Chapter Seventeen
Ava
Imanaged tocorner Kerry in Savannah’s guest room a while later. When I appeared in the doorway, she smiled at me, but I could see the wariness in her gaze. She sensed that I wasn’t here for a friendly chat.
I slid into the room and shut the door behind me, pressing a palm to the wood and casting a silent spell to prevent anyone from opening the door or eavesdropping on the conversation.
“Ava, that’s not necessary,” Kerry began, but I lifted a hand.
“It may not be, but I don’t want any interruptions or distractions. And I don’t want anyone overhearing what either of us says.”
She frowned slightly. “Why so much secrecy?”
“You know who I am. You know my name and you know where I came from.”
We stared at each other for a long moment, neither of us moving.
“Tell me,” I demanded softly. “Tell me about my past.”
Kerry was already shaking her head. “I can’t do that and you know it,” she argued. “That curse will tear you apart if you try to break it before it’s time.”
“I can withstand the damage,” I replied.
She laughed. “Goddess, this is harder than I thought it would be.” Kerry paced next to the bed, her movements frenetic. Suddenly, she stopped and faced me. “Don’t you think I would tell you if I could?” she asked. “I want to. I want to more than anything, but I cannot interfere with your destiny. I know that you understand that even if you don’t want to accept it.”
Her eyes were earnest and the ring on my finger glowed blue. She spoke the truth and I hated every word.
“It’s been two thousand years, Kerry,” I murmured. “Over twenty lifetimes. I’ve created new memories, a new past, but I still know nothing about who I once was. Did I have children? A husband? Who was I?”
Kerry’s eyes were wet as she looked back at me and her voice caught as she spoke. “I can’t tell you, Ava,” she whispered. “I can’t.”
Tears filled my own eyes as we stared at each other. I hated that she was right. “I know.”
I did know. I had before I even entered the room, but I couldn’t stop myself from asking. From yearning to know the truth.
Kerry moved forward and hugged me. Other than Savannah, a woman hadn’t embraced me for a very long time. I returned her hug, wrapping my arms around her waist.
“You’ll know the truth soon,” Kerry assured me when she finally stepped back and released me. “One way or another.”
Before I could ask her what that enigmatic statement meant, the house shuddered violently as the protection wards that surrounded it were breached.
The hair on my arms and the back of my neck stood on end just before an unearthly shriek pierced the air and flashes of lightning crackled up the walls.
I held on to Kerry and dragged her out of the room just before the window imploded, scattering glass throughout the interior of the house. The blast threw us to the floor in the hallway and our bodies crashed against each other before we hit the hardwood floor.
I cried out as my shoulder connected with the boards but immediately rolled to my side and rose up on my knees.
Kneeling over Kerry, I lowered my face close to hers. “Kerry, are you hurt anywhere?”
She shook her head, clearly dazed, and I moved my hands in the air over her body, using magic to search for any wounds. It took her a few moments to gather her wits and she sat up, bumping my hands with her shoulders.
“I’m okay,” she declared, lifting a hand to brush her curly hair out of her face. “The fall just knocked the wind out of me.”
“Are you sure?” I asked, leaning down once again so we were at eye level.
“I’m sure,” she replied, her voice turning hard as the sound of fighting in the yard reached us. “They need our help out there.”
I stared into her eyes for one more long moment before I nodded and jumped to my feet. I reached down and helped her up.
