She’d said too much and needed to leave.
“Others?”
She didn’t answer.
“So, you just came here to tell me your feelings and then tell me we can’t be together.”
“Call it a forbidden love. Call it whatever you want, but yes. As much as I want this…You know, when you were going to kiss me today, it took everything I had to avoid it. Even after all this time, I still think about you.”
“I promise you, if you left him, he would never hurt you again. I would see to it that he couldn’t.”
She reached up and touched his cheek. “You have to forget about me.”
He shook his head. “No.”
“I have to go now.” She stood, but his hand caught her arm, pressing against the burns. “Ow!”
He immediately removed his hand and got to his feet. “What? What is it?”
“Nothing.”
“Did he hurt you? Let me see.”
“I guess I should take care of this.” She removed her jacket.
Blood rushed to her cheeks as his eyes widened.
“What happened to you?”
“I got…burned.”
“What?” He looked at her in disbelief, and then examined the loose strands of her sweater. “It’s very red and swollen and drew blood. How did this happen?”
“It’s nothing.”
“He did this, didn’t he?”
She remained silent.
“Come on,” he told her, his voice unnerved. He led her to the enormous bathroom, complete with a garden tub and marble countertops with double sinks. The room could’ve been the size of a small bedroom. The green and blue striped shower curtain pulled against the edge, still wet from Peter’s shower.
“Can you.” He cleared his throat. “Remove your sweater?” His cheeks reddened.
She cautiously removed her sweater and looked away from his shocked eyes.
He gawked. “What the…It looks like hands. How did this happen?”
She swallowed and refused to meet his gaze.
“You’re not going to tell me?”
“No.”
He shook his head. “What is he? A pyro?”
She shifted. What could she say? “It doesn’t hurt now.”
“You’re probably numb from the pain. You’re lucky we have gauze in here.”
Ava focused on his face as he grabbed a roll of gauze. His smooth features were wrinkled from worry and confusion. He unraveled it and wrapped it around each burn. She didn’t wince once.
He grimaced. “Hopefully that’ll heal soon. Does it hurt now after I messed with it?”
She shook her head, and smiled. “I had a distraction.”
“Should I put a shirt on?”
“No.”
She hesitantly raised her hand, and placed it over his heart. His heartbeat was sporadic. She liked that it did the same as hers. Then, she removed it, embarrassed. It was way past time to go.
“Do you have a shirt?”
“Yeah,” he stammered. He turned out the light and they returned to his room. He pulled out a white tee from his dresser and handed it to her.
She pulled it over her head. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“For healing me too.”
“I barely did anything. If it doesn’t get better, you should go to the hospital.”
“No. You healed me. I don’t feel pain when I’m with you.”
“I’m sure your arms are on fire now.”
“They’re not.”
“Wait, you really feel no pain?”
“I’ve never quite figured it out. Remember that day I had a migraine and I sat with your friends?”
“Yes.”
“Once I saw you, it was gone. If I’m ever in pain, every time I’m near you, it vanishes.”
His eyebrows furrowed. “How is that even possible?”
“I don’t know. All I feel is an intense feeling.”
“Wow. Are you just that happy to be around me?”
“It’s not the happiness, I don’t think. I think it’s you. Or maybe I feel this way about you and it’s stronger than any pain.”
“I thought it was just me that felt this intense.” He took her hand in his and stroked it. “I can’t believe he did that to you. Why did he do it? Were you two fighting?”
She crossed the room to his window, and peered out into the dark night. “He knew you were at my house today.”
“Is he spying on you now?”
Thomas wasn’t spying but she couldn’t say who was. They could be out there waiting for her to leave. Or waiting to hurt Peter. Maybe she could stay the night or somehow leave without being seen. How could she have gotten herself into this? Or Peter for that matter. She’d done so well over the past few months.
“What’s wrong?” he asked. She saw his reflection in the window. He moved closer to peer outside. “Is someone out there?”
“No. I have to go now.”
“Wait. Isn’t there any way we could make this work? Ava, I would do anything for you.”
“No.” Hearing him say those words filled her heart.
“Well, if this is the last time we’re going to speak, can’t you stay longer at least?”
His eyes were begging her. She couldn’t say no. “Okay. But just for a little bit.”
“How would your friends find out about this? I mean, if we kept it a secret. There’s no way they could know.”
“They’d know,” she said. “We can’t talk to each other anymore. You can’t come to my house. I’m sorry.”
“I wish you could tell me something.” He was so close to her.
“I know. But you have to trust me.”
“Then trust me that I know we can find a way to get away from him.”
He slowly raised his hand and softly touched her cheek. She tried calming her heartbeat, but it was impossible when she was with him. She silently prayed the necklace wouldn’t give off any signs of her euphoria, but knew it would.
His fingertips edged along her neck, and drew her face closer to his. Looking up into his smoldering eyes, she surrendered.
