I froze, but Laney pulled me forward while Crew pulled out one of the chairs on the long side of the table. There were only four chairs at the table, one on each end and two positioned next to each other so that the view was left open, and all seated at the dais could see the festivities.
I sat down, careful not to wrinkle my dress or pull it down further in the front. Crew settles next to me after offering Laney the chair to his right. The seat to my left was open and empty. The only person missing was... “May I have this seat?”
Kyan. “Of course.” I motioned for him to sit down. He looked amazing in a dark gray suit, white shirt, unbuttoned at the top. His hair was wet and slicked back as well. Kyan was a very handsome young man on any given day, but he cleaned up well. He leaned in and placed a small kiss on my cheek. Crew stiffened beside me.
I pulled away from Ky and threaded my fingers through Crew’s, hoping he understood my feelings. Kyan was my friend. I wished with all of my heart, body, and soul for Crew to be my forever. Once, Lulu told me that many stories had ended with the words... “And they lived happily ever after.” I wanted that with Crew.
I wished that circumstances were different, but unfortunately had to live in reality. And the reality is that we were Lessers. We were not of the same village, or region, even. The Greaters never allowed village changes. We may as well have been from two different worlds. We cannot be together. It was nearly as impossible as it would be for a Lesser to fall in love with a Greater. The two worlds simply didn’t mix. So, I squared my shoulders, determined to take this last glorious night with him and enjoy every second of it. It would be the closest I’ll ever get to freedom, or to happiness.
∞
KYAN AND CREW EXCUSED THEMSELVES and walked to the far side of the square, gathering glasses of punch, and plates of exquisite fruits and pastries for the table. Laney squealed every time her eyes land on something different or exciting. “Can you believe it? Musicians! I can’t believe this. I’m dreaming. Pinch me.”
I laughed. “No, seriously. Pinch me,” she begged giddily.
I pinched her lightly. “Not dreaming!” she squealed again.
The skirts of lovely white dresses spun happily around the dance floor. It was the bridal dance. All others had been asked to clear the floor in honor of the unions about to be made. Several people stopped by our table and spoke with me and Laney, as they made their way mingling around the square. Evelyn sat briefly with me. “I still don’t know how Mr. Guthrie healed you, but the Greaters have more power than I ever realized, Abigail.” She whispered conspiratorially, a genuine smile spread upon her lips. “But, I’m very glad that the Cole’s requested help for you.” She kissed my cheek, making my eyes fill up. I wished Lulu was here tonight. She should have been the one to help me get ready. “Shh. She’s looking down on you, child. Always.”
I nodded and swallowed the harsh knot of reality that had formed in my throat. “I’ll see you in a little while. You look beautiful.” With those parting words, she stood and blended back into the crowd, as if swallowed whole. Crew and Kyan arrived with refreshments and I was parched. I greedily drank the punch until only a tiny bit remained in my crystal flute.
Kyan leaned in and whispered, “Dance with me?” The bridal dance was over, and so I nodded and accepted the hand he offered. Crew watched as we stepped onto the dance floor. Kyan’s hand rested on my waist and the other hands clasped together in midair, pointing to the heavens.
When the music began, Kyan swept me around the dance floor. With every turn and twirl the bottom of my dress flared out. I felt elegant. This dress even put the green dinner dress to shame. My normal clothes were old, dirty and torn. And with Crew watching, I felt almost ashamed. He’d dressed me up in the finest fabric I’d ever seen, let alone worn. I cringed imagining what he must think of our normal clothing. He has servants. New shoes. Uncalloused hands.
At the bonfires, couples would dance. People who’d been friends since infancy would dance and swayed back and forth to the beat of the music. This was the first formal dance I’d actually participated in. I’d attended the harvest festival every year since coming to live with Lulu, but had never been asked to dance.
Laney and Kyan tried to coax me onto the dance floor in years past. I always turned them down. Never felt confident enough to dance in front of everyone in the village. Never wanted to put myself out there. I’d been afraid of the snickers and chuckles that would have erupted at my expense, at the hands of Zander and his cronies. Crew changed all of that. He made me feel like more, for the first time in my life, made me feel good enough. Though he was leaving, I would have that part of him, the part of him that believed in me, with me forever. And for that, I was grateful.
