The Border Trilogy (Book #1) Enemies to lovers, Forbidden love

Part 4 - EDITED

AVERY'S POV

"Katrina! KATRINA!" I shrieked as I ran into the stone house as fast I could to find my sister. "Katrina, where are you!"

Irritated shushes came from different rooms as I passed them, the children were sleeping but all I could think about was Eva. She's gone. They have her, they've taken her, and they're going to kill her.

"Katrina!" I yelled desperately as I searched for her room.

"Avery? What's the matter?" a concerned voice finally answered. I turned to find Katrina with her head cocked to the side, her eyebrows coming together as she studied my face to make sense of the screaming.

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. No words, the entire english language evading me as I tried to think of how I could even begin to explain. Only heavy shudders as I exhaled, the beginning of a sob forming as tears welled up in my eyes.

"Avery?" Katrina's voice was more alert now and she stalked towards me, grabbing me by the shoulders, giving a light shake as if to snap me out of the trance I was in. "Avery what is it? What happened?"

"I messed up," The tears gave way and began to fall and I looked down, "Eva's gone."

"What do you mean, where did she go- Avery I need you to tell me exactly what's going on, right now." her palm found its way to my cheek, squeezing lightly, forcing my eyes back to hers as they urged me to continue.

"I crossed the border," I whispered.

Katrina's arms dropped as she took a sharp inhale, stepping away from me with eyes widened as understanding set in. She searched my face for signs of deceit or confusion.

"What did she do?" She said then, "Avery, where is she now?"

I forced myself to swallow the lump in my throat and halt the tears to allow me to speak clearly. "She followed me across to bring me back, there were protectors standing closer to the river lines than we anticipated. They attacked us, Eva made sure I got away but they took her. Two men took her away."

Katrina looked around the hall frantically, her breathing becoming shallower as signs of hyperventilation took over her. She put one hand on the wall to steady herself, the other her heart.

"Katrina I'm sorry, I'm so sorry I don't know what to do, I'm so scared," I covered my face with my hands and let the tears go, unable to hold back any longer. In front of me Katrina slumped to the floor, hugging her arms around herself. Her body started to shake as she began to cry.

"Please no, please no." She pleaded in between heavy cries.

I fell to the floor beside her and wrapped my arms around her. How could I have been so stupid, on a night like this, most of the adults were away, they wouldn't be back for hours. Even when they get back, there's absolutely nothing we can do. Katrina's arms opened to me as she continued to cry. Neither of us know what else to do. Our cries became so audible, it warranted voyeurs from every room around us now standing in their doorways looking at us. About to learn the very scary truth.

That for the first time in 15 years, someone crossed the border.

EVA'S POV

"Please, please let me go! This was a mistake!" I begged as I was dragged across the woods.

"Be quiet," Darien's voice was harsh.

"Please, I'm begging you- this was an accident-"I tried digging my feet into the ground to harden their efforts to push me forward, farther into their tribe.

"If you don't shut your mouth, I'll shut it for you." he snapped, clearly exacerbated with my attempts to slow them down.

"Please don't do this, there has to be another way!"