She looked up at me from the floor, her glove-clad hands soaked with tears, and said, “There is something you must know about your father.”
I took a step back from her and willed myself to say something—anything—but the words wouldn’t come. What about my father?
“Queen Abriel?” a small voice said. A little boy about the age of six stepped into the room in worn clothing and a dirty face. He stood outside of the door, and I turned to him in curiosity. “Conroy wishes to speak with you alone, if that is alright with you.”
“Conroy?” Mother’s voice shook as she stood to her feet. Her Thedibian accent poked through, and I caught it. “May I ask why?”
The little boy’s eyes went from her to me and he shook his head slightly as if he was in on some big secret, too. “He requests only your presence, my Queen.”
Mother dusted herself off and walked slowly to the door. The loud beat of her heart in her chest could be heard from where I stood, and I knew then that whatever secret was being kept from me was vital. Notwithstanding, I had every intention on finding out what it was.
Mother left and I stood in the grand ballroom barefooted and in a gown I resented. I’d worn the dress to my own dismay, yet Mother was still upset about the way I decided to wear my hair. I didn’t see the need to put my hair in anything other than a bun on a Friday morning.
I pushed all thoughts of Mother out of my head as thoughts of Ayden consumed me. I smiled to myself as I made my way up to my chambers and dared not think about anything else. My stomach fluttered when I suddenly remembered his hands in my hair again, or on my lips. He’d smiled when I giggled—something I didn’t do much—but to see him smile back the way he did, it was worth it. I refused to think about any other possibilities than meeting him every day at the river. Anything else wasn’t even a thought. I’d go there, he’d be there, and we’d talk for hours because that’s how easy things were between us.
I turned down the hall to my bedroom doors, and froze at the sound of smashing glass. It was unexpected, especially coming from this house. Even if Father got angry with Mother, you wouldn’t know. Everyone sort of ran their own private life in this palace. Everyone but me, of course.
I walked down the opposite hallway, my bare feet padding softly on the plush rug. Only Everlae’s room was down this corner and it was a room that you really had to look for to find. I stopped in the archway and gazed in through the door at Everlae and Silas arguing, a sight that rendered me speechless. I held my breath and hid just beside the threshold.
Why was he in her chambers? Father had made a rule a very long time ago that men, husband or the like, weren’t permitted in our chambers. They were ours, our sacred grounds. By the looks of it, Everlae didn’t like the fact that he had made himself an exception to that rule.
“Again, Everlae!” Silas yelled. I jumped as another piece of glass smashed to the floor.
“Do not be so loud, please. Mother might hear you,” Ever whimpered. My forehead furrowed in bewilderment. Why was she cowering down to him?
“Don’t tell me what to do, you worthless excuse for a woman! What is this, the third time you’ve lost the baby?” His footsteps were loud on the parquet. My heart wept for Everlae, because I didn’t even know she was with child. I guess after losing a baby twice in a year, she wanted to keep it a secret.
“I’m so sorry,” Ever cried. “I did nothing this time, I swear! It just happened.”
“It just happened? If I knew I was going to marry an infertile woman, do you think I’d be standing here in front of you? Get off of the floor!”
“You are to love me, Silas! For better or for worse!”
“This is the worst!” Silas screamed with another smash around the room. A single tear fell down my face and I held in a sob.
“I know. I’m trying for us, Silas. I want to give you a baby!” Everlae yelled, her voice breaking. “Those women you have been bringing to your bed have not been helping either!”
I gasped the same moment I heard Everlae drop to the ground as if she’d been thrown. My hand over my mouth, I glanced inside the room and started to hyperventilate a little at the sight of Everlae’s bruising. She didn’t look up from the floor as she cried silently to herself.
I had to do something.
Silas shouted, “Who are you to question what I do with women?”