The song ended and I looked for Crew, but didn’t find him at the table. “He’s not there,” said Kyan coldly.
“What?”
“Crew. He’s not at the table. That’s who you’re looking for, right?” He was mad.
“Ky.”
“I know. I just hate it that it’s not me, but I get it. I just hate to see him break your heart. He’s leaving.”
I nodded. “I’ll be here for you, when he’s gone. I’ll help you pick up the pieces. I just hope one day... I hope one day it’ll be me you look for.”
Ky stalked away, leaving me standing on the dance floor alone. I was pretty sure my heart cracked a little more with my best friend’s pain, and desertion. Maybe after Crew leaves, I could try to move on. Maybe, with Kyan. Hurting him makes my heart ache.
∞
THE TABLE WAS EMPTY. KYAN was gone. Crew was nowhere to be found. Laney was dancing with a guy a year younger than us, Wyatt MacGregor. The song was upbeat and the two were clearly out dancing everyone on the floor. Laney beamed with happiness. At one point, her eyes collided with mine and she mouthed, “He’s so hot!” while she tried unsuccessfully to discreetly point toward her partner. I nodded back to her.
I spotted Crew only a few tables away speaking with his father and mother. The discussion seemed heated. Crew stiffened and clenched his jaw. “You’re forcing my hand, Son. I told you to make a decision. If you won’t do it, she won’t go into the program, but she will marry him tonight,” his father’s deep voice overpowered the jovial music pouring into the night.
Crew shook his head furiously and then stalked away, leaving his father standing there staring at the spot he had been occupying only seconds before. Mrs. Cole patted her husband’s shoulder and Mr. Cole’s eyes found mine. He pressed out a small smile and nodded. I nodded back politely, before looking away quickly.
Back on the dance floor, Laney and Wyatt moved effortlessly together, as if they were of one body. I wondered if they were meant for each other. Love could certainly blossom there, it seemed.
The sound of a throat clearing behind me pulled me out of my reverie. Mr. Cole stood with his hands upon the back of my wooden chair. He was alone. Crew was still missing. Mrs. Cole stood, talking with a group of ladies, across the square. Every part of her long black dress glittered in the firelight as if it had been cut from the sparkling sky itself.
Kyan was at the refreshment table talking with Lucy Brown. Everyone knew her reputation. It was said she put the ‘loose’ in Lucy. Of course her dress was unbuttoned to reveal her assets. I guess I shouldn’t talk, though. Mine were on display too, at this point.
“Mr. Cole.” I stood and shook his hand. “I wanted to thank you for how you handled the Preston’s and for calling for Mr. Guthrie to come and help me.”
His eyes assessed me coolly. The warmth I could find so easily in Crew’s was nowhere to be found in his father’s. “You are welcome, dear. There is a way that you can repay me, if you are truly grateful.”
“How’s that?” I swallowed thickly.
“You are the town hero. The sweetheart, if you will. They credit you with ridding the village of Preston and Norris. In only a few moments, the marriage ceremonies will commence. If you want to repay me, you will join with Kya
n during the ceremony, become his wife. He will take Preston’s seat on the Council and your positions within this community will be solidified.” The man didn’t blink. And, did he really just ask me to marry Ky?
“I don’t understand.”
“We have to fill the vacancy in the Council. Kyan is a natural leader and would fit well. He would refresh the Council and the village would prosper from it. With you by his side, the villagers would be content again. Kyan would be happy. He’s obviously smitten with you.” The corner of his lips tilted upward. “You do want what is best for the village? For Kyan, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Then you will agree?”
“What does Crew think?”
He straightened, adding another inch to his height. “He didn’t take it well.”
“That explains his absence.”
“It does,” he affirmed. “But, you see. Crew is from a different world. One you could not possibly understand. The two of you will never happen. I believe that you have come to this realization on your own, but Crew...” He shook his head. “He’s stubborn. He gets that from me, I’m afraid.” His eyes twinkled with pride. They also coolly raked over me.
