Under the Winter Sun (Elemental Enchanters Series Book 3)

by Richards, Carrigan

  Savina struggled to stand. “You will not take them. You will not win.” She stared at him with such hatred and contempt. But then she strained and a vein protruded on her forehead. Blood trickled from her nose.

  “You cannot use your powers. They have been negated. Though, I had hoped it wouldn’t have come to this.” He raised his hand, but Aaron grabbed Savina and pulled her behind him. Havok merely smirked. And then two Cimmerians jerked Aaron away from Savina, their hands slipping from each other’s grasps.

  “You see, I have already won,” Havok said. “And I have no use for you.” He took Savina’s hand in his, and she looked back at Aaron. She fell limp in Havok’s arms. She gasped for air, and her body contorted.

  “No!” Aaron cried and struggled with the two Cimmerians.

  Then Savina’s eyes closed.

  Havok’s face fell as he carefully eased her to the floor. Ava heard several cries and whimpers, but she felt no sadness. No anger. Nothing.

  “Savina!” Aaron cried and rushed to her. He held her lifeless body in his lap and touched her face. Tears streamed down his face. “How could you have killed your daughter?” His voice was a deep growl. “How could you have killed both of your children? They loved you.”

  “And they betrayed me!” Havok raised his voice. “I had no choice.”

  “There’s always a choice. You will burn for this. A thousand deaths you will burn.”

  Ava had never seen Aaron act so menacing.

  “Take him away.” He flicked his wrist at his guards. “And take her to the sepulcher. She is to have a proper burial.”

  Ava turned to stare out into the sea of Enchanters. Some of her coven members wept while others stood with angry glares as Cimmerians still detained them.

  “If you all swear your allegiance to me, you will not be tortured,” Havok said.

  “I could work on Gabriel,” Eve said with a wicked grin as she stepped down and walked in front of Gabriel. She reached up to touch his cheek, but he turned his head away from her. “He just needs warming up.” She jerked his face to look at her and then planted a kiss on his lips. When she pulled away, Gabriel set his jaw and stared at Ava.

  “Well, that was romantic,” Havok said, obviously bored.

  Eve turned back to him with a pout. “Can he join?”

  He sighed. “Very well. But he must pay for his desertion. Does anyone else wish to join?”

  After a few moments of silence, Eric cleared his throat. “I will swear my allegiance.”

  “Lovely. Anyone else?”

  “We will,” Peter said, nodding toward Katarina.

  “Excellent. Take the rest to their cells.”

  The guards took Moira, Natalia, Aaron, Gustav, Sean, and Konstantin away while the crowd filed out of the room.

  “I’m such a happy man right now.” Havok smiled, looking at his new Enchanters. “You all must be so exhausted. I have rooms for you. But before that, Klaus will take you to our lab.”

  “For what?” Thomas asked.

  “For a little memory alteration.” Havok gave a sinister grin.

  A burly man with black curly hair grabbed Ava, and other guards took the Elementals, Eric, Peter and Katarina. They headed down a corridor into a small room with soft yellow lights. Ava hadn’t expected this. She had no way out of it either since Benjamin, the power negator, came with them.

  The door closed behind them and the guards stood against the wall. The room was too small for the amount of people and the four dentist-looking chairs. Ava swallowed hard but maintained her composure.

  “Is this necessary?” Thomas asked. “We want to be on Havok’s side.”

  “Yes, but he can never be too sure.” A man with black hair and piercing green eyes said. He wore a lab coat as if he were a real doctor. “I’m Klaus, and I’m here to take your memory away.” He said it like they were about to have a root canal.

  A man forced Ava in a chair and strapped her down. They did the same with Gillian, Thomas, and Lance. Peter, Katarina, and Eric waited, but Ava could see the fear in Peter’s eyes.

  Klaus lifted Gillian’s arm, and picked up a syringe filled with a clear liquid.

