Queen of Jastain (23 page)

They didn’t always find a cave. Sometimes it was just an overhang to keep the elements out, but whenever a need arose, something emerged to meet it. Guided by destiny, Abby marveled at how everything fit perfectly into place. She was finally where she belonged and it wasn't a place…it was a purpose.

On the fifth day of travel, they reached the valley, finding supplies they'd left and the horses nearby. The late afternoon sun beamed into the cave in blinding hues of orange as they set up camp for the night.

After they ate, Avant appeared to be deep in thought.

She watched. “What are you thinking about?”

“I'm concerned. I felt certain this trip would provide the next step in our journey. While I believe it was important, it has not yielded the answers I'd hoped. Frankly, I'm at a loss as to what to do next and I sense time is short.”

She hadn't spoken to him about her experience on the mountain or the dream she had in Naphen’s home. “I think I know where our next step has to be, but I’m not sure how to get there. The last night we were in Naphen’s house, I had a dream of my father’s study. And I realized that's where I need to go.”

His brow furrowed, and his voice lowered an octave. “Why did you not tell me of this before? You're not going back there without me, Abigail.”

She rolled her eyes. “Fine time to go all protective, Commander. It doesn’t matter anyway. I don’t know how to get back, so nobody’s going anywhere until we can figure that out.”

They both sat silently in thought.

Avant’s face lit. “You told me the night you came here you'd discovered this Chad and your friend had betrayed you?”

Abby wasn’t sure where he was going, but she nodded. “Yes.”

His face clouded in myriad emotions. He dropped his gaze and sighed heavily. “Did you know you almost left by Implanting in the cave at the falls? It took all my power to hold you and bring you out of your energy.”

He showed Abby his memory of that evening. She'd glowed like a lantern. His energy had held her back as he called her name.

Since that evening, Abby had not spoken to Avant about the incident. Neither had she afforded herself permission to think about it. “I didn’t realize that had happened. I knew I had to get out of there.” She looked up into the sky trying to stave off her own memories.

Bringing her out of her thoughts, Avant spoke softly, “It seems emotional trauma opens that aspect of your ability. If you could recreate the energy of the emotions, then you could Implant.”

“No way!” She frowned and furrowed her brow as she shot him a glare. “Why don’t you relive the moment when you found out your wife married the man who tried to kill you?”

He held up his palms in peace. “Abigail, that isn’t what I meant. I'm talking about the energy of your emotions. If you can recreate that energy, then the Placement Implanting will open to you.”

Her shoulders relaxed. She considered it for a moment. With the other aspects of her Gift, she was able to concentrate her energy to Implant, but apparently teleportation had an emotional connection. “Do you have any ideas how I can Implant without reliving the worst moments of my life?”

Sighing, he shook his head. “Not at this time, but allow me to think on it.”

“Avant, can I ask you a question?”

He pulled a piece of grass from a tuft growing in the cave and nodded.

“How long have you been wearing the diamond earring?”

A brilliant smile lit his face brighter than she'd seen in months. “Since the day you gave it to me.”

Her heart melted into her chest and she dropped her gaze to pick at a loose thread in the hem of her shirt. “Really? Who pierced your ear?”

“I did it.”

She winced, imaging the pain. “Oh my God, how could you do that to yourself?”

“It was a small price to pay for the privilege of wearing it.”

The words warmed her more deeply than the campfire. “I'm so glad you liked it. I wasn’t sure…but I knew how you regarded it…”

He gazed into the fire then turned the full force of those blue eyes on her. “You gave me the best you had, and nothing you could have given me would have touched me more.”

His words held strong emotion and something she hadn’t seen in a long time flicked over his face. Her heart sped up a few beats. What he’d said reminded her of something her dad might’ve said, and the thought of Jonathan Randall opened the floodgates of her mind in revelation.
Holy Shit!

Avant reached for her hand, their fingers barely touching.  “Abigail, I —”

“Avant! My dad gave me these earrings. Do you think one of them is the missing Stone of Light?” She stared at the diamond in his ear and pulled her hand from his to touch the one in her own ear.

