33. Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Three
Ali
Ali rushed to get ready at record speed.
She and Nik had gotten a little too carried away with their insatiable need for one another, but after last night, it was hard to remember the real world existed.
That they couldn’t stay holed up in bed, basking in their bliss, using their hands and lips to express every ounce of love they had for each other.
Once Nik had left, she hopped in the shower and rinsed as quickly as she could. He’d left before her since he needed to meet Grace before the final round of the Rite. Ali had the luxury of a few extra minutes that he didn’t, so she agreed to meet him at the starting point.
She quickly pulled on a pair of faded jeans and a light blue tank top. Then she grabbed a gray sweater, just in case it was cold outside. The weather had been unpredictable lately now that summer was coming to an end.
After sliding on a pair of boots, she headed out the door and made her way through the web of dark tunnels. They were easy to navigate now after living in Berland for a few months.
The closer she got to the large entry chamber, the more people began to gather and prevent her hurried pace. They were all moving in the same direction, so she fell into step, feeling like cattle being herded.
They squeezed together near the exit archway, funneling into a smaller tunnel. Shoulder to shoulder, they marched forward. Once the darkness gave way to daylight, Ali inhaled deeply, thankful to feel fresh air on her skin again.
Unlike the previous rounds, this day couldn’t have been more perfect.
Not too hot and not a rain cloud in sight.
The sun broke through a thin layer of wispy clouds and a breeze rustled the tall grass lining the dirt path.
Gravel crunched beneath the stampede of people making their way to the third and final location.
Truthfully, Ali wasn’t sure why they even bothered to gather so early in the day.
The last round was a race—a trek down the mountain to retrieve a flag and then a grueling climb back up.
Most of the final competition wouldn’t be visible to the crowd, but they all made their way to the starting point regardless.
Along the side of the road, vendors were positioned outside of their shops, hoping to make last-minute sales with the crowd meandering by. One young woman had a dozen flower crowns hanging off her arm. She waved one above her head and tried to catch the eye of anyone who walked past.
On the other side of the road, Ali glimpsed a couple exchanging money with the man who ran the local pub.
Several large barrels were stacked next to him, each with a small tap toward the bottom edge.
After the bar owner took the couple’s money, a waitress poured amber liquid from one barrel into two travel mugs and handed them off to the patrons.
Ali considered checking to see if one of those barrels contained angelfruit wine, but before she could squeeze her way through the flowing steam of people, a hand gripped her shoulder.
“Eli!” she exclaimed, wrapping him in a hug. “How are you feeling? Are you nervous? Are you ready? I bet you can’t wait for today to be done and over with, huh?”
He chuckled and then scratched his neck, nervous energy glistening in his eyes. “I am ready…yeah. I guess I’ll just be happy to know one way or another how this all ends.”
Ali didn’t miss the flicker of doubt pass over his face, no matter how hard he tried to hide it.
She gently squeezed his arm. “It’s going to work out.
I can feel it. After everything we’ve been through, you deserve to be happy.
And Grace loves you. What kind of cruel world would we live in if you two don’t get your happily ever after? ”
Eli snorted. “This world is nothing if not cruel.”
“Such a pessimist. You can’t go into the competition with that attitude. Say it loud and proud, Eli. You’re going to win the Rite.”
“I’m going to win the Rite,” he said with very little enthusiasm.
Ali frowned. “You can do better than that.”
He sucked in a breath and pushed his shoulders back. “I am going to win the Rite.”
“Much better.”
He rolled his eyes, but Ali knew that deep down he appreciated her support and innate talent at easing tension.
“I can’t believe by the end of the day, I’ll basically be committed to Grace for the rest of our lives, as her future husband and partner in governing.
Not that I’m complaining. I love Grace, but it is such a drastic pivot from what I thought my life would be. ”
Ali noted the way he confidently stated his expected outcome of the Rite—that he would be declared the winner. But she also couldn’t help but recall the events of the night before—when Nik had asked her to be his wife and they, too, had committed their lives to one another.
She hadn’t expected the opportunity to come so quickly, but after her pregnancy, she didn’t want to hide things from Eli ever again.
“Listen, I know now isn’t the best time,” she said with a slight wince. “I don’t want to distract you from the task at hand, but I have something important I want to share.”
Eli’s brows rose with curiosity, and he nodded and waited for her to continue.
Ali figured the best approach was to spit it out and hope for the best. Eli and Nik got along much better than they used to. Surely, he’d be happy for her…right?
“Last night, Nik asked me to marry him…and I said yes.”
Eli’s brows rose, and he blinked once.
Then twice.
His lips parted slightly, then stretched into a grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Are you happy?”
She nodded and couldn’t contain the smile that made her cheeks ache. “I am.”
“Then I’m happy for you.”
Ali could tell he meant it. Her shoulders relaxed, and she realized she’d been tensing them, waiting for his reaction. She didn’t need his approval, but knowing she had it was a tremendous relief.
She wrapped him in another hug, squeezing more tightly than before. He grunted under her relentless hold before the weight of his arms pressed against her back. “I only want what’s best for you, Ali,” he said, one hand brushing the back of her head.
Pure, unadulterated bliss warmed her heart. There’d been a time when she wasn’t sure their friendship would ever recover, and now here they were, both of them about to get everything they ever wanted.
She finally relinquished him. “Should we get going? Wouldn’t want you to be late.”
He nodded. “After you.”
They fell back into the stream of Berlanders making their way to the starting point. Some wished Eli good luck while others avoided him, viewing him only with a sideways glance before picking up their pace.
