“I’m so glad you’re okay,” Eve told him.
Without a word, Ava walked away. Clenching her teeth, she barely held the tears back as she pushed open her door. She released them, and clutched her chest. She slid to the floor as she sobbed.
Ava didn’t even want to think about what Eve and Gabriel were possibly doing. Eve loved Gabriel. Did she kiss him? Did he kiss her back? Had they…? She couldn’t even bring herself to say it in her head. Her heart ached at each thought. She wanted Eve dead. The Cimmerians dead. Havok dead. She wanted to torture them the way they had tormented her for years.
She was ashamed of who she had become, and needed some solace. What would her father say about her? Thinking of him only made her cry harder. She would never see him again. He would be left alone in the world. She would give anything to see him one more time. Ava just wanted to hear him tell her he loved her.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
A RESILIENT MIND
A knocking sound started to grate on Ava’s nerves. She opened her eyes, and winced. She rolled to her back and realized she had fallen asleep on the hard floor. The banging continued, and she realized someone was at the door. Her heart thrummed. Thinking it was Gabriel, she stood and swung open the door.
Then her heart dropped.
Xavier lifted an eyebrow and gave her the once-over. “Are you all right?”
Had he heard her crying? Did she have red, puffy eyes? “I’m fine.”
“Look, I know that couldn’t have been easy to watch earlier.”
“Why do you say that?” Did he know she was faking?
“It’s not easy watching him slit someone’s throat. I just don’t understand how she was able to do it. She’s always at his side.”
“Was it really her?”
“If he says it was, then it was. But I want to know how she let the Hunters in. Or how she released the prisoners without anyone in the castle knowing?”
“Wasn’t everyone outside fighting though? There was a lot of chaos that night.”
“True.” He dragged his hands over his face. “I’m so glad you’re okay. I was so scared.” The honest look in his eyes told her he meant it. “Look, I came because Havok wants to see you.”
She froze, her hand clenching the door knob. “Why?”
“It’s nothing bad. I promise.”
“What is it?”
“He just wants to see you.”
She smoothed down her hair, and hoped she looked presentable.
“You look fine. And if he asks, you haven’t been crying. You’re just tired from being awake all night.”
It must have been very obvious that she had been crying.
She wasn’t mentally prepared for this. The whole way to his chamber, she worried. Why did he want to see her? Could he read her mind? Was he reading it? She had to clear her thoughts and fast. She had her breakdown, but now needed to get her head back in the game.
Taking a few deep breaths, she slowly closed up her mind and became emotionless. Xavier pulled open the door and allowed her in, but then he closed the door behind her. The room was large, with a high ceiling and an ornate chandelier. The room was draped in deep red with black accents. It had a rich, deep, earthy scent like sandalwood. There were candles and incense on a table with what looked like herbs and powders.
Was he trying to channel Savina’s potion making?
Havok appeared from behind a door and smiled. She hated the way he looked at her. Like he was proud of her for what she had done. It sickened her. He was dressed in his usual long black robe and had tied his long hair back.
“Ava.” He raised his chin.
“Sir.”
“Are you well?”
“Yes.”
He stared at her like he was waiting for her to say more. “You and I are very similar.”
What was she supposed to say to that? Wracking her brain for something, luckily he continued.
“We are both parent-less because Ephemerals killed them.”
Wrong.
“We are both proud and headstrong. We thrive on revenge.”
Wrong.
“We invoke the powers within us to gain more to life.”
Wrong.
“Therefore, it makes sense that our souls are linked. You and I share a connection like no other Enchanter. But I must say you make it very difficult to read your emotions.”
Good.
“Linked?” Ava played dumb. “What do you mean?”
A little smile played on his thin lips. “We just are. It’s quite a beautiful thing. But I asked you here, because for the first time, I actually felt something from you. I felt pain. Deep and gut-wrenching.”
“Hunters attacked and kidnapped us. We lost some of our own soldiers.”
