I flinched.
If I was the lady who would grow old alone with a bunch of cats, Rye was the guy who would grow old with a horde of dogs.
So that was why he was asking for my hand. Not because he liked me, but because we were getting old and alone.
Having chosen the life of a warrior, I had never been the romantic type, but if I ever got married, I wanted it to be because of the guy liked me and I liked him, not because of a situation. If that were the case, then I would rather grow old alone with my imaginary cats.
“What if I don’t want to marry him?”
My mother narrowed her eyes, clearly not understanding my question. “What do you mean?”
“I mean … I still have three years until I’m of marrying age. We don’t need to rush to find a fiancé for me.”
“But, my dear, we’ve been trying to find a fiancé for you since you were a little girl,” she said, as if that was a plain fact. “We never stopped looking.”
I gaped at her. And here I thought my parents had tried to find a match for me when I was a baby, like every family did, but had soon given up and never tried again.
“That’s …” I had no words.
The song of strings filled the air and cheers erupted throughout the place. The band began playing an animated flamenco and dancers took the center of the square.
My mother patted my hand. “Look. Here they come.” She turned to face the crowd.
I followed her line of sight: Rye and my father crossed the square, coming toward us. I tensed and, even though I considered myself a fearless warrior, I felt like running.
My father slid to my mother’s side, taking her hand in his, and Rye stopped right in front of me, his intense dark brown eyes on mine. I gulped.
“Hi, Cora,” he said, his voice rough—rougher than I remembered. He extended his big hand to me. “Would you like to dance?”
4
No …
The word was on the tip of my tongue. I opened my mouth to say it, but a sharp look from my father had me swallowing the word back. It went down scratching against me and settled in my stomach like a heavy weight.
I sucked in a sharp breath. “Sure …” I slid my hand in his.
He closed long his fingers around my hand and pulled me to where couples and friends danced along to the flamenco song. Then, he turned to me and placed his free hand on my waist.
“Is this okay?”
I glanced up at him.
His face was sharper and more handsome up close. Again, I was surprised I hadn’t noticed just how attractive he was before. To be honest, I had been so focused on making it as a female warrior, I hadn’t looked at any of the male competition around me—not with the eyes of a lovesick girl.
I was far from being lovesick right now, but there was something stirring deep in my gut, something I didn’t know how to explain.
A knot appeared between Rye’s brows and he withdrew his hand. “Something wrong?”
I didn’t need to look around to know a lot of the people in the square were now looking at us, probably starting new rumors about things they had no idea about.
“I …” I inhaled deeply. What the hell? Why was I suddenly so quiet and self-conscious? That wasn’t me. I lifted my chin and met his eyes. “I would rather not be the center of attention right now.”
“Oh.” His eyes did a quick scan. “I see. How about we go for a walk, then?”
I nodded. “That would be better.”
Rye dropped my hand, but stayed by my side as we walked out of the square. Once more I avoided looking out but felt the sting of all the gazes on us. If alchemists had dropped from the skies, I would have faced them with no fear. But when my family and friends and our tight community was staring at my back and whispering? I wanted to hide.
Once we walked onto a deserted street, I let out a long breath.
Rye’s shoulders relaxed, and that was when I noticed he had been tense too. Damn, how many things hadn’t I noticed?
For a moment, we strolled side by side and in complete silence. My insides started twisting again. Why had he invited me to dance then to walk if he was just going to stay quiet?
Deciding I was done being shocked about this situation, I halted. “So …”
After another step, Rye stopped and turned to face me. “So …”
I groaned on the inside. “You’re just going to pretend nothing is going on?”
He ran a hand through his hair, messing it up a little. “I’m a little concerned that no matter what I say or do, you’re just going to pull out your sword or bury me in the earth.”
That did sound like me, even if I wasn’t feeling that bold and strong right now. “Well, I promise I’ll try not to.”
One corner of his lips tugged up and it was hard not to stare. That half smile … it suited him.
“I’m sorry about the surprise,” he finally said. “To be honest, it all happened pretty fast.”
I crossed my arms, suddenly feeling like I had to protect myself from whatever he was going to tell me. “What happened?”
His smile faded and he let out a long breath. “About a year after my fiancée died, my dat started bothering me about choosing another betrothed. Since I was old enough, he wanted my input, but I wasn’t ready. I felt like I would never be ready.” He paused. “For a while, he stopped bothering me about it, but a few months ago, he started again. Then one night at dinner, he mentioned you would make a nice fiancée.”
I snorted, remembering when I started training with the warrior years ago, and how Rye’s father was vocal about being against it. “Your dat doesn’t like me.”
“I think he always liked you; he just thought differently about you being a warrior.”
“That every woman should just bow her head to her husband and say, ‘Yes, sir’?”
He frowned. “Not quite. My daj isn’t like that. She meets him head on and he bends to her will often. In your case, I think he was just old school. No girl had joined the warriors, not here at least, and that went against everything we knew.”
“So what changed?”
He shrugged. “To be honest, I think he was tired of looking for someone else and not finding anyone available.” I flinched. “So, after getting over the fact that you’re a warrior, and a great one, he suggested I proposed to you.”
