Ash (The Underground Series Book 2)

by Melody Robinette

Simon frowned, reading through some notes. “It says here that royal elves are meant to have arranged binding ceremonies. Is that no longer the case?”

  Autumn felt her heart drop and eyes widen. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Avery’s brow furrowed and he fixed Autumn with a bemused look.

  “Autumn?” he said.

  Her breathing quickened along with her heart rate. “I’m so sorry, Avery,” she whispered. His face hardened and his jaw clenched.

  “An arrangement’s already been made?” he said, the hurt and betrayal evident in his voice.

  “His name is Christopher Wellington.”

  “So, you were just keeping me around until you got passed off to your husband?”

  “No! I didn’t know about it until my birthday. I’m going to get out of it, I just—”

  “You’re going to get out of it?” he said in disbelief. “Autumn, this isn’t something you can just charm your way out of. If this is something Olympus wants, it is going to happen.”

  Dexter watched their exchange with a look of fascination on his face while Simon’s hand flew wildly across the paper on which he was writing.

  “Times are different now,” Autumn said. “Things are already changing in the Underground. Luke doesn’t want to get married either. As the next rulers, we have a certain amount of say in the laws of the Underground.”

  “You can’t change the laws until you’re actually instated as ruler, Autumn. You have no say in anything until then.”

  “So, what are you saying? It’s hopeless? That you and I might as well break up because I’ll have to marry this other guy?” Autumn said, holding back tears.

  Avery ran his hands through his golden hair. “I don’t know what I’m saying,” he sighed. “Is this over?” he asked Dexter and Simon.

  The two vampires exchanged a glance then turned back to Avery and nodded.

  He stood up hastily and marched out of the room, passing Sheldon, who wore a surprised expression.

  As Autumn watched Avery go she felt the pull in her chest wrench as if it had overexerted itself, trying unsuccessfully to reach its mate.

  Dexter flashed Autumn a pitying look as he said, “Thank you, Miss Oaken. You may leave.”

  When Autumn walked back into the tree room she could feel all eyes on her. Ignoring their stares, she walked with her head high to her tree house, and into her room. She was able to hold it together until she closed the door behind her and slid down to the floor. Tears poured from her eyes like the waterfall in which she’d first seen Avery, silent and slow.

  There was a knock on the door. She expected it was Crystal coming to see if she was all right. She didn’t let herself hope that it was Avery.

  “Rose?” It was Luke. “Rose, can I come in?”

  Autumn reached up and turned the handle. The door fell open and Luke tentatively peeked his head in.

  “Hey,” he said.

  Autumn sniffled in response. Luke had to squeeze through the door because Autumn was blocking most of it. Without saying another word he pulled her into his arms, squeezing tightly. This was all it took to break her wavering strength. Luke rocked her back and forth as she sobbed uncontrollably.

  “It’s gonna be okay,” he said. “We’ll figure something out about those Beef Wellington people.” Autumn couldn’t tell whether he was trying to convince her or himself.

  She spent the rest of the day in her tree house. She told Luke that he didn’t have to stay with her, but he did anyway.

  There was a hesitant knock on the door followed by Crystal’s voice. “Can I come in?”

  Luke looked at Autumn and she nodded. “Yeah,” he called.

  “What happened, Autumn?” she asked in a quiet voice as she came to sit on the bed beside her.

  Autumn opened her mouth to speak, then closed it, not trusting her unsteady voice.

  Luke sighed and began to explain. As he told Crystal about their arranged bindings her face fell significantly, her crystal blue eyes looking sadly down at her lap.

  “I see…” she said. “And there’s nothing that can be done? Could you talk to Olympus?”

  Luke frowned. “We aren’t sure what he’ll say. It’s worth a try, but this is the law, and you know how he feels about that.”

  Luke and Crystal exchanged a meaningful look at this and Autumn realized that she and Avery might not be the only ones who had something to lose with this arrangement.

