Chapter 11
Bastian taps the edge of each boot on a stump outside the cabin, knocking away any loose mud. Voices come from the living area. My shoulders relax at the thought of Levi and Grayson making it back home. I don’t like the secrets kept from me, but even I must admit two days is a little soon for anyone to be fully trusted.
With a thud, Bastian drops his bag on the table. “They’ve found Lyden. Arazian’s lackeys dragged him to their hideout in the Ringlet Forest. My crew from the Grove will join us in the morning to assist in the rescue.”
Grayson curses, his arms elbow-deep in dishwater. “When will I ever get a decent rest around here? First, I travel to collect Mari, then Levi and I go to see…” He stops, his face pale as his eyes flick to mine. “And now this?”
Unless my two brothers went to see the Grim Reaper to plan for my untimely death, I really don’t care where they went. What I do care about is not being included in the current mission.
“Where were you?” I settle onto the arm of the red chair where Levi sits and flick him in the arm. “It scared me. You weren’t in bed this morning.”
“We had some things we had to take care of,” he says as he signs. “Nothing big.”
“You know how it is, Mari.” Grayson dries his hands on a towel before joining us. “Oh, wait. You don’t know what it’s like to travel to get essential supplies. You press a button, and it arrives on your doorstep.”
I glance around the room. “There’s a button like that here? You’ll have to show me.”
Bastian removes his hair tie, and his dark hair tumbles over his shoulder. “I’m going to pack for the morning. I suggest the two of you do the same.” He glares at Levi and Grayson in warning.
Translation: Don’t tell Mari where you really went last night.
It’s alright. I’m used to Bastian and Evie’s mistrust.
When I hear Bastian’s door close at the top of the stairs, I clasp my hands. “You two need to let me go. You don’t want to stay here, do you, Levi?”
“Nice try.” He crosses one leg over the other and leans back in the chair.
Grayson brushes crumbs from the table onto the floor. “What my eloquent friend here is trying to say is, there’s no way Bastian would allow you to go on a dangerous mission yet.”
“Why does he care?” I plop down on the bench and tent my fingers. The guy hates me. He’d feed me to a pack of hungry werewolves if he had the chance. And yet, he saved me from a vampire and his blood-thirsty girlfriend.
“You’re our sister,” Levi says, a wide grin on his face. “Family looks out for each other.”
It’s easy to see Levi, and even Grayson as a brother. Except for keeping their location the night before a secret, they treat me with respect. And Bastian does too—at times. But there are things about him I don’t see in a brotherly way at all.
“I saved the two of you breakfast.” Grayson lifts a towel from a plate on the table. “Black looks good on you by the way.”
My cheeks warm as I instinctively try to smooth out the skin-tight fighting gear like I used to do with my skirt in Avren. It has become so comfortable, I almost forgot I was wearing it. I sit down at the table, my stomach growling at the sight of fresh eggs, bread, and strips of meat. “Thank you for making me feel welcome.” I run my hand down the sleeve of my fighting gear. “For this.”
Grayson lifts a shoulder and swipes a piece of bacon from my plate. “It was Evie’s idea. She didn’t think the other woman in the Kindred Few should fight in a recycled potato sack. It embarrassed her.”
“Well, either way, it’s growing on me.” I take a bite of eggs and chew as Grayson goes back to the dishes.
Levi gets up and sits across from me at the table, eyeing my other piece of bacon. I smirk and hand it to him. He devours it in two seconds flat.
“What happened to your family?” I smear a pad of butter on the piece of cornbread. As a member of the deaf community, the Council would never allow Levi to enter Avren, even as an Undesirable.
He hangs his head, palms spread on the table.
“You don’t have to answer.” Thoughts of my mother’s last day swirl in my head. Losing a parent at such a young age is difficult.
“The Council exiled them when Lady Raven rose to power.” Grayson dries his hands, faces us, and leans against the counter.
“I can answer for myself,” Levi signs furiously, his hands flailing. His face is red. “Stop acting like I’m incapable of anything.”
My heart sinks. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen Levi upset, and it spells out a source of tension between my brothers.
