Chapter 49

Ava felt like a thousand things were just dropped on them. She moved to stand with Capri and Espy.

“That Gemini split stuff—” Espy gave Capri a concerned look. “—that’s you, and the twin Crissy saw, isn’t it?”

Capri nodded slowly. “I believe it is.”

Espy hissed out a breath. “All of us at home are going to be part of this?” She shook her head. “Sparx and Karma are going to be thrilled, but Fade? I don’t like someone so young being in this.”

Ava nodded. “If we can find that anchor thing, maybe we can speed this up.” She watched Capri looking around at everyone else here. “There are so many royals from everywhere here.” She said it quietly. Espy nodded but offered no comment. Turning, she saw Firo coming toward her. She cocked her head to the side, there was something in his expression that she didn’t normally see with him. He was tense. It could just be what they had been talking about, and she would have gone with that if she hadn’t had that strange feeling that he was stressed. How she knew that sudden tightness in her stomach was because of him, she didn’t know, but she knew she was right. “I’ll be right back.”

He watched her every movement as she weaved between the stone benches toward him. One of those girly feelings hit her, and she almost stopped walking. She liked it when he watched her. Girl stuff was always foreign to her. Glancing at the ground, she demanded that her brain straighten up and drop all this other crap.

When they were a few feet apart, she decided she wasn’t in the mood for his careful, stiff words and verbal puzzles. “What’s wrong? You were so tense a few minutes ago.” She looked him up and down. “You’re not much better right now.” She gave him a very forced fake smile. “If it’s this anchor stuff, we’ll find it.”

“It is not that.” He hesitated. “That is important, yes, but it was something else.” Glancing around, he stepped a little closer. “The other matter we will have to discuss when there aren’t so many close.”

She raised her brows and looked around. “That doesn’t sound like good news.”

“I am uncertain if it is good or not.” He cleared his throat. “My queen would like to meet you.”

Ava’s breath caught in her throat. She looked around him to where his queen, her grandmother, stood. “Is that good or bad?”

“I am once again uncertain.” He leaned down. “But I caution you to be polite, or things could get more difficult…”

She leaned back and looked at him. “For who? You?” She snorted. “Not me, because my whole life has been difficult.” She inhaled through her nose and nodded. “Okay. I’ll be nice if that’s what you’re asking.”

His smile was brief. “It is.” Stepping aside, he motioned for her to go.

Ava moved around the end benches and walked with her shoulders back and head up toward where Aireese was standing with her mother. It was just DNA that bound them together. They might be her royal birth family, but she wasn’t. She had no desire to be on some pedestal and looked at like she was more important than anyone else.

“You are quiet. Should I be concerned?” Firo moved to walk beside her.

Ava grinned. “You say that, like me, not talking is a bad thing.”

“It is not. I have just learned that you silent, without sarcastic comment, can be bad.”

She stopped and looked to see that he was grinning. “You have a sense of humor now? When did that happen?”

“I wanted to see a smile on your lovely face and not that look that says you are preparing for battle.”

She smiled at him and actually felt it. “No magic works in here, right, so whatever the reason she wants to see me, it’s just words.” She shrugged and started walking again.

“Words can do more damage than a weapon, Avalie, I know you know this.”

“I do.” Sighing, she slowed her steps so she could speak without other people listening in. “Look, I get that I’m different.” She shrugged. “I’ve always had wings, but now I have this magic stuff.” His attention was solely on her. “It’s not going to change who I am. My mother might have been a princess and my grandmother a queen, but I’m still and always will be Ava.” She nodded. “One of the Gemini League women, and nothing will ever change that.” She looked at him, daring him to say differently.

She watched him inhale deeply, and then he bowed his head down. “I don’t wish for anything to change you.” His look was intense when their eyes connected. “I am quite fond of who you are.” He sucked in a breath. “We shouldn’t keep her waiting long, she is not used to that.”

Ava sighed and lengthened her stride. “Let’s just get this over with. I have things to do.”

“Do those things involve going off to search for the anchor?”

She grinned. “You know they do.”

“Mmm, I do. Please allow some time for me to speak with you before you take off on your loud machine to do that.”

Ava gave him a playful look. “Only if you say please.”

“Please, one hundred times over.”

She stopped at the edge of the platform. “Okay. We’ll chat after I do this.”

Firo motioned for her to go up onto the platform, so she did. She watched Mystral and her guard step back as they approached Aireese and her mother. “My Queen, may I introduce Avalie to you.” Firo bowed his head and then stepped aside.