He was preparing to kick her when I stepped into the room. “Don’t you dare!” Tears streamed down my face and I found it hard to see through them. Silas just stood there staring at me, a smile on his lips and a soul as wicked as Hades himself. I ran over to Everlae and picked her up from the floor, and glanced over at the bed now covered in blood. Everlae’s eyes widened at me and she tried to push me away, but I wouldn’t let her. I turned back to Silas, my body emanating with anger. “You did this to her. Don’t you ever touch her again!”
I pulled Everlae out of the room and the sound of Silas still throwing stuff around the room echoed behind us.
“Echo, no,” Ever mumbled.
I shook my head and held her tighter. “You should have told me.”
Minutes later, after calling in a maid for help and locking my doors, Everlae peeled out of her bloodied nightgown and stepped into the hot bath. We sat in silence as I bathed her, but somehow I knew Everlae wasn’t really here anymore. Her eyes stared at absolutely nothing as she sat there, her face expressionless and cold. I decided to leave her in the tub longer, seeing as she didn’t want to be bothered, and sat on the marbled floor beside her. I ran my fingers through her blonde curls and bit back my sobs.
Finally, she said, “His name was Dicean.” There was no emotion in her tone, but I knew it hurt her to say it in that tense. “He was only seven weeks old, but I loved him already.” She cried harder and I tried to shush her, but it only made it worse.
“I’m so sorry, Ever.” I rested my head against hers and sniffled. “How long?”
“Two years,” she answered.
“Two years and you haven’t told me? Ever, Father needs—”
“No!” She sat up and glared at me. “Father mustn’t know. It’s my fault anyway.”
I was appalled. “Your fault? Everlae, do you hear yourself? The man, who is supposed to love you for all eternity, abuses you and you blame it on yourself?”
“I cannot give him what he wants!” Ever yelled. The maid peeked in from the corner and Ever settled down. “He’s been with other women, Echo. Especially one with tattoos and dark hair. If I cannot give him an heir within the year, it will continue like this. So, this is partially my fault.”
I shook my head in disbelief and averted my eyes. “Has it ever occurred to you that you are infertile because of him?”
“I’m not infertile, Echo,” she whispered. I glanced back at her with heavy-lidded eyes. “I can bear a baby. But we argue so much and he loses his temper so often that…”
“He takes it out on you,” I finished. “And that’s the life you want to live? Have you even told Mother?”
Everlae looked down at the water she lay in and frowned. “She knows.”
“And she does nothing to stop it?” I stood to my feet and backed away from the tub, running my fingers through my hair as if that could help me get the words out. “No, that’s disturbing!”
“She has tried! She has even mentioned to Father that I should leave the city with Aunt Janelle and Isobeli for a while.”
“And?” I asked.
“And he said my duty is here. With my husband.”
I sighed and glanced around the room, looking for something to hold onto while the room started to spin. “And Mother will do anything to please Father. Even obey his every will.” Feeling utterly disgusted, I headed for the door. “I have somewhere to be. The maid will fix up my room and shall help you with everything you need. My bed is welcomed to you.”
“Echo, wait!” Everlae said. I didn’t turn, but listened for her next words. “It isn’t so bad.”
I sighed and reach
ed for the door. In all sarcasm, I said, “Being beaten against your will isn’t so bad? Well then, I do believe you’ve got yourself a happy ending, Everlae. I’ll go find my own, elsewhere.”
In my bedroom, I grabbed the first article of newspaper I found and took it with me. I told the maid to watch Ever in case she did something stupid and I left. Mother was wherever with whomever and Father was in Siphon’s City, sitting in his throne room writing decrees that ruined people’s lives. Isobeli would be back tomorrow for good, and the gods knew I had so much to tell her.
I told the guards I was going to sit out front in the garden and once I’d gone so far down the hill that they could no longer see me, I vanished into the woods, checking back every so often to make sure no one followed. Noah was gone for the day as well; he had left to get fitted for his suit. Today was perfect, Everlae and her problem’s momentarily forgotten.
I stepped into the clearing and the roaring river surged with life, morning nightingales sung. I lost myself in the view and forgot my reason for being here until I saw him sitting over on the boulder, staring out at the waters.
