Reap (The Harvest Saga Book 1) (12 page)

Before I could even start
a fire, footsteps fell heavy on the porch. The front door ricocheted off the wooden wall behind it and Kyan stepped in, his face cloaked in shadows. In four strides, he stood in front of me. “Are you okay? Did they hurt you?” His eyes raked over my face and then over my body. He stiffened and stepped back, still clasping my shoulders. “Wow. You look amazing.”

“Don’t sound so shocked, Kyan. It’s a blow to my ego.”

“No. It’s not that. I’ve never seen a dress like this before and you...-wear it well.” Suddenly, I was once again aware of the way the dress accentuated my chest and if his gaze was any indication, he was aware now, too.

I cleared my throat. “Eyes up here, big guy,” I teased.

He grinned and makes eye contact again. I debated whether to tell him about Crew and decide against it. He wasn’t very happy after seeing the two of us at the dock the last time. “I wanted to make sure you were okay. I was scared for you.” Ky’s eyes darted around nervously, which was unusual, for him.
Is he nervous?

“I’m fine. Actually, it was really weird. They were very nice and oh my goodness, Ky. You should have seen the amount of food they served. It was obscene. It would have fed a dozen families. There was a turkey, green beans, corn on the cob, potatoes, yeast rolls, ham. Then, for dessert, there was an enormous two-layer cake with icing roses! It was so pretty...”

“What?”

“The cake. Councilman Preston said the cake and dinner were held to welcome me into their family.”

My breaths became shallow and I couldn’t catch hold of the air I needed. I needed a distraction. I threw another log into the fireplace and stuffed some kindling beneath. My hands shook so badly that I couldn’t strike the flint. Couldn’t make a spark.

Ky crouched down next to me and took the knife and flint stone from my hand. In a couple of strikes, he has sparked the kindling cupped in his hands, coaxing a flame with gentle breath. He tucked the small bundle under the split wood awaiting its warmth. The flame grew ravenous and licked and lapped at the firewood above, seeking more of something, anything.

Ky pressed his lips together in a sort of smile and helped me up. I glanced at the small clock on the mantle. Ten o’clock. Dinner took the entire evening. And, now I had only a couple of hours before I needed to meet Crew. The angel on my shoulder was begging me to stay home, to avoid Norris at all costs. But, the little devil that sat opposite her won, whispering that this may be my last opportunity to talk to Crew alone before he leaves and I marry. There was no telling when they would load up the trains with our help and cart them back home. I may never again feel the softness of his lips upon mine, or his hands around my waist. And, I needed this. I needed him, even if only for one night.

His eyes darted around again, as if searching for something to grab hold of. “You know I’ll always take care of you, right?” Kyan cleared his throat. “I need to tell you something.”

“Ky, don’t. It’s okay. Whatever it is.”

The look in his eyes made me weary and I stepped back from him. The soft orange light highlighted his hair softly and caressed his face, softening the hard angles that had formed recently, erasing any trace of boy from his visage.

He growled in frustration, swallowed and scrubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know how to tell you this.” He looked at me, blinking away tears.

Kyan did not cry. Ever. I’d been his best friend for years and have never seen it. Even when he fell from a tree when he was eight and broke his forearm. “Ky? What is it?”

“I...” His voice broke.

“Kyan. You’re scaring me. Please just say it. Whatever it is, spit it out.”

He blinked and twin tears carved paths down the skin of his cheeks. And, then it hit me. It wasn’t him. It wasn’t about him or his family. He was crying for me. Dread coiled like a snake in the pit of my stomach. The only thing that would upset him this much and mattered to me was...I croaked, “Lulu?”

He nodded and pulled me tightly into a hug.
No.

“No!” I pushed him away, but he hauled me back to him.

“I’m so sorry, Abby.” Tears filled his words, thickening with grief. He loved her, too.

“NO!!!” I roared. “She’s fine. She’s in Olympus! That’s what the Preston’s said! She’s there!”

He shook his head. “Yes, she is! She is, Kyan!” I pushed him backwards. How dare he lie to me like this?!

He shook his head again. “They found her today. They had to bury her right away because...-because her body was decomposed so badly. But, it was her, Abby. I was there. I helped them take care of her. I put her into the grave, Abs. It was Lulu. I promise.” He hugged me tight. “It was her. I promise.”

Numbness. Tears streaked down my face. I couldn’t move. “They killed her.”

“Shh.” He pulled me in and his warm breath tickled my ear. “Don’t say it. If they did this to
her
...”

“Okay.” I got it. If they murdered Lulu, they wouldn’t hesitate to get rid of me as well.

“The Preston’s don’t know we found her. But, they will soon. Probably tonight. Norris was there.”

Red flashed before me. “Norris? He probably killed her! You didn’t let him touch her did you, Ky? He didn’t touch her, did he? Please tell me he didn’t...touch...her.” Sobs erupted from my soul.

“No, shh. He didn’t touch her. I wouldn’t let him touch her. He was just called there because it’s his job to report village deaths. You know that. Shh.” Kyan’s strong arms led me to the couch and settled me down. He rocked me as I cried. I knew something was wrong. From the moment they had told me that Lulu had been sent to Olympus, I knew. She would have found a way to contact me, before she left or as soon as she was safe in the City of Greaters. Lulu was smart and resourceful. She would have found a way or made one herself. I knew it. On some level, my very soul recognized that hers was gone.

