Inevitable (The Curse of Avalon Book 2)

by Sariah Skye

  Slowly, I allowed the shield to fall, and I was exposed to her.

  The woman turned to me and gasped, placing her dainty hands over her shocked mouth. “Oh my…Lancelot.”

  I glanced down at myself. “Not quite.”

  “Oh, I know,” she said with a quick laugh. “But you’re his spitting image.”

  I frowned momentarily. “I keep hearing that.”

  She waved a hand. “I apologize, you have no idea who I am.”

  Lifting a brow, I took a stab in the dark. The woman standing before me had extremely long, thick, deep brown hair with strands of gold mixed in, honey colored eyes, and perfectly rosy cheeks. She was the epitome of beautiful, with her shapely lips and full cleavage, that was bound by a corset. “Guinevere.”

  She smiled warmly, it only made her even more striking. “Yes. I am sorry for my husband, Lady Avalon. I’m afraid we don’t see eye to eye anymore. His visions are not mine; are not many of Camelot. But he gets the ultimate say.”

  “Would he really unleash his army on humanity?” I asked quietly.

  Green jeweled baubles from her ears bobbed as she nodded. “I’m afraid so. Which is why it is imperative we get you home. Quickly. Before he rouses.”

  “How, though?” I asked.

  “This table is very special,” she said, waving a delicate hand over it. “You’ve seen a bit of its magic. The same magic that created Avalon, helped in its creation many years ago.”

  “What sort of magic?” I questioned hesitantly.

  “Oh, fae, dragon. Witch. Many kinds,” she said. She pointed at the table top. “Look, you can see through it, to the other side; the small piece that Lancelot salvaged and keeps in his home. Your boys are working hard to bring you home.”

  My eyes widened as I scrambled around the table to join her. A wobbly vision showed Morgaine, still chained but eyes clenched shut as she mouthed words I couldn’t hear. Rhys—or Merlin, whatever—raised his hands in the air, a mass of black and purple magic churning in the air. Streaks of dark magic projected outwards from it, straight into the table, but also into each of the guys. They were doubled over, clutching their arms, chests, whatever; faces contorted in various expressions of pain. A tear pricked at my eyes, my heart sinking into the pit of my stomach. “Why is it hurting them?”

  “It’s strong magic to open up the connection between our worlds,” Guinevere said softly. Her tone was melodic and easy. “You are strong enough to open the portal on this side, but they have to open their end. Without Merlin, it wouldn’t be possible.”

  “How do I open this end?” I inquired, as a groan came from Arthur nearby.

  Guinevere’s beautiful face sunk in a panic. “I am not fully sure, but you need to channel Avalon in your mind. I think. But hurry—please before he wakes. If he gets a hold of you, I’m afraid there is nothing I can do to stop him.”

  I nodded quickly, and clamped my eyes shut in concentration. With a deep breath, I forced my body to relax, and pictured the isle—what I had seen of it—in my mind.

  Grandmother? I called in my mind, hoping there was a way she could hear me. Morgause? Nothing. I took another deep breath, calling on the humming deep inside, and tried again. Igraine?

  A silver haired woman entered my vision, surrounded by white mist. My dear child, you are in trouble.

  What can I do? I asked in my mind, frightened. I need to open this portal—I need to go home! Arthur is—

  —to quote your world, batshit crazy. I know. Igraine smiled and held out her hand. I will do what I can, just focus on our connection.

  I nodded, and quickly grasped her hands.

  Igraine began humming lowly and chanting in Avalonian. Without fully realizing I was, I began speaking the words aloud as well.

  “More!” I heard a male voice shout, partially unfamiliar. “Ava! Hurry!” It was Rhys, calling from the other side. “I can’t hold it much longer!”

  Igraine and I started chanting faster.

  “Ava!” Guinevere called out in a terror. I dared to open one eye to see Arthur had awakened, and had his arm tightly around her throat.

  “No!” I called out, throwing one arm out, letting a force of magic escape. The invisible pulse hit Arthur’s arm first, giving Guinevere enough time to writhe out of his grasp.