“Indeed we did. Are you positive there is nothing more that ails you?”
“No. Just ready to annihilate the Ephemerals once and for all.”
His smile widened. “That’s my girl. I should never have punished you. You did a wonderful thing, and I hope you will succeed in London. You may go now.”
Ava nodded and left. Keeping her emotions off, she made her way back to her room. Was he onto her? Did he know something else was wrong? She had to lay low now and just do what he said.
CHAPTER THIRTY
REUNITED
Ava woke to someone nudging her. Seeing Gabriel’s eyes made her break down. She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him. He rubbed her back and kissed the side of her face.
She cleared her tears, knowing Havok might feel her. “I thought you were going to die.”
“But you acted quickly. Thank you for saving my life. Again.”
“You don’t have to thank me. I don’t know how I’m going to kill them tomorrow. We have to lay low.”
He nodded. “I know. Come with me.”
A second later, they were in a cave, similar to the one they spent last night with the Hunters. But as Ava looked closer, she realized it was the same cave where she and Gabriel first kissed. Candles lit it, and when Ava looked around, a small gasp escaped her lips. Their missing friends were sitting in a circle around a small fire.
Gustav, Aaron, Natalia, Moira, Joss, Konstantin, and Zhan.
Each of them got to their feet and hugged Ava in a tearful reunion.
“I’ll be right back,” Gabriel said.
“Where are you going?” Ava asked.
“To get a couple more people.”
She shook her head, and gripped his arm. “It’s too risky.”
He caressed her cheek and brought her lips to his. “I promise I will be back.” She let go, and then he was gone.
Moira squeezed her hand. “He’ll be back.”
They all returned around the small fire, and Ava sat in between Natalia and Joss.
“I’ve missed you so much,” Joss said. Her violet eyes weren’t as bright as Ava had once seen them.
“Me too.”
She looked at a very gaunt Natalia. It broke her heart to see her in such bad shape. Each one of them looked awful. Even Aaron was thinner. His hair had grayed and wrinkles formed around his eyes. They were cold, hungry, and powerless.
“Sorcha took your powers, didn’t she?” Ava asked.
Natalia nodded. “You look like shit.”
“Have you looked in a mirror lately?”
She smirked and looked at the ground. “Touché.”
“What happened? How did you all escape? And how did Gabe know where to find you?”
“Maggie freed us,” Aaron said. “She had no idea that the Hunters would attack, but she took the opportunity to release us. The guard was nowhere to be found. We snuck out through one of the tunnels. Kira had left Gabriel a message in his room letting him know where to find us.”
Tears pooled in Ava’s eyes, and her chin quivered.
“What is it?” Joss asked.
She looked at all of them. “Maggie and Kira.” She shook her head. “They’re dead. He killed them. Right in front of
everyone.”
Natalia grabbed Joss’s hand and looked away. She covered her face, and her shoulders started to shake.
“He will not get away with this,” Aaron said, his russet eyes burning with anger.
“It hasn’t been easy. We’ve had to massacre so many cities.” She met Joss’s teary eyes. “New Orleans. New York. Moscow. He wants us to go to London tomorrow. I got lost in it all. I’m so ashamed of what I’ve done.”
Gabriel reappeared with Thomas and Eric. “I have one more person to get.” He disappeared before anyone could ask who. How was he able to get Eric? Wouldn’t Havok wonder where one of his guards was?
Thomas and Moira ran into each other’s arms as Joss gasped and shot to her feet. She and Eric embraced. Ava was happy they were able to have a reunion, safely away from Havok. But she wished Gabriel would hurry up. It was late, and the castle would be fairly quiet, but she still didn’t want him to get caught teleporting back and forth. Who else did he have to get?
Within seconds, Gabriel reappeared with Anais, and all eyes shifted to her.
“What is she doing here?” Joss demanded as she slightly pulled back from Eric.