Kyan rocked me for what seemed like an eternity, but the last place I wanted to be was out of the comfort of his arms. But, finally, he pulled away and went into the darkness of my bedroom. I could hear him shuffling around in my dresser. He pulled me into the room, lighting the candles along the walls. He’d laid out clothes for me to change into. I nodded and he stepped out. I carefully slipped out of Laney’s dress and hung it in my closet, separate from all of my other clothes–the ones that will never be good enough to hang in its vicinity.

Automatically I dressed myself, removed the pins from my hair, and then loosened the braids, leaving a trail of flowing mahogany down my back. Kyan was pouring hot water that had been heating over the fire into a mug. The steam stretched long into the air above it before disappearing. My eyes were swollen and stung with each new tear that leaked out.

“To help you rest.” Kyan extended the mug to me. The water was a warm yellow color and I knew it was from Evelyn. And, no doubt, it would help me rest. Testing the water with my upper lip, it was cool enough to sip. The bitter liquid slipped silkily down my throat. Before long, my eyelids began to slip shut on their own.

Kyan guided me to my room and helped me into bed before stretching the covers over me. I cuddled into them and sighed. The tears had finally stopped. But, the gaping hole in my chest still screamed out in pain. One thing was for certain, I would
not
marry Zander Preston. He could go to hell.

He didn’t have anything to hold over my head anymore. Lulu was dead. Buried in a proper grave now. I didn’t care if he killed me himself or had Norris do it for him. I wouldn’t let them get away with Lulu’s murder. I fell asleep thinking of Crew, how I wished things could be different. How I wish we had the freedom to choose our future.

∞

I woke long before morning
and stepped out into the main room of the house. The fire still raged against the wood it furiously consumed. A white piece of paper sat atop the mantle.

I had to leave to get ready for work. Please stay home and rest today, Abby. I’ll check on you when the day is finished.

–Ky

He must have added wood to the fire before leaving. Its warmth didn’t quite reach where I needed it to. I put the kettle over the flames to heat more water. A small white packet sat atop the wooden counter next to the mug I used last night. It must contain Evelyn’s sleeping mixture.

I refused to take more of it. I would not sleep the day away. Even the strong herbs couldn’t ease the ache in my chest. I was going to the orchards. There was no way I would let the Preston’s win this. They would not get away with it. I didn’t care how powerful they were or might become. And Norris. If he did kill Lulu, he would live to regret it. I’d personally make sure of it.

I washed my face and plaited my hair carefully so that it curved around my head and draped over my shoulder. Donning a long sleeve black t-shirt and black and white plaid button-down over top, I shrugged on my jeans, tugged on my work boots, and chugged a hot cup of coffee before pouring the water over the fire. Steam angrily tried to escape up the chimney. I snuffed out the candles and strode toward the orchards.

My eyes searched for any sign of that serpent Norris, but he was nowhere to be found. No doubt the Preston’s thought I would cower in my cabin today. Sorry, folks. Hated to disappoint them, but they would not win this fight. Zander was missing as well. I scoured the area for him, but he was conveniently missing.
Guilty, much?

Kyan grabbed hold of my elbow. “What are you doing here? You need to go home, Abs.”

“I won’t crawl home. That’s for damn sure.”

He released me and stepped back, blowing out a pent-up breath. “Fine. But, you need to keep hold of your tongue. Don’t go making accusations yet, and...” He stepped closer and whispered, “Don’t say anything against Norris. He won’t hesitate to put you in your place. I don’t want you hurt because your heart is broken. Okay?”

His brown eyes searched mine for lies. “Fine. I’ll try.” It was all I could promise. With a stern brow, he nodded.

“Laney is packing because of her ankle. Can you climb?”

“Yep.”

“Get to it.” He motioned for me to get started on a tree to my left. “Crew!” he yelled.

Crew stepped into the row a minute later, looking back and forth between me and Kyan before fixing his eyes on our team leader. “You’re with Abigail today.”

As I climbed up into the tree, I heard Kyan tell Crew, “Watch out for her today. I’m trusting you.”

Crew nodded and walked beneath the tree I was climbing up in earnest. He grabbed a bushel and as I began to hand down the few apples I’d picked, our eyes met. Betrayal rested in his honey colored eyes. “Why didn’t you show?” he asked softly.

“You don’t know?” I felt my brows pinching together.

He shook his head, his eyes never leaving mine.

“They found my aunt’s body yesterday evening. She’d been murdered and dumped into a shallow grave.”

“But the Councilman said...”

“Yes. He did. He lied.”

Realization washed over his strong features. The sun highlighted his sable hair and made his skin seem as pale as porcelain in the morning light.

“I’m sorry, Abigail. I thought you just decided not to meet me. I see that there are many secrets in the Preston household.”

It was my turn to nod, gritting my teeth until my jaw hurt. Because if I opened my mouth, I would start crying all over again. And, I wasn’t confident that I’d ever be able to stop this time.

Crew and Kyan watched me closely all day. I had worked like a woman possessed. Our team had carved through twice as many trees today as we did yesterday, even with Laney’s nimble climbing and picking. I was nowhere near as graceful. Stubborn determination fueled every motion, making me swift and sure, efficient. After we stopped to take lunch, the sound of hooves digging into dirt came closer and closer to our position in the row. Norris.

The demonic stallion reared and Norris whipped the beast’s flanks hard with the crop he had so disgustingly slid down my cheek. “Where is she?” he barked at Kyan.

“What do you want with her?”

In a flash, Norris dismounted and stood menacingly over Kyan. But, Kyan stood tall, didn’t waver even for a second. “Are you refusing to give me information, boy?”