Under the Winter Sun (Elemental Enchanters Series Book 3) (19 page)

Natalia moved right in front of her, towering over Ava. Her hazel eyes bored into Ava’s.

“Go ahead. Whatever you have to say isn’t something I haven’t already said to myself.”

She arched an eyebrow, then turned to Gabriel. “You deserve so much better than her.” She stormed out of the room.

What was that supposed to mean? Ava glimpsed aggravation in Gabriel’s eyes, but it faded as he turned to Ava. “Are you okay? Were you hurt?”

How he could possibly think of her well-being now perplexed her. “No, I’m fine. Were you and Eric?”

Eric snorted. “They just caught me off guard. I almost drowned though,” he teased with a crooked smile. 

“It happened so quickly. It was the only thing I could think of.” 

“I’m sorry that happened.”

Ava shook her head. “No, it was me. I wasn’t thinking. My complete stupidity almost got us killed.”

Lance squeezed her shoulder. “We all felt Peter when he…you know.” Kissed Katarina. Ava was glad he didn’t say it out loud.

“Yeah, but we didn’t run away,” Gillian mumbled.

“You would have done the same,” Ilya spoke from behind Eric and Gabriel. He was stretched out in one of the wooden library chairs next to Konstantin with an open book in front of him. 

Ava tensed when Aaron entered the library. His jaw was set and his eyes were still angry. “Gabriel, we need to see you.” 

Gabriel nodded and flashed his eyes to Ava. Then he walked out of the room.

“This night keeps getting better,” Eric said.

Ava frowned and bowed her head. “What have I done?”

Lance pulled her into a hug. “Let’s sit down. You’re trembling,” he said as he led her to Konstantin and Ilya’s table.

“This isn’t your fault,” Eric said. “If anyone’s it’s mine. I was the dumbass who didn’t want to walk back.”

“You wouldn’t have had to walk anywhere if it wasn’t for me.”

“Is everyone okay?” Katarina and Peter came into the room. Ava silently groaned at the sight of her electric blue hair. She didn’t like her or her blue hair. She didn’t like that Katarina was so polite and concerned. She definitely didn’t like her holding Peter’s hand as they strode toward the table.

“We’re fine,” Ava snapped, but didn’t mean to be so rude. She rubbed her face. “I’m sorry.”

“We’re glad you’re okay,” Peter said. “We got worried when we didn’t feel you all. It was like that day that you took off your necklace, Ava.”

“Thanks for your concern,” Eric said. “It won’t happen again.”

“I heard you were very heroic, Ava,” Katarina said with a timid smile.

“She saved us both.” Eric beamed.

“Katarina,” Anastasya said as she entered the library. “Gustav is looking for you.”

“Oh, okay. Excuse me,” she said and then left with Peter.

“Ava, please do not be mad at Katarina,” Konstantin said. “It is unfortunate for you that you lost Peter, but he has lifted Katarina’s spirits during this. She was very close to Alena. We all were, but they were best friends.”

Ilya looked as if he would break down and cry at the mention of Alena.

“I do not tell you to hurt you,” Konstantin continued. “It’s just that well, Ilya and I have not seen Katarina this happy in years.”

“It’s true.” Ilya touched Ava’s hand. 

What could she say? She wasn’t sure how to feel either. She wasn’t upset with Katarina, but she had to know why Ava and Peter broke up. Although, according to Peter it was other things that drove him away.

“So what happened, Ava?” Gillian asked.

She told them the story, but averted her eyes. She couldn’t stand their accusatory looks, or maybe she imagined them.

Ilya gasped. “The Liquid Mirror.”

“The what?” Thomas asked.

“It’s a device that’s linked to Havok’s castle, made of liquid gas. You think it’s a mirror, but they’re watching you from the other side. They cast a spell and can reach through the mirror. They sometimes use it to travel.” Eric said as Peter and Anastasya returned. “You should never get close to one because they can capture anyone” 

“So a Cimmerian grabbed me from within the mirror?” she asked. “Was he or she, trying to pull me through it?”

“Yes.”

She sank back against the chair. They were seconds from taking her. She’d been so stupid.

Katarina returned with a worried expression. Peter rushed up to her. “What? What is it?”

“I’m to go with them back to that place.”

“What?” Ava didn’t miss the anger in Peter’s voice.

“Wait, who’s all going back?” Eric asked as Ava got to her feet.

Katarina pulled back from Peter’s embrace. “Gabriel, Sean, Gustav, and Aaron.”

Ava inhaled a sharp breath. “What? Why? Aaron said he can’t teleport.”

“They should take me instead,” Peter said, and grabbed Katarina’s hand, pulling her out of the room.

