“What if I just tapped into the deep magic again and formed my own relics? I accessed it before and I was fine.”
Kyla felt the nervous energy from Rue and Hyacinth as Hyacinth said, “No, that is far too dangerous. Promise me, Avery, that you won’t be so reckless again. You’ll need other witches with you to safely extract the deep magic. You couldhave killed yourself doing what you did. Also, we don’t know what Althea wants with the Divine Five. It’s best to collect them first and see what her purpose is.”
Kyla felt the discomfort inside her build. “Unless she wants to use them in a way that would harm us.”
Rue looked at Kyla with incredulity. “Why would Mother Althea want to harm her creation?”
Kyla looked at Avery, felt her sense of doubt rising as Avery said, “Why would a goddess force this task on witches if she couldn’t achieve her goals herself? She wants the Divine Five for something, and I don’t think it’s just to collect these old relics.”
“When she took me, I felt her divine power, but nothing of her emotions. Either she was shielding them, or she is void of emotions. She has a purpose that she’s not disclosing. But if I don’t complete this task, she could punish Garnel. Perhaps even my unborn child.”
Avery shook where she was sitting, the rage building within her palpable. “I’m not going to be some tool that bitch uses to harm anyone. If the coven that separated the realms during The Cleaving could trick her, then we’ll figure it out too.”
Hyacinth let out a tsking sound on her tongue as she said, “Child, you do not know what you speak of. The Cleaving was no trick against Althea or Gaia. It was for the freedom of the human race.”
“Althea doesn’t want to harm you, Avery. Surely not,” Rue agreed with Hyacinth and Kyla felt a stirring of unease inside her. She didn’t agree, but feared voicing her thoughts. Anytime she’d meddled with the Premier Goddess’ task she’d faced disaster.
Finally she said, “Regardless of the reason, we must find those relics.”
“We’re going to need to get back to Susan and Morgan eventually,” Rue said. “They have more access to the information we need.”
Avery nodded. “Savine’s going to flip when I tell him I’m going back to Nephel. But we don’t need to worry about that yet. First, we’ve gotta find that other relic here.” Avery turned to Kyla. “Where would your father keep something he didn’t want found?”
Kyla pressed her fingertips to her abdomen, reminding herself of what was at risk if she failed to find the Divine Five. “I haven’t the slightest idea of where to begin our search.”
Kyla couldn’t wait to return to her apartment. She hoped her good news would cheer Garnel up. At the very least, she hoped he would speak to her and get out of bed. She rushed from the other women after her tea was finished and made her way over to her own rooms. As she entered the apartment, she knew immediately that Garnel hadn’t left their bed.
“I’m back, my love,” she said softly, walking to his side of the bed where he lay staring at the wall. He didn’t move or remark as she sat down, her back brushing against his thigh. A few weeks ago this touch alone would send him grasping to pull her closer to him, but now he didn’t react.
She rubbed her hand across his arm, feeling his emotions. It was still the same despondency and self-loathing he’d experienced previously.
“Can I help you feel better?” she asked, gently. He’d only let her do that twice since he’d lost his ability to shift to his bear form. As she ran her fingers across his arm, she noticed how his essence had faded ever so slightly.
“I don’t know, love. I feel like I’ve lost a part of myself. I’m not like Savine with an essence with many abilities. I have one. Shifting into my bear form is the only thing I have, and that’s now gone. I can feel my essence fading.” He looked at her with such pain in his eyes. “I may have ruined our lives, Kyla.”
Kyla stroked his arm and his essence moved slowly under his skin. “We’re going to fix this, Garnel. You’ll get your bear back and your essence will stop fading. I’ll damn the whole Abyss before I let you fade from me.”
He cracked a weak smile at her threat. “You would, wouldn’t you? I’m sorry I haven’t been myself. It’s bad enough being under house arrest, but…” He shook his head, and Kyla felt the despair in his tone. “But to lose who I am is the worst punishment of all. To know if I don’t get my bear back I’ll likely die, and I never was able to give you what you wanted.”
Kyla climbed into bed next to him, her nose touching his as she wrapped her arms around his solid body. “I’m not losing you, and you have given me what I most wanted.”
Garnel pulled back and looked at her, his mouth and eyes wide. “Do you mean you’re pregnant?”
Kyla couldn’t stop the tears that rolled from her eyes or the smile on her face. “I am! Avery noticed first this morning and Hyacinth confirmed it.”
Garnel tugged her against him, his body shaking with laughter and tears. “It’s what we’ve always dreamed of.” He sat up, keeping his arms tangled around hers as he lifted her up too.
“My love, it is what we’ve dreamed of,” Kyla said, pressing her lips to his. For the first time in weeks, he responded, nibbling and teasing her own lips as she opened for him, welcoming his touch, desperate for it.
He abruptly pulled back, and she felt shame down their connection. “I’ve ruined this for us. What if you can’t find the Divine Five?”
She shook her head, not letting that fear build within her. “We are going to figure this out. We’re getting those relics and you’ll be restored to your full power before our child is born.”
He brought his hands down to her abdomen, pressing his large palm against her. “You’re right. We will have the family we always wanted. Nobody, not even the Premier Goddess herself, will take away our happiness.”
Chapter 30
Rylo