  The Warriors spent another three days in the observation chambers, being sporadically pulled out for more experiments and observations. Autumn and Avery had yet to speak. She decided that she would give him the space he needed to think. The others had obviously noticed that something had happened between the two of them, but no one commented on it.

  One day the vampires studied the Warriors’ Powers and their effects on other elves. They even asked the elves to test them on a handful of brave—or perhaps foolish—vampires. The next day they observed the elves’ physical fighting techniques and their use of bow and arrows.

  Today they asked who would be willing to give physical samples, such as blood, hair, and saliva. Autumn and Luke volunteered along with a few other trusting Warriors.

  After being pricked and prodded with various needles and other medical instruments, Autumn was surprised when Luke walked into her examination room, followed by King Eugene. She gave Luke a questioning look, but he just shrugged.

  “Please, have a seat,” King Eugene said to Luke, waving his hand at a chair made of stone beside Autumn. “First of all, I would like to thank you for your cooperation in this week’s research. Secondly, I would like to say that it would appear that we, the vampires, have greatly misjudged the elves. We do not like to be ignorant of the workings of the Underground. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to open our minds to your culture and our error. In return, I would like to grant your request by sending a party of my most skilled fighters to help you in your quest to defeat Vyra Vaun and her followers.”

  Autumn and Luke’s eyes lit up.

  “Really?” Luke said.

  King Eugene nodded, his face impassive.

  “Oh, thank you!” Autumn said, actually feeling cheerful for the first time in days. “Thank you so much!”

  “No. Thank you,” King Eugene said. “I was rather impressed with the Warriors of Arbor Falls. I always quite liked King Olympus, but I had thought he was the exception rather than the norm when it came to elves. Granted, some are more remarkable than others, but overall, you have proven to be quite fearless and unquestionably intelligent.”

  When Autumn and Luke delivered King Eugene’s news, the Warriors cheered in triumph. Avery met Autumn’s eyes and quickly looked away, frowning. She felt her eyes prick again and swallowed back her tears. She didn’t have time for emotions right now.

  The Warriors left the observation chambers first thing the next morning.

  “I’m sort of going to miss this place,” Willow said. “It was starting to feel like home.”

  Kyndel laughed humorlessly. “Except at home we aren’t subjected to cruel torture.”

  They loaded their packs onto their pegasi, who seemed unharmed, but were more than happy to see them. They kicked off into the air and were on to their next destination.

  Onyx Forest. Home of the warlocks.

  Social Politics

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  The journey to Onyx Forest was an easy one. Everyone was well rested and well fed, including the pegasi. The mountains and valleys became fewer and were now covered in dense forest made up of dark pine trees.

  At nightfall, the Warriors were back to sleeping on cots, eating dried fruit and vegetables provided by the vampires, and building a campfire. Jack suggested that some of them hunt for meat to smoke. Autumn wasn’t a vegetarian by any means, but she hardly thought she would be able to eat any meat from an animal after seeing the light leave its eyes. Crystal, who was a vegetarian, strongly refused to join them. So Autumn was left with Kyndel, Cr
ystal, and Willow.

  “I become an animal too often to be comfortable with killing one,” Willow explained at Autumn’s surprised look.

  Kyndel raised an eyebrow at her. “Don’t animals eat other animals, though?”

  “Of course they do, but I turn into all animals, not just the carnivores,” Willow replied, ignoring Kyndel’s mocking tone.

  “I wonder what the others are doing now,” Crystal said, staring off into space.

  “Hunting, genius,” Kyndel said.

  “Not the others here,” Crystal snapped. “I’m talking about the other Warriors who are recruiting the giants, trolls, and leprechauns.”

  “Hopefully they’ve been as successful as we’ve been,” Autumn said.

  “Killian’s Power is Persuasion,” Willow said. “I’m sure they’re using that to their advantage.”

  “Does Olympus know that we’ve recruited the merpeople and the vampires?” Crystal asked.

  “Yes,” Willow answered. “Forrest sent mockingbirds to inform them.”

  “That’s smart,” Autumn said.

  Willow nodded and said, “Forrest is very intelligent,” before blushing and smiling coyly at the forest floor.