  Avalon, I’m afraid you must hurry, the connection won’t last much longer. The vision of Igraine in my mind showed my grandmother, appearing strained. Your boys won’t have enough energy to summon you again for a long time; too long. You will be vulnerable.

  “You bitch!” Arthur snarled, as Guinevere ducked quickly out of his grasp, pulling off the sword at his waist.

  “Avalon! Quick!” She said, tossing it across the room.

  I wasn’t sure how I caught it—magic, miracle, or whatever—but I didn’t care, as the world opened beneath me.

  Go, Ava! Go! Igraine called frantically, as I pulled the sword into me.

  The last thing I saw before the world around me turned a blinding white was Arthur raising a hand to Guinevere, and Guinevere screaming in terror.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Lachlan

  I would know that voice anywhere: Guinevere.

  “It’s working!” I stood behind helplessly, watching Merlin and Ava’s four guys, the incubi, channel and create the magic that would open the portal to bring Ava home. Morgaine chanted in Avalonian from behind, but I couldn’t see her.

  But why was Guinevere screaming?

  Another scream pulsated against my ears, along with the deafening sound of the magic, and the pained cries of the cursed men. A white light emanated before us, growing brighter and more blinding. My vision was blinded as a loud crash made me wince.

  “Ava!” Merlin’s tone was surprisingly gleeful. My heart raced, and I squinted my eyes tightly enough, shielding my sight with a hand on my forehead, and watched as Ava appeared with a thump on the table.

  The guys all called out her name pleadingly, and Merlin—Rhys, whatever he was calling himself now— began to drop his hands.

  “No!” She exclaimed quickly. “No, you can’t! Just wait a moment!” She hastily glanced at the incubi, offering them all a wide smile, but she dashed towards me, grasping my arms frantically.

  “Guinevere. She’s in trouble! She saved me—you need to do something! Arthur is mad—I fucking swear to god! Don’t trust him but help her!” Her sky-blue eyes looked up at me tearfully, pleadingly.

  I nodded slowly, gathering my resolve, knowing what I must do. “I’m sorry, Ava.”

  She nodded. “I know.” She clutched a leather-bound sword at her chest, and she handed it to me. I gasped, realizing what it was.

  “Excalibur? How did you get it?” Last I saw the sword, I had fallen asleep on the shores of northern Scotland, a long time ago—truth be told I was drunk as hell—and it was taken from me. I thought by the Lady of the Lake, but apparently? I was wrong. I had no idea how it was possible Arthur still had this sword.

  “Guinevere took it off Arthur. Take it. You will need it—he’s a crazy ass fuck!” She thrust it out to me.

  I pushed it away. “No, it’s yours now. If Guinevere gave it to you, there’s a good reason.” Obviously, Arthur wasn’t I thought he was after all; the Arthur I knew never would have made her scream like that.

  Ava’s face fell, but she seemed to understand.

  “Keep the piece of the table with you, we will talk from there when we can.”

  “Whatever you guys are going to do, do it fast! I’m starting to lose it!” Merlin called out desperately.

  I enveloped my daughter in a hug. “Please…find Nadina if you can. Explain. I will try to return to her, once I know Guinevere is safe.”

  “Bring her here.” Ava winked, with a quick glance at the guys. They struggled to stand upright, but had giant smiles on their faces, seeing Ava home, safe and sound. “It’s possible to love more than one, right?”

  I smiled sadly. “Right. But I can’t love Guinevere anymore,
with this curse. And Nadina doesn’t deserve this so…” Squeezing her tightly, I kissed her on the forehead, and reluctantly let go. I glanced quickly at the men, writhing in pain as the spell drained their supernatural energy to keep the magic going. “Let them take care of you. Let them love you. I’ll be with you again soon.”

  Teary eyed, she nodded; her pretty face flushed with emotion. “Go!” She pointed at the table.

  Nodding once more, I leaped for the portal opened inside my house. I was blinded as I jumped in, feeling a sense of disconnect and confusion as I was hurtled forward, to Camelot. To home.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  As soon as my father disappeared into the portal, Rhys dropped the magic. The guys, plus him, all collapsed to the ground, relieved to be free of the invasive energy Rhys had been channeling.