Ava looked at Aireese and then dropped her head forward. She’d seen them all do and figured it was the thing to do when you met a queen.

The queen looked at her for what felt like an hour before she motioned to the chairs they had been sitting in. “Please, let’s sit for a few moments.”

Ava glanced at Firo, who gave her a slight nod before she moved over to sit in one of the cold, hard stone seats. She sat straight and waited while the woman looked at her.

“I wish to thank you for saving my daughter that day by the river.” The queen inclined her head to her.

Ava gave her a half-shrug kind of move. “Hey, no problem.” She felt awkward and didn’t know what to do with her hands, so she rested them on her legs. “I still don’t know what I did, but it worked out.”

Queen Aurora nodded. “It did.” She glanced at her daughter. “Aireese is going to start teaching you how to harness and control your magic, so if ever there is a need, you will understand how to use it.”

“Cool.” Ava cleared her throat softly. “Thank you.” She nodded.

The queen reached into her robe and pulled out the bag that had her father’s letter in it. She held it out to her. “Thank you for sharing this with me. It meant a great deal.”

Ava reached over and took it from her hand. “I thought you might want to know.” She glanced at Firo. “My—your daughter knew what was happening and made the decision—the sacrifice to have me.”

She watched the queen’s eyes reflect sadness. “It did change things in my mind. Someday, perhaps my heart will feel it as well.”

Ava looked down at the letter in her hands. “I’m sorry she died.” That’s what you were supposed to say to people; she knew that, but it was the truth, too. “I wish I knew her.”

The queen’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I see a lot of her in you.” She offered a slight smile. “The determination is there in tenfold.”

Ava smiled. “Nothing wrong with that.”

“No, there is not.” Composing herself once again, the queen nodded. “Avalie is a family name—” She frowned. “—what last name do you use?”

Ava scrunched up her face. “I don’t use any. I’m Ava. Just Ava.”

The queen nodded and then looked at Aireese. “Please consider using Trismenor. It was the surname of the relative whose name my Avaline gave you.”

Ava turned her head in a jerky movement and looked at Firo. He inclined his head again, but she could see the surprise on his face. She looked back at the queen. “Thank you. I will think about it.”

She looked pleased with her answer. “I need to get back, there is a lot to do now.” She stood up, so Ava scrambled to her feet quickly. “I wish that I could quell thousands of years of fear and opinion and allow you to be in FaTerra, but not even a queen has that ability.”

Ava shrugged. “Don’t sweat it. I’m needed where I am and won’t ever leave the Geminis.” She smiled. “We might be a bunch of misfits, but we’re a team—a family.”

The queen studied her for a few seconds. “I look forward to meeting them in the future.” She smiled briefly. “Have a good day, Avalie.”

Ava nodded. “You too.”

Aireese motioned to two large men standing behind the platform. They hurried over and waited for the queen to step down. Ava figured they would go outside the circle and do their magic disappearing thing.

She turned to Firo. “She seems all right.”

He gave her a whole smile. “And full of surprises.”

Aireese stepped closer. “I don’t know who that woman was—” She looked over to see her mother walking away. “—but that was not my mother.” She chortled and then went over to Mystral and her guard.

Firo exhaled loudly. “That is not how I foresaw that going.”

Ava looked over to see the queen leaving the magic-free zone. “I didn’t know for a second either.” She turned to him. “I don’t really need a last name, but I feel like if I don’t use it now, she’ll be…”

“Quite offended.” He nodded. “That calm woman you just spoke to is not the usual disposition of my queen.”

“I kind of got that from your expressions.”

He shrugged. “Yes, it was quite difficult to try to keep my facial expressions stoic and non-reactive.”

“Avalie Trismenor,” She snorted. “I guess as long as I don’t have to spell it, I can say I use it.” She shrugged. “Most of us at Capri’s don’t have last names.”

“Before recent events, I would have said that was a tragedy and that you all deserve better, but now, knowing the plots and planning, I believe it was meant to be that way to bring you all together.”

Ava didn’t feel that way at all. “Capri is what brought us all together.”

“Yes.” He looked over in the direction where Capri and Espy stood talking to Nova and Liri.

“So, what did you need to talk to me about?”

He turned back and looked at her, and immediately, she could see the anxiety.

“I just need to borrow Firo for one minute.” Aireese came over and smiled at her.

Firo frowned but then sent Ava a quick look. “Please wait here a moment.”

Ava shrugged and watched them go over to the other side of the platform.

