Under the Winter Sun (Elemental Enchanters Series Book 3) (17 page)

“They’re fine.” He lifted her chin with his fingers and thumb. “Enjoy the moment while it’s here.” He winked.

A dreamy bouncy song with beautiful strong female vocals serenaded the dance floor as they danced. Her mind shut off, her body moved with the music. It had been months since she felt this free. Gabriel spun her in his arms. There was something about the way he smiled; The way his eyes lit; The way he projected a warm glow that made her feel alive. Every time he touched her, a rush of energy and excitement enveloped her. It was incredible.

Thomas shot a fireball into the fireplace, instantly igniting the wood. He was showing off for Moira, Ava knew.

They’d decided to retreat to the cabin and hang out there since the music changed to slow songs.

“We need more wood,” Gillian said and plopped down on the couch. Ava settled at the end of the couch.

“I think I can handle that.” Gabriel gave a cocky smile and then disappeared. Seconds later, he reappeared holding an armful of wood.

“Whoa, that was cool,” Lance said.

Eric looked unimpressed. “He does that all the time.”

“Yeah, but it’s amazing when we get to go with him.” Moira sat on the rocky hearth.

Gillian twirled a black curl around her finger, unraveled it, and wrapped it around again. “I bet you did that a lot growing up. I know I would have. Especially whenever I fought with my parents. See ya, gone to Paris.”

“I didn’t do it too much then.” Gabriel sat on the floor with Eric. “I didn’t have much control over it.”

“But you’ve been to a lot of places, I bet,” Thomas said.

“Yeah, you could say that.”

“He’s been everywhere. He takes people to places for their birthdays.” Moira playfully tousled his hair, and Ava remembered when he’d taken her to the Enoch library for hers. She smiled at the memory. “For my fifteenth birthday, he took me to see the pyramids,” Moira continued. “Amazing. He always comes to Ireland to visit us.”

“You know, I don’t think I’ve ever asked where you’re from,” Ava said, looking at Gabriel. “That’s terrible isn’t it?”

“No. Originally, I was born in Puxley, a small village in England.”

Gillian wrinkled her nose. “England? Where’s your accent?”

“Long gone. I’ve been here for quite a while.”

“He loves the States,” Moira said. “I’m from Dublin. I was born into my coven, unlike these two.” She pointed to Eric and Gabriel.

“Where did you two meet?” Ava asked.

“In London,” Eric said. “One day I was at a bar and saw Gabe. Then he came with me to meet the Elders.”

“What did you do before meeting Eric?” Gillian wrapped her curl around her finger.

“Tried to fight Corbin by himself,” Eric answered for him.

“Couldn’t you just teleport and kill him?” she asked.

“It isn’t as convenient as you’d think,” Gabriel said. “I don’t think I could prepare if I appeared suddenly in his territory. He has Enchanters waiting for such attacks. It’s not a good strategy.”

“Wow. That’s still brave. How long were you alone?”

He hesitated. “A while.” Ava guessed he didn’t like talking about his past, at least in a group setting.

Eric squeezed his shoulder.

“How are we getting to Caprington?” Gillian asked. “I mean, are we going to hop on a plane and fly there?”

Eric and Gabriel exchanged sly grins.

“I love young Enchanters,” Eric said. “There’s a whole other world out there that only we are privy to. Wait ‘til you see some of it. I really wish Joss were here because she loves introducing things to younger Enchanters. We’ll travel by tunnels, through the forests, things like that. If it wasn’t so dangerous, I’d consider it fun.”

“Maybe one day it will be,” Gabriel said.

They all hoped for that.

“Have you ever been back to your hometown?” Thomas asked.

“Not much. We traveled a lot when Corbin died.”

“We lived in several different places before settling here with Savina and Aaron,” Eric said. “I think Natalia was happy with that.”

“Why?” Gillian asked.

“She likes being in one place. She likes to travel, but she always freaked out that something might happen as soon as we teleported somewhere. She’s weird like that. But Joss loved it.”

