Avery just shook her head. After a long stretch of time, she whispered, “We can’t.”
Chapter 3
Avery
Avery sat in silence as her sister bathed in the other room. She’d set out a nightgown and underwear for her and placed Morgan’s wet clothes out on the balcony to dry. Morgan had been so much angrier at Avery than she’d ever expected. She understood what it looked like. That she’d been actually enjoying a comfortable life in Aeritis since she disappeared. But that wasn’t accurate at all. Her time in Aeritis had been mostly terrifying with moments of unexpected joy and love.
A knock at the door brought Avery back into the room. Deep down she hoped it wasn’t Savine. She needed to actually talk with Morgan first before she brought him around her sister.
“Who is it?” Avery asked as she walked across the room to the door.
“It’s Kyla. Savine told me where I would find your room,” Kyla responded.
Avery paused before she opened the door. Savine’s sister had healed her when she first arrived in Aeritis, and maybe she was the one who saved her sister? She wasn’t sure on the details, but Kyla wasn’t in Rylo’s throne room when she’d attempted to assassinate Jasper. If she was the one to save Morgan and get her to Avery, then Avery was indebted to Kyla. Just as Kyla thought she was indebted to Avery for saving her soulmate, Garnel’s life.
Regardless of what Kyla thought, Avery didn’t fully trust her. Not after she realized Kyla could manipulate her emotions with a simple touch. It felt wrong that someone could do that. Kyla tended to act before she asked, and Avery didn’t want Morgan’s emotions manipulated without understanding what Kyla was capable of doing.
She opened the door and took in Kyla’s immaculate Latian gown, similar to the one Avery wore. The forest green was the symbol of Latian royalty and like so many things in Aeritis, the gown seemed to tell a story within its stitching. But this story looked like a horrific battle laid out in red thread.
Avery caught Kyla’s eye as she studied the intricate dress. “It’s the story of the civil war. I’ve waited years to finally wear it, and have carried it with me everywhere I go, hopeful for the end of the war. I’ve added images to symbolize each year of the conflict. All twenty-five years of it. Nearly twenty-six if it wasn’t for you and your sister. Now we can finally return home and I will add you and Morgan to the story. Thank you, Avery. Without you, this conflict may have never ended.”
“No need to thank me. If it wasn’t for you, I’d now be dead and Savine would be tortured for the rest of his life. I’m still sorryabout your father’s death. I know he never treated you or Savine as a father should, but he was still your dad.”
“I mourned the loss of my father’s love many years ago, Avery. Now is a time to reunite our nation and to celebrate the just and true King of Latiah.” Kyla paused as she looked deeper into Avery’s room. For some reason, Avery was still holding her back, still unsure if she wanted to welcome Kyla deeper into her private space. Kyla turned to the door before she paused. “How is your sister? I brought you both some food. Soups for warming up, some tea, and bread.”
Kyla had brought her a similar meal the first time she’d eaten Latian food, helping restore her after the brutal bear attack on Quartz Mountain. Regardless of what Kyla’s essence could do, she meant well. She was trying now, and Avery didn’t need to push her away. She opened the door wide enough to allow Kyla to enter.
“Thank you. We appreciate your thoughtfulness. Morgan is in the bath right now. She hasn’t told me much yet, but you found her, didn’t you?”
Kyla nodded. “I did. I saw her at the bottom of Sapphire Falls and pulled her out. Just like with you, the goddess answered my prayer to communicate with her. I noticed that small black object on her waist, but couldn’t imagine it had the potential to kill the king.”
Avery poured a cup of tea for herself and for Kyla. She kept her voice low as she spoke to Kyla. “That’s a gun. My sister must have gotten one after I disappeared. I never even knew she had an interest in carrying a gun.” Avery shook her head. Her sister’s behavior had been so out of the ordinary. Obviously, the bear attack had rattled Morgan to her core, especially for her to now be walking around with a loaded gun in a holster.
Avery needed to check on Morgan, but she couldn’t resist finding out how Savine was doing. They’d been through a lottoday, and she felt disjointed, not being able to check in with him.
“How is Savine coping?”
Kyla gave Avery a sad smile. “He’s doing well, considering the circumstances surrounding Jasper’s ending. Your kidnapping and Rylo forcing you to kill Jasper before you were ready shook Savine. I would have suspected that he wouldn’t let you out of his sight for years to come. But, he’s handling your decision to stay here with Morgan better than I would have expected. He has little choice in the matter, doesn’t he?”
Avery wondered if Kyla was judging her for her decision to stay with Morgan in Nephel for a month. She suspected that Kyla would never abandon Garnel for an entire month, but this was her sister and she couldn’t leave her alone. Not after what Avery had been through on her own in Aeritis.
“I want to see him soon. I know I need to talk with him, but not yet. Morgan’s been keeping something from me, but I think she wants to tell me,” Avery said, sighing. Suddenly, her whole body felt exhausted. Like the weight of everything they had experienced rushed at her, threatening to send her spiraling.
Kyla’s eyes widened. She could sense Avery’s emotions, no doubt. But she didn’t say anything about her sudden exhaustion and overwhelm. “I understand. I need to be with the council. We are planning a quick departure for Latiah with our troops, cutting up to Orofine along the river valley. I hope your sister feels comfortable sharing her experience with you. If you need anything, I am here for you, always Avery.” Kyla paused in the doorway. “Oh! I almost forgot. I have something of yours.”
Kyla turned and picked up Avery’s backpack from the hallway. It was repacked and the iron axe that Savine had gifted her was strapped to the outside of the pack.
Avery choked back a cry at seeing her bag. Yes, it was silly of her to care this much about her last items from Montana, but shecouldn’t help it. They’d helped her survive in this world and she felt empty without them. She gave Kyla a quick hug. “Thank you so much, Kyla.”
After Kyla left, Avery heard Morgan getting out of the bath. The drain gurgled as the tub emptied and Morgan emerged from the bathroom wearing the formless nightgown Avery had left her. She made a dramatic twirl before she walked over to Avery’s backpack.
“What’s all this?” Morgan asked.
“Kyla, the woman who found you brought food and my backpack by. She’s Savine’s sister.”
Morgan’s face softened as she touched the bag. “You still have your bag.”
Avery smiled at her, nodding. “I was really lucky to have it. It’s been a lifeline to have a piece of our world with me. I even have a full external battery to charge my phone one last time. I’ve taken some pictures and I don’t know what I want that last charge to be used for. Something fun or some way to remind me of home, I think.”