“Anais?” Gustav stood, though Ava thought he might fall because he looked so frail.
Anais crept closer to him, pausing a few feet. Ava didn’t want to impose on their reunion, but the relieved, happy look in Gustav’s rough eyes gave Ava hope.
“Gu-father?”
He nodded his head, and his eyes brimmed with tears.
“Is it true?” Her voice shook, and Ava knew she was having a hard time processing it all. “Did they really take me away from you?”
“Yes.”
Her chin quivered. “They took my memories of you. Made me a slave to their cause.”
“I am sorry. I will never forgive myself for never bringing you back.”
She shook her head. “I wouldn’t have come back. But I want to now.”
“You are home, my child.”
She rushed to his arms. She cried while Gustav stroked her hair.
Gabriel drew Ava into an embrace. He was out of breath which worried Ava.
“What is it?”
“I’m tired. And weak. Whatever the Hunters put in their serum weakens us.”
Ava frowned. “I healed you. That should’ve helped.”
“It heals wounds. Not if someone weakened me.”
She loved being in his arms, inhaling his juniper scent. She looked around the fire and saw Thomas and Moira in each other’s arms. Joss and Eric. And Gustav and Anais. She must have known exactly what Ava had been talking about, because she immediately took to Gustav. Or maybe she knew something was up since they looked a little similar. Ava longed for a night like this to last forever.
“I’m going to talk to Aaron, okay?” Gabriel said.
Ava nodded, and he kissed her before he sat beside Aaron.
“How are you holding up?” Natalia asked Ava.
“I’m fine. You?”
She shrugged. “Getting stronger. Gabe snuck us some food, so that helped. Just wish there was a way to gain my powers back quickly. Now, how are you really?”
Her shoulders slumped. “Day by day. I’ve mostly become so desensitized to things. But seeing Maggie and Kira today…” She shook her head. “Gabriel keeps me grounded and sane. And still loves me even after all I’ve done.”
“Ava, whatever happens here, stays here. It’s not who you are by any means. Once it’s over, it’s in the past, and that’s where you need to keep it. I spent many years with Gabe trying to ingrain that in him. He never wanted to talk about his life here and he left it in the past. Of course, his past came back to haunt him. But you never judged him for it. You accept him for who he is, and he does the same with you. You love each other, and you’ve both changed each other in a good way.”
“You know when you told me you thought I’d betray him?”
“I never—.”
Ava held up her hand. “When I joined the Cimmerians willingly, it wasn’t out of betrayal to him or any of you.” She scanned the group. “I thought if Havok wanted the Elementals, he was going to get the Elementals. We were going to be spies on the inside. I never thought they’d try to take our memories away. We got very lucky. But you’re right.” She lowered her voice. “I will betray him.”
“What do you mean?”
She hesitated, unsure if she should tell Natalia. But she knew Gabriel the best.
“What is it?”
“I’m withholding a truth from him, but I can’t bring myself to tell him. I still plan on ending all of this and saving you all. But it will come at a price.”
Natalia stiffened her stance. “What price?” Her hazel eyes were full of concern.
Ava’s pulse quickened. She couldn’t tell Natalia. She froze. She couldn’t bring herself to say it. Even though, she needed to know.
“What is it, Ava?” she whispered.
“I’m linked to Havok.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
Ava averted her eyes and peered toward the opening of the cave.
“What does that mean?”
“When we kill him, I will die.” She didn’t trust her mother would actually follow through with her promise. She hadn’t had much faith in her mother ever since she found out she was a Cimmerian.
She gasped. “Ava.”
“Don’t make a scene. And don’t tell anyone.”
“You have to tell Gabriel. How did this even happen? How—?”
“I can’t tell Gabriel. It’ll be better if he just thinks I died in battle. Maybe in a few years, you can tell him.”
“Ava, no.”
“It’ll be too hard for him.”
“Why are you telling me this if you don’t want him to know?”
