“It’s good to see you both,” Thomas said.
When they all pulled apart, Ava looked around and saw the Russians, the Irish coven, and Moira, who rushed up to Gabriel, arms stretched out. “Gabriel!”
“How are you feeling, Ava?” Aaron asked from behind.
“I’m fine,” she said, wiping her tears.
“Still stubborn as ever,” Gabriel teased.
Moira rolled her eyes and hugged Ava. “I’m so glad you made it,” she said.
“Thank you. Are you two okay?” she asked Gillian and Thomas.
“Yeah,” Thomas said. “Sorta.” He glanced at Gillian.
“It’s awful.” Gillian wept. “I keep seeing Jeremy. It’s every night. I swear it feels so real. He kisses me and touches me and it’s like we’re together again, but then he starts coaxing me to join.”
“I haven’t dreamed of Melissa since we split up,” Lance said.
“I don’t understand how he’s getting to us,” Ava said.
Link set his jaw. “He’s not going to win. He’s messed with too many of us.”
Nicole took his hand in hers, and he relaxed as he met her eyes.
Aaron squeezed Ava’s shoulder. “Let’s sit and eat.”
Ava dropped down in the nearest chair, her body overcome with exhaustion. Lance, Thomas, and Gillian accompanied her.
“What’s wrong?” Gillian’s eyebrows furrowed.
Aaron’s face showed concern as he looked to Savina for the answer.
“The coma left her very weak. I gave her some more of the potion, and it helped somewhat. She unfortunately cannot fight.”
“What am I supposed to do? Sit on the sidelines and watch?”
“You’d better,” Gabriel said.
“Oh, you keep lookin’ betta with age my boy.” A thin woman with dark skin and short black hair walked up to Gabriel and hugged him. Her large black eyes were kind, and her thick lips stretched into a wide smile, showing her bright white teeth. She had a small frame and a scar trailed from her ear lobe midway down her neck. It was in the shape of a crescent moon.
“Hey, Mahalia.”
She squeezed his cheeks, and Ava gave a short laugh. “Still single I see. Someone betta snatch you before I will.” Mahalia turned to Ava and held out her hand. “Name’s Mahalia.”
“Ava.” She shook her calloused hand.
“Oooh, Ava. I know you. Well, I heard about you. She’s strong, this one. Betta keep your eye on her,” Mahalia teased as she lowered her voice to Gabriel.
“Stubborn, too.”
Her dark eyes lit up, and she raised her eyebrows. Her mouth formed an O, and she laughed. “Well, I like her already. Love, we have a room set up for you. Get yourselves cleaned up. I made chili.”
“Wow, thank you,” Ava told her.
Mahalia waved her hand as if she were swatting a gnat. “None necessary. It’s my pleasure, love.”
“I’m so ready to eat some chili, M.” Eric came up behind her and hugged her.
“Aww, are you sweet. Get cleaned up, babe.”
Ava smiled at her energetic nature. She was happy, and Ava fed on that. Ever since she stepped inside the inn, she had a warm feeling like it was home. Was Mahalia an Enchanter? Could she manipulate moods? Or maybe it was atmosphere that made Ava feel good.
“Come on, I’ll show you where the rooms are,” Gabriel spoke to Lance and Ava as they headed up a flight of stairs.
“Been here much?” Ava asked.
“A few times.”
“Take any girlfriends?” The words tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop them. “Sorry. That was…”
Gabriel chuckled.
“Mahalia wishes,” Eric said. “If she knew he had a girlfriend, she’d be planning the wedding day. Then urging them to have kids so she could be their godmother.”
“I take it she does that with you, eh?” Lance asked.
“Endlessly.” Eric shook his head.
They reached a long hall lined with rooms on both sides. Natalia took a room. So did Lance. Gabriel opened a door for Ava.
The room was small, but it was more than enough for Ava. She saw a bathroom and cried out.
Gabriel laughed. “I’ll see you at dinner.”
She turned around, and locked eyes with his. Her pulse raced as he brought his mouth down to hers. His kiss was soft and warmth filled her. She reached up, sliding her fingers through his thick hair, and pressed harder. His back hit the door with a thud as his hands squeezed her hips.
