Avery gave him a playful shove. “Don’t be getting any ideas! I’m not talking now. But someday.”
Savine laced his broad fingers with hers and bent down, kissing her with tenderness that filled Avery’s soul. “I would be honored to have children with you someday,” Savine whispered against her lips.
“Like far into the future. Now, let’s get back to our tour of this crazy treehouse.”
Avery felt Savine’s smile on her lips. “That sounds like an excellent idea.”
Chapter 22
Morgan
Morgan and Susan were both settled into the low-back couches in Rylo’s library. They’d been undisturbed for two days as they poured over ancient texts, looking for any clues about the ancient witches and the Divine Five. It was remarkable that Morgan could even read this strange language with its foreign alphabet, but it was like her mind instantly translated what she was reading. Another one of those Goddess gifts that she felt a mix of gratitude and disgust for.
Yes, she was being used for some purpose that she still didn’t even understand, and that absolutely disturbed her on a daily basis. But there was also this part of her that reveled inthe power and control she was building with her magic. How each day she’d practice spells in ancient books until she was exhausted from the effort and she’d collapse into a dreamless sleep in the bed she once shared with her sister. Or how those incredible shadows seemed to do her will more and more each day.
“Tea, please,” Susan muttered to the room. Immediately, a tea set appeared, steam wafted out of the spout of the teapot. Susan poured a cup for Morgan and a cup for herself.
“We could use a snack too,” Morgan said. It took a bit longer, as if the enchanted library was considering what Morgan needed most at the moment, but then a plate appeared with fruits and nuts. Morgan gave a tight smile. She was getting used to life here. Whether she wanted to stay in Aeritis or not, her day was beginning to have a comfortable rhythm to it.
“Morgan, are you concerned about Avery? Do you think she’s worried about you?” Susan asked as she set her tea cup down.
“My sister can take care of herself. She’s always been independent, and despite living in the same town and seeing each other pretty frequently, we were both wrapped up in our own lives. In some ways, it feels the same here. But, I did send a letter to her the other day. I asked Selene to send it.”
“Do you think she did?” Susan asked.
Morgan shrugged. “We’ll see. It’s not like I’ve heard from her either.”
Susan tapped her fingers on her thigh, a nervous tick Morgan had noticed Susan do a few times. “I don’t mean any offense, but I would have expected the two of you to be closer. Perhaps I’m wrong in my observations.”
Morgan sighed. “We’re close in our own way. We’ve always checked in with each other, but I’m more private than she is. Avery’s always ready to share what’s going on in her life, and isn’t afraid to ask for help. I’ve just—I’ve always been a bit in theshadows compared to my sister. In school she always had a big group of friends that I was on the outskirts of. I’ve always been more studious. I like yoga and meditating. I chose a job that paid well and challenged me. She chose jobs with zero benefits, but they’re her passion,” Morgan said, holding up an ancient tome. “It’s probably why I like sitting in this dusty library. I think she’s used to assuming that what she wants is what I want too, but here, where my life is on the line, isn’t the place for me to let that happen. I’m sure she’s fine in Orofine with Savine.”
“I can see that. Avery, from what I’ve noticed, seems to wear her emotions openly for all to see. I think she wants what is best for you, but perhaps what is best for her isn’t what’s right for you.”
Morgan took a handful of huckleberries and popped them into her mouth. The sweet tang reminded her of home, picking huckleberries with her family in the late summer.
“Yeah, I also think we’re better off using our talents here, looking for answers to what Althea is searching for.”
Susan nodded as she picked up the book that she’d been reading earlier. They both went back to silently studying and the quiet of the room felt peaceful in its own way. As Morgan scanned a book titledThe Fae After the Cleaving,she found a sentence that stopped her in her tracks. “Oh! Here! I think I might be onto something about the Divine Five. It says, ‘the five formed by the witches were scattered amongst the nations of Aeritis, never to be bound again. The divine gift of Gaia never to be forged for ill use again.’ Well, that’s vague, but it’s the closest I’ve come to finding the words five and divine together. What do you think it means?”
“I think it tells us that the witches were responsible for whatever the Divine Five are, so we can at least narrow our search to the same place. The five witches responsible for The Cleaving, and the years shortly before and after that event.”
Susan turned back to her book. Morgan tried to concentrate on the text in front of her, but her mind and body felt restless. She needed to get up and stretch, maybe go through a few sun salutations.
“That’s a start, at least. I wonder if Rylo has any other texts in his other book collections? I’ll go see if I can find him and ask. I think we’ve pulled every book on witches and humans from this library.”
Susan looked up at her, concern in her eyes. “Do you think that’s a good idea? Regardless of him letting us stay here, I don’t think he should be disturbed.”
“All I’m doing is asking him for a book. I’d hardly consider it disturbing him when I’m using him as a glorified librarian,” Morgan huffed as she headed to the door.
She walked into the dark, stone hallway, buried somewhere deep within the tower. Morgan had learned to navigate the halls easily, even in the low-lit space. She walked quickly through the passage she’d had to take the night she’d returned from Orofine. The night that Rylo had put her in his bed. His reasons still didn’t make sense, but she hadn’t seen him for long enough since their return to question him further. As she walked through the dark hall, she heard voices coming from inside the rock wall.
She recognized Rylo’s honey-smooth voice immediately, the lazy arrogance in it giving him away anywhere. Two other voices rose through the rock, as if amplified for her to hear.
“My king, do not take Morgan with you on this journey. Goldoth has never sworn an alliance with us, and taking her could jeopardize utilizing her as a weapon. What if they have her killed for her role as a kingslayer?” Elio asked, and Morgan felt chilled overhearing a private conversation concerning herself.
Selene’s voice spoke next, her velvety tone didn’t match her harsh words. “Do you think the king is a fool? The thinlyveiled threat by Goldoth’s king makes it clear that if she is not presented we risk war.”
Rylo’s blase voice replied, “You both are overestimating Goldoth’s interests in us. There’s a new king on the Latian throne. A man all other nations know I have seen as an enemy, and yet, I welcomed him to my home. As our southern neighbor, Goldoth wants to know where our allegiance lies. The witch is but a party trick. Now that we and Latiah have these Goddess-touched humans, Goldoth is bound to be curious. I have no plans of making an enemy out of Maglar and Mara. Only a fool would go up against the strength of the ore nation, and I am no fool. Further, I will need a strong ally if Latiah attacks in retribution for Morgan’s actions.”
