“Okay.” I moved to kiss her forehead and her skin was cold beneath my lips. I sighed and stood to my feet. “But you’re not leaving me until I tell you it’s time, damn the gods. I will find you something.” Her eyes shifted to the walls again, and she resumed the voided stare at nothing.
I left her in the silence and closed the door behind me. I somewhat envied the place she harbored in now—no worries or cares, just nothing. When she got like that I didn’t even know if she remembered me or the twins. She blanked out for weeks and could barely eat. But this time was the worst, even though she’d said my name. I saw it in her eyes—that look like she knew she was drifting. Mother always had a way of looking at death so lightly, but the truth hid just beyond the surface. Death was a scary, dark thing that fed on your happiness until you were an empty cavity of nothing.
I sat around the house for hours. Milo and Misty were in their room playing and Father had long left. To where, I had no idea, but his absence didn’t bother me one bit. My fingers strummed loudly against the kitchen counter as I stared at the clock in front of me. It was ticking louder than usual, or was that all in my head?
Should I? seemed to be the question taunting me. I weighed the pros and cons, but after another hour, I came up with nothing but pros. Her face, her hair, her smile, her smell…and everything about her.
I grunted and ran out the front door of the house. Father would be home soon, so I couldn’t stay long. Though, I could admit the temptation was strong. The border was but a mile from the house and it took only ten minutes to get there on foot. The guards and I had become accustomed to one another over the years and they didn’t even need to ask me my name anymore. They always asked why I wanted to cross, though. That was one protocol they couldn’t break. Liamik, the guard who was always in command at the border, motioned me through with five other people and I disappeared behind the walls in search of the Princess with the taste of determination on my tongue.
FOR twenty-two years, I’d held back from everyone. The only person I’d ever allowed myself to get close to outside of my family was Feven. Only weeks ago I had thought that was how it would always be, familiar and safe. But Echo made me realize that life was about taking chances in the smallest ways and doing courageous things in the biggest. Life was a warzone, yes, but you couldn’t win a battle without trying, putting one foot in front of the other and taking that first leap of faith. Working five jobs and stealing wouldn’t change a thing unless my goal was the fires of Hell. If I wanted change I had to go get it. And that’s exactly what I was doing.
Meredith, the Royal Palace’s Servant Keeper, was droning on and on about my lack of responsibility while I sat ignoring her. We were in the palace, close to the Princess, and that was all that mattered to me.
“You do know that we no longer trust you here?” Meredith asked.
I turned back to her and sighed. I’d been looking everywhere else but at her, hoping the Princess would show up. “Yes, I know, and I do apologize. I’ve already begun to make amends for what I did.”
“You have?”
No. “Yes.”
“And why do you think we need you?” She crossed her thick arms across her chest and her eyes stared me down. We were in the kitchen and maids walked about with their dishes and trays. One maid in particular, young and fragile looking, stopped to gawk at me like she knew who I was. I ran my hand through my hair and looked away.
“You, uh, need me because I keep the garden in shape, Meredith. No one can do it quite as well as I can. I’ll be a ghost; you won’t even notice me here.”
Meredith sighed and nodded her head. “Okay. I shall give you this week. You make one mistake, Hunter, and you’ll be facing the King, not I.”
I grumbled as she walked away and I hung around the kitchen for a moment longer, discreetly looking for the Princess. Through the huge glass window in the kitchen I saw that the yard had been decorated for the wedding with flowers, lights, and about every shade of gold. The Prince of Delentia stood off to the side, his hands deep in his pockets and eyes somewhere other than on the woman talking to him. It must have been his mother, the Queen, I assumed. I was about to walk away and continue my search when a girl with short, dark hair stepped into my view of the Prince. I only saw her back profile, but I could tell she was petite and she barely stood at five foot three—familiar in a subtle way.