  Autumn smiled at this. “I think someone may have a crush on Forrest.”

  “That’s ridiculous,” Willow nearly shouted, blushing an even deeper shade of red. “He’s four years younger than me.”

  “So?” Crystal said, smiling widely.

  Willow shrugged, obviously not wanting to talk about this anymore. It made sense that she would have a crush on Forrest since she could change into animals and he could communicate with them. Autumn had noticed him talking to her in her animal form a few times. She wondered what they said to each other when they knew they were the only ones who could understand.

  Autumn glanced at Kyndel, who was absentmindedly drawing a heart on the forest floor with a stick. She looked at it for a few seconds before adding a jagged line down the middle. Autumn was struck with the realization of how lonely Kyndel must feel, being the only one who felt the way she did. All the girls Autumn knew had boyfriends or were obviously attracted to men. What must it feel like for her to know that love may never happen for her because of a technicality? Autumn knew now more than ever how it felt to have no choice in the matter.

  Kyndel looked up to see Autumn frowning at her in obvious sympathy, and her face darkened. She clearly knew what Autumn had been thinking.

  “Man, we’re out of berries,” Crystal said, digging through the food supplies.

  “I saw some just down the path,” Willow offered. “I’ll help you pick some if you want.”

  “Do you two want to come?” Crystal asked Autumn and Kyndel.

  Kyndel shook her head as if this was the stupidest question she’d been asked in her life, and Autumn said, “No, I think I’ll just stay here in case the others come back. Besides, if we leave Kyndel alone with the fire, the whole forest might burn down.”

  Kyndel clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes dramatically.

  Crystal forced back a laugh as she grabbed a woven basket and the two girls moved away from the campsite, leaving Kyndel and Autumn alone.

  They sat in silence for a moment before Kyndel spoke. “Stop feeling sorry for me.”

  “I don’t…” Autumn lied. Kyndel gave her a disbelieving look. “Sorry,” Autumn sighed. “I can’t help it. It just doesn’t seem fair.”

  “Hasn’t anyone ever told you that life isn’t fair?”

  “I believe they have,” Autumn said dryly. “Do you not know if anyone else is—?”

  “Shh!”

  There was rustling in the trees and Ember appeared, holding two rabbits in one hand and her bow in the other. “What are you shushing, blondie?”

  “You and your loud feet,” Kyndel snapped. “Haven’t you heard that elves are supposed to walk lightly?”

  “Is that what your daddy told you or are you trying to be like the princess, here?” Ember said, dropping the rabbit on the ground. Autumn tried not to look at its sightless eyes.

  “I would hardly say that I walk lightly,” Autumn added.

  Kyndel snorted. “That’s the truth.”

  “Are you girls still bickering?” Forrest said as he emerged from the trees with empty hands. “Maybe it’s time to kiss and make up again.” He chuckled, eying Kyndel and Autumn. This time both of them blushed. Autumn knew he was talking about the sleepover, but that didn’t make her feel any less embarrassed.

  “Very funny,” she said. “Why didn’t you shoot anything?”

  “D’you think I want to shoot animals that are begging me not to? It’s bad enough that I can hear their pleas to the other Warriors,” he said, tossing his bow and arrows on the ground.

  “Then why’d you even go?” Kyndel asked.

  “I’m not going to be the only guy who doesn’t go hunting.”

  “Why not?” Autumn asked.

  Forrest stared at her blankly. “Because…just because.”

  “Because the guys will harass you for it?” she suggested.

  Forrest shrugged, pretending to busy himself with his cot. She shook her head in frustration. Elves may have been more advanced than Outsiders when it came to the preservation of resources, but when it came to social politics they were just as bad.

  The rest of the Warriors returned with more game to cook. Autumn and Forrest pretended to go help Crystal and Willow with picking more fruit so they didn’t have to watch the cleaning process.

  “You really shouldn’t care what they think, you know,” Autumn said to Forrest as they wandered through the pine trees in search of the two girls.

  “Maybe not, but I do. Don’t you care what they think?”