Kyan was retracting Lucy’s claws from his arm and kept looking over toward me as he tried to disentangle. Concern was etched upon his brow. I searched for Crew. He was gone.
“Crew is on the train. He will not be returning to the village at all. You will not see him again. The train leaves this evening and I know my son. He is angry. He won’t come back. Not now. I need your decision and will tell them to begin the ceremonies.”
Kyan was striding toward me with a fierce determination. I knew that he loved me and would protect me. Crew was as gone now as he would be when the train pulled away for Cotton later tonight. I could grow to love Kyan. He was already a big part of my life and heart as my best friend. He would make a great leader and our village would benefit. How could I say no?
My heart protested, thrashing against my chest, but I squashed its argument like a bothersome gnat. I’ll do it. It’ll probably happen anyway and we can get the village on the right track. I can learn to love him. Slowly. A bit more each day, until all of the sudden, Kyan would have taken hold of my entire heart.
“You should know that I offered to let Crew stay here. He wanted to take you with him. It’s simply not allowed, but if he stayed, I could have covered it up. He was already here. It wouldn’t be as hard to disguise as if one Lesser attempted to relocate from one village to another. With that, there are transport records that are nearly impossible to destroy. He could have stayed. But, he chose to leave the celebration and get on that train. He chose to leave, Abby.” What? He had the chance to stay with me and he left? He didn’t want me. I couldn’t breathe. I tried to compose myself. Time seemed to slow, almost stop.
“Okay.” I said quietly.
“Pardon?”
I locked eyes with Mr. Cole. “I’ll marry Kyan.”
He smiled genuinely. “I knew you would do what is best for everyone.”
I tried to smile back, but I’m sure it looked as crushed as I feel inside.
Mr. Cole intercepted Kyan midstride just before he reached us. He clapped Ky on the shoulder and spoke briefly into his ear. Ky looked at me, his brows raised and then furrowed them. Then, his head ticks to the side. I nodded and smiled. A smile blossomed on his lips, but his brows refused to unravel. Mr. Cole led him to a small table near the stage. Kyan took a pen and quickly scratched something onto a piece of paper, given to him by Councilman Rileck. When finished, he stood, rubbed the back of his neck and tugged on his already loosened collar. His eyes met mine. I ignored the question in them.
Councilmen Rileck stood, his large belly protruding over the waistline of his pants. Thank goodness for the suspenders he wore. “Ladies and Gentlemen of Orchard Village!” The murmurs from the crowd faded slowly as the citizens fastened their attentions on the stage before them.
“It’s time to begin the ceremony.” He clapped his hands and again waited for the crowd’s applause to settle. He then motioned for the betrothed couples. “Please stand upon the stage and join hands with your intended. We have a last-minute addition to the ceremony. Very exciting.”
The three brides in their white dresses, rushed eagerly onto the stage, grooms in tow. I stood and slowly crossed the dance floor toward Kyan, my future husband. He extended his elbow for me. When I grasped it, I realized just how bad I was shaking. He looked over at me and bent down to my ear, “Are you sure about this?”
I nodded, not trusting my voice to betray me.
“About me?”
“I’m sure.” Somehow it came out clear and almost confident sounding. I squeezed his arm and smiled. He led me to the wooden staircase. The smell of fresh cut wood wafted up from underfoot. Sawdust had gathered in the freshly built joints. When people in the crowd realized that Kyan and I were ascending the steps to the stage, gasps expelled from every corner of the square, from old and young alike.
It was hot. It was suddenly very hot out here. I tried to fan myself without drawing attention. Kyan laughed. “I’m not that bad a prospect am I?”
“No. It’s freaking hot out here!” I squeaked.
“It’s going to be okay, Abby Blue.” I let his warm chocolate eyes calm me and then looked back out over the crowd that was now gathered in front of the stage.
Kyan turned me to face him, as all the brides were now doing. His hands clasped with mine and they were cool and comforting to my hot, sweaty ones. I smiled nervously at him. He just grinned, reveling in my discomfort. Big jerk. “Shut up, Ky,” I whispered.