I suppressed another flinch. I wouldn’t let Rye or his father treat me as if I were a leftover. I didn’t care if I had to live alone with my swords or my cats.
“You ignored his attempts to find a match for you for so long. Why do it now?” Rye averted his eyes and shook his head once. A pang ran through my heart. He had come to me, and he was letting me down now? I didn’t get it. “It’s okay,” I said, hoping my voice didn’t break. “I’ll say no. Your dat will have to scratch my name from your list, and you can go back to ignoring him while he looks for someone else.”
I took a step back, intent on walking away calmly. Holding my breath, I turned. A hand closed around my wrist and pulled me back.
Frozen, I looked up as Rye loomed over me. “I confess I had noticed you before. Since you started training with us, something about you drew me in … but, like everything else, I ignored it. Ever since my fiancée died, I ignored all the feelings I ever had. So, after my dat suggested I propose to you, I realized I quite liked that idea. And I forced myself to face all the bottled feelings.” He pressed his lips tight. “It wasn’t pretty and it took a while, but I’m glad I did it.” Rye slipped his hold from my wrist to my hand. “Because once I was free of all that, I was able to see you, really see you.” His lopsided grin was back. “I noticed the way you fight; how strong and lithe and lethal you are. I noticed the way you smile at your brother and Duke, and the occasional laughter that lights up your entire face. I noticed how kind you are to the people around you, even when they are skeptical of a girl warrior. I noticed how beautiful you are, inside and out. I noticed how the more I looked at you, the more I wanted to look at you.�
� He paused, his eyes searching mine, and my breath hitched. “I noticed I want to propose to you and I want you to say yes.”
My mouth fell open and my heart sped up.
This man, so tall, so strong, so powerful, had practically spilled the sweetest words I had ever heard and practically proposed to me, and all I could do was stare at him. There were no words. I didn’t know what to say to him.
Rye tugged on my hand. “I know this is all fast and I took you by surprise,” he continued. “I understand if you need time to think.”
“Y-yeah,” I croaked. I cleared my throat and tried again. “Yes, I wasn’t expecting any of it.”
“I know.” He dipped his chin once. “And you should know that when my parents talked to yours, they were pleased with the idea. They might try talking to you about it. Please, whatever they say, don’t do this for them. If you say yes, don’t do it for them. We’re grownups. We don’t need to please our parents. If you say yes, do it for you.” Still not trusting any words that could come out of my mind, I nodded. “Perhaps we could spend some time together, get to know each other better.”
I couldn’t imagine what we could do together, how we would spend our time together, but I nodded again. “T-that’s a good idea.”
A small smile took over his lips, brightening his sharp features, and my heart danced a little more in my chest. “Great. I won’t bother you tonight anymore, then.” He leaned over me, and I held my breath while he pressed his soft, warm lips to my cheek. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Still smiling, he let go of my hand and walked away, back to the square and the party.
I had no idea how long I stood there, watching the place he had been, my hand on my cheek and my breath coming in small hitches.
What had happened here?
Whatever it was, I needed to burn off some of the energy pulsing through me. I spun on my heels and headed to my house, where I changed into my training uniform—swede pants, thin tunic, and a vest. With my magic crackling under my skin, I marched to the training grounds.
5
In my dream, I was in the forest with Marko and Duke and the white lion who had come to the enclave with us. We were on a mission to find a Heart Flower. Our supply of the elixir was running low and soon we would need more.
The moment we found the flower, Rye showed up, knelt before me, and proposed. In shock, I started screaming. Then Marko was screaming, and Duke, and Rye. Even the lion roared with a piercing cry.
My shoulders shook. “Cora.”
I snapped my eyes open, and before I could make out my father’s face looming over me, I registered the screams and shouts coming from outside.
I sat up. “What’s going on?”
“The enclave is under attack,” he said, his voice thin.
The air fled my lungs. “W-what?”
“Alchemists broke in,” he explained, grabbing my hand and pulling me from my bed with a hard tug.
I stood there, in shock. That wasn’t possible. Alchemists couldn’t get in. We had protection spells and the Golden Horehound around the property. Warriors were stationed at the watchtowers at all times.
Marko appeared in my doorway, strapping his weapons belt around his waist. “Get ready. We’re going after them.”
He didn’t need to tell me twice. I moved, reaching for my combat gear.
My father caught my wrist. “No.”
I looked at him. “What do you mean?”
“Get dressed, get your weapons, but I have another mission for you,” he said, his tone solemn. “You will evacuate the heart animals.”
“We won’t need to evacuate if all the warriors go against the alchemists,” I protested. “We can take them.”
My father shook his head. “We don’t know how many there are, how spread out they are, and until we do, we’re not taking any chances. You’ll evacuate the animals, and your daj and I will gather the kids and elderly and start evacuating them too. Just in case.”
I didn’t like that. “And you?” I glanced at Marko. My mother stood beside him now, her face white with nerves and fear. “He’s going with the other warriors, isn’t he? This isn’t fair. I want to go too.”
