Chapter 32: Nil Accuses Connor
Ava's POV
We had gotten to the palace just as the rain started, we got drenched but maids, had prepared an umbrella prior to our arrival, they must have been expecting us, I was drenched a little and I shivered as Connor handed me down the horse, he joined me shortly as he handed over the stallion's reins to a stable hand, the mare I rode earlier was being tended to by another stable hand, I thought she wouldn't follow, but she had followed us after a while, today was wonderful, it was scary, I never thought I would ever shift, but I had and it's really wonderful, Connor has said to keep it a secret from others, at least for a while.
Connor lifted me in his arms, and took me inside, we were received on the stairs by Nicholas and some maids,
"Take her to her room, she'll catch a cold if she doesn't get out of those clothes." Connor said as he handed me over to the maids.
"Sorry sweetheart, I would have taken you myself but I need to discuss some urgent matters with Nicholas" Connor said, kissing my cheeks.
I smiled, and nodded, the maids wrapped a cloak tightly around my arms, Connor moved away with Nicholas. They look cute together.
I got to my room without Misharp, I was shivering despite the cloak, though not from cold, but from the happiness I was feeling.
I stood under hot shower for a long time, the maids rubbed some ointment on my skin, I had dinner, and the maids left, not long after I settled Comfortably to read a novel, a maid knocked on the door and I gave her permission to come in, she came in with a letter, saying some stranger gave it to her, and told her to give it to me directly, I wonder who could have sent me a letter, I took the letter from her and opened it, the words were scrawled across the paper,
"Greetings to her Majesty, from your good servant, I hope her highness is doing wonderfully, even though you had obviously forgotten a person who helped in times of past, if your highness would be so gracious as to visit your servant and prisoner"
Alaina.
Goodness mine!, I had forgotten all about Alaina.
"Who did you say gave you this letter?" I asked, raising my head up. But the maid was gone.
****************
"Have you given it to her?" Alaina asked the maid.
"Yes ma'am" The maid replied, looking sideways
"Thank you very much, I owe you one, I'll repay you as soon as I'm out of here" Alaina side.
"Yes, I'll go now" The maid said, hurrying away.
"You're pretty smart, uhn, but do you think, it'll work?" Carrissa asked.
"No doubt, I'm smart because I use my brains. Now wait Carrissa, she'll come running here before the night's over." Carrissa said smirking.
"This is just, the first phrase of my.....oh sorry I mean our plan." Alaina said folding her hands.
Author's POV
Connor sat in the arm chair while Nicholas sat opposite to him.
"Do you mean, Her mark says your name?" Nicholas said, eyes widening
"The day is near Nicholas, I don't think it will be long before Ava comes to know my dark secrets, I'm really scared Nicholas" Connor said, looking past Nicholas.
"Come on, we just had to make sure no one reads out what's written on her mark, to her, then we'd just have to hatch a plan, and come up with some story." Nicholas said. Already forming a plan in his head.
"Do you think that will work?" Connor asked.
"Trust me on this" Nicholas said and Connor nodded.
"Now tell me, why were you smiling so much earlier, even though I was drenched, were you perhaps happy I was drenched?" Connor asked, amusement in his eyes.
"Of course not, I've found her Connor, my mate." Nicholas said, grinning.
"Oh and who's the lucky one?" Connor asked
"Tell me brother, have you been lying to me recently?" Connor asked
"What are you saying?, I.....I didn't do any such things....." Nicholas stuttered
"The nurse girl?, you didn't know her before did you?" Connor asked smirking
"Well.....well maybe" Nicholas said, swallowing hard.
"Well my bet is, she's your mate, Well you can have her, but make sure she doesn't cause problems for me, otherwise, I'd really hate to be the cause of my brother's sadness" Connor said.
***********
In the dead of the night Carrissa heard some sounds and woke Alaina.
"Who do you think is speaking to the guards" She asked Alaina.
"How will I know that?, am I some witch, that I know everything?" Alaina asked irritated.
"It might be that, they've brought some foods to us" Carrissa said, smiling, the prospect of food appealing to her.
"Oh you fool, It's the middle of the night, will the cook, serve us food now?, or are we some Royalty, that we get to eat when we want?" Alaina asked disgusted, the idiot had woken her for apparently no need.
"Who knows, and hey you don't ever dare call me that again!" Carrissa whispered furiously.
"Listen here fool......" Alaina started to say.
"Did I perhaps, visit at the wrong time?" Ava asked the two.
"Your highness!" The two shouted.
"Please keep it down, except for the guards and you, no one else knows I'm here, and I would really like to keep it that way." Ava said, whispering.
Connor's POV
Morning came faster than usual, maybe it's because I slept late, whatever it is, I dressed quickly and went to the dining room, I met every one,
by the look of things they all just sitted, the king lowered his gaze as soon as we made eye contact, I had yet to decide his punishment, at first I intended to call the Elders meeting but then why should I?, he's not important, he'll get his punishment later, Ava was already sitted at the table, she was wearing a honey colored gown, except for fatigue written over her, nothing seems to be wrong..... Except for the color of her eyes, it was still golden, it will change sooner or later, not to worry.
"Good morning" Ava greeted me, smiling.
"Morning Love, how was your night?" I asked her.
"Splendid, yours?" A shadow passing over her features as she answered.
"Likewise" I said. Every one said their greetings and I took my place at the table.
At my signal, the maids started bringing in the dishes, Ava hadn't cooked today, I could tell from the aroma. They began serving the foods.
Then something shocking happened. Ava's supposed brother, Nil, Entered, and looked across the table and at Ava.
"Why's he in here?" I asked Nicholas, who seem confused at the moment. I still have some doubt, about he, being my mate's Brother, I think it's all a plan and Ava fell for it.
"Hi there Ava" He said, Ava, not noticing his presence before now, looked up, first surprise, then a smile spread across her features.
"Hey baby" She said.
"Come on over" She said, spreading her arms. He walked to her and gave her a hug while she sat, patting her head.
"Stop that" Ava said laughing
"You'll never change, will you?" Ava said.
"No never" He said, regarding His sister.
"But you did change...."
"I was told, you're awake, and obviously you've forgotten all about me, I just thought to check up on you" He said after a while.
"Oh, you're not really serious, are you?, I mean I would never forget about you, you're my brother!" Ava Exclaimed. I've had enough of this!.
"Oh you didn't, you just had to go riding with your beloved husband, all that, while you just woke, but you forgot you had a brother" He said staring at Ava, then at me.
"Nil....." Ava drawled, holding his hand
"Ah, brother in law, good morning to you too, Sister snatcher" He said, in a very mean tone
"Nil....watch it" Ava said, brows furrowed
"Oh I see, your husband looks.....should I say handsome, even though, you had not thought twice about marrying the person who took, mother and father away from us" He said, obviously angry, I stood up from my seat.
"Look Young man...."
"Oh please, I'm speaking with my sister and until she doesn't want me to speak anymore, I'll keep speaking" He glared at me, the people at the table rose.
"Why, Ava?, were you really that desperate to be with a man, who killed his own mother in cold blood?" He asked glaring at Ava, my blood went cold, blood drained from my face, I could feel my body going numb.
"That's enough, Cyprian Donovan, I won't stand here, while you speak ill of my husband and Mate, leave it or take it, he's my husband now and things will remain that way, so you better know what's best for you and keep shut!" Ava said, standing up and slamming her hands on the table, so much that it's force, sent some plates and cups crashing down. And for the first time in a long while, calling her brother by his name.