She stood with her hands on her hips, whispering to the Prince as the Queen walked away from them. She seemed angry and annoyed, and by the look on the Prince’s face, he looked merely amused. The girl threw her hands up and screamed, about ready to slap him, and I smiled. That is, until she turned around and I caught her blue eyes.
“Echo,” I whispered. She walked up the pathway leading to the door at the rear of the palace and I willed myself to move, but my feet wouldn’t listen. I watched her as she passed the window and barely believed my eyes. She’d cut her hair and was wearing leather, of all things. She looked beautiful, of course, but different. I took her for another person at first glimpse, but it was those eyes that called me back to her.
I moved from the window and into the hall, hiding behind one of the huge pillars that stood in every corner. I heard footsteps on the parquet, and then voices.
“Echo, calm down. I was just joking!”
“It wasn’t funny!” Echo screamed back. The Prince must’ve followed her in. “I was just…born different, is all. My grandmother’s hair was dark and so was my grandfather’s. It’s only natural my hair is this dark.”
“And your complexion?” the Prince asked.
“Are you questioning my lineage?” Echo countered.
I sighed behind the pillar and abstained from doing anything foolish like punching the Prince in his gods-forsaken mouth. I clenched my jaw and patiently waited for him to leave. I will tell her this time, I promised myself.
“No, of course not,” the bastard dared say. “You’re just so different from everyone else here. You’re remarkably beautiful, but it’s an exotic beauty—unknown, and yet to be discovered.”
My fists clenched.
“Oh, shut up. Mention my hair or complexion again and you’ll be losing a whole lot more than your fingers,” Echo sneered. I peered around the corner and watched her with a smile on my face. She was pulling that arrogant attitude again that could drive any man crazy, but one look into her eyes and you really couldn’t take her seriously. “Leave me,” she said.
The Prince laughed. “No. We have to get back out there, anyway. We should probably practice the kiss again.”
The sound of Echo slapping him was hilarious and pitiful. “I’m really starting to like slapping you, Noah.” Her boots stomped against the parquet as she left in the other direction. The Prince sighed and walked back out to the garden.
It was only instinct that I followed her, but she wasn’t an easy target. Through the throngs of maids and servants, I’d managed to lose her more than twice. I only found her again by luck and when I did, across the hall and through the many loitering bodies, her eyes sought mine out first. She watched me. Her mouth opened as if she wanted to say something, but she just shook her head speechlessly. Time stopped as we stood there staring at each other; the world seemed to be waiting on us instead. I wanted to blurt out a million things, all the feelings and pains her absence had caused.
I took a step towards her and she quickly shook her head again. She eyed the hallway behind me, the one leading back to the garden, and began heading in that direction. At first I thought I might’ve angered her, but then she turned around and flashed me one of her rare smiles. I wanted to follow her again—hell, I would have followed her anywhere—but instead moved towards the grand foyer, through the dining hall, and out the front doors. Guards held the doors open for me and they watched closely as I stepped out. After all, I was the thief. I was surprised they didn’t search me right there and then.
I walked down the hilled lawn and searched for her, but I remained alone outside. Had I scar
ed her off? I contemplated walking around the palace and going to her, but that would be, by far, the stupidest mistake I would ever make. Her smile still haunted me as I walked, and I dared think about kissing her lips. The voice in my head screamed that I was losing it, but it didn’t have to scream real loud, for I already knew.
“Ayden!” an actual voice yelled.
I glanced over in its direction and Echo, hair wild and smile uncontrollable, stood by the edge of the forest waving over at me. I smiled and ran after her, not caring whether the guards were suspicious or not. Echo was a fast runner, faster than any Warrior I’d ever known. I had to exert myself just to keep up, but I’d be damned if I let her get away from me so easily this time. Her short hair billowed behind her and every now and then she glanced back at me, laughing and waving for me to hurry. I thought of her as a godly siren or a tempest leading me into my death trap with a smile. In a cryptic way, it made sense. But I no longer cared about reason, I cared about Echo.
