Chapter 39

When he finished reading it, he folded it slowly, put it back into the bag, and held it out to her. “Thank you for sharing that with me.”

Taking it, she shrugged. “Figured you’re in this mess too, so you should see it.”

“I cannot believe he wrote you.” He tilted his head to the side. “I don’t remember anyone ever saying anything about angels becoming attached to others in that way.” His brow creased. “Avaline knew what was happening.” His voice was quiet. “I didn’t know anything about it.”

Ava realized he was as gobsmacked by some of this as she was. “Yeah, I guess she found out somehow…”

“Why wouldn’t she tell me?” His forehead creased.

“I don’t know.” Ava felt bad that he’d been misled. “I guess if too many knew, then Izel and the others wouldn’t be able to do what they had to.”

His pale eyes flicked to look at her face. “That makes sense.” He nodded slowly. “My queen is not going to be happy about it.”

Ava blew out a breath. “Should I let her read it?”

He took a moment before answering. “I feel it may help her if she did.” He nodded.

“Okay, I’ll bring it.”

He nodded once more. “In the morning. Your morning, we’re going over to see Amyas.”

“My morning?”

“Yes. Days are longer in FaTerra, so it won’t be morning there, but Amyas has requested it be late in our day.”

“It will be night there?”

“Close to, yes.” He nodded.

She shrugged. “Okay.” She looked down at the case. “And I need to wear that?”

“I believe you should. Others involved will be dressed in their best regalia for an event such as this.”

Ava sighed. “I shouldn’t show up in jeans and work boots, is what you’re saying.”

Firo smiled but didn’t answer her.

“Fine.” She sighed again. “I’ll wear it, but don’t expect me to be all graceful in it. I’ve never had a dress on in my life.”

“My princess will be pleased. Being your aunt, she only wants the best for you.”

Ava opened her mouth and then closed it. “Right. I’m related to your royals.”

“You are.” His expression blanked, and it made her wonder what he wasn’t saying.

“Okay. I guess I’ll see you when we’re going over for me to be tested.” She debated if she wanted to ask for details on how that happened or not. She decided not because if she didn’t like it, she wouldn’t go, and she needed to. Answers were there that she needed.

He continued to stand there. “I wonder, do you have a free moment so we could talk?”

She couldn’t prevent the wary look she gave him. “The last time you wanted to talk, it didn’t go so well.” She hugged the leather jacket.

“It is not like that this time. I have been thinking about what you said. I feel I am responsible for it, and for that, I am sorry.”

Inside her head, she was laughing. What did she say? So much had happened recently that she couldn’t remember what came out of her mouth ten minutes ago. “You’re going to have to narrow it down for me. I say a lot lately.”

He looked so uncomfortable that she had pains of guilt for putting him through whatever this was. “When you said you’ve never been into any of that.” He nodded once like that explained it all.

She blinked, trying to process, and then gave him a wide-eyed look. “Are you talking about relationship stuff?”

“Yes. I am to blame because I marked you when your life had just begun.” He frowned. “Although I am sorry, I am not at the same time.”

Ava snorted.

“What I mean to say is, if I hadn’t, then you would have been into all that, and I’m certain I would not deal well with it if you were close to another male.”

She chuckled. “You’re the jealous type?” She shook her head. “Rest assured, Firo the pretty, you have nothing to worry about in that department.”

“Yes, I know.” He looked stressed. “Which is a small part of the issue. I have lived a long time, compared to this realm’s habitant’s expiry date…”

Throwing her head back, she laughed. “Expiry date.” Tears filled her eyes. “Like we’re a loaf of bread.”

“I—there are times when I don’t understand your language and may have spoken the wrong words.”

She shook her head. “No. No, that was good. I needed that.” Wiping the tears from her eyes, she blew out several breaths. “Sorry. You were saying?”

Several expressions crossed his face before he nodded. “Yes. Let me try again. I know you live longer than—” He moved his hand around. “—humans, but still, in comparison to myself, you are very young, and I think I have robbed you of normal human-like experiences that you should have had.” He gave her a wary look, probably afraid she’d start laughing again.

