Chapter 51

Ava stood there for a minute, trying to sense if she felt different. She didn’t. That meant they were still in Interealm. It was still just as dark as it had been standing in front of the garage.

“Nova showed me on the map, and we are this far—” She held up her finger and thumb, a few inches apart. “—from your building.”

Ava tried not to smile at how little the princess understood about maps. “Two-hour drive roughly.” She shrugged.

The little place was a house; she thought maybe it was grey, but it might be blue in the daylight. She looked down the street one way and then the other. There were only a few houses on the street, so it was a rural location for sure.

Aireese held the key out to her. “I will leave you here. I need to reach out to someone from the Interealm Headquarters and discuss a general meeting about the search.” She waited for Ava to take the key and then smiled at Firo, lifted her arm and then disappeared.

Ava looked at the house again. “Well, I guess we should go look at it.”

He didn’t speak, just motioned for her to go ahead of him.

Her hand was shaking when she put the key in the lock. “We should leave the key somewhere out here so we know where it is.”

He only nodded when she looked at him.

Blowing out a breath, she turned the door handle and opened the door. Both of them stood on the threshold and looked inside.

“Am I being a coward because I’m nervous about going in?”

He touched the small of her back with his hand. “If you are, then I am one as well.” He gave her an understanding look. “Let’s do it quickly.”

She nodded. “Okay. Here goes.” She stepped into the house. When she heard him come in behind her, she looked around for a light. “If this is done all fancy, I’m out.”

“I’m not sure what your classification of fancy is, but I am hoping for something normal-looking.”

She ran her hand down the wall beside the door until she felt a switch. “Here goes.” Turning it on, she turned around and stood there. There was minimal furniture in what she was going to call the living room. It wasn’t brand new, but it wasn’t garbage either, she thought.

With slow steps, she walked from that room into the first door. It was a kitchen. Not a big one like at home, but it was enough space to make a snack or something. She turned around to see him glancing in it with a hesitant look on his face. “Not much of a cook, huh?”

He shrugged. “I have lived in the guard’s quarters since I was a teen, so cooking was never something I had to concern myself with.”

“Fair enough.” She walked out, went down the short hallway, and opened the first door. Running her hand along the wall, she found the switch and turned the light on. “Bathroom.” She called out and then felt him come up behind her. It had a normal size tub, sink, and toilet. “I guess this was one of the places for Nova’s soul’s body of the decade to hide in, alone.”

“Yes. My understanding of it was she, regardless of body, didn’t go out often.”

Ava nodded and turned to go open the last door. “I guess it’s a good thing she didn’t. If she’d met Bastian too soon, everything else would have failed before it was started.”

“That is true.”

She squeezed the door handle and sucked in a breath as she turned it. Logic said it was a bedroom, and she felt her face heat just thinking about it with him so close to her. Opening the door, she pushed it, but didn’t go inside. From where she stood, it had an average-sized bed and a dresser. Nodding, she turned and then walked right into him.

He placed his hands gently on her hips. “Avalie, I can feel the tension from your thoughts.” He released her and then took her hand. “Come. We must talk in this place where no one will interrupt us.” He looked at her, an amused look on his face. “I have never had that in all of my years.”

She nodded. “Same. The garage is like a freeway, and with so many in the house, sometimes, if you want quiet, you have to put a pillow over your head.”

He tugged on her hand and walked back out to the living room.

Ava looked around it again. “A couple of throw blankets, pillows, a TV, and this room could be comfy.”

He walked her over to the couch and turned his hand so she would sit. When she did, he released it and then sat on the other end of it, facing her. “I’ve never watched a movie before, so I am looking forward to that.”

“Don’t you have downtime?” she quirked an eyebrow at him.

“When I am not required, I go work on battle moves with other guards or go over to—” He looked around. “—here and…”

“Lurk nearby and watch me?” She grinned.

“Check on you, yes.”

She nodded. “There were so many times I felt like someone was watching me, but no one was there.” She pointed at him. “It was you.”

“It was, and I won’t apologize for it.” He leaned back and then looked at the couch. “I think a good dusting might be required.”

Ava took a deep breath and then nodded. “Yeah, it’s a little dusty and dank in here.” She leaned back and clasped her hands together. “You have your wings put away.” She had just noticed it.

He smiled. “Not put away. Mine don’t come and go like yours do, but I can keep them under my clothes.”

Ava got up and went around behind him. She ran her hand down his back. She could feel them. “Why did you do this?” She went and sat back down.

“As I said earlier, I was having trouble focusing and to use a glamor for a long time takes concentration.” He lifted his hands and let them drop. “I did not have that today.”

Ava felt her cheeks go red. She looked at the faded pattern on the material they sat on.

“We need to discuss this so that you can relax. I can feel your apprehension about everything.”

“Everything?” She frowned. There was so much everything happening lately she didn’t know which way was up.

