Chapter 2
Two
Avalon
The end-of-tournament revelry was unhinged. People were drinking and eating in excess, and the spare Heirs were lording it up, like they were war heroes. I even saw Gerod Marlee from the Sixth Line having a threesome just outside the illumination of the fire.
I wasn’t one to judge, given my own relationship status, but that was a little too exhibitionist even for me.
I sat between Hayle and Vox, and Hayle glared at anyone who looked at us sideways. Lierick sat just to the other side of Hayle with Iker, and they spoke quietly to each other. Plotting and planning, probably.
They’d gotten word to Proxius, using the Baron of the Third Line’s eagle companion.
I just hoped Boellium’s headmaster took us seriously and moved out the Lower Lines as soon as possible.
Lierick had offered to bring them aboard his ships, which also had to disappear, but I didn’t know where they’d go; Proxius and the Baron could decide that.
I twined my fingers in Vox’s. Now that he could never return home, I didn’t need to hide my relationship with him. It felt… freeing. In the shitshow of the last day, this was an unexpected silver lining.
Giving in to the urge, I leaned over and kissed his cheek. He jolted, like he’d forgotten we could be openly affectionate, but the shock swiftly turned to softness as he looked down at me. “Are you okay?”
I shrugged. What even was okay anymore? The life I’d had planned was well and truly gone now. I was living day to day, enjoying whatever I could, and fighting my way through the turmoil to find the next moment of peace.
This moment here? This was more than okay.
“I love you, Vox Vylan. You know that, right?”
He inhaled sharply. “You’re the only person who has ever said those words to me and meant it.
” Bending closer, he touched his forehead against mine.
“I love you so much that I live in constant terror of losing you. It keeps me awake at night, plagues my dreams, torments my waking thoughts. Your health and happiness has somehow become my only priority in life, because I can’t lose your softness or your love. ” He groaned. “It’s fucking annoying.”
I laughed, brushing my lips across his. “Lucky for you, my safety seems to be a group effort.”
He made a grumbling, annoyed sound in the back of his throat. “I both abhor and appreciate that fact in equal measures.”
I sipped at my drink, enjoying the warmth. It was another punch that seemed to be a specialty of Eaglehoth, lightly spiced and warm. I fed some of my pastry to Braxus, missing Epsy. I could only hope he’d go back to his family in the forest, now I wasn’t there.
A soldier appeared, blocking the light from the bonfire. The guy was basically a square, as wide as he was tall. “Avalon Halhed?” he asked gruffly.
He was in the colors of the Eighth Line, but still, I frowned. “Yes?”
“Baron Tarrin would like to speak with you and your friends at your earliest convenience.” His voice was a deep rasp, which sounded like someone had kicked him in the throat too many times. He waited, his legs planted wide.
“By my earliest convenience, you mean now?”
The man nodded. “He also suggested that you might wish to gather anything of importance. Goddess knows things can go missing during revelry of this variety.”
My eyes snagged on Lierick’s, and he gave me a barely perceptible nod. “Please tell the Baron that I just have to return to my rooms and then I’ll be right there.”
The soldier nodded again, before disappearing into the shadowy darkness at our backs.
I looked at Hayle and Vox, trying to draw on their strength. This was it. The moment the world changed forever. “I need to find my brothers and Acacia,” I told Hayle softly.
“I’ll help you.”
Lierick brushed a hand over my arm. “Iker and I will go and gather the packs. We’ll be able to disappear into the crowd easier than you three.”
We’d all packed our belongings earlier, as had most other Boellium conscripts.
Little did they all know that they’d be boarding two separate boats; the Lower Lines would disappear, and the Upper Lines would return to Boellium.
We felt like they’d be reasonably safe there; Feodore Vylan wasn’t going to alienate his allies by murdering their conscripts.
I chewed my lower lip. “Be careful.”
Lierick reached down and ran a finger along my cheek. “Always.” Iker snorted, and Lierick rolled his eyes. “Well, for now, anyway.”
I watched them disappear into the crowd, before following the broad backs of Vox and Hayle through the undulating bodies, searching for Acacia and my brothers.
Hayle had already informed Lucio of our plans earlier, when his father’s eagle had returned to Boellium.
He’d assured Vox that his second would tell Shay what was happening, but I could tell the lack of control was getting to Vox.
He had to trust that the message Hayle sent through a bird would make it to Lucio, that the message would be interpreted correctly, and that Lucio would pass it on to Shay.
I’d tried to appease him. I trusted Lucio completely, and what’s more, Lucio and Shay had respect for each other that was completely independent of their Lines. They were a team, even if it was covert and kind of toxic.
I found Acacia first, dancing with a man who looked like he was from the Seventh Line, given the deeply golden skin and bright blond hair.
He was looking at my friend like he was entranced, and I got it.
She looked beautiful as she danced, her eyes closed as her skirts spun, her bright hair glinting like the firelight.
Hayle whistled to be heard above the loud music, and Acacia’s eyes opened. A frown creased her brow, before she smiled wanly at her dance partner. Her fingers climbed up his chest, and he watched her go with a dopey puppy-dog look.
When she made it to us, all her lightness disappeared. “What’s happened?”
I swallowed hard, hating that I was lying to my friend.
“Nothing. Yet, anyway. But we have to go.” I paused, trying to work out what I could tell her.
“You won’t be going back to Boellium. Tomorrow, you’ll get on a boat with the other Lower Lines and be taken somewhere else.
” I dropped my voice, even though I doubted anyone would be able to hear us over the pounding drumbeat.