My father clasped both my arms and looked at me, his eyes intense. “I’m giving you an equally important task. It’s our duty to save those animals. For all we know, there are alchemists headed that way already, and I’m sending you there.” His grip tightened. “Please, don’t argue with me.”
I swallowed hard and dipped my chin in agreement.
My brother offered me one of his cocky grins. “Give them hell.”
I tried smiling back, but something tugged inside me. “You too.”
Then he was gone.
My father messed with his phone for two seconds. My phone beeped. “I’ve sent you a contact from Bellville enclave in Connecticut. I have friends there.”
I didn’t understand. “Why?”
“Just in case.” He squeezed my arms once more. “Please, be safe.”
“You too,” I said again.
He kissed the top of my head. “See you soon, chey.” He paused at the door to take my mother’s hand in his. He looked back, a small smile in his lips.
My mother waved at me before my father ushered her away.
Fear burst from deep in my gut, threatening to choke me. I pushed it down and moved. I got dressed, grabbed my weapons, and left my house.
All lamps on the streets were out, making it darker than usual. The loud shouts and clank of steel coming from the square, though, told me the alchemists were close.
“Shit,” I cursed. I turned the other way and ran, as light on my feet as I could, toward the stable.
I rounded the last corner and stopped dead in my tracks—someone was sneaking inside the building housing the animals. I pulled out my sword and channeled my magic. Ready, I tiptoed to the big, double gate, and holding my breath, I pushed the gate open.
Moonlight streamed inside, illuminating the intruder.
“Hey!” Wesh yelped, paling upon seeing me.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked, lowering my sword.
Hugging his broken arm, Wesh let out a long breath. “You gave me quite the scare.”
I gritted my teeth. “Answer me, Wesh, what are you doing here?”
“I was in the infirmary when the screams started. I heard the alchemists sneaking past the door. I couldn’t just stay there. I left through the back door and ran from them. When I realized where I was, I was close to the animals. I thought it was a good idea to hide in here.”
I shook my head. “No hiding. I’m taking the animals.” I walked past him, toward the back gate.
“Wait? Take them away? What do you mean?”
“Yes.” I unlocked the gates and pushed them open. The truck was parked right there. “And since you’re here, you’re going to help me.” I grabbed the keys from the nail hanging on a pillar between the cages and threw them to Wesh. He caught it with his good hand. “I’m going to open the truck. Start bringing them in.”
Heavy stomps came from outside the building and I pulled out my sword again.
“Hey, it’s just me,” Rye said as he stepped into the darkness of the stable.
I took two large steps toward him, then stopped. “What are you doing here?”
“Your dat asked me to come help you.”
In the darkness, I was glad he couldn’t see the warmth that spread through my cheeks. “Well, since you’re here, help Wesh get the animals. I’m going to open the truck,” I said again.
“Okay,” was all he said before launching into action.
As quickly and quietly as I could, I opened the back doors of the truck and the cages, hoping it would speed things up. I wanted to turn on the headlights, but I was afraid their bright shine would draw attention. We were still under the alchemists’ radar and the longer we stayed that way, the better.
Soon, Rye and Wesh brought the animals into the truck.
“And the white lion?” I asked.
“He won’t let me get close,” Wesh said.
Groaning, I grabbed the keys back from Wesh and marched to the stall holding the lion. He was sprawled in the back, seemingly sleeping, even with all the noise we were making.
“Hi,” I said, feeling lame. “I’m going to get in your stall, okay?” I told the lion. I felt so stupid talking to a big cat, who was clearly ignoring me. “There are alchemists here. We need to go. You need to come with me. Okay?”
I unlocked the stall and opened the door. Rye’s hand shot out, closing around my wrist. I looked up at him. The moonlight streaming from the high windows created heavy shadows on his face, emphasizing the sharp angles of his jaw and chin.
“Be careful,” he whispered.
I nodded. He let go, but rested his hand on the hilt of his sword.
I stepped inside the stall and the lion lifted its huge head. I gulped, suddenly conscious that I was in a closed cage with a ferocious animal. “Did you hear me? I know you can understand me. Alchemists are coming this way. I need to take you out of here.”
The lion laid his big head down on his front paws again.
“I say give him ten seconds,” Rye said. “If he doesn’t come, let him be. Better to save the rest than to risk the safety of the others because of his stubbornness.”
I knew he was right, but I wasn’t ready to give up yet.
I crouched down and said in a soft voice, “Please. Whatever made you come with us, act on that. We need to leave. Now.”
Loud and fast footfalls came from outside. I stood, the lion lifted his head, and Rye had his sword pointed to the front gates as it opened.
“There you are,” Hanzi said, stepping in. “I was looking all over you.” He jerked his chin to Wesh. “I was sent by the rom baro to get you out of the infirmary. When I got there and didn’t find you …” He shook his head.
“And how did you find me?” Wesh asked.
“I was hiding from the alchemists,” Hanzi replied.
I stepped out from the lion’s stall. “How bad is it?”
Earth Shaker: A Fire Heart Novella (The Fire Heart Chronicles) Page 3