I lost track of her as I broke into a clearing. The wide river, the one I had found her crying at, looked different in daylight. It stretched farther than I remembered and the water wasn’t black but a crystal clear blue.
Echo stood by a huge boulder in the sand staring at me. A smile played on her lips and it seemed the awkward moment had gotten to her, too. I took a step towards her and said, “Hi.” It was a simple greeting, but if I could’ve gotten it to mean all that I felt, it would have.
She smiled and began playing with the leathered edge of her corset. She was nervous. “Hi,” she whispered. “You’re here?”
I nodded. “Yes. Look, I’m so—” I stopped, realizing we’d both started to talk at the same time.
She took the last step that put her in front of me and said, “I’ve missed you. I want to tell you that I’m sorry, but I didn’t think I would’ve ever gotten the chance, given you live so far away.”
She missed me? My heart just about melted to the ground. “No, I’m sorry. I was being an ass. I shouldn’t have treated you that way, I was afraid.”
“You had every right. I had obviously overstayed my welcome,” she countered.
“But you didn’t.”
“I think I did.”
She smiled at me and I sighed. “Either way, I treated you horribly. When you left I felt really bad.” She blew her razor-cut bags out of her eyes. “But you look different, Echo. A good different.”
“You don’t, and you shouldn’t change that,” she mumbled. “Will you be going back?” Her eyes searched mine with desperation. When I tried to look away, she turned her head to watch me.
“Yes, I have to. Soon, actually.”
She sighed. “Will you be returning? I-I wanted us to talk.”
“About what, Princess?” I laughed down at her mockingly and arched a brow.
“I just like talking to you. I like you, Ayden Grey. Forget everything I said about misjudging you. You are probably the only person who hasn’t let me down yet.”
The smile fell from my lips and I stared at her in all seriousness. She was but a breath away from me and the temptation was stronger this time; I couldn’t ignore it. I reached out and combed my fingers through her short locks, twining my fingers into the silk and memorizing the feel of it on my skin. She giggled and it was the cutest thing I’d ever heard in my life. My hands moved from her hair to her cheek. “I like you, too, Echo Abbeny.” I glanced down at her parted lips and touched them. She went still for a moment, but didn’t move. “Tomorrow. I’ll return tomorrow.”
Her smile broadened. “Alright. Tomorrow, then?” She stepped away from me and my hands fell to my sides, still burning with the need to touch her.
“Tomorrow,” I confirmed with a nod. She backed out of the clearing with her eyes still on me and I watched her every move. I smiled, but the happiness that had consumed me mere seconds ago was fleeting. I’d meant to tell her how I felt, but instead I’d simply said ‘I liked her’. Whatever the hell that was supposed to mean. I glanced back in the direction she had left and heaved a sigh. I’d eventually collapse with all the damn sighing I’d been doing.
I began the long, dreaded walk back home.
▪Echo▪
I was going to pass out.
It felt like every nerve in my body was on fire. My hands vibrated with excitement and I couldn’t get the stupid grin off my face.
It was him.
It wasn’t a decoy or a trick of my mind. It wasn’t another who just happened to look like him. It was Ayden and he had come for me.
I stumbled back through the wooded area, still smiling like a damn fool, when Noah appeared out of nowhere and grabbed me from behind. “Where’d you go?”
“None of your business. I’m back, aren’t I?” I pushed him away, but he only grabbed me again, crushing my body against his own.
“Who were you with, Echo?” he snarled, breath hot against my cheek. I quit struggling in his arms and glanced up into his glacial eyes. Had he seen anything?
“N-no one. I just needed some air. I was alone, okay?”
Noah glanced behind me and nodded. He put his arm around me possessively and led the way back to the garden.
I kept checking for Ayden, wishing he’d come back and take me with him again. But I couldn’t risk another fallout with Mother, and I had yet to face my father. It was bad enough Noah knew something about Ayden. If Ayden and I wanted any time alone, I’d have to keep him my own little secret.