“I’ve never seen anyone tame my aunt that way.” Mystral came over and smiled at her. “Next time I’m in trouble, I might take you with me.”

Ava chortled. “Don’t count on it happening again. That was one weird conversation.”

Mystral nodded slowly. “It was.” She glanced at Aireese and Firo and then looked back at her. “I guess I should say, welcome to the family.”

Ava opened her mouth and then paused. “I don’t know if being related means much.”

Mystral shook her head. “Sadly, it doesn’t. The fact that you cannot be in Fa Terra because of gossipers and fear-mongers is ridiculous.”

Ava shrugged. “It is what it is.” She gave her a lop-sided grin. “The way I feel, when I’m there is a bit much if I’m being honest.”

“Mmm, you’d feel the magic in a different way because of your—father’s genes, I suppose.”

“I don’t know why it is or even what it is, but I’m good not having to feel it all the time.” She looked over to see Firo and Aireese both looking at her with concern on their face. She jerked her chin toward them. “Did I mess up?’

Mystral glanced their way and then shook her head. “No. I don’t believe so. There are just some obstacles that need to be dealt with, is all.”

“Oh yeah? Like what?” She was getting that feeling in the pit of her stomach that something was up, and it had to do with her.

“I believe Firo would be the best one to explain it to you.”

Ava gave her a bored look. “Sure, if he’s not speaking all stuffy and in code.”

“He can be that way, can’t he? I think he’s just a little uncertain when around you.” She smiled. “Once he relaxes, he’s very easy to talk to.”

Ava shrugged. She had no idea what to say to that. Turning, she saw that Espy was looking at her. She held up her hand to let her know she’d be a little longer before they could leave.

“Ah, looks like we’re heading home.” Mystral smiled at her. “I’m sure I’ll see you at the Interealm headquarters in the near future.”

Ava nodded. “For sure. The faster we find this anchor thing, the easier all this stuff gets.”

“Yes. Easy stuff is so much better than what we’ve been dealing with.” She inclined her head to her and then went over to Aireese and the other guard.

Firo’s forehead was creased as he walked toward her.

“What’s up?” She noticed she was still holding the letter and put it in her inside pocket. Doing that reminded her that she forgot to thank Aireese for the clothes. She was in love with this jacket with all of the pockets.

He looked at her for a second, and she realized he didn’t understand what she was asking. She was going to have to teach this man some slang. “Aslac and I were talking during the discussion.”

She raised an eyebrow. “About?”

He nodded. “He reminded me of something that our kind can suffer from. An affliction.”

She narrowed her eyes. If he was going to tell her that he was sick and dying or something, she wasn’t going to be happy. She didn’t understand all this relationship stuff and the blend magic thing, but she also didn’t want to think of him not being around anymore.

“It is not dire, just a concern.” He held her look until she nodded. “When those with bonded magic are separated—if one of them dies, the other is left to suffer a madness of sorts.” He studied her face for a second before continuing. “The broken bond affects their magic and ability to control it and…”

“Wait.” She held up her hand. “Are you saying I’m going to get out of control?” It was her only nightmare. That she would do something she had no control over. “If that’s what you’re saying, then we need to fix it so it doesn’t happen.” She sucked in a breath, knowing the pain was going to hit as soon as she allowed her mind to go there. “Whatever happened in that forest—” She winced as a pain stabbed through her eye into her head. “—back then, we both know it wasn’t good…”

He stepped closer and leaned down so they were face to face. “Stop thinking about that time.” He hissed out a breath. “I cannot stand to see you in pain.” His voice quaked. “What I refer to is not that.” He sighed. “Whatever took place that day is entirely my fault for not teaching you how to use your own power.” He nodded slowly. “Do you understand this?”

She focused on his ice-blue eyes and took a few breaths, trying to wash the thoughts from her mind. “Yes.”

He straightened up. “I did not mean this for you.” He motioned to her. “For you to try to force memories. I was only trying to inform you of things.”

She was trying to piece together what he said. “Okay. A madness from grief. Got it.” She gave him a bewildered look. “But we’re okay. We’re not all bonded or whatever that is, and both very much alive.”

“Yes.” He still looked worried. “There is a concern that because my magic marked you so long ago…”

She held up her hand again. “Ballpark it. What are the chances of this madness affecting either of us? I mean, it’s been five decades, and we’re both pretty sane.” She shrugged. “Most of the time. We see each other a lot, so that’s gotta’ count for something, right?”