I reach out and take Levi’s hand in mine. “I asked you, but if it’s too painful, I don’t need to know.”
He grips my hand tighter, his blue eyes drilling into mine. “You’re my sister. You need to know. In the short time I’ve known you, you’ve held nothing back from me.” He draws his hand back so he can sign as he talks. “Both of my parents were deaf, born before the baby experiments started. When the Council changed hands, placing Lady Raven and Lord Arazian in power, they exiled the Undesirables, including my parents. They lived in peace in the wilderness for ten years before I was born. My father avoided the blue cuff because he couldn’t hear. They didn’t want him in Avren. Instead, he worked the fields for Bastian’s father. My mother stayed home with me.” The lump in Levi’s throat bobs as he swallows. “When I was ten, a swarm of Arazian’s Miscretes broke down the door to our cabin. They shook the entire cabin with their violent actions, waking me. I hid beneath my bed as the monsters tore into my parents’ bedroom. I clutched a pillow as tears streamed down my cheeks. The next morning, I finally dared to leave my hiding place. When I worked up the courage to look in my parents’ room, the only thing the Miscretes had left behind were streaks of blood.”
I want to gather little Levi into my arms and tell him he’s loved, but he’s a man now, and as much as it pains me, I stay on my side of the table. “What happened to you?”
“When my father didn’t show up for work, Mr. Hale sent two workers to our cabin to look for him. After a thorough search of the cabin, they found me, pale and shaking beneath a blanket, afraid the Miscretes had come back to finish the job.” His lip quirks to the side. “Bastian and I grew up together—the natural and adopted sons of Jaresiah and Sarah Hale.”
I don’t want to ask what happened to them. It is a story for another time and maybe it’s Bastian’s tale to tell.
“I hit a tree with an arrow today.” I carry my plate to the sink and wash the crumbs away with my hand and a bit of soap and water. It’s not a boast, but like Levi, I want to show the others I’m capable of more than they give me credit for.
“When you hit a hundred trees over a hundred days, we’ll let you come with us on a mission. For now, you and Levi will watch over the homestead.” Grayson rolls down his sleeves, opens a cabinet, and begins putting dishes away. “Consistency is key.”
It’s no use. If Grayson’s not on my side, it’s not like I’ll convince Bastian or Evie.
“We’ll hopefully only be gone a week. Two days there, two days back, and three to carry out the plan. The two of you can’t get in too much trouble in that time.” He swats me on the bottom with a spatula, making me jump.
I snatch it from his hand and chase him around the room trying to smack him back, knocking over a chair and a bowl of pinecones.
Bastian barrels down the stairs, a frown on his face. He’s not wearing a shirt, and his pants are low on his hips. I freeze and hide the spatula behind my back, wishing I could hit him on the backside with it.
“What the hell is going on down here? I’m trying to take a nap,” he growls.
Grayson is back in the kitchen, acting like nothing happened. We both say, “Nothing.”
Levi pushes away from the table, his chair scraping over the floorboards. “They’re both liars.” He tattles like Bastian’s our father, which is ridiculous. He’s five years younger than Grayson. “Mari’s a naughty girl.”
“Is she now?” Bastian raises an eyebrow, and my heart pounds.
“Grayson hit me with the spatula. All I wanted to do was retaliate. I don’t think that’s naughty, it’s practical. If my older brother hits me, I’m going to get my revenge.” I cross my arms, weapon in hand. “I won’t let my three brothers gang up on me.” As an only child growing up, I longed for an older brother or sister—someone to confide in. Grayson’s playfulness allowed me to act like a child, and I realize for the first time, I can breathe. I tap the spatula against my hand. “Do you need a spanking, Bastian?”
Adrenaline rips through my body with the thought of chasing the commander, but he shuts it down with a glare. “One of our comrades is being held by the enemy. I don’t have time for games as tempting as they sound.” He turns and stomps up the stairs to the room, slamming his door.
I toss the spatula onto the counter, determined to act nonchalant. Bastian gets under my skin in the worst and best ways possible, but I don’t want the other two guys to know this. It’s a secret hidden in our heated glances, our causal brushes of skin, and in the way he says my name.