“You came,” I said.
He turned to face me and his amethyst eyes shone. “I’m many things, Echo, and I can be a liar. Just not with you.”
I felt the heat rise to my cheeks as I scrambled for words. “Oh.” Oh? That’s all I had good to say? I tried again. “Well, I’ve brought you something.” I walked to him and handed him the newspaper. He glanced from me to the article and frowned. “I cannot—”
“Read, I know,” I cut in. I moved to the boulder and sat. I patted the space beside me and smiled at him. “Today’s your first lesson, Ayden Grey. Grab a seat.”
He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “This is a joke?”
“I’m many things, Ayden, and I can be a jokester. Just not with you.”
He laughed at my mockery of him and moved to sit beside me. I leaned in closer to him and our arms touched. “Do you know any of the letters?” He shook his head. “What about the song? You know, the one they teach us in the first form?” He shook his head again and I bit my lips. “Okay.” I set the paper to the side and took his hands in mine.
“Is this how they taught you?” he asked, staring at our joined hands.
I giggled and shook my head. “No. It’s a game my cousin taught me years ago. It’s an easy way to learn. Just follow my lead and repeat after me, okay?”
He nodded with a smile on his face that made his eyes shine even brighter. His hands in mine felt warm and safe, and if I had had the choice, I would’ve never let them go. I sung, “A is for apples. B is for balance.”
I stopped as he started to laugh, and his hands slipped from mine. I wanted to be angry, but his laugh was contagious. “I know. It’s silly, but I’m determined to teach you, so come on.”
He stopped laughing and looked at me. “Alright. I’ll sing.” He took my hands again and this time entwined his fingers with mine. I noted how perfectly our hands looked together. I glanced up and saw that he was watching our hands, too. We both smiled awkwardly and I sang again. “A is for apples.”
“A is for apples,” he sung, a beautiful deep octave.
“B is for balance. C is for coats, the cats, and the cattle.”
He sung, smiling brightly at me. We got through most of the song, but neither of us could keep a straight face for long. “S is for sweets,” I sang.
“S is for sweets,” he mocked, doing his best to sound like me. I laughed so hard I had to cover my mouth so that I didn’t snort.
“I do not sound like that.” I playfully shoved his shoulder and he smiled.
“You’re right. You sing beautifully.”
The smile fell from my lips slowly and I said, “Thank you. As do you.” It was then that I noticed our proximity and how close our bodies really were.
He noticed too, and took my hand in his. My eyes never left his when he sang, “E is for Echo.” I grinned and wrapped my fingers around his. E was actually for elephants, but his version was so much better.
“And A is for Ayden,” I sang.” We smiled at each other—these big, ridiculous smiles that could have lasted all day. I’d only wished this moment could last for eternity.
I cleared my throat and picked up the newspaper, leaning in to him again, and pointing to a word. “You know the letters now, but you must recognize them or else there is no sense in the song. I’ve heard you use big words before, you’re not really illiterate.”
He glanced down at me and said, “My father can read some, so I guess I’ve picked up on a few things.”
“That’s good.” I grinned and turned back to the paper. “Do you know this word?”
He stared at the paper for a long moment before shaking his head. I could only imagine the embarrassment, a girl teaching him how to read. But I didn’t mind one bit, I’d always wanted to be a teacher anyway.
“T-h-a-t. That,” I said to him. “Say it.”
“That,” he whispered. I caught him staring down at my lips and quickly looked away. He might’ve just been trying to see the way I had said it, but then again, it could have been something else on his mind.
“And this one. C-o-a-c-h. Coach, a teacher.”
“Coach,” he said with a smile.
“Right. See if you can do this one.” I pointed down to a random spot on the paper without looking away from him.
He glanced down, and then back up at me. “Love,” was all he said. I searched his deep violet irises that went on for miles, and he sat staring into mine. For the millionth time that day, I was speechless.
