Raven ran toward the flames and Aaron was right beside her.

When they got to the market square, the fire had already spread to three different stalls and people were screaming and running in all directions, chaos filled the air around them.

"Get water from the well!" Aaron shouted to a group of men standing nearby and they immediately snapped into action, forming a bucket line and Raven didn't wait for orders before she joined them.

She grabbed buckets and passed them down the line, her arms burning from the effort, but she didn't stop because there were still people trapped inside the buildings.

The smoke was getting thicker by the second and it was getting harder and harder to breathe.

Aaron had already run into one of the burning structures and Raven's heart lurched in her chest because, what if he didn't come back out? What if the building collapsed on him?

Relief flooded her features when she saw him emerge with a child in his arms. He wordlessly handed the boy to his mother before running back in for more.

Raven moved closer to the flames and started helping people evacuate. She pulled an elderly man away from a collapsing beam just as it crashed to the ground where he had been standing.

The heat was overwhelming and sweat poured down her face.

Her eyes stung from the smoke but she kept going because people needed help and she couldn't just stand by and do nothing.

That was when she saw her.

A woman with golden blonde hair and pale skin, dragging a heavy barrel of water toward the fire and even through the smoke and chaos, Raven recognized her immediately.

Ava Caine. The princess. Aaron's sister and the person she was sent to kill.

Raven's breath caught in her throat, her body growing rigid because this was it. This was her chance.

Ava was right there, distracted and vulnerable and no one would question it if something happened to her in the middle of all this chaos.

She could make it look like an accident. A falling beam. A collapsing wall. It would be so easy.

But then, Ava stumbled and dropped the barrel, water spilling everywhere.

She looked frustrated with herself before bending down to pick it back up and Raven found herself moving forward without thinking and helping her lift it.

"Thank you," Ava said breathlessly, looking at Raven with grateful eyes that were the same shade of hazel as her brother's, making Raven feel something twist in her gut.

They carried the barrel together toward the flames and dumped it on one of the smaller fires.

It hissed and sputtered before dying down. Ava immediately turned to go back for more water and Raven followed her because she didn't know what else to do.

"Ava, what are you doing here?" Aaron's voice cut through the noise and Raven turned to see him striding toward his sister with concern written all over his face and soot covering his clothes.

"Helping," Ava said simply, grabbing another bucket.

"You need to leave," Aaron said firmly, trying to take the bucket from her hands but she pulled it away. "It's too dangerous."

"I'm not leaving when people need help," Ava shot back and there was steel in her voice that reminded Raven of Aaron when he was being stubborn.

"These are our people and I'm not going to hide in the palace while they suffer."

"Ava," Aaron started but she cut him off.

"No," She said and her jaw set in a way that told Raven this argument was over. "You don't get to tell me what to do just because you're worried. I'm staying and I'm helping and that's final."

Aaron looked like he wanted to argue more but another shout came from behind them.

He turned to see a wall starting to buckle and he cursed under his breath before running toward it to help shore it up with some of the other men.

Ava went back to hauling water and Raven worked alongside her and several other women and together they managed to get the smaller fires under control, while the men focused on the larger blazes.

It took nearly an hour but eventually the last of the flames were extinguished and all that remained was smoke and ash and the acrid smell of burned wood.

Raven's arms shook from exhaustion and her throat was raw from breathing in smoke.

She wanted nothing more than to collapse somewhere and sleep for a week but she forced herself to stay upright and help with the cleanup.

Aaron was checking on the injured and making sure everyone was accounted for and Ava was distributing blankets to families who had lost their homes.

Raven found herself watching them both with something that felt dangerously close to admiration.

"Sire, I think we got everyone out safely." One of the guards reported to Aaron and he nodded with relief evident on his face.

"Good," Aaron said, wiping soot from his forehead.

"Make sure the healers tend to anyone who needs it and find shelter for the families who lost their homes tonight. Use the palace guest quarters if necessary."

"Yes, sire." The guard said before hurrying off to carry out the orders.

Ava walked over to Aaron and Raven and she looked just as exhausted as Raven felt but there was satisfaction in her eyes because they had saved people and that clearly mattered to her.

"That was close," Ava sighed, pushing her hair back from her face and leaving a streak of ash on her cheek.

"Too close," Aaron agreed and then seemed to remember something because he looked at Ava with suspicion.

"What were you doing at the market anyway? It's late."

"I could ask you the same thing." Ava countered with a raised eyebrow.

"I was walking back from the eastern district," Aaron said and then gestured to Raven. "With her."

Ava's eyes shifted to Raven and there was curiosity there but no hostility.

Raven felt uncomfortable under her gaze because this was the woman she was supposed to murder and she was looking at Raven like they were going to be friends.

"And I was at the market delivering supplies to families in need," Ava said, crossing her arms. "Same as you apparently."

Aaron blinked, looking surprised by this.

"You were doing the same thing I was?"

"Apparently," Ava replied, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Though I didn't know you were doing it too. We really need to communicate better."

"We really do," Aaron agreed and then he seemed to remember his manners because he turned to Raven and said,

"Ava, I'd like you to meet someone. This is Raven. She's my mate."

Raven's eyes went wide because she had not expected him to just announce that so casually.

She shot him a look that clearly said what the hell are you doing?, but Aaron either didn't notice or didn't care.

Ava's entire face lit up like someone had just told her it was her birthday and she let out a squeal that made Raven flinch.

Before she could process what was happening, Ava had thrown her arms around her in a tight hug.

"Oh my goodness," Ava gushed and squeezed Raven so hard she could barely breathe.

"This is wonderful. I've been waiting for Aaron to find his mate for years and now here you are and you're beautiful and you helped save people tonight which means you're brave and kind and I already love you."

Raven stood there stiffly with her arms at her sides and had no idea what to do because no one had hugged her like this since her sister died, and it felt wrong and uncomfortable and also somehow nice at the same time which made her angry at herself.

"Ava, you're crushing her," Aaron said with amusement in his voice and Ava finally pulled back but kept her hands on Raven's shoulders.

"Sorry," Ava apologized but she didn't look sorry at all.

"I just get excited. Tell me everything. How did you two meet? When did you realize you were mates? Have you set a date for the bonding ceremony yet?"

"We haven't," Raven said, quickly stepping back from Ava's grip. "And we're not going to because I'm not staying."

Ava's face fell and she looked genuinely upset by this news.

"What? Why not? You're his mate. You have to stay."

"I don't have to do anything," Raven said more harshly than she intended but she needed distance from these people because they were making her feel things she didn't want to feel.

"Raven," Aaron started but she cut him off.

"Don't," She said, taking another step back. "I helped with the fire because people needed help. That doesn't change anything between us."

"It changes everything," Aaron said softly, moving closer to her. "You could have left. You could have walked away and let everyone else deal with it. But you stayed and you helped save lives and that means something."

"It means nothing," Raven insisted but her voice wavered because she wasn't sure she believed that anymore.

Ava looked between them with confusion written all over her face.

"I don't understand," She said. "If you're mates, why are you fighting it? The bond is a gift."

"Some gifts come with too high a price," Raven answered, shaking her head.

Her eyes locked onto Ava's and for a moment she saw the little girl she was supposed to kill and felt sick to her stomach.

Ava tilted her head and studied Raven with an intensity that made her uncomfortable.

"You're in pain," Ava said quietly and it wasn't a question. "Someone hurt you badly."

Raven's throat tightened because this was too much. These people were too much and she couldn't do this anymore.

"I have to go." She turned to leave but Ava caught her hand.