Gabriel drew back a little. “I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of kissing you.”
Ava smiled and touched his bearded face.
“Yeah, I plan on shaving this off. We should get cleaned up for dinner.” He kissed her once more and then left.
Ava took a long hot shower, and immediately felt stronger. She was amazed at how much the water helped. Afterward, she changed her clothes and met everyone downstairs for dinner. Everyone was back together, and the cheerful atmosphere lifted her spirits.
“Here.” Gabriel set warm mugs in front of her and Lance. “It’s tea.” He took a seat next to Ava. He’d shaved his beard and put on fresh clothes. He smelled good, and all she wanted to do was curl up next to him.
“Mahalia is wonderful.” Gillian gushed. “I love it here.”
Aidan, Ronan, Moira, and Eric took seats at the table nearby.
Konstantin and Ilya walked up to Ava’s table. “It’s good to see you all,” Konstantin told them.
“Thank you,” Lance said.
“How do you feel?” Ilya asked Ava.
“I’m okay, I guess.”
“Well, it wasn’t an easy journey, I’m sure. It’s so good to see you.” Ilya leaned down and hugged her, a friendly smile on his face.
“Thank you.”
“Here is some chili for a brave woman.” Mahalia set a large bowl filled with a thick white bean chicken chili. Ava inhaled the savory aroma, and her mouth watered.
“I wouldn’t consider myself all that brave,” Ava murmured.
“Nonsense, love. Dealing with those two boys.” She jerked her thumb at Gabriel and Eric. “You got a lot on your plate. I bet Natalia is pleased.”
But Ava knew otherwise. Mahalia continued serving bowls to everyone at the table. “This is my daughter, Noelle.” She introduced a woman who looked like a younger version of herself. Same bright eyes, warm smile, and perfect white teeth.
“Good to meet you.” Noelle smiled. “I heard it’s been a long day.” She placed glasses of water by each bowl and then dragged a chair next to Moira. “Eric, it’s been too long. You, Gabriel, and Natalia haven’t been here in a while. But I understand.” She frowned. “I heard you left after the New Year. We’ve been expecting you for some time.”
“What month is it?” Ava turned to her.
“It’s February. Just missed Saint Valentine’s. We have a ridiculous celebration for that here. But it isn’t filled with hearts and cupids and nonsense like that. It’s a cute little thing we do for couples, singles, whoever. It’s a huge party. Almost like Mardi Gras. But Mardi Gras is crazy.” She gave a sinful grin.
“I think the last time we did your Mardi Gras, I couldn’t walk for a week,” Aidan said, pushing his empty bowl in front of him.
“That’s because you’re not used to the partying, baby,” Noelle said. “Would you like more chili?”
“I think two bowls was enough.”
Noelle laughed. “Mama always says she puts in a special ingredient so you wanna eat more. She calls it her loving hand.” She rolled her eyes as she stood and removed bowls. Then headed back to the kitchen.
“When will you get your strength back?” Gillian asked Ava.
“I don’t know. It’s slowly returning. It’s been miserable.”
“We didn’t want to leave you. But the Elders made us.”
“It was so frightening. How easy it was for him to get inside my head like that. It felt real, and it might as well have been.”<
br />
“I’m so sorry. These dreams with Jeremy, or whatever they are, are killing me. I can’t even imagine what you went through.”
Ava wanted to tell them what she experienced, but she would later. She glanced at Katarina and saw that she and Peter were in a heated conversation. Ava knew she needed to clear the air and make amends. That she was only dreaming about Peter coming to her. Katarina stood and walked to join Ilya and Konstantin in the corner.
“I’ll be right back,” Ava told them and slowly stood. The room swirled, and she felt blood draining from her face. She braced herself against the table for a moment.
“What’s wrong?” Gabriel asked. “Are you sick?”
Ava shook her head. “I think I stood up too fast.” She crossed the intimate dining room and tapped on Katarina’s shoulder. She turned around, and her brown eyes were sad and red with tears. The collar-length blue hair looked even more metallic in the orange glow of the lanterns in the inn.