His eyes immediately shuttered to hide some emotion, and he studied her face. “Yes. I am certain one of them is the Stone of Light, but which one I cannot tell.”

Evidence of spring teemed all around as they rode the northern valley. The freshly tilled fields offered proof that Petra had been busy planting crops and managing the lands. The early wildflowers bloomed in bright hues and colored the meadows like large pieces of confetti. The new growth of grass permeated the air in the sunshine as the horses trotted the dale.

As Avant predicted, they’d been gone thirty days, and early April fell upon them like newly found peace descended on her.

Working in the stables, Petra apparently heard the horses and dashed out to greet them. At the sight of his face, Abby jumped from Imperial and rushed to him.

He picked her up and spun her around. “I’m glad you didn’t get blown off the mountain.” Squeezing her tightly, he rocked from side to side.

The scent of leather and hay and warm male tickled her nose. She exhaled into his chest like a heavy weight had been removed. “I’m so glad to see you. It was a hard trip.” Pulling back to gaze into his face, she touched his cheek and smiled. “Avant was almost killed.” She turned her head back to gesture at Avant over her shoulder, but flinched at the raging Titan in his eyes. Without a word, he dismounted Spiritus and stormed up to the house, leaving her and Petra in wide-eyed bewilderment to tend the horses.

“What was that about?” Petra narrowed his eyes as he watched Avant stomp into the house.

Abby bit her lip. “Oh, don’t worry about him. He probably had something he needed to do.” Her eyes lingered on the doorframe as he disappeared. Then she shook her head and focused on Petra. “So, anyway, he was attacked by a mountain lion, and I thought he was going to die.”

They tended the horses, and she told Petra about meeting her grandfather, his death, Seppitent, and her horrible fight with Avant, leaving out one little part. She also told him about her mountain vista experience, something she hadn’t told Avant.

After they'd cared for the horses, he had a few things to finish up, and she needed a bath. He promised to meet her for dinner at sunset.

“Abby, I missed you.” Petra took her hands in his.

Staring into his brown eyes warmed her in a way that made it seem like she could never be cold again. “I missed you, too. I thought of you every day.”

He smiled and pulled her close. She closed her eyes and allowed her heart to drink in his affection. Kissing the top of her head, he sent her off to the house.

She made her way into the kitchen, where Helean busied herself preparing dinner. When she saw Abby, she squealed and dropped what she was doing to hug her. “My dear, the house has seemed so lonely. I haven’t gotten a decent night’s rest since you left.”

“We’re home safe now, and glad to be here, so you can sleep well tonight.” Abby patted her sturdy little shoulders.

“I've got your bath water heating. It will be ready in a bit, my dear.”

“Thanks, Helean. I’ve missed you.” Abby kissed her on the cheek and hurried to soak in a hot tub.

She'd missed everything about home, but especially Petra.

What had gotten into Avant? Pursing her lips, she suspected she knew but to dwell on it would open a whole can of emotions she wasn't prepared to consume.

After her bath, she sauntered to her room and combed out her wet hair. She put on clean clothes and padded downstairs to see if Helean needed help.

Hearing Avant and Petra talking in the parlor, she smiled and redirected. When she got to the door, Petra’s voice stopped her short before she entered.

“You are not in love with Abby, therefore are not entitled to jealous rages!”

“What gives you the right to say such things to me?” Avant spoke in a low growl that meant he bordered on rage.

A lump formed in her throat, one she couldn't gulp down.

“My right is that I'm in love with Abby, and if it weren’t for your mixed signals, she would love me, too. Let her go, Avant. You will only hurt her. Is that what you want?”

The breath left her lungs and chills crawled up and down her arms.
Oh my God.

In theory, Abby knew Petra was in love with her. It was hard not to know, but to hear him say it out loud felt like warm liquid pouring over her. Was he right? Would she love him if not for Avant? He was her best friend, but
love him
?

Avant bit back, “How could you possibly know what my feelings are?”

“Are you really prepared to give up the hope that Sentieve will be your wife again? If you are, then you have my blessing to pursue Abby.” Petra said the words with such contempt, Abby wasn’t sure Avant wouldn’t hit him.