  Ava couldn’t watch. She remained emotionless, and closed her eyes. Ava would never see her father again. She forced the tears deep down inside. She had made the biggest mistake of her life.

  She thought of Gabriel and the way her heart exploded when his lips touched hers. She wasn’t sure how he could ever forgive her. He couldn’t save her this time. She didn’t know who she would be without her memories. They couldn’t kill Havok or carry out their plan.

  Ava felt a hand grab her arm, and her eyes opened. “This won’t hurt at all but you will be rather…numb and exhausted afterward.” Klaus wrapped a rubber tourniquet around her arm. He held up a needle and tapped it. She glanced at Gillian, who gave her a reassuring look. Klaus placed the needle to her vein and pushed the clear liquid inside.

  Her heart raced. She memorized the feel of Gabriel’s arms around her. His smooth voice. The sexy sound of his quiet laugh. The feel of his soft lips on her neck. The way his beautiful eyes amorously gazed into hers. She couldn’t help the tear that fell out of her eye.

  Klaus placed both hands against her temple and stared into her eyes. You are an Elemental Enchanter. You have the ability to control water. Use it to defeat the Cimmerians and Havok. Keep up the ruse. You must make him believe you have lost your memories. You all are the answer to end this.

  He removed his hands and moved to Thomas. She felt the effects of whatever Klaus had injected in her. Her body felt heavy and she had a hard time keeping her eyes open.

  But she understood what Klaus said. The same thing her mother said in all of those dreams. Join them. If you don’t, everyone will die. Convince the others to swear their allegiance and they would kill Havok.

  This was their destiny.

  ACKNOWLEDEMENTS

  To all of my readers and fans. Your incredible support does not go unnoticed. I couldn’t do this without you.

  To all the musicians I have ever listened to and who continuously inspire me.

  To Jennifer for your support, encouragement, and laughter. To my girl Paige. There are not enough words to say how awesome you are. I could not accomplish writing without you. A thousand times thank you. To Chani for all of your editorial advice and support. To my awesome betas and street team. You rock! To Angie and Rachel. To Nicole for the beautiful cover and for being my friend.

  To my mom and Rob; my dad; Patrick, Morgan, and Alison. You are incredible and I love you all. To my amazing new family. Your kindness and zeal is greatly appreciated.

  To Chris. You amaze me each and every day and I am so lucky to have you. Thank you for making me smile and for challenging me. Always and forever.

  PLAYLIST

  Walking Blind – Aidan Hawken

  Rain – Breaking Benjamin

  Going Under – Evanescence

  Disintegration – Jimmy Eat World

  Everybody Lies – Jason Walker

  Over – Jimmy Eat World

  Silver Springs – Lykke Li

  Hey Jupiter – Tori Amos

  Almost Lover – A Fine Frenzy

  The Mess – The Naked and Famous

  Winter Sun – Dishwalla

  Figure 8 – Ellie Goulding

  Black Tangled Heart – Silverchair

  Dead In The Water – Ellie Goulding

  Fine Again – Seether

  Never Let Me Go – Florence & the Machine

  Snow Angel – Tori Amos

  Dark Roman Wine – Snow Patrol

  Holding a Heart – Toby Lightman

  Skin – Zola Jesus

  Elastic Heart – Sia

  Losing Your Memory – Ryan Star

  Kiss Me – Ed Sheeran

  Don’t Deserve You - Plumb

  The Only One – Evanescence

  Made of Stone – Evanescence

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Carrigan Richards i
s the author of Pieces of Me and the Elemental Enchanters series. She graduated from Kennesaw State University with a degree in English. She lives near Atlanta with her fiancé and their three dogs.

  Website: www.carriganrichards.com.

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorcarriganrichards

  Twitter: www.twitter.com/carrigan34

  ALSO BY CARRIGAN RICHARDS

  Pieces of Me

  Under a Blood Moon (Elemental Enchanters #1)

  Under the Burning Stars (Elemental Enchanters #2)

  When Darkness Fell (Elemental Enchanters #2.5)