  I stood in the middle of my father’s house, feeling empty, relieved, disturbed—a myriad of emotions. What once had been bright was now dull, I blinked quickly trying to rid my sight of the blinding light of the portal transfer—or whatever it was. I was still holding the sword—Excalibur—and I fastened the sheath around my waist.

  “Is that—?” Rhys asked, surprised. I nodded back at him.

  “Ava.” Trystan was closest to me. He was wilted at the waist and struggled to stand; his green eyes were full of unspoken sentiment. “Stars above, you scared us shitless.”

  “I’m sorry,” was all I could say, my voice trembling as I looked over them all. Tired and worn, yes… but generally they all appeared okay.

  “You can thank me now,” Rhys said impishly behind me, but the guys ignored him as they rose weakly and threw themselves at me. My space was invaded by muscly arms, their various musky scents, and scratchy, whiskered kisses as they wrapped themselves around me, kissing wherever they could. Cheek, shoulder, forehead—wherever. I relished in every second of it.

  “What happened?” Xander was directly in front of me, kneeling slightly to fit in underneath Bash and Trystan. Mathias was behind me, arms wrapped tightly around my waist as he leaned his face on my shoulder.

  Now this was a fantastic welcome home.

  I sighed deeply at his question, looking into his worried eyes. “Later. Can we just go home?” My knees and legs were tired, brain fuzzy from all the magic, and I was overcome with sadness and worry. Worry for my father, for Guinevere. For Morgaine, who—

  “Wait. Where did my mother go?” I scanned the room and noticed the chains she’d been in had dropped to the floor and were empty. She was nowhere to be found.

  The guys glanced backward, groaning various groans.

  “She must have gotten loose with the magic, I’m sorry,” Rhys said. “But, we’ll find her, I promise.”

  The guys all nodded. “Yes. We will find her. And help your father…somehow,” Mathias echoed.

  Bash was grinning and nodded at the door. “Come on, let’s get home.”

  I beamed as the guys reluctantly released me. I reached for the nearest hands—Bash and Trystan—and held them, pulling them close into me tightly. “Yes, let’s.”

  When we arrived home, everyone immediately crashed, flung atop the furniture. Rhys ambled about, awkwardly. “Well, I guess I’ll just…go?” He hinted.

  “You aren’t going anywhere. We’re thankful for you helping to bring back Avie, but that doesn’t mean we trust you,” Mathias barked. He pointed down the hallway. “You will stay here so we can watch you; that will be your room. For now.”

  Trystan groaned. “Och, me bathroom.”

  “We’ll install a new tub, you pampered eagle,” Mathias grumbled, rolling his eyes as Rhys gleefully skipped down the hallway to his new bedroom.

  “I’m still waiting on the pool,” Bash said, with a grin.

  Mathias palmed his forehead, grumbling. I just giggled.

  Despite my exhausting ordeal, the magic thrummed inside me, giving me a burst of energy. Days ago, I dreaded it. Now I was thankful; even welcomed it. Even it did come with extreme frickin’ horniness that made me want to jump all the guys all the time.

  It didn’t help that in order to get home, I had to kiss Mathias, hard, to revive him enough to make the long drive home. It was deep and heady, and it felt warm and safe being wrapped up in Mathias’ huge arms. Even though the other guys just cheered and snickered, I still felt a bit strange with such an open display of affection in front of them.

  But more of me regretted we had to stop.

  I was still charged as I slumped onto the sofa. Before any of the guys could join me, several furry bodies came bounding out of the backroom, led by Sierra who was positively—and strangely—giddy. She slobbered my face with doggy licks, and the pups all yipped excitedly. Rocky stood behind cautiously, but wagged his tail rapidly, his ears upright. “Heya, bud,” I said, waving at him listlessly. He barked, seeming to appreciate the acknowledgment.

  “They missed ya,” Trystan said, gently shooing aside the dogs to make room for him on the floor.

  Xander pushed aside my feet and rested himself at the end of the sofa. Actually, he crawled on top of me, resting his head on the small of my back as he snuck an arm underneath me. He didn’t say anything, but his warmth and presence were welcome.

  “I am going to do something I don’t normally do, I’m so tired,” Mathias declared, raising his cell phone up in front of him.

