Authors: Nadege Richards

Tags: #Action & Adventure, #Fiction

Burning Bridges (24 page)

BOOK: Burning Bridges

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“
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 in
to
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 stop
ped
as we st
ood 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 hil
led lawn and searched for her
, but I remained alone outside
. Had I scared 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 ever
y
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 fa
r
ther than I rememb
ered 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
. W
hen 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 tem
ptation 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. M
y 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. T
omorrow
,
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 back
ed
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 ho
w 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
nowhe
re 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.
I
f 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 b
ack 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 hi
s 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 lau
ghed loudly and lay on my
back,
staring up at the ceiling
and counting the gold flecks etched into the paint
.
Is this what boys d
o
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 bit
e
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 are 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 w
as
her friend. This was no longer a
reprimand
, but a coming of untold secrets.
“
Yes, but—
”

“
We only drea
m 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 t
hroat.
“
What are you not telling me?
”
I didn
’
t believe a word she
’
d said. This was her n
ew way of getting me to obey, scaring
m
e. I could
admit she had me at first, but her lies were foolhardy and
I saw right through them. T
he 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!
”

She looked up at me from the floor, her glove-clad hand
s
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—anyth
ing—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
wor
n clothing and a dirty face
. H
e stood outside
of the door, and I turned to him in curiosity.
“
Conroy wishes
to speak with you alone, if th
at is al
right with you.
”

“
Conroy?
”
Mother
’
s voice shook as she stood to her feet.
Her Thedibian accent poked th
r
ough, and I caught it.
“
May I ask why?
”

The little boy
’
s eyes went from her to me and he shook his h
ead slightly a
s if he was in on some big secret, too.
“
He requests only your presence, my Queen.
”

Mother dusted herself off and walked slo
wly 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 remember
ed
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 h
all 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 fe
et
padding
soft
ly
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 c
hambers? 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, E
ver
lae
didn
’
t like the fact that he had made himself an exception to that rule.

“
Again, Ever
lae
!
”
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 par
quet. 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.