Under A Blood Moon (Elemental Enchanters)
Page 32
“I—.”
“This is ridiculous,” Thomas shouted. He narrowed his eyes and the muscles in his jaw twitched. “You can’t seriously do this. You should banish them both.” He pointed to Ava and Peter.
“Thomas, please,” Savina said. “You have not seen what he can do. Peter protects her and can protect us all. Including you, but you must give him a fair reason. Now, Peter, your answer.”
Peter took a deep breath. “I wish to join.” He glanced at Ava and squeezed her hand.
“Great.” Savina smiled warmly. “Now I need you to show the group what all you can do. Joss, try to shock Ava.”
Joss moved from beside Eric. A blue electrical arc formed between her hands as the sound hummed like a power line. She pointed the current toward Ava, and it hit her, but she didn’t feel anything. Joss tried once more. Again, the shock did not hurt Ava.
Kira stepped forward to inspect Ava. Her long white hair tickled Ava’s arm. “Wow,” she said. “It’s like he formed a shield around her. That’s incredible.”
“Even if I’m injured, when I’m around him, I feel no pain,” Ava added.
“Can you protect yourself?” Colden asked.
“I don’t know,” Peter replied.
Aaron crossed his arms. “Joss, try your power on Peter.”
She turned to Peter and tried to shock him, but nothing happened. Everyone watched, mesmerized. Ava wondered if Peter felt a little uncomfortable to have them all watch him and test his ability, but if he was, he never showed it.
“He knows it’s coming, though,” Aaron said. “What if someone just attacks him without—?”
Thomas darted for him, ripping Peter’s hand from Ava’s grasp, as he tackled him to the ground. Peter’s head snapped back from the impact. Thomas’s hands burst into flames and he pressed them into Peter. Peter cried out, but only for a second. He quickly blocked the fire.
“Thomas,” Ava screamed. “That’s enough.” She tried pulling his arm but he jerked away from her.
Lance roughly seized his arm and dragged him away. “Calm down.”
Ava helped Peter up from the ground and noticed a hole in his sweatshirt from Thomas. The skin underneath was red. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. He just caught me off guard.”
“That is good though,” Colden said. “You’ll need to learn to be on your guard and ready for anything. I accept.”
Aaron stroked his chin. “That was quite interesting.”
Ava squeezed Peter’s hand. She was sure Aaron wouldn’t allow him. She wasn’t sure why she felt that way. Maybe it was because of how she’d let him down by not killing Trudy.
“I accept Peter to be with us,” Aaron said, and Ava felt herself relax.
“I’m convinced,” Eric said.
“Yes,” Kira and Maggie added together.
“I agree, as long as these kids don’t let their drama get in the way of anything,” Natalia nonchalantly said.
Joss rolled her beautiful violet eyes, and then smiled at Peter. “Of course I accept you.”
“Me, too,” Gabriel said. “It makes sense.”
Ava glanced at him and thought she saw a flash of sadness in his crystal blue eyes. Had he fallen in love with an Ephemeral but something happened to her? Had he tried to bring her into this?
“Now the rest of you,” Savina asked the others.
Melissa smiled. “Of course.”
“Yes,” Lance said.
Jeremy cleared his throat. “Yes.”
Gillian wouldn’t look at either Ava or Peter, but she smiled at Savina. “Absolutely.”
Ava wondered what changed her mind so quickly.
Then they all turned to Thomas.
“I know you’re hurting and angry,” Aaron said. “But you must learn to accept this change.”
“Why are we not punishing her? Didn’t she break her oath?”
“Peter was already a target for Devon,” Aaron told him. “He already knew some things.”
Thomas sighed. “Fine. Doesn’t look like I really have a choice.”
Aaron placed a hand on Thomas’s shoulder and then whispered something in his ear. Ava felt guilty for hurting his feelings and hoped he would move on.
“We should all get some rest now,” Savina said. “We are safe.”
Like a domino effect, everyone stood and filed out of the room. Melissa, Lance, Jeremy, and Gillian walked up to Peter and Ava.
“Thank you all,” Ava said. “For understanding.”
“Don’t think I really wanted this,” Gillian said. “There’s just no point in me fighting the Elders. But don’t think for one second that I’m your friend.” She glared at Ava and then left the room.
Her words cut through Ava.
“She doesn’t mean that,” Jeremy said, but Ava knew he was only trying to make her feel better. “Welcome, Peter.”
“Thanks,” Peter said, and Jeremy walked out.
Savina made her way toward them. “Ava, I will show you your new room.”
Ava nodded, even though she didn’t want to think of it as her room. “Sleep well,” she told Melissa and Lance.
Melissa gave a teasing smile. “You, too.”
Ava rolled her eyes, knowing she was ragging on Ava about being in the same room as Peter.
She and Peter followed Savina up to the second floor and Savina opened a thick wooden door.
“Your father is right across the way,” she said. “I have a room for you as well, Peter, if you wish to stay the night.”
“Sure,” he said and then walked with her down the hall.
Ava looked around the immense, timeless room. Three small arched windows allowed the late morning sun to filter its light across the dark hardwood floors. To the left, a mahogany canopy bed rested against the wall with a dark red curtain behind the headboard. Two Queen Anne chairs occupied the corner near the windows with a small, round table between them. Double doors on the right of the bed were open to a walk-in closet that seemed to have clothes hanging. And across the bed, a door opened to the white-marbled bathroom.
This was Ava’s new home. It was beautiful, but it would take some getting used to. She still didn’t want to be there, but every nerve inside her pleaded her for rest.
She heard the door close behind her, and then felt arms around her waist. She twisted around and came face-to-face with Peter. They both smelled of smoke, but she didn’t care. His eyes locked onto hers and she reached up and softly touched his cheek.
He kissed her, slow, yet yearning, and then he tangled his hand in her hair. She reached around his neck, and pulled him closer. He kissed her as if he never wanted to let go. He made her forget the attack, and the loss she encountered. She immersed herself in the kiss, knowing that they were together now.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Huge thanks to all my readers. Without you, my dream wouldn’t exist.
Music is such a huge part of my life, and I would love to thank all the musicians I listened to while I wrote this, but the list is way too long.
To Jennifer, the greatest best friend a girl could have. I hope you know just how much you are appreciated. To Chani for your editorial advice and for saving my documents. To Derrick, Angie, Rachel, and Laura. To Laura Gordon and her amazing job on the cover.
To my mom; my dad; Patrick, Morgan, and Alison. Your unwavering support never ceases to amaze me. I love you all. To my new family. I love your enthusiasm and support.
To Chris. Thank you for listening to me talk about my characters and their stories. You make me laugh every day; you challenge me and encourage me. My heart is yours.
PLAYLIST
Breathing Underwater – Metric
Haunted – Evanescence
Body and Soul – Tori Amos
Stand My Ground – Within Temptation
Flume – Bon Iver
Miseria Cantare (The Beginning) – AFI
Changes – 3 Doors Down
The Red – Chevelle
&nbs
p; Cruel – Tori Amos
Silver and Cold – AFI
Taking Over Me – Evanescence
The Bat’s Mouth – Bat For Lashes
Hysteria – Muse
Bonfires – Blue Foundation
All I Need – Radiohead
Hopeless – Breaking Benjamin
Here With Me – Dido
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Carrigan Richards graduated from Kennesaw State University with a degree in English. The year before she began KSU, she started writing what would become Under a Blood Moon, and eleven years later, published it. She lives near Atlanta with her fiancée and their two dogs.
You can visit her online at www.carriganrichards.wordpress.com.
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