The rest of them followed Peter and Katarina to the conservatory. Everyone had gathered and were saying goodbye. Sean didn’t seem the least bit nervous. Natalia hugged Gabriel. Peter tried to take Katarina’s place but Gustav wouldn’t budge.

Ava crossed the room to Aaron, swallowing the lump in her throat. “I’m so sorry for this. I should come with you.”

Aaron set his jaw. “I think you’ve done enough harm. Stay here with Savina and be safe.”

Her chest tightened. She hated the way he spoke to her, but she deserved it.

“On the bright side, maybe we can capture some of the Cimmerians,” Sean said as he placed a hand on Ava’s shoulder.

“We will be fine,” Gustav assured them. “We should go. Gabriel,” he called.

Ava’s pulse quickened and she stopped him in his path. “Gabriel, I’m so sorry. Please don’t go.”

“I’ll be fine. Aaron wants to know what happened to the town.”

“How will he be able to tell?”

“Sean has the ability to see the history of things. Tell what happened in a place, thing, person, anything.”

“But what if the Cimmerians come back for you?” Ava raised her voice. “Or what if they get inside your head?”

“We know what to expect now. Plus, Katarina will protect us.”

“I’ve put you in danger, and I will never forgive myself.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself. I will be back.”

No words described how she felt at that moment. She feared for them. 

“Promise me, no more running,” he said with a crooked smile, but his tone was serious.

Ava nodded vigorously. She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him tightly. “Please be safe,” she whispered in an unsteady voice. She didn’t want to let him go.

He wound his arms around her and squeezed her. “I will. Get some rest.” He then put his hands on Gustav and Sean. Aaron and Katarina touched his arm. And then, they were gone.

Ava’s heart dropped to her stomach as she drew a shaky breath. She no longer felt any of them. She hated it. She felt cold and empty, like darkness had overcome her.

“I can’t see what happens to them,” Moira said. “When you all left, it was like you were dead. It’s like the charm on that place prevents me from seeing them.”

“I won’t be able to sleep until they return,” Eric said.

“Nor will I.” Natalia scowled at Ava.

“I’m so sorry,” Ava said, letting tears fall. But sorry wasn’t enough, and she knew it. Her recklessness had been the last straw. The last time she had been reckless, she killed someone. What if the Cimmerians waited for them in that town? What if Sorcha was there and put another spell on them? It would be months before they came back. 

No one said a word. Only the crackling in the fireplace sounded.

She hoped with everything she had, that they would return. She didn’t know what she would do without Gabriel.

Not even the lyrical comedic words of
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
could keep Ava’s mind off Aaron, Gabriel, and the rest returning to wherever that creepy town was. Hours had passed since Aaron’s group had left and the fire had reduced to embers long ago. Her eyes were dry and exhaustion clung to her like wet, heavy clothes.

She leaned back in the chair, glancing around the room. Natalia had curled her long body in the Queen Anne chair by the fire and fallen asleep. Moira was asleep on the floor alone. She didn’t know where Thomas as. He and Moira seemed to have talked for hours. Ava wondered if Moira ever ran out of things to say. Eric snored softly beside her with his head plastered to the table. She glanced behind her and saw Peter, still awake, but completely spent, resting his head on his arms on the table.

He stared vacantly, and redness surrounded his deep brown eyes. His hair was more disheveled than usual. She wanted to comfort him. But at the same time, she didn’t. All night Ava had been acutely aware of Peter’s presence, but they never said a word to each other. She didn’t know why, but his anxiety weighed her down. It seemed more intense than anyone else’s.  

She rested the book face down against the table and stood to stretch. She meandered out into the hall, where the gray morning light bled through the high foyer window, and followed the rich aroma of coffee to the dining room. Ava stopped at the edge of the room. She saw Thomas sipping coffee while Savina refilled her cup.

“Good morning, Ava.” She smiled.

“Good morning.”

“Mornin’,” Thomas greeted. “Did you sleep at all? You look like crap.”

“So do you.” Ava crossed to the chair next to Thomas. “I didn’t see you leave the room.”

“I was quiet.”

“I can’t believe you all stayed in the library.” Savina shook her head. “Would you care for some coffee?”

“No thanks. So, you haven’t heard from them?”

Worry flashed in Savina’s eyes. “No.”

Ava yawned as they sat quietly, sipping their coffee, until others stirred and started morning rituals. Ronan and Aidan stretched as they shuffled into the kitchen and went straight for the coffee. Shannon followed shortly after with Cara and Lucas. Lucas babbled nonsensical words while Cara cooed at him. Ava propped her head on the table.