“Can we talk?”
Katarina crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Sure.” They moved to a quiet corner of the bar.
“I guess you heard that Peter kissed me. But it wasn’t real. It was all in my head. He loves you very much. Don’t be upset with him.”
“Why do you do this?”
She didn’t want the two of them to be fighting under such circumstances. “Because it wasn’t his fault. My mind has been crazy lately. It was part of the torture. You should be happy with him.”
Katarina relaxed, and her eyes softened. “Thank you. You are so kind. I am sorry for what happened. I hope this ends soon.”
“Me, too.” The room waved again. Her stomach churned with an uneasy feeling. She closed and opened her eyes hoping the dizziness would go away. “Go back to him,” she said and then turned back to her table. Her mouth felt as if she’d swallowed cotton balls.
“Are you okay, Ava?” Katarina asked. “You don’t look well.”
“I’m fine. I’m just tired.”
“A bit of an understatement, I should say.” She grabbed her arm to steady her. “Would you like me to help you upstairs?”
“No, it’s fine.” Ava returned to her chair but instead of sitting, she grabbed the back to stabilize herself. “I think I’m gonna head on up,” she told them.
“Whoa, are you okay?” Gillian asked. “You’re sweating.”
“It’s really hot in here.” She blinked several times, trying to get rid of the encroaching tunnel vision.
“I’ll help you up,” Gabriel said as he stood.
The dizziness subsided for a moment as they walked up the stairs and down the hall. “You know, people might figure out that we’re together if we walk up together.” Ava teased.
“Is that a bad thing?” He smirked.
She smiled and leaned her head on the door. “Thanks for everything. I owe you so much.” Ava gripped the front of his sweater and jerked him closer, closing the small space between them.
His blue eyes blazed as his lips grazed her cheek.
“Are you coming onto me?” Her voice slurred.
He looked at her curiously, but she only giggled. “I think you’re becoming slap-happy.”
“All the more reason to come join me.” She opened her door and staggered but Gabriel caught her with his arm looped around her back. She inhaled the fresh fragrance of juniper. “Have I ever told you that you smell good?”
“What is with you? Did you have a shot of something?”
She laughed and closed her eyes, letting her head fall back. Colors whirled behind her lids. Her muscles were loose. Her body seemed to have melted like it had been sitting in the sun on a hot and humid day at home. She tried lifting her arm, but it was heavy.
“Are you seriously drunk?” She heard Gabriel’s voice, but it was faint. There was a ringing in her ear. She felt cushions beneath her head and body. Warmth wrapped on top of her.
“If you need…across…hall.” She heard jumbled words but they made no sense. She might have heard the faintest sound of the door closing but she didn’t know. She slipped further into sleep.
Heat poured over her body as if she was in a sauna. Ava wiped the sweat from her face, but it reformed. Her mouth was as dry as if she swallowed cotton balls. She couldn’t swallow them. Her eyes flickered open and peered out the window. The piercing moon’s light shone into her room like a spotlight on her bed. She wanted the blankets off, but her muscles refused to move. Her body was damp from the sweat.
“Gabriel,” she said, but was too weak to put any emphasis in it. The nausea swelled, threatening to come up her throat. Her head throbbed, and her eyes were heavy. “Gabriel,” she said again.
“I’m right here,” she heard him whisper.
“Hot,” was all she could say.
He pulled back the blankets and felt her head. “You’re burning up.” He lifted her from the bed. The quick motion of him opening the door and the jostling downstairs made her moan from the nausea. He opened another door, and cold air blasted her. Her arms dangled like melted cheese from a fork.
“They’ve found you. We have to leave.” He rushed through his words, as he walked farther away from the inn.
The freezing wind awakened her more. “What? What about everyone else?”
“The farther I get you away from here, the Cimmerians won’t be able to find you. Aaron’s waiting for them just in case.”
“Put me down, I can run.”
“You’re weak.”
“No, I feel better. Let me walk.”