He held her gaze for a few awkward seconds and then tilted his head. “Yes. We are fine.” He glanced over his shoulder and looked in the direction of where Airesse stood talking to Nova. “My princess says she will work out a way, and I trust she will.”

Ava sighed. “All right, so freaking me out for no reason here.” She glared at him.

Firo dropped his head forward for a second before speaking. “I did not want you to be unaware. I know you dislike anything but the truth.”

She smiled. He did know her. “Right. Okay, consider me aware, and I got it.” She motioned to where Espy stood. “I need to get going. We’re riding back, not poofing.”

He smiled. “Poofing. What an interesting description.”

She shrugged and jumped down off the platform. “One second, you’re there, and then poof, you’re not.” She glanced back at him to see he was following her.

“I have never heard it put that way before. I will have to tell Aslac I’m going to poof somewhere just to see the look on his face.”

Ava stopped and turned to look at him. “You do have a sense of humor hidden deep inside.” She pointed at him. “We’re going to have to work on finding it. Being all doom and gloom all the time isn’t a lot of fun.”

“This coming out of the mouth of the angriest woman I have ever laid eyes on.”

Ava bit her lip and jerked her head to the side. “The anger is how I focus.”

“I am aware. I did not say it was wrong, just that it compares to my doom and gloom.”

She grinned at the way he slowly enunciated the words. “If you weren’t so pretty, your gloominess might put people off.”

He touched her elbow, and even though she was wearing leather, she could still feel the blending thing. “It pleases me that you find my looks attractive.”

Ava snorted. “Like every female hasn’t shared that with you before.”

“I am quite average among my people.”

Ava shrugged. “I didn’t notice when I was there.”

“Yes. You were too busy diving under falling trees to look at the crowd.” His lips set in a hard line.

“But I passed the test.” She nodded her head slowly, trying to get him to not think about her almost getting smashed by a tree.

“Yes.”

She watched his chest rise as he inhaled a deep breath. She needed to get out of here and not be thinking about his chest, she thought.

“I would like to come see you later so you can help me with this phone.”

She’d forgotten. “Right. Yeah. Okay. I’ll be there.”

“Yes. Please, no running or riding off in search of that anchor until a plan has been established.”

Ava nodded. “I know. No willy-nilly searching.”

His mouth twitched. “I would like to kiss you—” He looked around. “—but feel you would prefer not with so many eyes on us.”

Ava glanced around to see there were several people still there, and they were looking at them. “Good call.” A part of her felt disappointed that he wasn’t going to. The sane part of her was glad he wasn’t because she didn’t need people seeing her business.

“I will see you later, Avalie Trismenor.” He bowed his head.

“That is going to take some getting used to.” She grinned. “Later, Firo the pretty.”

His smile was big as he stepped back.

Ava huffed out a breath, turned away, and started walking. Why had it been so important to her that he wasn’t upset about this madness thing? She didn’t like to see people down but usually didn’t put herself into it trying to make them feel better.

“You’re going to hate me saying this…”

She looked up to see Espy walking toward her. “What?”

Espy gave her a hesitant look and then pointed to Firo. “I’ve never seen you smile as much as you do when you’re around him.”

Ava looked to see Firo walking away still and then snapped her head back to her. “You’re seeing things.”

“No, I’m not.”

Ava started walking toward the stones that would take her back outside this place to her bike.

“You are, and there is nothing wrong with it.” Espy caught up to her. “I mean, he’s not a bad guy. A little weird in other realm ways.” She shook her head. “But you deserve some kind of happiness too, Ava.” She sorted. “Except for Capri, you’re the oldest out of us, and if I’d been angry and work-motivated for as long as you have without any fun, I would have killed some people by now.”

Ava stopped and looked at her. “I don’t know what to do with all this relationship stuff.”

Espy shrugged. “No one does until they figure it out—together.” She grinned. “Or so I like to believe, not that I have a lot of experience with it.” She walked backward so she was still looking at her. “Look at Nova and Crazy. They figured it out.” She snorted. “If they can, I think anyone can.” Tuning around, she stepped between the stones and vanished from Ava’s sight.

Ava put her hands on her hips and glared at the space she had been standing in. She didn’t need all this extra in her life. She had wings and magic she didn’t understand. Now, she had a last name and relatives she didn’t know what to do about. She had to find an anchor and learn magic to fight some big bad and save all the worlds. She looked over to see Aireese and Firo walking in her direction. She didn’t have time for a pretty man that made her smile. Blowing out a harsh breath, she stomped toward the stones. She needed her bike and the road right now. That’s all she knew for sure.