by Mara McQueen
Bethany looked about as surprised as Ava, but said, "Yes. Nature. It's my element."
"I don't know if your outfit's all that comfortable for a walk in the jungle." Ava eyed Kimbra's gorgeous flowy dress and glistening shoes.
"She can borrow some clothes from us," Marcella said eagerly. "I think I have the same shoe size as you, Your Highness."
"Great," Ava said much too cheerfully. "I guess we're going out on an adventure. Together."
Universe, take me. Take me now.
"I've lived here all my life and I've never just...walked outside the gates for fun. Without guards escorting me to some ceremony or other. And I never wandered around this part," Kimbra said, twirling as they advanced on the path. "I love it."
Ava didn't know who was more enthralled with their stroll, her, Kimbra, or Marcella.
"I need to take some cuttings back for Jullian," Marcella whispered and instantly blushed.
Only Seleka and Bethany seemed unimpressed, walking behind and exchanging monosyllabic replies, but with the energy of two people getting along great. In their own way.
Honestly, Ava didn't know how they weren't in awe. Not only was the greenery surrounding them thick and lush and tall, with leaves almost the size of her torso and gorgeous flowers in every imaginable color, but every other turn of the path they came across old statues, benches, and sculptures.
Weathered with time, some taken over by brazen vines that gave them even more character, they spoke of ancient, dangerous times. But they'd survived, still standing, still impressing.
And the bridges. Oh, the bridges. Constructed so intricately, they seemed to jut out from the dark grey rocks themselves.
The Capital island had way too many ravines. Shockingly. One minute Ava was dodging thick, winding branches, the next she was staring into the bowels of the earth, flanked by huge, dark cliffs. If she squinted, she could see the river running bubbling below.
That sent a chill down her spine. She'd hated any and all bodies of water since she was six.
The river's rumble mixed with bird chirps and bee buzzing and the salty breeze that still managed to glide through the thick growth.
Everything pulsed with life and possibilities.
Ava loved it, too. She would have loved it even more if she hadn't been squirming in her skin.
Should she tell Kimbra she'd kissed Raiden? Technically, he'd kissed her, but Ava had stopped it much too late and had enjoyed it way too much.
How would she tell her?
Hey, remember the Prince you've probably been in love with since you were both in diapers? Yeah, we kind of went off the rails yesterday. Like the entire-Capital-might-hear-us-fucking off the rails. Anyway, I thought you should know that.
Ava stuffed one of Kimbra's cakes into her mouth to keep the words from spilling out. "This is delicious, I need the recipe."
"Thanks. Baked it myself, for you." Kimbra beamed. "Raiden told me you like sweets."
Ava almost choked on the fluffy cake. Why were Kimbra and Raiden talking about her? And how the hell did he know what she liked or didn't like?
She'd made it perfectly clear nobody was supposed to tell the Prince anything about her anymore.
They neared another bridge, this time narrow enough for only one person to pass. Its railings looked one stiff wind away from crumbling.
"Uhm...mind if we take a right?" Marcella mumbled. "I—I want to take some cuttings from that big tree in the distance. Far away from here."
The entire group changed direction. Ava took advantage and walked ahead, hoping Kimbra would take the hint.
She didn't.
"I had a good reason for my visit today," she said, falling into step with Ava.
Of course she had a reason. Everyone in the Brotherhood did.
Ava was starting to sound more and more like her Syndicate cousins by the day.
She bit into another cake.
"There's a festival coming up in a couple of days," Kimbra went on.
How Kimbra managed to make a crappy pair of cargo shorts Ava had sewn look good was beyond her. She'd even put a lumpy hat on to keep her hair off the nape of her neck; from a distance, nobody would recognize it was Kimbra, but she still looked gorgeous.
"Well...good," Ava said lamely. She knew she should've learned all the holidays by heart by now, but she'd kept putting off Marcella's lessons.
"It's on the other side of the island. Usually, the Queen and King attend the festivities, but we should go this year."
Oh, no. Oh, no, no, no.
