by Skye, Sariah
“Yeah…” my voice shook, and I willed the blade into its pendant and chain, slipping it around my neck again. I gasped, suddenly remembering. “Igraine!”
“Morgaine,” Morgause managed to utter weakly. She was healed, more or less, but still tired. “She took her to her cottage. The shadow magic broke all her wards and she didn’t leave.”
Rhys and I exchanged looks, and he grabbed my arm. “It’ll be okay, Ava.”
“Right…” With a blink, he transported us to Morgaine’s cottage.
Chapter Nineteen
It was a surprise to see my mother tending to Igraine in her bed. She was surrounded with crystals and sachets, and my mother waved a smudge stick, smelling of earthy, spicy sage around my grandmother’s weak form as she chanted quietly.
“Will she be okay?” I asked meekly, when Rhys and I emerged in the small living area.
Morgaine didn’t even jump. “I suspended her as long as I could. She needs you, now.” My mother looked at me with sincerity as she stood, and stepped aside.
“We’ll do it together,” Rhys said quietly, nodding his head towards Igraine.
“Okay.” Together, the two of us stood at the head of the bed, setting our hands on her shoulders in unison, and willing the Avalon magic into her. My hand heated gently, but it faltered, pouring in a weak stream as a tear fell down my cheek.
Rhys sighed. “The only reason they’re so angry is because they love you, Ava. You scared them. I get why you did what you did—but you should have at least waited for me. You took a huge risk coming here alone, Excalibur or not.”
“I had to though,” I protested quietly, and the corner of his mouth upturned in a light smile.
“I know that. But they don’t understand how powerful the magic is. Just give them some time, okay?” Rhys said, and I nodded reluctantly. “Ready to try again?”
“Think so…” I closed my eyes tightly, concentrating, and this time the magic didn’t falter. I breathed a sigh of relief as Igraine’s eyes slowly opened, and she smiled weakly.
“I am glad to see you. But you should not have come here,” Igraine said, even exhausted she was still stern and authoritative.
“Mother…” Morgaine admonished, as Rhys and I helped Igraine to sit upward, with a light groan.
“No, daughter. It is fact. She risked too much in coming here.”
Morgaine sighed. “The spell I created—the vessel. Her. All of it—it was all orchestrated. Ava is nearly indestructible. The combination of Avalon plus Lancelot’s magic and the heritage—she’s nearly invincible. Just a bit foolish, though.” My mother’s gaze tracked over to me.
I threw my hands up in the air. “Wow. Thrown under the bus by my mother. Nice.”
Igraine lightly clutched my arm. “Dear child, I don’t say this because I’m not thankful. But as long as you’re alive, Avalon cannot fall. If Avalon is here, Camelot won’t win. Or if they do, it isn’t without tremendous effort.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and gave her a stern look of my own. “Or, without all of you here to guide me and keep me strong we’re sitting ducks anyway.”
Rhys let out a sharp laugh. “She has a point.”
Igraine brushed her silver hair out of her face. “Perhaps. Where is Nimue now?”
“Gone. Bash supposedly hit her with a potion before she disappeared, but we don’t know what happened to her from there,” Rhys said. Igraine sighed.
“It’s time to take the fight to Camelot, I believe. Rest, collect yourselves… we’ll talk tomorrow after everyone is healed. I’m afraid I’m still weakened, can you—” she began, and Rhys nodded.
“We’ve got it.”
“Take Morgaine. I believe she can be useful,” Igraine said, and I looked at my mother skeptically.
“Well…fine. But any funny business and I’m cutting you with this sword,” I told her, and my mother just chuckled.
“Feisty as always,” Morgaine said, with a titter.
The witches who hadn’t been injured by the shadow fae that ported in had gathered in the cave, and the rest had been healed…all but two. Two of them had fallen and didn’t make it. The distraught coven that remained would preserve them until after the war when they could have a proper farewell ceremony.
Rhys and I were utterly exhausted after healing everyone, and we barely managed to stumble through the property to the house; Rhys was too tired to port.
Mathias and Xander were just pulling up the driveway; it seemed like only a few minutes had passed but really it’d been about an hour since I ported away from the club.