“What happened last night?” Thomas whispered.

“You know what happened.”

“No, I mean, why did you run?”

“I think everyone knows.” 

“What? Because of Peter and Katarina?” Thomas nodded at Peter.

Ava swallowed hard and turned back to Thomas. “Are you trying to get a rise out of me?”

He sighed. “No. I suck at this. I know how it feels, is what I’m trying to say.”

She felt sorry.

“Don’t,” he said. “I gotta know. What was it about him that made you lose interest in me?”

“It wasn’t him, completely. You and I grew apart. We’re two different people. You became so aggressive, and I thought I had to stay with you because of the coven.”

“You’re right though. We are different. But for what it’s worth, I am very sorry for what I did to you. I’ll never forgive myself for it. I’m glad Aaron helped me.”

“How did he?”

“You never knew they thought about banishing me, did you?”

“What?”

“Yeah. But Aaron worked with me on my aggression. I eventually understood that you oand Peter were good for each other. Not you and me. I knew I couldn’t compete with that. I think it was
that
that drove me insane. Just the way you looked at him. You never looked at me like that.”

“Why are you saying all this?” she asked and her eyes watered.

He shrugged his broad shoulders and massaged his hand with his thumb. “Ava, I feel your pain, and it didn’t hurt this bad for me. No offense.”

“Aren’t you lucky?” she asked, sarcastically.

“That’s not what I mean. I’m just saying that even though it wasn’t this painful, it got better. Aaron told me not to be enemies because we’d always belong in the same coven. I’m not saying rush over and make amends with him. Just take it one day at a time. And don’t run away,” he told her. “Maybe you should start seeing what he feels for her and understand that. I know it’s hard. Trust me. It’s a sucky situation, but we’re here for you.”

Ava was taken-aback by the words that came out of his mouth. This wasn’t the same egotistical Thomas Arrington that constantly called her babe and acted like she was his property. She knew he had changed, but she didn’t realize how deep that change went. She took a breath. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. But I say this to you, because I really do understand, now.”

“I’m sorry I put you through that.”

He waved his hand dismissively. “It was for the better. And you have nothing to apologize for. Toward the end, I didn’t treat you well at all. I’m ashamed of what I did to you, and power or no power, I knew better.”

She nodded. “It’s hard because it just came out of nowhere. Or maybe I wasn’t paying close enough attention. And
feeling
what he feels for her and how it’s so much more than what he felt for me…” her voice trailed.

“It hurts. Hopefully when we leave, it’ll distract you enough.”

Moira and Eric entered and sat across from Thomas and Ava. Eric’s eyes weren’t fully open. He looked as if he could drop his head on the table and pass out.

“Good morning.” Thomas smiled at Moira. 

“Morning,” she said. “You left me all alone on that floor.” She frowned.

“I’m sorry.”

Ava realized how Thomas understood. He hung on Moira’s every word and his pastel blue eyes were alive at her sight. Ava could tell he loved how messy her hair was and that Moira didn’t care that it was messy. Her brown eyes still sparkled as usual, but there was a little sadness, obviously missing Gabriel.

More people moseyed into the room, their voices filling the quiet room. No one looked like they had slept.

Someone shrieked and everyone turned their heads to the wide opening of the room. Shannon rushed into Sean’s arms and Aaron kissed Savina’s forehead. The group stood to greet those who returned. Gustav received hugs from Anastasya, Ilya, and Konstantin. Peter rushed to Katarina and kissed her so tenderly, yet passionately, it brought a sharp pain to Ava’s chest. Her knees buckled and she slowly lowered back into the chair. She remembered him saying, y
ou and I are invincible. I will never let you go.
Her necklace warmed, and she grabbed it. Unfortunately, no matter how hard she tried to keep Peter out of her thoughts, he was still there.

“Gabriel!” Moira cried and bounded into his arms.

Ava’s heart jumped at the mention of his name, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

“What happened?” An eager Moira asked them.

“Let them rest first,” Savina said.

“They should hear it,” Aaron said, and everyone settled at the table or leaned on the counter, waiting to hear the story.

Ava met Gabriel’s weary eyes, but there was something else there. Relief?

“We went back to the town,” Aaron began, and voices hushed. “Sean saw that it was a town of Ephemerals that the Cimmerians destroyed. They killed many and kidnapped others, mostly children to turn into Enchanters.”

Ava and a few others gasped.

“They left after setting it on fire, so there is nothing left. The hooded figures that attacked Gabriel, Eric, and Ava are Cimmerians, waiting for us. They travel through the mirrors that Havok placed throughout the town. I’m sure there are mirrors in more places. Someone got inside Gabriel’s head, bringing them to the town so the Cimmerians could capture them.”