  “What’s that?” I asked sleepily, as Trystan sat on the ground nearby, petting a dog with one hand, and leaning against my shoulder his cheek.

  “I am going to order the Chinese food myself.” He gave me a wink.

  “Thank god…” I said, my stomach suddenly rumbling at the thought.

  “Get a bit of everything; I feel like I could eat a house,” Xander said, his face buried in the small of my back. His words vibrated against my skin tickled, and I giggled gently.

  “It’s horse.” Bash corrected, setting himself on the arm of the couch near my head, as he absentmindedly ran his hand through my hair. “So hungry you could eat a horse.”

  “I meant what I said, bro.” Xander retorted. “Wood fiber and all. I’m that fucking hungry.”

  Bash rolled his eyes. “Are you okay, Avie? Really?”

  “Sorry about yer Dad. We’ll get him back.” Trystan said.

  I nodded thankfully. “I know.”

  “Are you okay though?” Bash repeated.

  I sat upward gently, glancing back at Xander whose steady breathing didn’t cease when I jostled him; I was pretty sure he fell asleep.

  “He’s out,” Trystan said, with a chuckle, as we grinned at each other. I eyed Mathias who was arguing with someone on the phone about ingredients, and at Bash who still smoothed a hand through my hair as he expectantly waited the answer to his question.

  “Yeah,” I said, with a grin. “I think I’ll be all right.” With all them here, I knew I would be…eventually. It was good to be home.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Two Weeks Later

  It was September, and it had finally—finally—began to cool, and calm down; we hadn’t had a storm in about three days after a particularly stormy August. There was even had a hint of blazing red and orange in the maples that dotted the forest, mixed in with all the pines and…whatever the hell else was out there. Bears, probably (but bears didn’t change color). I chuckled at the thought, staring into the woods.

  “What are you laughing at?” Summer asked, sipping her coffee from a black mug. I hadn’t seen much of her over the past couple weeks, but she knew the story. Well…stories. The gist of them, anyway.

  About how my father was holding my mother captive, and she had escaped when he dove over the portal to Camelot to save Guinevere. About how now, he was stuck there, with a madman. About how Merlin was now staying with us, begrudgingly on the guys’ behalf, but even they couldn’t deny the fact that he’d saved my ass, and as such they owed him a debt of gratitude. That gratitude involved not allowing him to roam the streets of Minneapolis as a homeless man. I was beginning to form
an affection for him. A platonic affection; I had four dudes already, I didn’t need another. He was attractive, and humorous, if a bit nutty.

  He was handy to have around anyway, because he could make the toilet paper appear when one of the guys forgot to change the roll. I’d simply yell “Rhys!” angrily, and somehow in a flash, a roll would appear in my lap. It was brilliant.

  Naomi, Summer’s girlfriend was away up north, visiting her family. She didn’t give much detail but apparently, they resided somewhere near Two Harbors, up in northern Minnesota. She’d be gone for a week or so, and Summer seemed bummed at the prospect, so I invited her to stay with me—with us—in Wild. And we were catching up for lost time, sitting on the front stoop in a couple of chairs on a Sunday morning, sipping coffee that Mathias had dutifully made us.

  I told her about the guys, and how our relationships finally…progressed. Yeah, I’d been worried to be with them before, but my magic was in control now. Of course, she’d wanted all the details.

  “So, how many of the guys you banged now?” Summer asked, with a mischievous grin on her full lips.

  I shrugged nonchalantly. “Well there’s four of them so…”

  “Four?” She offered hopefully.

  I rolled my eyes and nodded. “Yeah.” It was true, now that I wasn’t afraid of zapping them with the Avalon magic, I no longer had any fear of intimacy. And the guys didn’t hesitate to bring our relationships to the next level. The only rules were, no interfering in someone else’s sexy-time, and keep it private. Meaning, no shagging on the living room sofa where anyone could walk in. Trystan was disappointed by this prospect, but the rest of us were relieved. It was an unusual situation all around, but we took it in stride.

  And let’s face it, when men were getting nookie, they were much, much more agreeable.

  She playfully slugged me in the arm. “Atta girl. No…magic weirdness?”