was an enemy against my happiness. And what scared me was that it took the one thing that promised me a life of bliss. I’d never recover from losing Garrett.
The man who saved me.
Who promised me a future.
Who took a piece of my soul.
Who told me he’d come back.
My anxiety started to turn to anger the more time that George stood silent in front of me.
“If you don’t tell me, George,” I raved, pressing my fingers into his skin. “I swear I’ll go insane. Where is he?”
George let out a breath, his hand finding mine and squeezing hard.
“My father, Ava,” he replied slowly. “He’s been murdered.”
Garrett
Chapter 34
I don’t remember riding home.
I don’t remember stopping to grab a fresh horse.
The enemy was in the castle where my family and Ava stayed and slept. Lurking around in broad daylight or within the shadows, the simple fact was, I had no idea. Nor was I any closer on finding out.
I was set up. It was written in black in my head. The moment I left the castle, my father was a dead man, his days numbered. I should have kept more of my men there, should have seen the signs that things were too quiet around the royals. The assassins, or whomever was leading them, were calculated.
I should have taken the last warning more seriously.
Edward steps down. Or more people die.
Thing was, I didn’t think of my father.
I thought of the people. The villages. My mind was boggled down with another problem, that more innocent people would die. But maybe that’s what they wanted me to believe all along. Removing my focus from the royals and placing it elsewhere.
Away from Father.
Away from George.
Away from Hara and Mama.
Away from Ava.
A sharp pain pierced my stomach; that, I do remember.
My head was dazed with the possibilities of what I would come home to face. The panic, the fear, the plan I had to set in place to protect my loved ones.
Especially her.
I needed to see Ava. To see for myself that she was safe, and that no one touched her again. That no one touched my family.
I failed my father.
But I wouldn’t fail again.
My lack of intel, and not torturing Pierce’s men as much as I should have, ate at me. I should’ve killed every single one of them, slowly and painfully, until one of the fuckers spoke. Yet, I babied the shit out of them, like a decent human being. I should’ve done what Pierce’s men planned on doing to us on that grassy field when we brought Ava back to the castle. Slaughtered them like cattle.
One by fucking one.
When John and I arrived at the castle, two of my Elite met us at the stables. Motioning for John to obtain whatever intel we had, I made my way inside the palace. Two days of traveling, worrying, and ripping my mind apart on who was behind all this made me stir-crazy. I needed my cure; the one person who could make me forget.
Striding through the castle, I stopped a guard, demanding him tell me where Ava was. He pointed to the west wing, and I proceeded in that direction. Lords and ladies stared at me with mixtures of pity and sympathy on their faces, but I ignored every one of them. Someone bellowed my name behind me, but I kept moving forward. I wasn’t about to have an hour-long conversation with some stupid ass who wanted to know what was going to happen next.
I had no fucking idea.
George needed more detail on him, more soldiers, and restricted access to him. Mama and Hara weren’t going to leave for Aruna; I didn’t need the extra uneasiness right now. And Ava would stay fixed to my damn side.
Turning toward the west wing, I halted mid-step.
I’d notice that body anywhere in the world. The way her pale pink dress played off her hair, making it look more vibrant. The fabric cascading along her waist softly while her bare shoulders were wrapped in sheer material.
Thank Femme Fatale for Arunaian dresses.
Ava’s back was to me, her hands animating her words as she spoke to a group of servants. Not hearing her, my eyes were entranced by the mere sight.
I seared this moment to my memory.
War was going to break out and my attention would be focused on more men, more allies—more everything that could help
me break the mystery of these invisible traitors. Moments like this, of my beautiful Avie, unaffected by what was about to pass, needed to be kept.
The servants nodded, going off in separate directions. Opening my mouth, I forced myself to speak and get this over with.
“Avie,” I choked out.
She stilled before slowly turning around, her green eyes soft and beautiful. A sad smile graced her lips as she strode toward me.
“Oh Garr,” she rasped, as she threw her arms around my chest. My body seized for a moment, before I wrapped my arms around her small body.
“I’m so sorry.” Her cries were muffled in my ribs. Combing my fingers through her hair, I kissed the top of her head.
“I’ve missed you so much,” I admitted, squeezing her. This woman was now my life, the only thing I needed. The only person who could take all the pain away.
My Peitho.
“I’ve missed you too.” She looked up at me, her eyes filled with tears. “What can I do?”
“Stay with me. I need you.”
She nodded, biting her lip to keep from sobbing. Reaching for her hand, I led her to my room, passing gawking eyes and whispers. I wanted her in my only sanctuary here, away from the reality I had to face.
Pushing my room door open with unneeded force, I guided her in, kicking it closed behind me. She stood in front of me, in all her stunning glory, like the goddess that captured me. Her dress dipped between her breasts while her hair cascaded over them, and her green eyes stared at the floor.
My feet moved toward her, and I cupped her chin to look at me.
“I can’t imagine what you must be feeling,” she said, playing with her fingers.
I brushed her soft cheek with my thumb. “I was worried about you.”
Her gaze met mine. “Me? Don’t be, Garr, I’m safe. You’re back, I’m more than protected now.”
I took a deep breath. “I failed, Avie. My father is…dead because I couldn’t solve this mystery. These men who have been running around here for years, terrorizing my family. I shouldn’t have taken the position.”
“Your father wanted you here, Garr. No one else.”