“How did they know he would teleport?” Link asked. “Are there Cimmerians watching us?”

Gustav stroked his beard. “We don’t know.”

Link rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Great.”

“We are protected,” Savina said. “As long as we stay within the charm.”

“With that said, Gabriel is no longer teleporting, unless he’s with a protector,” Aaron said. “We need to keep our minds
sharp
.” Aaron’s eyes landed on Ava, then drifted to the others. “We are to leave in five days.”       

Some people shouted in celebration. Some were anxious. Ava was relieved. It was finally time to find the rest of their Aureole instead of sitting around thinking about Peter. She looked around the room and saw the worried and eager looks on their faces.

“We need to make sure we do this properly,” Gustav said. “There are a lot of dangerous entities that could stop us. If you do not wish to join us, we understand, and you may stay here at the Manor, under the charm.”

No one bowed out. Everyone cemented their feet to the floor.

“We must practice as much and as hard as we can,” Sean said. “Our Aureole has much to bring to the table, and we wish to accompany you.”

“I want to make sure you all know the dangers you are about to face,” Aaron warned them.

Ava didn’t care. She was glad to be doing something other than waiting.

“We have two protectors among our group. We need to make sure at least one of them is near all of us at all times,” Aaron said. He carried on with his speech, but Ava tuned him out. Of course, the two people she wanted to avoid were the two people who could possibly save her life or keep her from harm. She caught the end of Aaron’s words.

“We will rescue them, and we will prevail.”

People rejoiced and filled the hallway ready to practice. Ava walked beside Thomas out with the crowd. Even though the edginess faded, sleep weighed on her, and drained her body. and the worry faded, but had drained her body.

“I think I’m going to try and sleep first,” she said.

“Me, too. Sleeping on the floor doesn’t work.” They walked up together, but he stopped on the second floor. “Ava?”

“Yeah?”

“What do you think of Moira?”

And now she was doling out love advice to her ex as she was trying to get over her other ex. “I like her a lot,” she told him.

He grinned. “I do too.”

“Just don’t hurt her, okay?”

“I won’t. I promise.”

She nodded and made her way to the third floor to her new room. With her hand on the handle, she stopped. The tall arched window at the end of the hall caught her eye, and she strode toward it. The frost on the rainbow of flowers glittered in the early morning sun.

Ava couldn’t believe they were leaving in a few days. She wished somehow they could send a message to Melissa, Jeremy, Joss, Kira, Maggie, and Zhan that they were coming. They were finally ready. She wanted to be outside with the others, but knew she would be worthless from lack of sleep. Despite last night’s idiocy, she had gotten better at attacking quickly. She thought about all those poor people the Cimmerians killed in that town. All those children. How long ago had he been through that place? Had they just missed him? 

“If you want to water the plants, you should open the window. Or go outside.” She jumped and turned around. Gabriel raised his dark eyebrows and gave a small smile.

“What?”

“Your hands.” He pointed. “They’re watering.” She looked down, and the water stopped streaming down her arms. The carpet beside her boots was soaked.

“Sorry. I guess I can’t control it sometimes. I didn’t notice it.”

“What were you thinking?”

“It’s nothing.”

He moved closer. “You were worried and angry about something. When you get angry, have you noticed your hands will do that? Like they’re anticipating a fight?”

She thought about it. “Actually, yeah, I have.”

“It’s nothing to worry about. I thought it was funny.” His eyes were bloodshot and half-opened. They held such solemnity as he gazed into her eyes, but he seemed to restrain himself simultaneously. Ava wished he would let her feel him and not cut himself off from her.

She dropped her gaze. “I was thinking about what you all saw.”

“Havok’s getting impatient. He knows we’re coming, and he’s not going to make it easy for us. There’ll be more ambushes I’m sure. But you seem to be great under pressure. You’ve saved my life twice.”

She bit her lip. “Was it still flooded?”

“Oh yeah.” He winked. “Why aren’t you practicing out there?”

“I stayed up all night waiting for you…all to come back.” She recovered herself.

“You didn’t sleep at all?”

“No. I couldn’t.”

“Why?”

She cleared her throat. Her mouth was dry and his stare made her nervous for some reason. “I was worried. And I have nightmares.”

“I’m sorry,” he said. “For now, take a few deep breaths and clear your mind. Easier said than done, but trust me, it works.”

She met his eyes. Ava realized she had missed him and that he was the one she worried about the most. He’d always been there for her, even when she didn’t ask. He was loyal and never judged her. A true friend. “Gabriel?”

“Yeah.”