Mathias stood by his vehicle steadfastly, but Xander had no qualms running up to me, picking me up off the ground, and spinning me around as he held me against him. Feeling like an emotional mess I melted into him as I clung my arms tightly around his shoulders.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered quietly to him, and he caught my gaze, looking deep into my soul.
“I know,” he replied. “I’m not thrilled with you but I understand your nature now to know it was too much to ask you to hold back.” He ran a hand over my face and down the length of my hair. “You shouldn’t have done that, though.”
I looked away, ashamed.
“Everything looks good,” Trystan said, coming up the driveway with Bash just behind him. “Animals are okay. We lost two of the witches, though.”
“Dammit.” Mathias balled up a fist, slamming it into his broad thigh. “That’s two too many.”
“It would have been a whole lot more if it hadn’t been for Ava’s quick thinking,” Mordred insisted, and I gave him a grateful smile.
With fury in his eyes, Mathias glared at Mordred. Shaking a finger at him, he warned with menace, “Stay out of it.”
“Mathias—” Xander began, as the gladiator rose his fist.
“Enough, Jian. Not tonight. I’m not dealing with your shit tonight, is that understood?” He said, glaring down at him. Xander clenched his fist angrily, lightning sparking and dripping from it.
“In the house. Now.” Mathias’ tone was unwavering, but staunch.
I snorted petulantly. “You can’t tell me what to do.” Uh, yeah, bad idea…
Mathias spun on his heels and stalked the slight distance between us until he was just a breath away from me. With controlled motions, he raised his hand, pointing his finger, and his mouth formed an intimidating smile. “No, Ava. It’s quite clear I can’t tell you what to do. No one can, because you refuse to listen to anyone, even when we have your well-being at heart. So you just continue to do whatever in the hell you want to, and you don’t give a shit who you hurt.” He didn’t yell but his tone was blunt and forceful.
Even though he was as tall and threatening as he appeared, I didn’t hesitate to look right up at him and take a step forward. “That’s not true!” I protested, glowering.
He match my glower with a downright snarl that was menacing and disconcerting because I’d never been at the other end of it. I felt my shoulders slump and my heart actually start to tear apart. “Is that so? Well you know what? If this,” he said, motioning between us, “is going to continue, something is going to have to change. You cannot keep going off half-cocked like this, I don’t give a shit what your reasoning is! I’d rather you fucking left than watch you die, do you understand? So just go then if that’s how it’s going to fucking be!”
I flinched, like I’d just been slapped in the face, taking a step or two back.
“Jesus Christ, Mathias. A bit harsh, huh?” Xander argued.
Mathias’ eyes relaxed slightly, and his lip trembled and for a split second remorse was written on his face, but he quickly balled up his fists. “Fuck you, Jian. As usual, your immaturity is apparent, and you have no idea what you’re talking about.” He shook his clenched fist, shaking his head like he was going to say more, but instead he turned and stormed into the house, the doors opening with so much force as he pushed through them, one of them fell off the top hinge.
I just stoo
d, motionless and totally taken aback.
“Ava… he’s just blowing off steam. He doesn’t mean it,” Xander said softly to me, setting a careful hand on my shoulder.
“Oh shut up, Xander,” Bash combatted, glaring profusely at the storm wielder. “He’s absolutely right. You have this fucking idealistic bullshit of the world and shit. We know you’re still fucking jealous—this is the perfect time to strike, huh? Be the knight in shining armor, whisk away your very sole cambion? Don’t pull this, for weeks you’re jealous silently and snapping at us like a bitch and now you’re fine with it?”
“Whoa, fuck you, Sebastian. Just because you think I owe you, doesn’t mean I have to stand here and listen to your fucking bullshit!” Xander rose his fist, lightning sparking and crackling from it. “You have no idea what you’re talking about!”
“Oh yeah, hotshot? You forget, suck up, I can do what you do too!” Bash rose his own hand, opened it and released a shower of sparks and lightning. “For once, you’re not better than me. So piss off with your crap, Xian!” He shook his hand, snuffing out the magic and he turned on his heels and followed Mathias into the house.