Finally, his warm lips pressed against hers, sending a current throughout her body. She burned with an overwhelming passion that she had never felt before as his tongue found hers. She reached around his back and pulled him closer, losing herself in the kiss. She’d never felt more alive. She could feel his muscles tense as his arms wrapped around her, holding her so tight, as if she would run away.
They slowly pulled apart, breathless. Ava rested her head against his bare chest, listening to his erratic heartbeat. And then, just as she expected, Thomas’s anger came like a wave. It was so strong.
“Your necklace is glowing. Why does it do that?”
“You can’t ask questions.” What was she doing? Was she actually considering being with him secretly?
“Okay.” His lips brushed the top of her head.
“I don’t deserve you,” she whispered. “I’m not worth what you are.”
“What are you talking about? Don’t let Thomas make you believe that.”
“I’m not perfect. Not by any means.”
“No one is.”
“I’ve committed a sin.”
He shrugged. “Who hasn’t?”
“You have to keep ignoring me at school, just like you’ve been doing.”
“That’s going to be easy,” he said sarcastically. “How long is this to last?”
She sat on his bed, and hid her face with her hands. “I don’t know.”
The bed lowered next to her, and he pulled her close. She loved the feeling. “We’ll get through this,” he said. “I promise.”
She wanted to believe him.
“How are your arms?”
“I guess they’re okay. They haven’t hurt since I’ve been here.”
“That is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Wait until you hear more of my life.
P
eter intertwined his fingers with hers. “This is nice.”
She angled her head upwards. He leaned in and kissed her longingly, moving his mouth rhythmically with hers, while his hand entangled in her hair and pulled her closer against him. She held him tightly, not wanting to let go.
“This is really going to be hard,” he said.
“Yes, it is.” She clutched her necklace. This was trouble, but she was willing to take the risk. She was risking it all. Including her life.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
BLACK
A loud and constant tap resonated, dragging Ava from a deep sleep. When she opened her eyes, she realized it was the branches from a maple tree rapping against the window. The window groaned from the harsh winds.
Ava pushed the blankets aside, walked to the windows, and peered outside. Lightning flashed and she flinched. Then, she saw the silhouette of a man while the rains fell diagonally. The doorbell sounded.
She jumped and spun around. Who could it be at this hour? Thomas?
It rang once more. She hesitantly walked down the stairs, afraid of what was on the other side of the door.
Ava turned the knob, and touched her chest, trying to calm her frantically beating heart. The strong wind pushed the door open, and her hair brushed all around her face.
The hulking figure entered. His venomous eyes pierced hers.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded.
“You know why I’m here.”
“Thomas, stop enjoying this so much.” Melissa pushed her way past him, her blond hair wild from the wind, with a wicked grin on her face.
A silence hushed over them as the rest of them filed into the house.
“Seems as though you’ve betrayed us,” Gillian said. “I knew it would happen.”
“No I didn’t.”
Thomas grabbed her arms, reinforcing the burning, and forced her to look at him. “I warned you. I told you not to cheat on me.” He dragged her through the door and out into the wintry wet night.
“Let go of me,” she yelled. She hit him and pushed but he wasn’t fazed. “Where are you taking me?”
“You’ll see.”
Thomas pulled her through the woods with the others following, laughing as if they were having a good time. She wondered if they were drunk.
“What are you doing?” The misty cold rain landed on her eyelashes and she tried to keep up with Thomas’s rushed stride.
Her breath caught in her throat as he slowed near the fire-scarred tree from the other night.
Gillian pushed her hard against it. “We warned you to stay away from him.”
“This is the end for you,” Melissa said.
Savina emerged from nowhere, as far as Ava could tell. “I cannot believe that one of my children would do this.”
“No,” she screamed. She tried moving her hands, but they were somehow tied behind the tree. She didn’t remember anyone tying them.
Thomas moved in front of her. “Think of what could have been,” he whispered in her ear, and grabbed her arms. The stinging turned into searing as he gripped tighter.
“Ava,” someone shouted.
Slowly, she came to, and opened her eyes. It was Peter.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
She drew ragged breaths, placed her hands on her sweaty forehead, and wiped her tears away. Her hands shook uncontrollably.
“Shh, it’s okay,” he whispered, and moved the hair out of her face. “What were you dreaming? You were screaming.”
“I-I can’t…” She panted.
“You can’t what?”
Rain pounded against the window. Ava jumped out of bed and peered outside at the empty street blurred by water. Just a dream.
“Ava, what’s wrong?” Peter placed a hand on her shoulder and turned her around.
“Nothing. Just had a bad dream.”
“What was it about?”
She shook her head. Peter encircled his arms around her and pulled her close. She felt warm and safe. Protected. He held her, no questions asked, until she was calm.
When Ava woke the next morning, her eyes felt heavy, and her body begged for more rest. She’d fallen asleep in Peter’s arms, and had stayed to protect him from potential spies stalking them. Somehow, she needed Savina to put a charm on his home.