S E V E N T E E N
Echo
I stood barefoot in the ballroom with three books atop my head and an apple in my hand. As mother spoke, I tried to hold back on the sneering and rolling of my eyes. Hearing her voice this early in the morning was ludicrous, no one should have to go through such a trauma. I watched her from the corner of my eyes and dozed out a bit as my thoughts shifted to Ayden.
I could’ve sworn he was going to kiss me yesterday. The thought of his lips against mine was exciting and different. It wasn’t like kissing Noah, where the very idea of it made me want to gag. I’d bet Ayden was a better kisser, too. I thought of his hands in my hair with a smile. I wanted him to touch me again and whisper a million I like yous in my ear. It was crazy, this boy—this Hunter—was driving me off the precipice of sanity.
I suddenly tripped over the hem of my dress and the books on my head tumbled to the floor. I laughed loudly and lay on my back, staring up at the ceiling and counting the gold flecks etched into the paint. Is this what boys do to people? I thought with a shake of my head. He said he’d meet me today, and I had every intention on being there waiting for him.
“What has gotten into you, Echo?” Mother asked from above me.
I arched my brows and said, “Me? Well, that’s a loaded question, my Queen.” I rolled my eyes and stood to my feet. I wiped the apple on my dress and took a bite out of its juicy flesh, sighing as my empty stomach quit its grumbling. I looked back at her, noticing the pain in her eyes, and said, “This wedding is stupid.” I moved towards the door, but she called me back.
“You need to stop,” she said softly. She took the apple from my hand and pulled my chin up so that my eyes were level with hers. Her blonde hair fell from her bun as she shook her head. “Echo, this isn’t the life you want. You want to be happy. You can have that with the Prince. Is it attention you seek, because—”
“It’s not about attention or even how tired I am, Mother. I can admit that is what it was at first, but I’m just so angry with you and Father that I could care less about this wedding,” I snarled.
Mother glanced around the room like we were being watched. She turned back to me with tears in her eyes. “I forbid you from seeing this boy again. He’s the reason for all of this, that vermin. I will have him thrown from New Haven if I must.”
“Mother!”
“No, Echo! If my mother had been twice as hard on me, maybe this wouldn’t be happening. It’s a curse. Love who you may, but from a distance. I take back what I said before. There ar
e some things you do not know, some things that are better left in the dark.” Mother’s eyes fell from mine and she wiped the tears from her eyes. She looked oddly conflicted.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
Time stood still and I held my breath. “Unfortunately, you will find out all too soon. Do you believe in dreams, Echo?”
Mother spoke to me as if I was her friend. This was no longer a reprimand, but a coming of untold secrets. “Yes, but—”
“We only dream of things we know and people that we’ve seen. That is what my mother forced me to believe, but it’s different with me. I see everything.”
“What are you trying to say?” I snarled. I glanced around the room and shook my head. She was going insane, that was it. It would explain her weird mood swings a hell of a lot more.
“I can see things, Echo! I know when bad things will come and you need to listen to me when I tell you that the end has never been so close until now. I’m trying to stop you from making a mistake!” She noticed she was yelling and took a step closer to me. Whispering, she said, “This Hunter boy will be the death of you, and not in a pleasant way. You’ve allowed him to take control of your life, Echo, and you will reap what you sow.”
I stared into her eyes, searching, and swallowed the lump in my throat. “What are you not telling me?” I didn’t believe a word she’d said. This was her new way of getting me to obey, scaring me. I could admit she had me at first, but her lies were foolhardy and I saw right through them. The secrets she held were clear; I saw it written all over her face. Whatever picture she’d been looking for was apparently the key.
Mother shook her head and cried harder. She reached out to touch me, but broke down instead. “Aly,” she cried. “I pray every night and day, hoping the gods will spare you.”
“Who is Aly, Mother?” There was no compassion in my voice. “Why do you continue to call me names other than my own!”
Burning Bridges Page 15