“Us. The you and me, everything.” His voice was soft, even though his expression was intense. “You need to know that even if I were to feel the ties on my magic slipping, I would not—will not do anything to rush you into making our bond complete.”

She could have sat here and stared at his eyes all night.

“But you must talk to me. As hard as I try to understand you, know you, I cannot grasp what you are thinking about most of the time.”

She snorted. “I don’t even understand what I’m thinking—how am I supposed to explain it to you?”

“You can try.”

He sat there giving her that soft look and was being so kind and patient, it was unnerving. How did you manage that without going crazy? “It’s stupid.”

He raised one brow but didn’t speak.

She tapped her head with a finger. “What’s in my head.”

“Perhaps. I will not judge.”

Ava hissed out a slow breath. If she had to talk to anyone about it, it should be him. He wasn’t full of emotion like her sisters; he might understand. They were already connected by magic. She almost grinned at the thought, having never imagined she’d think something like that and for it to feel normal, but here she was doing it.

“Your eyes are telling me that your mind is moving quickly, but despite all of my magical skill, I cannot read your thoughts.” He said in a soft tone.

Ava gave him a wide-eyed look. “I’m glad you can’t.” She sat back, trying to relax. She nodded at least ten times before the words came out of her mouth. “I think something is wrong with me, Firo. Inside me.”

His eyes rounded.

She held up her hand. “I don’t mean sick wrong. I mean broken—wired wrong.” She shrugged. There. She’d told someone. After twenty years of it eating at her, she finally said it out loud.

“Why do you think this?” He had such concern on his face that it made her chest ache, and she didn’t know why.

She could only sit there looking at him, trying to sort through a way to explain it to him. Just looking at him explained it all, she thought out of nowhere. He was a very good-looking man, and even though she thought about him and liked being with him—the thought of anything beyond a kiss made her want to get on her bike and go for a very long ride—in the other direction.

“Avalie.”

Her attention returned to him, hearing the way he said her name. “I think that because I’m half a freaking century old, and I don’t feel all the things I’m supposed to.”

He sat there, that patient look on his face.

Ava sighed. “I mean, I get that you marked me, and you believe that’s why I’ve never had the hots for anyone.” She shrugged. “Maybe you’re right.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “But look at you—I’m connected to you, and yeah, okay, sometimes I get butterflies in my gut, and my face goes red when I think about you—but…”

He held up his hand. “There is no need to get worked up explaining it. I understand what you mean.” He crossed his arms over his chest and then tilted his head. “One of your parents wasn’t from the plain we are—that could contribute to why you believe something is broken.”

She looked away from him while she thought about that. “My father made me, so obviously they …”

“That doesn’t mean he felt or feels things as humans do.” He leaned forward. “You are not human, Avalie, and you are judging yourself as if you were.”

She pinned him with her eyes. “You think I’m like this because I am part angel?”

“I believe it may be part of it.”

“Only part?”

He nodded. “Yes. Some of it may be caused by my magic marking you. Until recently, you were not near me, so of course, you didn’t feel things as you thought you should.” He inhaled deeply, and she could see he was thinking through whatever he was going to say next. “Since you have joined Capri, the only emotion you really ever allowed yourself to feel has been anger.”

She snorted. “With good reason. Bad things happen if I feel…” She paused and sat there looking at him. “Is that why? Because I have only felt anger to control the magic? To control my wings from just popping out whenever?” Processing what he was saying made her feel panic. She put her hand up. “Firo, if I can’t control…”

With slow movement, he reached over and took hold of her hand. “With training, controlling your magic will come as naturally as breathing.” He held her look for several moments and then released her hand. He looked around the room. “I wish I thought of all the things I didn’t.” With an exasperated look, he shook his head. “I forgot the affliction. I forgot that marking you would prevent you from developing emotion and feelings.” He inhaled a deep breath. “When I saw what you did at that river, I did realize then that your power is completely fueled with emotion—even if it is just anger, and then I knew that we could not bind our magic fully until a time you had control.”

Ava got up because she couldn’t fake sitting there acting all calm any longer. “I could feel too much and blow another house up if we-we—” She closed her eyes and then popped them back open. “So, to sum it all up—” She turned around and looked at him. “I’m a freak with no human emotions and will likely ruin your life along with my own.” She shrugged. “Seems about right.” Puffing out her cheeks, she released the air slowly and then went over and looked out the window.

“That is not the conclusion I reached.”

She didn’t turn around but knew he had gotten up and was behind her. “What did you reach?” Outside, she saw the small yard and, for all of thirty seconds, wondered what it would be like to be normal and live in a home like this. He moved to stand beside her but left enough space that they weren’t touching. She could feel the interaction between their magic still.

“I will be indebted to my princess and Nova for a very long time.” He turned, so she just had to move her eyes to see him. “This place, I would not have thought of.” He gave her a half-smile. “Have you noticed this is the longest conversation we have had without interruption?”

