Burning Bridges Read Free

staring at me with sheer admiration. “ A work of art, if I do say so myself. He ’ s going to love it. ”
    Shrugging lazily, I said, “ No matter. He won ’ t be looking at my hair anyway. ” I fingered the laced edge of my bodice, remembering the way Noah had stared at me at the ball last winter, prior to our first meeting. It was as if I were a slab of meat to him, a possession—a title—to be owned.
    “ I don ’ t love him. ” I spoke between clenched teeth and my fingers continued to knead the lace. “ I won ’ t love him. And I don ’ t care what Father says, Ever, I will not be happy. ”
    Everlae opened her mouth to speak, her eyes flashing that stone grey of our father . “ You shouldn ’ t say those things, Echo. You know this is your duty, so why do you fight it? Silas and I ar e happy . We may have started off on the wrong peg, but we ’ ve grown on each other. J ust like you and Noah will. ”
    I sighed, feeling utterly defeated. “ I suppose you could be right. ”
    With that, Everlae’s mood seemed to brighten a little. “ Of course I ’ m right. You were always so strong, Echo. Did you know I envied you for the first three years of your life? ” She laughed silently to herself. “ Everyone always spoke about you being the family ’ s next heiress after Caesar—how courageous you would grow up to be. I presume they were correct. ”
    I squeezed her hand, allowing the gesture to speak the words I couldn ’ t find, and her slender fingers wrapped around mine in response.
    Off in the distance, I could see Shadow walking towards us, the metallic clink of her chained boots meshing with the hard packed earth below her feet. Body suited in leathered armor, she looked as fierce as a lion ess .
    I turned back to Ever with a big grin on my face. “ She ’ s back, ” I said.
    Ever ’ s forehead furrowed with confusion. “ How do you mean? ”
    I shook my head and pointed beyond the trees to where the tall, flaxen Tigress stood with her hands o n her hips and a brave smile o n her face. Everlae was up and running towards her before I could even blink.
    “ You ’ re back! ” she screeched, taking Shadow into her arms. I kissed Shadow ’ s cheek and held her close . After a whole year enduring the fatalities of war, Shadow had returned to us in one piece.
    “ I haven ’ t been away long , girls. ” Shadow smiled and glanced around the hilled l awn of the palace . “ But I have missed you, nonetheless. ”
    “ So , how did it go? ” I asked, breaking the embrace.
    “ Yeah, did you get them good? ” Everlae asked excitedly. She looked up at our sister with a look in her eyes I knew all too well.
    Shadow sighed longingly, but held her smile in place. “ I sure did, b ut n othing beats the comfort of home, eh? ”
    I glared at the arrows tethered to her back in amazement, taking in everything from her posture to the slight masculine touch she had to her demeanor. Shadow w as everything but weak, everything I aspired to be. I wanted to fight along her in battle, lose myself in a frenzy as I fought for my Haven. I wanted it more than I eve r wanted anything in my life . But unfortunately for me, Father had other plans in stow.
    “ One of you willing to come into town with me ? ” Shadow asked, tearing me away from my asinine musings.
    Everlae looked at me with a frown on her face. “ Go. I must help Mother with dinner anyhow. ” She turned and began walking back to the palace before I could stop her .
    “ What was that all about? ” Shadow inquired, as we walked the ways to town.
    I feigned ignorance. “ Oh, you know Ever. She ’ s just being, well, Ever. ”
    “ She all right? With Silas, I mean? I know Father can be aggressive about birthing him an heir sometimes. She ’ s only twenty-three years of age, four years below me, and you ’ re only seventeen . I don ’ t want him slaving you girls off. The gods know he tried it with me. ”
    “ Yeah, she ’ s great. They are