Councilmen Rileck began, “We are here to join these young people together. Marriage is a privilege and not to be entered into lightly. All of those on the stage about to be wed,” he threw a look of warning my way, “have received guidance and instruction from the elders of the village. Marriage is something that must be nurtured, treasured. The binding cannot be dissolved unless one of the partners dies.”
I looked away. Kyan squeezed my hand lightly. Can he tell I feel like bolting? Only my stubbornness anchored me to the ground, and it was not doing a very good job, either.
“If anyone has an objection to any of these unions, let them speak now or hold their tongues for eternity.”
Silence filled the night air. Even the crickets hushed. I couldn’t breathe. The weight of this vow was caving in on me, crushing me.
“I object!” Crew’s voice broke through the thickness and I drew a breath.
“Son, don’t do this...” Mr. Cole grabbed Crew by the arm. “You could ruin everything. You’d better be sure.”
“I am sure.” He jerked hard away from his father and strode toward the stage. “Abigail!”
Ky’s hands tightened on mine. I could see the struggle in the taught muscles of his face. He ticked his head back toward the steps that Crew was now climbing. Mr. Cole’s words haunted me. Crew is from a different world. One you could not possibly understand. The two of you will never happen. He chose to leave. But, he didn’t leave. He was here. He came back for me.
Kyan’s grip loosened, but I refused to let go. Crew stopped in front of us. Everyone in the village watched the exchange. Golden eyes locked on mine. “Don’t do this!” he lowered his voice. “Don’t do this.” His eyes flashed to Kyan. “You don’t love him. I know you love him as a friend, but not as a husband.”
I closed my eyes. He was right, but it didn’t matter. Two different worlds. “Crew. You have to leave tonight. We...can’t be.”
“I do have to leave. Come with me!”
“I can’t. My life is here. My home and my friends, the only life I’ve ever known. Besides, it’s not allowed.”
“I can make this happen. Please. Come. You would be so happy. We would be happy”
“In Cotton? How can it be so different than Orchard? Anyway, I’ll never be granted permission to leave. It’s unheard of.”
“Don’t. Please, don
’t make me do this.” His face contorted as though he was in pain. Fumbling around in his suit jacket’s inside pocket, he pulled out a large circle of silver. It looked as if someone had bent a small, silver metal tube into a perfect circle.
“Make you do what? What is that?” It was completely smooth, about a quarter of an inch thick and looked large enough to almost fit on my head. How did that fit in his pocket?
“May I at least have one last hug?” he asked, somberly. “I have something for you. Something to remember me by.”
I looked at Ky, who nodded, but kept his eyes trained on Crew. Releasing Ky’s hands, I stepped toward him and he wrapped his arms around me and held me tightly. Before I could pull away, his breath brushed my ear. “I’m sorry it had to be this way.” Before I knew it, he clamped the cold, polished metal around my neck. A loud sizzle sound came from the area of the back of my neck. I felt for the clasp but it disappeared under my fingertips, melting into the metal, making one smooth ring. I felt frantically for it again, but the cold ring was fused solid. I had no idea how to get it off. While searching, my fingertips could feel an etching. I tried to lift the metal and suck in my chin, but the ring sat flush against my skin and I couldn’t see it. “Abigail Blue Kelley, I hereby claim you as my intended. My infinite. The right given to me by the glorious Greater Kingdom of Olympus.”
“Olympus?” I mouthed.
“I am Crew Alexander Cole, Crown Prince of Olympus. And I claim this woman as my future bride.”
I looked at Kyan who clenched his jaw and fists menacingly. His upper lip trembled in rage. I prayed he didn’t hit Crew. Crew? The Crown Prince of Olympus? A Greater? I couldn’t breathe. I pulled hard against the collar that now proclaimed me as his intended. I tugged and strained but there was no fault in this metal. No chink in the armor. The clasp had disappeared, somehow, by some Greater magic or technology. And, I had once again become a pawn in the Greater’s game. As if I’d ever actually escaped it. I’d been a part of it since birth. All Lessers had.
Reap (The Harvest Saga Book 1) Page 16