Ava walked even faster. Kimbra followed, undeterred and still smiling.
Another bridge waited for them ahead. This one was sturdy and wide, too, no chance of getting away from Kimbra.
"The town there is much more relaxed than the city and they love it when the royal family comes over. They have games and dancing and we can join in," Kimbra said as they made their way toward the middle of the bridge.
"Great. Have fun."
"No, no, no." Kimbra laughed. Trilled, actually. Small wonder birds weren't flocking to her to join in the song. "You need to come, too. I can tell you all about what we need to do at the festivities and—"
"Thanks, but I have plans." Wallowing and eating, mostly, but still a plan.
"Come on, you'll like it there. Raiden said you'd—"
"I really don't want to talk about him," Ava said harshly, her voice melting in with the rapids roaring down in the ravine. Her skin crawled.
Kimbra's brows furrowed. "But he—"
That was it. Ava whirled around, heart the size of a flea.
"Kimbra, I need to tell you something," she forced out. You can do it. You'd want to know the truth. "I have to tell you something and before I do, I want you to know I'm disgustingly sorry and if I can take it back, I would. But I can't time-travel yet."
She was babbling. This wasn't right. She'd done the deed, now she could say it.
"I—I kissed Raiden yesterday." She squinted her eyes shut. You wanted to devour each other. "And I know he's your husband and I know you two are in love and I am so, so sorry. And I hope one day you'll forgive me."
Just like I hope one day I'll forgive you for not warning me.
Ava took a deep breath, feeling more wretched now that the truth was out. Being the other woman went against every fiber of her being. What she'd done wasn't okay, no matter how sick their situation was.
She finally peeked at Kimbra. But instead of scowling or crying or nodding or some normal reaction, Kimbra burst out laughing.
What the—
"Did you hear me?" Ava asked. What the hell was wrong with all the Brotherhood members? Did normal human emotions just skip a generation?
"Oh, I heard you." Kimbra gulped down air, trying to calm herself. But she was still smiling. "You are so precious. Much too precious for this Clan life."
Ava stared at her dumbfounded—and she was getting angry, too. Here she was, guilt-ridden, and both Kimbra and Raiden found it funny? "Do—do you and Raiden have some kind of understanding outside the marriage or—"
The jungle went very, very quiet. No more chirps. No more buzzing. Even the breeze had stopped.
Ava tensed. Wildlife reacted the same, no matter the forest. There was a predator among them.
At the foot of the bridge, Seleka tensed, too. She took out her mighty daggers, dark eyes scanning the area.
"Kimbra, we need to go. Now." Ava grabbed her hand, pulling her back.
It might've just been a panther nearby. It might've been something even deadlier—humans.
Ava took one step when a blast hissed toward the bridge. Right in the middle, where they had been standing. The stone shook.
"Run!" Ava pulled Kimbra after her.
The bridge began to crumble.
They weren't fast enough. Kimbra wasn't fast enough.
Ava's quick feet found leverage even as the stone shifted and fell into the depths right underneath her. She tugged on Kimbra's hand with all her might.
Faster. Faster. We're almost—
Three feet away from the safety of solid ground, Kimbra's hand slipped from Ava's grip.
Ava whirled around to see Kimbra vanish behind her.
Bethany's horrified shriek slashed through the chaos. She ran toward the crumbling edge.
"Hold her!" Ava roared.
Marcella caught Bethany and held her tight through all the thrashing, tears streaming down their faces.
Ava approached the edge of what was left of the bridge, heart in her throat.
She crouched down and peered down.
The breath wooshed out of her lungs.
Kimbra held onto a jagged ledge. Her fingers had gone deathly white, her face was crimson red from the effort, but she was alive.
Ava could have cried out in relief. Instead, she turned her head. "Seleka! Grab my legs.”
Seleka ran to her side, but hesitated. "Ava—"
"Now!"
Seleka gave a firm nod and grabbed Ava's legs in a vice grip. Then Bethany grabbed Seleka's waist and Marcella gripped hers, forming a long line.