“I do not need your
blessing
, Petra.”

“Go ahead. Try to give her what she deserves.”

“What do you mean
try
to give her what she deserves?” Avant’s indignation flared, but he hadn’t answered Petra’s question about Sentieve.

She winced at the obvious sidestep.

“I don’t think you can make her happy. I know her better than you. She talks to me, and I can assure you that you don’t make her happy. You make her miserable.”

“You have no idea what I
know
or what I
feel
, and you are now overstepping the bonds of our relationship, young Landmaster.”

To hear him speak to Petra like that wrenched her heart.

“Then let me leave you with this. If Abby is your heart’s desire, you should let her know before you find she’s in love with someone else.” Petra stormed from the room and found her in the hall.

Her eyes widened. He paused to meet her gaze, and her cheeks flushed with heat. He gave her a soft laugh that held no humor and left her there gaping after him.

Abby flitted in a fluster to the kitchen. Why hadn’t she just gone there in the first place? She and Helean set the table and called the men in to eat.

She sat between them. They brooded and scowled at each other as they filled their plates. Whenever she tried to speak to Petra, Avant interrupted with questions the planting of the fields.

After the third time, she threw her spork into her food and glared at him. “May I speak?”

He held up his hands as if he had no idea what she was talking about. “Of course, Abigail.”

Petra sat silent and stared into his plate. It reminded her of the awkward first meal in the house. Determined not to let their issues ruin her first night back, she told Petra more about the mountain lion attack, about making fire, and lifting Avant. Finally she asked him, “Are you available for lunch tomorrow? I was hoping we could go to the falls.”

Petra met her gaze and smiled with such warmth her heart fluttered.

She could have sworn she heard a low growl come from Avant, but then he spoke quickly. “I'm sorry, Abigail. Petra is needed in the southern field tomorrow and won't be available for lunch.”

She turned to look at him. His face was unreadable, except the slight twitch of his upper lip that indicated agitation. She glanced back to Petra, who had finished his last bite and stood.

“I'm sorry, Abby. It seems I'm occupied tomorrow.” His gaze landed on Avant and smoldered with contempt. The tension was tougher than the venison steak, and she doubted even a finely forged blade could break it.

“I will, however be available for dinner tomorrow evening, and I intend to spend it with you.” He cupped her cheek and left.

Petra’s face fell as he walked from the room. Avant’s goading had upset him. She pushed her chair from the table to go after him, but Avant caught her arm. “Abigail, I was hoping you would allow me to peruse the prophecies from Naphen this evening.” She stared down at his grip on her wrist and he released her. “I must meet with my Captains in the morning but will be available to take you to the falls for lunch tomorrow.” His eyes glittered, and his face lit in a brilliant smile.

She blew out a heavy breath at his obvious diversion, but how was any woman supposed to combat that smile? She returned his smile and nodded, then headed off to get the papers.

The next morning Abby’s head throbbed in pain. All night she dreamt of dark shadows grabbing at her.

She washed and padded downstairs before sunrise. Finding Helean in the kitchen, she scoped out the tension of the landscape. “Good Morning. Are the boys already gone?”

“Master Petra is in the south field and Lord Ventium has gone to the village. He said he would be back by midday and would take lunch with you.”

“Thanks, Helean.” She sighed and went to work on the breakfast dishes as the songbirds chirped outside the kitchen window.

Thoughts of the previous evening filled her mind, but she wasn't able to sort the swirling contents. Petra was her best friend, her confidant. He knew her better than anyone in the world, but she couldn’t be in love with him. She loved someone else, didn’t she?

I'm in love with Abby.
His words played over and over in her mind. Who doesn’t want to be loved? Her heart pounded, and she tossed the cleaning rag on the table and hurried to the stables. She needed to see him before having lunch with Avant.

After saddling Imperial, she galloped toward the southern field.

Supervising a crew of farmhands atop Dalitus, Petra waved and rode to meet her. “Is everything okay? What are you doing here?”

He dismounted the blue-black stallion and hurried to her side.