On the boulder, I felt his hand take mine again. This time, we weren’t singing and I saw something in his eyes. Compassion, empathy…love. I looked away before it became too much and glanced down at the paper. “Love, yes, that’s correct. You’re a fast learner, Ayden Grey.”
“I suppose I have a fast teacher, then.” His hand was still in mine and I felt the need to cry out that I didn’t want him to ever let go. If I had to hide out by a river for a million years for that to happen, I would do it.
I let his hand slip from my mine and stood. “I guess I should take my leave now.”
He stood too, and nodded. “I guess.” Though, something told me he didn’t want me to leave. Every cell in my body was telling me to stay.
I went to him and hugged him before I had time to doubt myself. He was warm and smelled of a fresh garden, light and airy, yet strong and captivating. There was a moment he had hesitated, but he quickly wrapped his arms around me in a comforting embrace. “Thank you,” I heard him whisper.
I giggled and broke the hug. “Keep the paper. I can come back tomorrow if…”
“I would like that,” he said. He raked his fingers through his long, dark curls and gave me a crooked grin I’d never seen on him before. Very cocky, I thought.
Laughing to myself, I took a step away from him and closer to the forest. “Don’t you go getting any ideas, Mr. Ayden Grey. I’m a good girl.”
His hands dropped from his hair and he held them up. “I just want to learn my ABCs.” He flashed me the grin again and I rolled my eyes.
“Until tomorrow,” I whispered.
He nodded, his eyes full with longing. “Tomorrow it is.”
“And you keep practicing.”
He watched me. Not with a look you gave a teacher or a friend, but one you’d give to your spouse or consort. “Oh, I will,” he said.
Before disappearing into the forest and returning to the palace, I looked back at him and confessed, “I think you are the only mystery I’ve begun to figure out, Grey.”
E I G H T E E N
Echo
There were only eight days left now. Instead of counting them on my fingers, I could count them in my head. Eight days felt like eight hours, and every second leading up to my wedding was crucial, or so my mother said. If I could freeze time for a day, or maybe even two, I’d run away with Ayden and never return. I’d take his hand in mine
and he’d promise me forever. As crazy as it sounded, I wanted it; I wanted that one day.
For the past two days, Ayden and I had met at the river and I’d read to him while he listened. We sang the song I taught him and laughed so hard we were rolling in the sand. Absentmindedly, we’d hold hands, but we never pulled away unless we had to. Noah had been questioning my whereabouts as usual, but I made sure I was never followed.
It was different with Ayden. We talked more about each other than we did about ABCs, and he didn’t make any advances to kiss me, no matter how much I wanted him to at times.
I’d learned about his mother and her illness, the reason why he’d asked for the medication I eventually snuck past Meredith. He spoke of his mother with such fondness in his voice and I always laughed about her old ways, which, according to Ayden, were always genuine. She seemed like a great mother, regardless of her illness, and it made me wonder what life would have been like had I grown up with Ayden in Old Haven. The thought made me smile. Would we have been together? Maybe we would be the ones getting married in eight days.
“What are you thinking about?” Ayden asked me.
I turned to him and frowned. “My wedding. In eight days.”
“You’re counting.”
“Not really.” I sighed and faced the river. “I’m overwhelmed all the time, and my family is just so…them. It’s almost as if I’m—”
“Suffocating,” he offered.
I nodded and turned around to face him. “Yeah, exactly.” He ran his thumb over one of my knuckles and I smiled. “So tell me more about Old Haven.”
He laughed. “What do you want to know?”
“Everything.” I sat closer to him in the sand and held his hands tighter. “Is there life outside of Old Haven?” He furrowed his forehead and I rolled my eyes. “I mean, have you ever gone past the walls that confine you?”
He shook his head. “No, never. For a girl so young, you sure are a dreamer.” He smiled and I bit my lips.
“I’m not a girl anymore, Ayden. I turn eighteen tomorrow.” I stared down at the sand. “And then I’ll be married in seven days.”
Burning Bridges Page 16