“You know, normally I stay out of the fighting. But Mathias is right on about this, lassie,” Trystan said, speaking with admonish instead of his usual joviality. “You have a habit of not caring about what anyone else thinks. Mainly, us. He’s right, I don’t think this can continue with you like this.”
For the second time in less than a couple of minutes, I flinched, blinking rapidly, trying to fight the tears that burned at my eyes and threatened to fall. “Trys…” I pleaded, but he just shook his head, and walked away.
Xander reached for my hand, and stopped abruptly. I didn’t know why, but something must have gotten to him. The internal struggle was written all over his troubled face. “Coming?”
I nodded an affirmation and began to follow him, when Rhys grabbed my arm, pulling me back.
“Something isn’t right here,” he whispered into my ear.
“What do you mean?”
“Their reactions are… extreme, regardless of what happened,” Rhys explained.
“The strongest shadow fae can manipulate minds, so to speak,” Mordred offered. “I’m not sure what’s happened here, but I’d be willing to bet Nimue either cast a spell or left something behind that’s altering their moods.”
I snorted, glancing between the two. “Thanks, guys. But really, I’m sure the guys are just being jerks.”
Rhys shook his head. “There’s jerks, and then there is downright cruel like Mathias just was. There is no way in hell, even at his angriest, he would even say that to you.”
I shrugged. “If you say so. I knew this would happen, so…”
“Just be careful,” Mordred said. “It could be part of the plan. Separate the protectors, leave Avalon vulnerable. It’s a good plan, actually. And certainly not what I expected.”
“Well whatever it is I’m going to need to introduce you to my friend, Jack Daniels because this is just fucking me up. Coming, gentlemen?” I asked, forcing a playful demeanor as I walked into the house myself.
The instant I crossed the threshold, I was met with angry shouting. The air was so tense if it was a rubber band, it would have snapped in five by now. But they stopped their arguing and noticed me when I walked in the house, right past them in the kitchen, and headed straight for the game room.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Bash demanded, and I stopped in my tracks.
“I am going to get a drink. Is that okay with you, Sebastian? Or do I need to ask your permission for that?” I demanded, fluttering my eyes at him with mock submission.
He tipped his head back and let out a false laugh. “Oh, seriously? Now you’re going to ask, but not before you go and fucking risk your life!”
I glowered at him, hands on hips. “I don’t need to ask for your permission.”
“That’s right, she’s a big girl and can handle herself, aye, boys?” Trystan said sarcastically. “Except with the club, and just about every other fucking thing out there!”
“Dude. Low fucking blow,” Xander said, shaking his head, giving the eagle shifter a shove.
“Och, I think Bash is right. You’re trying to take her for yourself!” Trystan shoved him right back.
“Why should it fucking matter? Since you’ve all decided you’re done with me, eh?” I shouted, louder than all the guys, and they stopped their bickering. “Right?”
No one spoke. Xander tried, but Mathias gave him a shove.
I snorted derisively. “Fine. Just fine. You can fucking save Avalon and the world all by yourselves. I’ll be out in the morning. Does that work for you?”
“Ava—” Xander began, and I just glared, grabbing the pendant the guys gave me from my neck, and giving it a harsh tug. When it didn’t break off I reached around, quickly unfastened the clasp, and flung it on the ground.
“Fuck all of you. Just fuck you!” I shoved past them and their stunned reactions, tears streaming down my face. I lifted my hand, called for my magic and watched the air shimmer as I stalked up the stairs, not stopping until I hit my room where I locked the door behind me, threw myself on the bed, and began to sob. Harder than I’ve ever sobbed before.
Chapter Twenty
Rhys
“Now look what you did!” Mathias shouted angrily, his eyes turning bright red as he stalked through the hallway, picking up the discarded, really expensive bling from the ground, and holding it in his hand.
I know Ava couldn’t see their eyes change color, but since I wasn’t a product of a cursed-incubus union, I could. Apparently. I still was impervious to their seduction, of course. I mean, on a supernatural level. On the level of a male who swung where the wind blew him? Whoo-hoo!