Ava processed for a second and then held up her hand. “Let me see if I got this right. You think you did me wrong by accidentally marking me and preventing me from getting my heart smashed by some jerk or jerks—” She shrugged. “—when I was a teen or whenever?”

He opened his mouth and then closed it again and narrowed his eyes. “I think that’s what I meant.”

Ava grinned for a split second. “Hey, it’s all good. I don’t have any harsh feelings about it happening.” She glanced into the garage, checking they were still alone before looking back at him. “I thought about it earlier, and if you hadn’t marked me when I was a baby, then you wouldn’t have known when I needed help.” She sucked in a breath and said it fast. “Fifty years ago, in the forest.” She quickly focused on the bus so the pain wouldn’t hit her. “On that bus and today with that magic-stealing idiot.” She shrugged. “So, you see, it’s all good.”

Relief was clear on his face. “I am pleased to hear this.” He nodded and then held out his hand. “May I?”

She looked down at the jacket she was squeezing. Hesitantly, she held it out to him. He turned it around and held it out. It took her a second to realize he was holding it out so she could put it on. Setting the envelope on the seat of the nearest bike, she turned around and put her arms in the sleeves. The material had that new leather smell, and she loved it. Putting her arm out, she saw the sleeves were the right length. She turned around and grinned at him. “It’s a perfect fit.”

He smiled. “I am sure my princess will be pleased to hear that.” He stood there looking at her, and her stomach started to tighten. “I was wondering, perhaps after you meet with the elders, we could have a meal together.”

Both eyebrows went up. “When we come back?”

He shook his head. “No. In FaTerra. We don’t know if you’ll be there again, and I thought you might want to see more of it without—” He lifted his hand and then let it drop. “—ceremony.”

Did she want to see more of the fae realm? It might be interesting to see. Capri would love to hear more about it. That much she knew. “Okay.”

His smile was bright and contagious as she felt her mouth return the gesture. “I will see you in the morning.” He inclined his head and then straightened and stepped back a few steps. “Please, if you could try not to stray far, I would like to rest a while before then.”

Ava chuckled. “I don’t think I want to go anywhere else and chance that happening again.” Twice in as many days was more than enough for her. She needed to figure out how she was going to make sure no one came near the building and that everyone was safe.

“I am relieved to know this.” He bowed his head again. “Have a good night, Avalie.”

She shrugged. “I will try.” She stood there and watched him walk away and then saw him lift his hand and he disappeared. Gnawing on her lip, she wondered how he did that and if she could do it.

“He’s very pretty for a boy.”

She jumped and turned around to see Fade standing in the garage. “Yeah.” She frowned at the suitcase and went over and picked it up. “You’re getting good at being visible.”

Fade’s smile was all teeth. “I know. I still can’t do it all the time, but I’ll take whatever I can manage.” She looked out into the alley.

Ava glanced over her shoulder. “Hoping to catch sight of Sedric?”

Fade blushed. “Yes. He goes by every day around now.”

Ava gave her head a shake. “You’re a stalker now?”

Fade’s mouth dropped open. “No. I mean, I have nothing else to do but sit and look out the window.” She shrugged.

Ava sighed. She was so stuck in her own problems that she forgot about Fade being stuck in the building for as long as she’d been with them. “Listen, don’t go anywhere alone right now. Not even to hang out in the alley with Sedric.”

Fade nodded. “I heard what happened.”

Ava picked up the suitcase. “I’ll talk to Capri, maybe you guys could hang out in the basement. We’ll get a tv down there…”

Fade rushed toward her and hugged her tight. “Thank you.” She released her just as quickly, and Ava watched as she slowly disappeared. “Crap. Now I have to focus all over again.”

Ava wasn’t sure if she still stood in front of her, so she didn’t move. “You’ll get it.” She understood how hard it was to do something that you didn’t understand.

“I hope so.” The door on the top of the stairs opened and then closed.

Ava looked around and then sighed. The entire time they’d all lived here, they were basically unnoticed, and now they were going to have to watch over their shoulders and always make sure they had backup in case it was needed. She scowled at the suitcase in her hand. When she saw those elders, she was going to find out how she could fast-track learning how to work her power, magic, or whatever the hell it was she was born to do. She looked out to where Firo had been when he disappeared. Learning how to do that could come in handy, too.