Gabriel set her down in the cold snow, and she realized she was still in the pajamas and barefooted.
“I need shoes.”
“No time for that. Come on.” He grabbed her hand, yanking her through the village into an open meadow and ran toward the woods. The full moon projected a blue glow on the snow. Ava turned back to see the village. She tripped and fell behind him.
“Ava, we don’t have time for this.” He jerked her arm and dragged her across the snow.
“Gabriel.” She was shocked. He’d never been so rough with her. She fought to loosen his grip. “Let me go.”
He turned to face her. The bare trees cast shadows across his face, but she could still see the moon’s reflection in his eyes. “They’re coming after us. Don’t you get it? He’s waiting. We have to hurry.”
Something wasn’t right. Who was waiting? Havok? “What are you talking about?”
The ends of his lips curled into a grin, but it wasn’t friendly. His eyes gave a venomous glare. “You were right to accuse me of being a spy.” He stepped forward.
She felt the blood drain from her face. Her heart thrummed against her ribcage and she tried to keep her breathing steady. “No. This is another trick. He’s inside my head again.” Ava slowly stood and inched backward until she bumped into a tree.
“I’m afraid not. It was me all along.”
“No. Gabriel would never hurt me. Get out of my head!”
He moved closer and raised his hand to her cheek. “Does this feel fake to you?”
She swatted his hand away. “It’s all a dream. This isn’t real.”
“It is, Ava. And you fell right into my trap. I’m taking you to Havok myself. He’ll be so proud of me.”
Water streamed down her arms and she relished the feeling. But she had to keep him talking. She couldn’t kill Gabriel. What if it was a dream, and she actually hurt someone? “You think I’m going to go quietly?”
“Havok’s Enchanters are mere seconds away from attacking the village. They are taking the Elementals and leaving the rest for dead. No one has to die if you come with me. Once we see that you and the other Elementals have chosen our side, they’ll call off the attack.”
“There’s no way that will happen.”
“You don’t know what I can do. But look at the bright side, when you join Havok, you’ll get to see me every day. Well, sort of.”
Everything about this felt real. She tried and tried to pull herself from
the dream, but nothing worked. And then a realization overcame her. “You put something in my drink didn’t you?”
“Yes. I was hoping to come and take you while you were drugged, but I guess those effects didn’t last very long.”
A loud crack sounded, and Ava snapped her head toward the village through the trees. She gasped as she heard screams and saw black smoke billowing into the clear indigo sky.
Gabriel inhaled dramatically and exhaled. “Smell of defeat. I love it.” He sauntered closer. “The longer you delay this, the more will die. And you know that village has Ephemerals and Enchanters. All those innocent people.” He clicked his teeth.
Ava darted from the tree. He snatched her hand, but Ava jerked it back. She pushed him, forcing him to stumble backward. Gabriel’s feet slipped from underneath him, and he collapsed into the snow.
Ava ran toward the village but Gabriel grabbed her from behind. She elbowed him in the chest, and he let out a groan. Something about the way he fought didn’t seem right. He wasn’t using his power, but Ava didn’t dwell on the thought. His hand clutched around her neck and crushed it. She couldn’t breathe. She imagined him drowning. Within seconds, he released her, choking and gasping for air. He crumpled to the ground as water sputtered from his mouth. His head slammed to the ground, unconscious.
Ava exhaled and rested her hands on her weak knees. She needed to be strong so she could fight. Panicked screams and battle cries resonated in the night. She looked to the edge of the forest. She had two options: go back and fight the Cimmerians, as weak as she was. Or run to Havok and give herself up to save everyone in the village. She looked to her right, deeper into the forest. She had a choice to make and the longer she thought about it, the more people died.
Gabriel moaned next to her, and she looked down. His hair changed to brown, his body slimmed and shortened a bit. His head rose and his pale blue eyes met hers.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CHOICE
“Ilya?”
Ava stepped backward, but his arm caught her foot, dragging her to the ground. Shrill screams from the village filled the air. They were dying because she needed to make a choice.
Under the Winter Sun (Elemental Enchanters Series Book 3) Page 30