It was the only way I knew that, with all my craziness, bullshit, and antics that they didn’t actually hate me. If they did, I’d watch their eyes turn black.
Well to be fair, Trystan’s did flash a light gray whenever I was around, but… whatever.
“Guys,” I began, raising my hands to get everyone’s attention. If their anger was tangible, it’d feel like a goddamned cactus. And all four of these boys—and besides Mathias that’s what they were to me, boys, no matter how I acted—were acting like the biggest dicks in the universe. If they were superheroes, they’d be called the “Dick Squad.” Lousy superhero name but they were being lousy assholes.
I scowled at my own lame joke. Yeah, that was bad. Focus, Emrys…
“You are the one that told her to leave, you fucking asshole!” Xander hollered, shoving into the fucking brickhouse of a gladiator. Xander must have had the biggest balls in this house because no one stood up to the fucker like he did. Actually he kinda did… Wait, no thinking about balls here. Nope nope nope. Time be serious, dammit.
But it was soooo damn hard. Just like in my pants right n—
Oh my god enough with the balls and the dick-jokes. Seriously I couldn’t help where my mind went.
“I did not, you misunderstood me. You just wish—” My dirty thought was cut off by Mathias yelling.
“Guys!” I shouted a little louder, and when they didn’t listen, I exchanged an irritated sigh with Mordred.
Trystan and Bash currently were locked in a battle of words, both speaking Gaelic at each other. I had no idea Bash knew Gaelic, but I shouldn’t have been surprised. The man could do just about anything.
Except get me to stop peeping at them when they were getting it on. Haha. And man was it ever hot. I think they forgot Ava wasn’t the only person in this house to have invisibility. Just call me a sexy Harry Potter—without the cloak of course. Ugly ass thing—who needed it? Not me! This is where I start singing “We Are the Champions” just because I’m awesome like that. Had I not been about to witness World War III, I probably would have started bursting into song and dance, maybe if they were lucky a little striptease but alas…
When fists started to raise, I knew it
was time to act. No more posturing male bullshit. See, this is why I think I stopped fucking guys. All that testosterone bullshit. I didn’t really stop of course, but this is why I thought about it. I mean hell, I wasn’t the most macho dude out there. I didn’t need to be, I could kick the ass of just about anyone out there with just a snap of my fingers. I was the most powerful sorcerer the world had ever known. I was a legend—literally! So ha.
Where was I going with that? Oh yeah—smacking some sense into some incubus douchebags. Right!
“Guys!” I yelled at the top of my lungs, but no one acknowledged me. “Fine then.” I snapped my fingers, and all four men turned speechless. I laughed triumphantly as the guys realized what happened, and all charged at me. I teleported away, and right behind them. “I can do this all night, boys. So just pipe down and listen to me, all right!”
It was a cold day in hell when I became the voice of reason. I should go build a snowman or something. Would you like to—oh hell I couldn’t sing about that stuff, even in my head. Not here. That was illegal. Copyright or some dumb crap. Stop brain, stop!
“Sit down!” I pointed into the living room, and when all four men didn’t budge, I sighed with loud irritation. “Goddammit you just can’t do anything easy, can you? Do I need to teleport each one of you to your time-out chairs?” I taunted in a condescending, baby tone. I grinned smugly when each of the guys looked like they wanted to kick my ass. That’d be so hot… I wonder what happened to those velvet ropes I once had? Hmm…
Bash was the first to glower at me. His eyes narrowed somewhat, and I knew he was trying to tap into my magic but I waved a hand over myself, putting up a magical shield. Literally, my magic was like breathing, eating, or fucking. It was just instinct. I never knew how I did it, just that I did it. I could do pretty much anything but conjure things out of thin air. That belonged to Thomas fucking Alexander. Oh, sorry. Finnian. How cute. Jerk.
I still wanted to punch him. The conjurer freak beats me one time at cards and he thinks he owns my ass. Ha ha ha. Little did he know I let him win. Dude looked like he was probably hung like a mammoth. I had to see for myself. But how he tried to con me out of all that gold I’ll never figure out…