“Natalia’s too uptight,” Moira said. “You know, if you had brought me, I could’ve told you what would happen.”

“You still have to finish school.”

Moira wrinkled her face. “As soon as I’m done I’m becoming a drifter. Gabe and I are traveling for life.”

“Where were your favorite places?” Gillian continued questioning them.

“Hands down, Italy,” Eric said, smiling wistfully.

“I’ve always wanted to go there. I bet it’s gorgeous.”

“It is. Especially this time of year.”

Moira gasped and covered her gaping mouth. “We get to go!”

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Eric turned to Gabriel.

“I really don’t think we should.”

“There’s enough of us. Plus, it’s like three in the morning there. I think we’ll be fine.”

“Yes, we’ll be fine.” Moira tapped her head.

“For what?” Gillian asked. “What are you talking about?”

Gabriel hesitated. “I don’t know.”

“Where are we going?” Gillian asked again.

“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Eric said. “Come on, everyone needs this.”

“It’ll be okay. I promise.” Moira was like a little ball of energy that was about to explode at any second.

“See, even our lovely Seer thinks it’s a great idea.”

Gabriel exhaled. “Who wants to g—?”

“Me,” Gillian said. She was just as excited as Moira, but had no idea where ‘there’ was.

“I’ll go,” Lance agreed.

Thomas shrugged. “Might as well.”

Ava didn’t feel like going anywhere. She wanted to be alone, and was tired. “I’m probably going to head home.”

“What?” Gillian asked. “No. You have to come.”

“You don’t want to miss this.” Eric waggled his eyebrows.

Moira seized Gabriel’s arm and the others held hands.

“I’ll pass.”

Disappointment flickered in Gabriel’s eyes. Then the group disappeared. Ava exhaled a long breath. She didn’t know why she wanted to be alone. She jumped when Gabriel reappeared.

“Do you like Christmas trees?” he asked.

She lifted a shoulder. “Sure.”

“Good enough for me.” He held out his hand. “It’ll make you feel better. I promise.”

Ava stood, and Gabriel drew her closer to him so fast she barely had time to blink. Then they were outside behind the rest of the group who was staring at something. She moved around them and her jaw dropped open. Off in the distance green lights outlined the shape of a Christmas tree that rose up the slopes of a tall mountain. A bright white shooting star was at the top of the majestic lit tree. Several colored lights filled in the large tree. The small town at the base of the mountain was quiet and calm. 

“Wow,” she breathed.

“It’s so gorgeous,” Gillian whispered, and wiped a tear, then looped her arm with Ava’s. “I wish Jeremy could see this.”

“Mel would love it,” Lance said.

“This is one of Joss’s favorite places.”

“Where are we?” Ava asked Gabriel. The green glow of the lights reflected on his pale face, and she could see a smile in the shadows.

“Gubbio, Italy. That’s Mount Ingino.”

“I think they use like a thousand lights for it,” Eric said.

They all stared at the largest Christmas tree in the world and its beautiful lights in awed silence. Ava imagined they were all lost in their own thoughts, probably thinking of their missing loved ones. She knew Melissa and Jeremy would love to see this and hoped that one day they would.

Being there in the silent night was peaceful, and for a moment, Ava felt like everything was going to be okay. She couldn’t explain it. It was as if all the pain she’d experienced lately ebbed from her. Or like it wasn’t as important as what she had in front of her. She’d felt a little guilty for grieving over Peter. He’d made his decision, and there wasn’t anything she could do. She needed to move on and focus on getting back to her full health.     

After several minutes, she felt Gabriel’s hand intertwine with hers. “You keep taking me to these amazing places. I’m going to get hooked.”

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but then closed it. “We should head back.”

Moira groaned, and grabbed his other hand. The rest of them followed suit and within seconds, they were back inside the cabin.

“You are so lucky to be able to go wherever you want,” Gillian said, settling back on the couch.

“I shouldn’t really be doing that.”