She glanced at him and then looked around the room. “It’s quiet.”

“It is.” He held out his hand. “This is what I propose, my angry little angel.” His mouth quirked when she shot him a hard look.

She put her hand in his and let him guide her back toward the couch.

When they were sitting, he didn’t release her hand. “First, we become more comfortable with each other.” He nodded slowly and pulled gently on her arm so she was sitting closer to him. “And then we will work on your magic, for I do believe that once you are more familiar with your own power, you will be able to control it.” She gave him a skeptical look. “You will.” He smiled. “I hope in time that this will allow us to be even closer.” She opened her mouth, and he tilted his head so she wouldn’t interrupt. “I have felt what you feel when we kiss and know that inside if we can free your feelings without your magic getting out of control, you will find you are not wired incorrectly but are a perfect version of you.”

She scoffed. “You have more faith in me than I do.”

“I know.” He held her look, his eyes searching hers. “I have waited more years than I care to count, hoping for someone that was solely designed to be mine.” His nodded. “I can wait an unnumbered amount more, Avalie. All I ask is that you trust me and try what I am suggesting.”

Biting her lip, she watched his eyes. There was no hidden truth in them; he was being straight with her. “Spend time together, learn to use my magic, and then live happily ever after?”

He smiled. “I don’t believe in fairytales.”

She didn’t miss the irony of a fae-born saying something like that. “Me either.” She inhaled slowly and then held her breath for a few seconds before breathing again. “You have to promise me one thing.”

“Anything.”

A lump formed in her throat because she knew if he gave his word, he would keep it. Outside of the women she lived with, she’d never felt that with another living soul. She nodded. “If I lose control. If I become dangerous at any point—” She held his look. “You will stop me.” She lifted her chin and waited for his answer.

“I will never let you harm someone that is undeserving.”

Ava felt relief move through her. “Okay.” She nodded. “That’s what I want.”

“Then, I do promise you that.”

She clasped her hands together and squeezed them. She was going to do this. She was going to learn how to be a feeling person and not just an angry half-breed. She looked away from him and stared at the window on the other side of the room.

“Before you show me how to use the contraption, I bought to please you—”

Jerking her head, she looked back at him.

He shrugged. “It is the truth.” He smiled. “Before I feel incompetent learning that, I want to just sit here in the quiet with you.”

Ava looked around. She wasn’t good at just sitting and doing nothing. “Okay, we can for a minute, I guess.”

“Mmm.” He lifted his hand and moved it around above them.

Ava inhaled and could smell something floral but sweet. “What…”

“Lilacs. I have become quite fond of the scent and find it relaxing.” He moved his hand again. “Perhaps a hint of lavender.”

She sniffed the air again. “It’s like we’re sitting in someone’s flower garden.”

“Exactly. Now, just a bit of—” He turned and looked at the door and snapped his fingers. The light turned off.

She watched with huge eyes as he moved his hand around some more, and then the room was filled with a soft light. She could smell candles but didn’t see any.

“It’s pure illusion—for now. We can get some real candles if you like.” He shifted on the couch and pulled her closer so she was leaning against him. “Do you require music or sounds of nature?”

Ava shook her head. “Silence is nice.” She turned her head and looked at him. “I usually can’t handle the quiet.”

“Inner peace needs to be learned before anything else.”

She hissed out a breath. “Then we have a lot of work to do.”

“We’ll do it. In time.” He put his arm around her and held her close to him.

Ava could feel the calmness moving from him to her and knew he was cheating to achieve it, but she had never felt this way before. Calm. In control, with no need to beat something. “I like this.” She was surprised the words came out of her mouth and stiffened. “If you tell anyone I said that, I will shave that gorgeous hair of yours off.” She looked at him.

His smile was slow to form, but his eyes blazed with it. “I would never share. What is the saying, I do not kiss and tell?” He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “What happens when we are together is just for us.”

“Us.” She said it quietly. She was going to be part of a couple. She was going to have someone who understood her and was there when she needed them. Sure, they were going to take on evil jerks who were trying to destroy the realm she called home. If she had someone who would stand with her no matter what, taking on all the bad didn’t seem so overwhelming. “Firo?”

“Mmm?” he rested his head on hers.

“I’m glad you were there for my mother when I was born.”

He lifted his head and put his hand under her jaw so she would look at him. He searched her eyes. His ice-blue eyes filled with emotion. “As am I. She gave the realms the perfect warrior they need, but more importantly, she gave me the gift of you.” He lowered his face close to hers and brushed his lips over hers.

She sucked in a breath and let the feeling of that settle inside her. He shifted and adjusted how they were on the couch, so she was cradled against him. It dawned on her then. These moments of warmth and calm with him were going to be what she needed to do what she was made for.

The End.