Ava lowered herself slowly. The ragged stone scraped against her chest, snagging her shirt. The water underneath scared her so much, Ava saw white spots before her eyes.
She pushed forward.
A look of desperate relief washed over Kimbra's face, but they weren't safe yet. The river roiled viciously below, as if eager for a sacrifice.
Ava reached out as far as her arms could go, already shaking from the strain of hanging upside down.
"Grab my hand. It's okay, I've got you."
Chapter Thirty-Two
AVA
Fucking Underworld.
Fucking Clans.
Fucking Brotherhood.
Fucking code.
This was ridiculous. They'd almost lost their lives.
Instead of, you know, getting their small cuts disinfected, the five of them had been ushered into the throne room as soon as they’d returned to the Capital, scared and exhausted.
Raiden had rushed in a moment later, through the half-army of the advisors' guards.
He'd thundered toward Ava and Kimbra, tight face so angular, it could cut anyone who dared touch him. His wild eyes caught Ava's and didn't let go.
Not when he nodded at the guards. Not when he stopped in front of her, hands fisting and unfisting. Not when he pulled Kimbra into his arms, resting his chin on top of her head.
Ava had gulped down the bitterness suddenly choking her.
"Are you okay?" he'd asked, gaze still locked to Ava's.
She hadn't known if he was talking to her or Kimbra, but she gave a curt nod all the same. By some miracle, she was okay.
He sighed in relief, tightening his grip on Kimbra. His eyes slashed toward the guards for the briefest moment, then back to Ava.
In the year she'd been back, Ava had seen this move on her cousins. A message. For what?
"Let them talk first," he'd whispered so low, Ava had to read his barely moving lips.
"Why?" she'd mouthed back.
"So they'll reveal themselves." He'd inhaled deeply, eyes softening. "I'm sorry."
Once again, for what? He wasn't behind the blast, was he?
But Ava didn't get to ask, because the entire massive room had vibrated with Banu and Dima's wails of "My baby!" as they ran inside.
Raiden's face had turned murderous, even as he'd taken his jacket off and wrapped it around Kimbra—even though Ava's shirt was ripped beyond repair; she had half a boob out, for heaven's sake.
"My only child almost lost her life," Banu's scratchy voice bounced off walls. Tears pulled at her mascara. Kind of anemic little tears, if you asked Ava, for the gravity of the situation.
But nobody asked Ava anything. Or Raiden. Or Kimbra. They were all standing in a line in front of the throne, stared at by the King and Queen.
A silent, united front. Oh, the soul-wrenching irony.
Marcella, Seleka, and Bethany were shielded behind them, keeping their mouths shut and listening to Banu and Dima talk —and Ava didn't like what she heard.
"Your Excellences." Dima looked up at the King and Queen. "I demand a full investigation. This was a direct attempt at the Brotherhood's future Queen's life."
Ava grimaced. She was standing right there and she'd been on that bridge, too.
She crossed her hands in front of her chest tighter to keep from flashing the entire Brotherhood royal family.
"They wouldn't have even been able to identify your body dressed in that—" Banu scrunched her nose at Kimbra's clothes, which were actually Ava's. "—that commoner outfit."
Well, excuse me and my commoner tastes.
"Why on Earth would you dress up like that?" Banu's already ugly face turned nastier, her voice sharper.
Kimbra pulled Raiden's jacket tighter, gaze falling.
Ava raised her brows. Really? That's what mattered after their precious "baby" had almost lost her life? What she was wearing?
Though...hadn't Ava thought that nobody would recognize Kimbra dressed like that? Right before the blast?
She inhaled sharply. What if Kimbra hadn't been the real target?
Her cousins had warned her. She needed to watch her back. She felt the tension in the room. The whisper of danger as the guards' dark pointed helmets clinked each time they moved. There were a lot of armed people here.
"Kimbra," the Queen's calm voice silenced the advisors. "What were you doing on that bridge?"
Kimbra gave a short curtsy. "I went to Ava's house this morning—"
"Why?" Dima asked, his punchable face scrunching up. "Why would you visit her?"