“Why?”

“It could be dangerous.”

“How would they even know to find us out there?” Ava asked.

“He has Cimmerians everywhere.”

“Well, thank you, nonetheless,” Ava told him. “That was amazing.”

“Yeah, thanks.” Lance nodded.

“You’re welcome. Merry Christmas.”

It had been a fairly good Christmas, all things considered. She still missed being with Peter, but it was time to close the door on that chapter. Looking out the window into the dark woods, she wondered what he was doing. She could feel him, but not as strong as before. It was like he learned how to hide his emotions.

Ava shot a stream of water from her hands, striking a tree branch. It snapped in half and dropped to the ground.

“Show off,” Lance said.

“It’s easy. I imagine it to be similar to how Thomas creates his fireballs.”

After the happy Christmas ended, Ava returned to worrying and thinking again. She wished the night could’ve lasted longer. Another week passed and they did nothing but train. Aaron wanted to make sure they were back to full health and tested them constantly. It was New Year’s Eve. Savina threw another party, but Ava and a few others didn’t feel like partying. They decided to stay outside and practice. Thomas had taken to the Irish Aureole quite well, but Ava guessed it was because he really liked Moira. She assumed Natalia made Gabriel stay inside, away from Ava.

The anticipation and edginess wore on them, and the Elders knew it. It had been two months since the battle. Two months since Ava had spoken to Melissa and Jeremy. She sometimes imagined what Melissa would say or do in certain situations. She feared she was losing them, as if they were fading from her memory, like Colden.

“You make it sound so easy,” he said. “It’s a lot harder than creating fire for some reason.”

Ava lifted a shoulder. “Maybe the water only likes females.”

He tilted his head and rolled his eyes. “Jerk,” he teased.

She half smiled. “Just remember, I didn’t learn all of this in one night.”

“True. So, are you sleeping any better?”

“Not really.” The dreams with Peter hadn’t gotten better. He was always cruel, and yet she still wanted him. The dreams seemed so real that when she woke, it always took a moment to calm down. She hoped they would end soon. She imagined Melissa rolling her eyes and telling her to grow a pair. But following that with an encouraging speech.

“Have you tried talking to him?” His dark eyes were apologetic.

“I don’t want to.”

“Guys are stupid,” Eric said.

Ava met his eyes.

“Seriously. If Joss had brought me into the coven like you did with Peter, and then I dumped her like a hot potato, she probably would have electrocuted me.”

She laughed.

“Seriously though. I’m impressed with how well you’re keeping it together. I know it can’t be easy.”

“Having you all around helps. I feel like all of it was a lie.” She projected a stream of water at a tree, cutting off a branch.

“Ava, he’s not worth all this,” Gillian blurted. “You should move on.”

Ava sighed, annoyed. Because it was so easy to forget about it. She clenched her teeth, and swallowed her bitter response. She hated that her weakness was visible to them. Ava pressed her lips tightly together. She fired water at another tree branch, the size of her arm. Seconds later, the limb fell a few feet from Gillian.

Eric laughed.

“Ava?”

She shrugged. “Sorry. It slipped.”

Gillian tilted her head and looked at her with disbelief.

“Good one.” Eric nudged her.

Ava returned a smile.

A few people from the party came out, carrying drinks and chatting loudly.

“Oh great,” Eric muttered.

“What?”

“It’s almost midnight.”

Ava tensed, and she felt Lance and Gillian’s dread. 

“Let’s watch the fireworks,” Eric said, and looked up at the sky.

Of course, Ava tried not anticipating the possibility of Peter and Katarina kissing as the New Year strolled in. But each time she did, the anchor in her stomach weighed her down.

She could overhear the loud countdown from inside. How anyone could celebrate right now baffled her. As soon as they all shouted a happy new year, she clutched her necklace. The rush of excitement and anxiety from Peter filled her. The same ones she felt from him when he used to kiss her, but they were different now, somehow. And there it was. Like a slap in the face, Peter had moved on.