“I better get rest too.” Grayson climbs the stairs to his room, leaving me alone with Levi.
“Do they always treat you this way? The babysitter?” I flop down on the couch, not ready for a week of boredom locked in the cabin.
He sits on the couch beside me, his shoulder touching mine. “Just because they’re leaving doesn’t mean we can’t have our own fun.”
“Whatever do you mean?” I elbow him, excited he’s up for getting out of the cabin. “Do you plan to defy the commander’s orders?”
He shakes his head and chuckles. “I do it all the time. The secret’s not to get caught. Have you ever been to Mafekadi?” His fingers spell out the name of the town.
“The only places I’ve ever been to are Avren, this cabin, and the Grove. So, no.” The name of the town sounds inviting and adventurous, so whatever he has planned is a big fat yes for me.
“It’s a fae stronghold in the foothills of the Elmridden Range. As long as we can avoid the tricks of the residents, it’s a great place to spend a day.” He drums his fingers on his leg. “We’ll have to overnight in Rumsford along the way.”
A secret couple of days away with Levi sounds like heaven. And although I’ve never seen him kill a vampire or werewolf, I know between the two of us, we can protect ourselves.
That night, I go to bed feeling better about the others leaving us behind. They can go off, save Lyden, and feel good about themselves. I hope to find the material I want in Mafekadi to work on new fighting gear for my family. If I’m nowhere near their expectations of usefulness as a fighter, I want to prove my worth in another way. My expert skills as a tailor are the one thing I can give them.
In the morning, I wake to noises in the main room of the cabin. Levi’s bed is empty, so I throw on a coat to block out the chill in the air and walk into the living room. The other four are sitting around the table, laughing and eating. It doesn’t look like a crew about to embark on a dangerous mission.
It feels as if I’m a stranger intruding on this perfect scene, but then I see an empty chair with a plate set in front of it. “Good morning.”
“Mari, you’re awake.” Grayson jumps up to give me a hug. “We thought we’d miss you.”
The three leaving for the Ringlet Forest wear their fighting gear, which has seen better times. Empty plates sit in front of them. Weapons rest against the wall by the door. My gut twists thinking about them being gone for a week and not knowing if they’ll all make it back.
“Come here.” Bastian scrapes his chair back and leans over to lift my pant leg. He pulls a knife from his belt and works on removing the tracking device from my ankle. When it snaps open, he stuffs it into his pocket. “I’ll hide this along the way.”
“Why am I working if it’s that easy?” I glance at Evie, who purses her lips. “I thought Arazian was the only Citizen who successfully removed an anklet.”
“The only one who successfully removed one without consequences. Somehow, the soldiers always find the offenders. When they find you, you’ll face longer work hours and possibly harsher conditions.” Bastian shrugs. “But it’s your first offense, and we can’t have Levi taking you to work. You’ll both be dead the second you step foot outside the cabin.”
I glance at Levi. His head is down, the tips of his ears turning red. This is one moment when I really hate Bastian.
“You trust him enough to protect me at night while the three of you sleep in your own bedrooms.” I square my shoulders, ready to defend my bunkmate. “If you were so worried about his effectiveness, one of you would sleep on the mattress beside me.”
“Maybe we don’t care enough to worry about your life, princess.” Bastian scrapes back in his chair and stands, stretching his arms over his head. “Gray’s the only Citizen I’ve ever met besides soldiers. So far, with you, I’m not impressed.”
I glare at him. The hatred electrifies my skin with pinpricks. “It goes both ways, phaloc.”
“Enough!” Levi yells. He pushes back in his chair so hard that when he stands, it falls to the floor. He storms off to our bedroom, leaving silence in his wake.
“We were fine until you showed up.” Bastian rakes his fingers through his hair, then rests his hands against the table. “I know you’re on your whole save the orphans kick, Gray, but you need to know where to draw the line. She’s in the way of our mission, and I don’t care who you think she may or may not be… she’s a pain in my ass.”
