Garrett
Chapter 34
I don’t remember riding home.
I don’t remember stopping to grab a fresh horse.
The enemy was in the castle where my family and Ava stayed and slept. Lurking around in broad daylight or within the shadows, the simple fact was, I had no idea. Nor was I any closer on finding out.
I was set up. It was written in black in my head. The moment I left the castle, my father was a dead man, his days numbered. I should have kept more of my men there, should have seen the signs that things were too quiet around the royals. The assassins, or whomever was leading them, were calculated.
I should have taken the last warning more seriously.
Edward steps down. Or more people die.
Thing was, I didn’t think of my father.
I thought of the people. The villages. My mind was boggled down with another problem, that more innocent people would die. But maybe that’s what they wanted me to believe all along. Removing my focus from the royals and placing it elsewhere.
Away from Father.
Away from George.
Away from Hara and Mama.
Away from Ava.
A sharp pain pierced my stomach; that, I do remember.
My head was dazed with the possibilities of what I would come home to face. The panic, the fear, the plan I had to set in place to protect my loved ones.
Especially her.
I needed to see Ava. To see for myself that she was safe, and that no one touched her again. That no one touched my family.
I failed my father.
But I wouldn’t fail again.
My lack of intel, and not torturing Pierce’s men as much as I should have, ate at me. I should’ve killed every single one of them, slowly and painfully, until one of the fuckers spoke. Yet, I babied the shit out of them, like a decent human being. I should’ve done what Pierce’s men planned on doing to us on that grassy field when we brought Ava back to the castle. Slaughtered them like cattle.
One by fucking one.
When John and I arrived at the castle, two of my Elite met us at the stables. Motioning for John to obtain whatever intel we had, I made my way inside the palace. Two days of traveling, worrying, and ripping my mind apart on who was behind all this made me stir-crazy. I needed my cure; the one person who could make me forget.
Striding through the castle, I stopped a guard, demanding him tell me where Ava was. He pointed to the west wing, and I proceeded in that direction. Lords and ladies stared at me with mixtures of pity and sympathy on their faces, but I ignored every one of them. Someone bellowed my name behind me, but I kept moving forward. I wasn’t about to have an hour-long conversation with some stupid ass who wanted to know what was going to happen next.
I had no fucking idea.
George needed more detail on him, more soldiers, and restricted access to him. Mama and Hara weren’t going to leave for Aruna; I didn’t need the extra uneasiness right now. And Ava would stay fixed to my damn side.
Turning toward the west wing, I halted mid-step.
I’d notice that body anywhere in the world. The way her pale pink dress played off her hair, making it look more vibrant. The fabric cascading along her waist softly while her bare shoulders were wrapped in sheer material.
Thank Femme Fatale for Arunaian dresses.
Ava’s back was to me, her hands animating her words as she spoke to a group of servants. Not hearing her, my eyes were entranced by the mere sight.
I seared this moment to my memory.
War was going to break out and my attention would be focused on more men, more allies—more everything that could help me break the mystery of these invisible traitors. Moments like this, of my beautiful Avie, unaffected by what was about to pass, needed to be kept.
The servants nodded, going off in separate directions. Opening my mouth, I forced myself to speak and get this over with.
“Avie,” I choked out.
She stilled before slowly turning around, her green eyes soft and beautiful. A sad smile graced her lips as she strode toward me.
“Oh Garr,” she rasped, as she threw her arms around my chest. My body seized for a moment, before I wrapped my arms around her small body.
“I’m so sorry.” Her cries were muffled in my ribs. Combing my fingers through her hair, I kissed the top of her head.
“I’ve missed you so much,” I admitted, squeezing her. This woman was now my life, the only thing I needed. The only person who could take all the pain away.
My Peitho.
“I’ve missed you too.” She looked up at me, her eyes filled with tears. “What can I do?”
“Stay with me. I need you.”
She nodded, biting her lip to keep from sobbing. Reaching for her hand, I led her to my room, passing gawking eyes and whispers. I wanted her in my only sanctuary here, away from the reality I had to face.
Pushing my room door open with unneeded force, I guided her in, kicking it closed behind me. She stood in front of me, in all her stunning glory, like the goddess that captured me. Her dress dipped between her breasts while her hair cascaded over them, and her green eyes stared at the floor.
My feet moved toward her, and I cupped her chin to look at me.
“I can’t imagine what you must be feeling,” she said, playing with her fingers.
I brushed her soft cheek with my thumb. “I was worried about you.”
Her gaze met mine. “Me? Don’t be, Garr, I’m safe. You’re back, I’m more than protected now.”
I took a deep breath. “I failed, Avie. My father is…dead because I couldn’t solve this mystery. These men who have been running around here for years, terrorizing my family. I shouldn’t have taken the position.”
“Your father wanted you here, Garr. No one else.”
“I should have said no.”
Ava lowered my head to hers, our foreheads touching. “You were loyal to your family by stepping in. You are chasing an invisible enemy.”
I breathed in her scent of fresh flowers and pine. It was her. No one would ever feel or smell like this. She entered every space of my body and brain, everything that I was; filling a piece I didn’t know was missing.
“Kiss me, Avie,” I mumbled, hovering my lips over hers. The need to lose myself in her was all I wanted right now. To just forget for a moment.
Wrapping her arms around my neck, she pressed her lips to mine. My hands glided down her ribs, cupping her ass, where I lifted her in the air. Striding toward my bed, Ava instinctively wrapped her legs around my waist. Her soft lips made me mad with desire, my brain itching to rip all her clothes off. Depositing her on my bed, I leaned over her body until she was flat on her back. Her smalls gasps and moans made my cock throb uncomfortably.
I needed to be lost with her.
In her.
Forever.