Fire rose inside Ava. She wasn't some mangy dog. She opened her mouth, but Raiden beat her to it.
"I asked her to," he said easily, voice spearing the room. He'd been silent and furious until now, watching the advisors' every blink. All gazes turned to him. An anxious stillness filled the space. "We're heading to the Northern town for the festival tomorrow, someone had to teach Ava the proper etiquette."
Riiiight. Because she was a hick who didn't know any better.
Ava refused to blush this time. None of these people would have known how to act properly at Syndicate ceremonies, either.
"Whose idea was it to go outside the gates and in that part of the island?" the King went on, cold as stone.
Ava felt Marcella shift behind her. Oh, no.
"Mine," Ava said, that one word ringing against the walls on a loop.
Twin eerie smiles appeared on the advisors' faces for a split second, before being replaced with their panicked parents masks once again.
Ava felt fury rolling off of Raiden.
Memories of the last time the two of them had been here alone flooded her mind. If she closed her eyes, she could almost hear her moans. She swallowed them back down. She'd been a fool then, and she'd kept on being a fool.
He could fume all he wanted, Ava wasn't going to let—
"It was my idea to change course," Marcella said, dropping in a low kneel so fast, Ava wondered how her kneecaps held up.
Banu and Dima exchanged a quick glance.
"Who ordered you to do it?" Dima asked slowly, like a snake getting ready to strike.
Oh, no. No, no, no.
"No-nobody, Your Grace. I-I was afraid of the other bridge and—"
Banu scoffed. "That is such a poor lie. Whoever you're in cahoots with should have trained you better."
"She isn't in cahoots with anybody. Marcella didn't even want us to go outside," Ava said much too loudly.
Whatever that ugly glint in the advisors' eyes was, they were not touching Marcella.
"I know you're new to Brotherhood society," Dima began, each word sounding mocking. "But here, we uphold the rules. This woman clearly had a scheme in place."
Marcella's shoulders slumped. Ava raged inside.
"Marcella will not be punished because someone tried to kill us," Ava said, standing as tall as the First Son's Daughte
r should. She was done playing the Brotherhood's games. "I won't have it."
Banu's thin brows rose. "You won't have it?"
"No," Ava said coldly. "She's my employee."
"She's your servant."
Ava wanted to strangle this woman with the gold chains around her neck. "She serves the Clan. So do you."
Banu gasped. "Our stations are nothing alike."
Raiden clenched his jaw. Rage, hot and blistering, pulsed around him. But he didn't say anything. He let Ava stand alone against two very powerful people.
Ava was done. Done. "Not from where I'm standing."
Banu's lips thinned out of existence. "No show of respect."
Earn it.
"Marcella had nothing to do with this. I vouch for her with my life," Ava said with finality.
"You would say that, naturally." Banu's lips contorted into a pale, mean smile.
Next to Ava, Raiden tensed.
"Meaning?" Ava asked with all the regality grandpa Baron had tried to instill in her as a child. It was time to bring that Syndicate attitude out in the open. Who did these people think they were?
"If you say it was your idea to leave the city, one could assume you also trained Marcella to ask to change course—"
"I was on that bridge, too," Ava bit out.
"You escaped easily, from what we understand," Banu said coldly.
"From who?" Because nobody from Ava's group had said anything to the advisors.
"The island has guards at every corner," Banu said easily. "This could have been a ploy to kill our daughter."
Ava sighed in annoyance. "Why would I ever want to hurt Kimbra?"
"Jealousy."
The word rolled around the room on a loop, beating against Ava's chest.
Banu began prowling closer, as if Ava was some poor defenseless mouse. "You know the Prince loves her—"
"I've never tried to get between them." Ava jutted out her chin at Raiden. "Tell them."
He turned his cold eyes on her. There was no emotion in them. Not for her, at least. Ava's heart gave a lonely thud.
"It's true, you didn't," he said. "Because you knew I'd never fall for those tricks."
Even after everything he'd done, after everything he'd put her through, his words still hurt.