Chapter 127
Betrayed by Blood
Avery wiped the sweat from her brow, her hands tightening around the basket she carried. The kitchen was warm, filled with the scent of freshly baked bread and stew. It was just another day, another task, another moment where she forced herself to not think about the ache building inside her bones.
It had started subtly. A dull ache in her limbs, a strange tightness in her chest. She brushed it off at first, blaming exhaustion or stress. Cain had been gone for four days now. Four days of silence. She wasn’t sure why that mattered so much, but it did.
The warriors who stayed behind whispered about the war—how Cain had taken Silvermoon, how he’d crushed Matt, how he’d burned everything down. No one knew when he was returning, only that he would.
And yet... Avery didn’t know if that was something to look forward to.
She sucked in a breath, shaking it off. She had work to do. But her body wouldn’t let her ignore it.
"So we are clear on the breads. Some of the guards are asking for some tea, so Avery, do you mind mixing some milk and cocoa powder?" Julie’s voice rang out through the walls of the kitchen.
Avery nodded quickly, immediately getting on her task. It was amazing, truly. The way the other servants had totally changed their attitude towards her. They weren’t as welcoming, but they also weren’t as rude as they were. Now, they just let her be. Avery had heard the rumors; after all, everything that happened in the courtyard that day was left for all to see and interpret as they wished, especially after Kendra’s words. Of course, most weren’t sure if it was true, but they couldn’t ask either, so they stared at Avery from afar and gossiped.
It didn’t bother her. Avery was already used to the side eyes and talks. Just as she was rounding up with the tea the head maid had requested, Selene stepped into the kitchen with a large tray. "The tea? I was asked to serve them," she said as she rolled her eyes.
Avery couldn’t help but giggle, knowing Selena’s true reason for being like this was only because of the guard. One of them was hitting on her, and she absolutely didn’t like it.
Selena stretched the tray out, and Avery began arranging the cups. She hissed out lowly when she felt a little bit of sweat tickle down the side of her face. "It isn’t even hot, so why am I sweating?" she mumbled to herself.