  “Yeah, I guess I do, but I’m not going to hide who I am to make them like me.”

  “I’m not hiding who I am. They all know I care about animals, but I’m not going to go and make a big show of the fact that I don’t hunt. Just because I don’t like something, doesn’t mean it’s wrong.”

  “Fair enough.”

  They found Crystal and Willow, who seemed to be talking more than actually picking berries. Willow’s eyes widened at the sight of Forrest and his face lit up when he saw her. Crystal picked up the half-full basket of berries beside her and pretended to struggle with it.

  “Hey, Autumn, will you help me with this?”

  Autumn hurried and grabbed the other handle, helping her pull the extremely light basket back to camp and leaving Willow and Forrest alone together. Willow watched them suspiciously, but Forrest didn’t seem to notice anything out of the ordinary as he struck up a conversation with her.

  Jack, Lucian, and Jastin were busy smoking the meat when Autumn and Crystal returned to camp with the berries. Crystal immediately wrinkled her nose at the smell.

  It wasn’t until right before everyone sat down to eat that Forrest and Willow returned with their basket of berries. Autumn and Crystal exchanged an amused glance at their belated appearance. Looked like yet another romance was brewing within the Warriors. Autumn felt a tug from the depths of her chest and looked up to see Avery watching her with his stormy gray eyes. She was surprised when he didn’t look away.

  As everyone else began cleaning up, Autumn saw Avery approaching her out of the corner of her eye.

  “Will you go for a walk with me?”

  She turned to look at him, but his expression was unreadable. “Sure,” she said, not positive if this was a good or bad thing.

  They traveled down the path towards the berries. Her hands were shaking slightly so she folded her arms across her chest, tucking her hands beneath them.

  “So, I’ve been thinking,” Avery began slowly. Autumn hated those words. They were so unclear. They could be the preamble to I’ve been thinking that I hate your guts and I never want to see you again or I’ve been thinking that you are the best thing that’s ever happened to me and I’d be a fool to let you go.

  “Yeah?” she said, trying to hide her
wavering voice and the fact that her heart was racing.

  “And there’s nothing we can do about this situation right now.”

  “Right…”

  “And, no matter what, I still love you. I always will.”

  Autumn stopped in her tracks then. “Are you breaking up with me?”

  Avery looked taken aback. “What? I—”

  “I can’t believe you, Avery! It’s not like I asked for this. It’s not like this is something I want to happen. Luke and I were going to try to get Olympus to see sense, but you can’t even wait and see if—”

  “Autumn. Stop,” Avery said, grasping her firmly by the shoulders. She looked up at him with fierce eyes. “I’m not breaking up with you.”

  She stopped glaring at him. “You aren’t?”

  Avery chuckled. “No. I was trying to tell you that I’m always going to love you and that’s all that matters. You’re right, we’ll find a way around this somehow. We have to because I’m not giving up on you. Ever.”

  Autumn’s body relaxed and she breathed a sigh of relief before punching him in the arm.

  “What was that for?” Avery laughed, clearly unhurt.

  “You scared me.”

  He laughed again before pulling her to him, his arms encircling her like a warm blanket. The pull in her chest was as strong as ever, like nothing had even happened between them. If anything, it had become even stronger, an unbreakable, invisible connection.

  The trees that flashed below as they flew towards the Onyx Forest appeared wilder and darker than the ones back in Arbor Falls. They smelled different too. The scent of the pine trees floated up and filled the air like a pungent perfume.

  Soon, Lucian led the pegasi to the ground, though Autumn didn’t see how he could tell the difference between the Onyx Forest and, well, the rest of the forest. The pegasi landed in a small clearing with sporadic thuds. Pinecones and needles littered the ground like the acorns covered Arbor Falls.

  Lucian waved Autumn and Luke over.

  “All right, Oaken,” he said. “Warlocks don’t exactly take kindly to visitors, even if they are our allies. I suggest you present the white rose and show your Royal Marks as soon as you see anyone. Otherwise, who knows what they might do.”