It was clear the people had chosen favorites in this contest. Ali had even heard murmurs of gambling amongst some circles. She’d bet everything she had on Eli.
When they reached the entrance to the viewing area—a series of bleachers pointed toward the downward slope of the mountain with the customary stage set up in the center for Grace and her family—Eli turned to Ali.
“This is where I leave you,” he said, eyes flickering toward the other three contestants gathered near the stage. Jae and Trevor were stretching while a man Ali learned was called Roman spoke to an officiant.
As she watched, Jae bent down to ensure his boot laces were tied in a knot, his light golden skin mostly hidden beneath a navy long sleeve shirt and denim pants tucked into his boots.
When he stood, Roman finished speaking with the officiant and came closer, offering a hand to Jae.
They briefly exchanged what Ali could only imagine were words of encouragement and good sportsmanship.
Then Roman pulled his medium-length blond hair back into a small bun, a few tendrils falling loose around his round face.
Meanwhile, Trevor kept his eyes on Eli as her friend made his way to the group of suitors. She held tight to her conviction that Eli would win the Rite. Not just for him, but for Grace as well. Ali couldn’t imagine Grace being forced to wed Trevor.
Trevor’s lips moved. Ali couldn’t hear what he said, but judging by the way Eli tensed, it wasn’t good. With his back to her, she couldn’t tell what Eli said either, but Trevor just smiled wickedly.
Thank god this would all be over soon. Hopefully Trevor would get exactly what he deserved.
Ali waited patiently for the crowd to move so she could make her way to the covered stage where Grace and her friends and family had the privilege of sitting.
She could already see Nik, Grace, and Theo waiting.
The rest of Grace’s friends and family were probably still on their way.
It was slow moving as people scoured the bleachers for an empty seat, several giving up altogether and opting to stand near the bottom.
Before she could reach the raised platform, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a man pushing his way against the crowd, moving in the opposite direction of where he should be.
Eamon, with his ever-present scowl, looked like a man with something to hide.
He did his best to fade into the sea of bodies, but as the one source of friction in the current, Ali’s eyes were drawn to him.
Where was he going?
Ali glanced back at Nik, who chatted with Grace and Theo, then to Eamon again, slowly making his way away from the gathering. She took one more look at Nik, knowing she should say something, but Eamon was already disappearing from her view. If she didn’t move quickly, she’d lose him completely.
A second later, her feet were moving in the opposite direction, pushing against the flow of traffic with as much kindness and gentleness as she could muster. Lots of disgruntled looks were thrown her way, and she did her best to apologize quickly and keep moving.
Eventually, she was able to break through the wall of bodies and spotted Eamon walking alone in the distance. She picked up her pace but stayed close to the edge of the path, where bushes and trees kept her hidden in their shade.
Luckily, Eamon didn’t look back. Arrogant bastard.
Just before they hit the main strip of town, he took a right turn, avoiding the stragglers who hadn’t yet made it to the start of the final round of the Rite. A small crowd was still gathered around the bartender, seemingly perfectly content to skip the Rite altogether to drink with friends.
Ali turned the same corner as Eamon, catching sight of him just before he darted to the left. She walked faster, doing her best to stay light on her feet and make as little noise as possible. As she left the row of shops behind, the din of town faded into rustling leaves and chirping crickets.
She was careful to check around corners before following Eamon. He was up to something, but she had to avoid being seen if she wanted to find out what it was.
Shops became sparse and soon she had nothing to hide behind. Eamon was leading her down a path around the base of the mountain. By the looks of the overgrown grass and weeds, it was rarely used. A dead twig snagged at her shirt, and she pushed it aside, double checking that Eamon hadn’t heard.
She had no reason to worry, because he walked without a moment of hesitation. Just as she was wondering how to continue her hunt while keeping her distance, Eamon pushed through the bushes and slipped inside an opening in the mountain.
What the…
Ali moved closer, taking the same steps Eamon did through the brush.
There, on the side of the mountain, was a sliver of an entrance.
It was so small she’d have to scoot sideways to get through it.
How had Eamon fit through there? If she hadn’t seen him disappear with her own eyes, she never would’ve known the entrance existed.
Without knowing what was on the other side, she dreaded forcing herself into the tight space. But she hadn’t come all this way for nothing. She turned to the side and began to shuffle her way inside, following Eamon into the darkness.
It was cramped, but she focused on each step, counting her breaths to keep calm. Slowly, the light from outside began to fade and her heart raced, urging her to go back and leave this foolish quest behind.
Ali ignored the pounding in her chest, but she breathed a sigh of relief when a cool light grew from inside the cave. She prayed that whatever space waited for her at the end of this small tunnel was large enough to continue her pursuit of Eamon without being noticed.
As luck would have it, she cautiously moved into a chamber almost twice as large as her apartment. She looked around, jaw slack, as she took in the room before her.
Only two lamps overhead lit the chamber with a bluish haze, but it was enough to see clearly.
Rows of raised wooden plant beds filled the entire room, each full of damp soil and dead tree trunks speckled with small red bumps.
She listened for movement, unable to spot Eamon from her position.
When she heard nothing, she moved closer to the nearest bed, leaning in to get a better look.
The red bulbs were like nothing she’d seen before. Smaller than her fingernail and bright red like a rose, they grew directly on the side of the tree stumps, though she didn’t understand how that could be. How could any fruit grow from a dead plant?
She started to reach toward the unknown red bulbs. Moments before she plucked one from its place on the tree bark, a voice from behind startled her.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”