“I just need you to tell him I never meant to betray him.”
Gabriel stood and made his way toward them. He squeezed Natalia’s shoulder, and smiled at Ava. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, just having girl talk,” Natalia said.
He lifted an eyebrow, and then Natalia excused herself to return to the group,
“How did you manage to get Eric away?” Ava asked Gabriel.
“Peter and Katarina will cover for him.”
“What are you going to tell Havok about the missing prisoners?”
He shrugged. “We can’t find them.”
“What will he do?”
“He won’t be satisfied until we’ve found them.”
“Will he punish you?”
“I don’t know. Hard to say at this point. I’m taking them to where I took the Hunters. They can help the Hunters make more weapons. They’ll help gather a bigger army, too. In the meantime, we’ll work on some of the Cimmerians. Looks like Anais may be on our side now.”
“I’m still working on Xavier. I have to tread so lightly though.”
“I know.” He kissed her forehead.
“What about tomorrow? We have to go to London. I don’t want to do this, Gabe.”
He held her tighter. “I know it isn’t easy. None of this is. But it’s the only way to execute our plan. I wish I had better advice or words of wisdom, but I don’t.”
“We will always do things we don’t want to do in order to survive,” Aaron said. “These are things that do not make us who we are.”
“You have to tell the Hunters what we have to do tomorrow. They won’t understand.”
“They’ll have to,” Aaron said. “We have no other choice.”
“Just hold on for a little bit longer,” Natalia said. “And when we come, we’ll take them all down.”
Ava nodded.
“Gabe,” Aaron said and pointed to the cave opening. A dull-reddish light was barely visible through the purple sky. The day was approaching, which meant they had to leave.
“I’ll take you all back first,” he told Aaron.
Each one of them stood and hugged everyo
ne. Gustav held onto a crying Anais. Ava hated to break up the touching scene before her eyes.
When Natalia hugged Ava, she whispered. “We’ll figure something out. I promise.”
She tightened her arms around Natalia. “Be safe, Natalia.” Ava pulled apart.
Gustav walked up to Ava and gave her a big bear hug. “Thank you for bringing my daughter back to me.”
She nodded.
Anais squeezed her father’s hand. “I remember when I first saw him there inside the castle, something pulled at me. He was familiar, but I had never met him before. That I thought. But he has my eyes and the same ridiculous nose.” She wiped her tears and met Ava’s eyes with a determined look. Then, her eyes landed on each one of them. “I am Anais Kovalevsky, and I am no longer a Cimmerian.”
Back at the castle, Gabriel held onto Ava and then teleported them to her room. Without a word, he pressed his lips to hers with fervor. He backed her up until the back of her knees hit the mattress. She sank down on it, their lips still locked, and he moved on top. The way he kissed her and touched her felt like he wanted to memorize every inch of her. Did he not think he would be okay after telling Havok he couldn’t find the prisoners?
She met his crystal blue eyes. Even in the early morning light, he looked handsome. And his eyes, those deep endless eyes. As she stared at him, she reached up and touched his cheek. She shook her head. “I love you so much. You’re everything to me, Gabriel.”
“I love you with all my heart, Ava. When this is over, we will have each other. Forever.” He kissed her neck, sending chills over her. His lips traveled to her collarbone and then her shoulder. She squeezed his arms, and let out a moan.
When his mouth met hers, she reached around his neck and pulled him tighter. She didn’t want to let him go. She wanted more time with him, and maybe subconsciously that was why she had delayed the inevitable. She wanted to brand to her memory the feel of his arms, the look in his eyes, the taste of his lips. She wanted to carry it with her wherever she would end up.
He wrapped his arms around her, and she buried her face in his shirt. “Are you okay? Dumb question, I know.”
“I just want things to stop for a second. I just want a moment with you. Just you and me.”
Under an Onyx Sky (Elemental Enchanters Series Book 4) Page 20