“Good morning,” Peter said and then tenderly kissed her forehead.
“Morning.”
“I can’t believe you’re really here. I could get used to this.” He smiled, his dimples showing. He leaned down and kissed her. Her heart thumped in delight.
She loved being in his arms and feeling his soft lips on her, but this wasn’t supposed to happen. And after the dream last night, she knew she had made a mistake by coming here. But her mother hadn’t died of betrayal from the coven. Nor was she cast out and stripped of her powers. They’d accepted her father. She could tell her friends about her parents. Maybe then, they’d understand. But what if someone morphed into Peter or worse, morphed into her and tricked him, luring him to his death?
“Are you already having second thoughts?”
Her necklace warmed. Her friends were worried about her and Thomas was angry. She sat up. “No,” she lied. “Why would you ask that?”
“Because I know what the look on your face means. And I know you’re a terrible liar.”
“I was just thinking that I hope I didn’t get you in trouble for staying.” She had to get him off track.
“Dad won’t mind. Besides, if he asks, I’ll tell him you slept in the guest room.” His hand brushed against hers and she got out of bed.
“We should get ready for school. Do you have a sweater I could borrow?”
He gave a lopsided grin. “Taking my clothes already I see.” Peter walked to his closet, took a black sweater off its hanger, and handed it to her.
She pulled it over her head and raked a hand through her hair. “Thanks.”
Peter walked up to her and their eyes locked. “Will you tell me what you’re thinking? Please.”
Ava felt her shoulders go slack. “I’m just scared.”
He took her hands in his and brought them up to his chest. “We’re in this together. Whatever happens, I’m here. I will protect you.”
She nodded, even though it wasn’t her life she worried about. It was his. “Let’s skip today.”
He raised an eyebrow. “I think you’ve missed enough days, slacker. Besides, you’re going to have to face him sooner or later.”
“I know. I just thought we could stay here for one day.”
“He won’t lay a hand on you. I promise.”
“We can’t talk. Or touch each other. We have to carry on like we have been.”
“I know. But that doesn’t mean I can’t make sure you’re safe.”
She didn’t know what it was, whether it was the intense look in his eyes, or the way he said it, but she pressed her lips to his and kissed him. She didn’t hold anything back.
Ava felt his hands cradle her head and he kissed back with the same vigor, as if he knew the danger they were both in, but wouldn’t let it stop them.
When it ended, she felt herself smile.
“Are you trying to seduce me?” he asked.
She playfully hit him. “Come on.”
They drove to school separately, though Ava followed him the entire way. She didn’t feel any strange presences at his house and hoped the day would go by problem-free. When she arrived at school, she saw Melissa waiting for her in the parking lot.
Ava opened her door and got out. “Okay before you get mad, just hear me out.”
“Okay,” Melissa said and folded her arms in front of her. Her green eyes were pale under the cloudy sky, like the color of jade.
“I was at Peter’s last night.”
“Yeah, I got that.”
She sighed. “I went, but when I got there, I had that odd feeling. I was going to get back in my car and just go home, but then his dad came out. So then I went inside.”
“What did you tell him?”
“Nothing about us. Just that we couldn’t be together because of the danger. But then he said we could keep it a secret. He seems to think we can actually do this without getting caught. And he thinks all this is because of Thomas.”
“Well let’s keep it that way. Were you there this morning?”
“Yes. I was there all night.”
Melissa raised her eyebrows. “Did you…?”
“No! I only stayed to keep him safe.”
She shook her head. “I felt it, Ava. There was so much emotion from you, but you could have possibly let Devon’s men get to Peter. Do you realize that?”
“Yes. I have to get Savina to put a charm on his house. In the meantime, I’ll just divide my time between home and Peter’s.”
“No, Ava. You can’t possibly even think about actually being with him. How are you going to carry on a relationship when you have to lie to him constantly? I mean, what are you going to tell him when someone tries to kill him?”
“I can protect him.”
“No. You’re not doing this, Ava.”
“My mom did with my dad. He’s a Halfling.”
Her eyes widened. “Are you serious? How?”
“My mom had to get approval from her coven and Savina and Colden.”
“Hold on. Are you suggesting we bring Peter into the coven and make him an Enchanter?”
Ava looked away. “No. I wouldn’t want that for him.” It was true, but she didn’t want to think about it. “My dad loved my mom so much he gave up everything to be with her and became an Enchanter.”
“And do you think Peter would do the same?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then why did you go last night? Why bring him into this, Ava?”
Her eyes blurred from oncoming tears, but she quickly dispelled them. “I love him.”
A look of pity displayed on Melissa’s face. “What are we going to do?”
“I don’t know.”
Melissa hugged her. “We’ll figure something out.”
The rest of the day was surprisingly calm. She never saw Thomas, and she and Peter managed to act like nothing happened in chemistry. But inside, Ava was happy. She didn’t know how long they could do this.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Under A Blood Moon (Elemental Enchanters) Page 22