As much as I want to defend myself, I’m tired of wasting words on Bastian. He’s made his mind up about me, and it seems literally impossible to change. “I’m going to see if Levi’s alright.”
Grayson snatches my arm and pulls me into a hug before I can leave. He holds my head against his, whispering, “You’re so much more than Bastian and Evie make you out to be. Be good while I’m gone.”
I hear the front door open and close before I make it to our bedroom. We’re alone. Levi has his back to me, lying down and facing the wall.
Sitting on his mattress, I rest a hand on his shoulder, giving it a squeeze.
He turns to me and blinks.
“Are you ok?”
I expect to see tears in his eyes as he cranes his face in my direction, rolling onto his back and staring at me before he signs, “There are times I’m ashamed to call them my family. But he has a bigger heart than he’s willing to show you.”
“I’m sure he does.” Without asking, I kick my feet out onto Levi’s mattress and snuggle beside him. The only sounds in the room are the chatter of birds outside the window and the beating of our hearts. Grayson’s words rattle around in my brain. If I’m so special, why do Bastian and Evie treat me like shit? I tilt my head to face him. “Tell me more about the prophecy, Levi.”.
“I wasn’t completely honest with you. I’m a quarter fae on my mother’s side.” He props himself up on his elbow. “Imagine that. They kicked my parents out of Avren for being deaf, not knowing my mother was half fae. With my ancestry, I enjoy going to Mafekadi. I feel at home there.”
“And what about here with Gray, Bastian, and Evie?” I’m asking him to open himself up to a person he’s known for less than three days.
“They’re kin, Mari. Like you.” He twists a strand of my hair with his fingers, so intimate yet so different from the times Flynn touched me. “We can’t leave each other. There might be someone I’m still related to in Mafekadi, but why would I ever need them when I have the Kindred Few?”
The title still holds little meaning to me. Yes, it feels good to have an adoptive family so soon after losing my mom. But I feel like I’m nothing but an anchor weighing them down.
”And the prophecy of the fae?” I try again now that he is looking at me. His green eyes magnified in his glasses, holding onto me like I’m a priceless treasure.
Does it have any of the ancient fae magic I’ve read about in the Avren library?
He sits up straighter, resting his back against the wall before running his hand through his dark hair and setting it askew. “I don’t have it memorized like I should.” His gaze goes to a faraway place, as if he’s trying to remember something from his childhood. “My mother had me memorize it as a nursery rhyme, but that was a long time ago.”
“Try for me.”
Levi’s words draw me into the mythical nature of a prophecy. He rubs his hands together, getting ready to sign. “I’ll give it a try.” He sucks in a breath and closes his eyes.
“Two cities loom above us all,
one veiled in beauty and the other in darkness.
Both hold death within their walls.
For those saved by Mahogany’s gaze
dance among the fairy rings and a fire’s blaze.
The great wilderness protects the hidden.
Two will rise from the cities’ walls—young and brave and true.
Their sacrifice will save us all
and end the evil reign
of both great cities.”
My mouth hangs open. Avren with its pristine streets, towering spires, and scientific and artistic advances seems indestructible. Does it really need to meet its doom for the rest of us to live in peace?
He weaves his fingers through mine. “It’s you. We all know it.”
My breath hitches as a rush of fear hits me. How do the others think I’m a great savior? It’s insane, really. A girl grown in a test tube and raised by a Council member and a mathematician does not qualify as a mighty warrior destined to bring down two great cities. And even if I am one of them, which is highly unlikely, who is the other one? Grayson? He’s the only other person I’ve met from Avren. But there are a lot of Undesirables. It could be anyone. “Why do you think it’s me?”
“There are further writings on the prophecy in Mafekadi. Fae scholars have studied the scrolls for centuries. The two saviors will be orphans, one from Avren.” He lets go of my hand to hold up a finger. “The other from the First City.” He holds up a second finger.
“But I thought only Arazian and his mutants lived in the First City. Do you think one of them will really work with an Undesirable orphan from Avren to destroy its creator?” None of this makes sense to me.
He scratches his head, his warm smile shining down on me. “There are parts of the prophecy which remain mysteries waiting to be deciphered.”