“We have… intel that the Baron of the First Line is going to try and eradicate all the Lower Lines at Boellium. Proxius is moving everyone willing to leave now. When the Upper Lines wake tomorrow, there’ll be no Eleventh or Twelfth Line conscripts.
Next will be the Eighth and Seventh, but I don’t know when.
I don’t know where. Just know it’s for your own safety.
” I hugged her tightly. “I’ll see you all soon. ”
“You said the Lower Lines are in danger, but are you in danger?” Acacia demanded, her hand holding tightly to my wrist, like she worried I was going to disappear in a puff of smoke.
I didn’t want to lie to her. “Yes.”
She pulled a necklace over her neck. “Take this. It’s an Ebretha Medallion.
May her eyes watch over you and guide you to safety,” she said solemnly, and Vox grunted.
Acacia gave him a sharp look, but I knew he wasn’t being disrespectful of her beliefs; it was more that we were basically under the Goddess’s microscope now.
If she watched us any closer, we might spontaneously combust.
I stood still as Acacia placed the necklace over my head, then I hugged her again. “Go, enjoy the night. I think…”—again, I hated that I couldn’t tell her everything—“things are going to change, but I’m not sure if they can get better without getting worse first.”
A frown marred her face as she kissed my forehead. “Be safe, Avie.”
“I’ll see you soon,” I choked out and moved away, flanked by my guys. I had to get out of there because that felt like a goodbye, and I wasn’t ready for goodbyes.
Luckily, my brothers were easier to find.
Kian was back in the shadows by himself, but I could tell he was watching Bach, who was dancing with abandon with a group of women.
Bach was always pure joy. Back when I was a child, I’d resented him sometimes.
He was so full of happiness, while my life had been so miserable.
However, as I watched Kian, I realized Bach could be happy, because Kian would hold back the darkness for him. For me. For us all. Bach’s happiness was a testament to Kian’s diligence.
I walked faster toward my brother, who looked startled as I threw myself into his arms. He wrapped me up in them easily, holding me tightly like I was five once more.
“Thank you for everything you did. Back then and now. For us all,” I mumbled against his chest.
Awareness lit his face, and he looked over at Bach, before turning back to me.
He kissed the top of my head. “It wasn’t enough.
I couldn’t protect you properly. He was easier, the charming fucker.
Not even Father could hate him,” he grunted, and I choked out a laugh.
He really was. I stepped away, and Kian looked down at me, concerned. “Everything okay?”
Clearing my throat, I nodded. “It’s just time for us to head out.” I squeezed his forearm. “But I’ll see you and Bach soon enough.”
As if he’d heard his name, Bach appeared. “You’re going?”
I spun and hugged my other brother. “Yeah. It’s time.
” I bit the inside of my cheek, so I didn’t do something as ridiculous as cry.
I gave Bach a tight smile. “Can you do me a favor and find Acacia? Make sure she has a good night? She might need some good nights to remember soon. The world isn’t a kind place for the Twelfth Line. ”
Bach hugged me back tightly. “I will. You’ll come home as soon as you can?”
“Definitely. I miss Cook’s pastries,” I teased. “You guys too, I guess.”
“Brat,” Bach grumbled, scruffing my hair like I was just his annoying little sister and not a fully grown adult. “Be careful, okay?”
I crossed my heart solemnly.
Kian hugged me once more, then pushed me toward the shadows. “Go. Be safe or else.”
“Oh!” I quickly reached into my pocket and pulled out two bars of chocolate I’d had at the bottom of my pack. I pressed one into each of their hands. “We deserve to be happy too.”
Kian stared down at the wrapped candy and swallowed hard as he placed it in the pocket of his shirt. “We’ll share it together when you come home.”
Fuck. I was going to cry.
Hayle, clearly picking up my turmoil through whatever Third Line magic he possessed, placed a soft hand on my spine, urging me into the darkness.
Some silent conversation passed between my brothers and my lovers, and while I’d normally roll my eyes at the machismo, if it made them feel better, I could give them this small thing.
Once we were far enough into the darkness, Hayle picked me up easily. I wrapped my legs around his waist and buried my face in his neck, breathing in his comforting scent as my emotions went haywire.
“It’ll be okay, Avie. We’ll see them all soon enough,” he whispered, stroking my back. He strode easily through the darkness, surefooted even with my added weight. I looked over his shoulder at Vox, who sent a tendril of air to push back my hair from my face.
“Hayle is correct. I’ll get you back to them, so you can live happily ever after.”
I frowned. “You better be there too then, because there is no happiness without you.” I trailed my fingers down Hayle’s back, so he knew he was included in that statement.
We walked silently through the dark, until we made it to the back side of the Baron’s manor. I saw Lierick just beyond the treeline, our packs spread between him and Iker. I wiggled, and Hayle let me slide to my feet. I bricked all the softness up behind the hardened walls of my heart.
When we made it to Lierick, his eyes ran over my face, but he didn’t ask if I was okay. Lierick already saw too much, things I didn’t want to say out loud, and it scared me.
“Ready?” My voice was far more upbeat than I felt. He nodded, and Hayle patted my butt.
“Let’s go see what Daddy Zier wants,” he teased, and I slapped his chest.
“You have to stop calling him that. Can you imagine if he heard you? I’d die from embarrassment.”
Someone cleared their throat. “That would be unfortunate.”
I closed my eyes, hoping this was all a bad dream, or maybe I’d tripped and hit my head on the way to Boellium, and this was all an elaborate coma hallucination before my inevitable demise.
But as I turned, a solemn-faced Zier stood behind us in the trees.
Hayle’s shoulders were shaking, and I swore to the Goddess if he laughed out loud right now, I was going to punch him in the balls.