Chapter Twenty-Seven
Savannah
On the way back to Austin, I’d looked at Rhys and said, “I’m starving. Want to grab a burger?” Both he and Ava had stared at me in shocked silence for a few seconds. Still, as soon as we reached the city, Rhys steered the SUV into the parking lot of a burger chain and pulled into the drive thru.
I hadn’t spoken at all as I sat on the floor of my living room and devoured my food. Now my burger was gone and the events of the night were crashing down on me. The trash from our late night burger run littered my coffee table and I munched on leftover fries as I told Ava and Rhys about my day with Macgrath.
“He never hurt me. Even when I was kicking him or trying to punch him, he was gentle. He didn’t even leave a bruise on me.”
“That doesn’t matter,” Ava fumed. “He kidnapped you right out of my fucking store!”
“Language!” I chided her. “You know I don’t like it when you curse so much.” I neglected to mention exactly how much I swore when I was fighting Macgrath. It was better if she didn’t know about that.
Ava just glared at me. “I still don’t like it. We should have called the council in Dallas.”
I looked at Rhys, who was reclined on the couch. “What do you think, Rhys? Do you think it was a mistake to let him go?”
He sighed and rubbed his hands over his face. “Yes,” he muttered. “Savannah, he took you from me. He threatened you. For that alone, I want to suck the life from him and burn his carcass.”
My nose crinkled at his statement. “Eww.”
Ava snorted. “Yeah, the visual there is kinda gross, Rhys.”
He shrugged. “It’s the truth.” His eyes came to me. “But it’s also the truth that his heart is good. He allowed his desperation for answers to blind him to her true nature.”
I smiled at him. “He’s more like you than you realize.”
Rhys shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
I didn’t respond, merely took a sip of my drink. He was wrong. Rhys had been searching for a home when he moved in across the street. Macgrath wanted the same thing, even if he didn’t understand that yet. He claimed he wanted to find his maker, but I knew it was more. He yearned for the sort of relationship a maker often had with their vampire children. He yearned for home.
Satchel pranced into the living room, straight to me, meowing all the way. She sat down in front of me and grumbled for several seconds.
“Is she talking to you again? What’s she saying?” Ava asked.
I reached out and stroked Satchel’s back. “She’s just letting me know that she didn’t appreciate being left alone for so long today.” The cat purred as she walked forward and butted her head against my waist. “And that she’s glad I’m home.”
Ava shook her head. “You two are so weird.” She drank down the rest of her wine. “And I still think it was stupid to let that damn vampire go.”
I rolled my eyes. “Speaking of letting things go, why don’t you free that thought? You’re driving me nuts.”
“Savannah,” Ava began.
“No, I don’t want to hear it,” I stated, lifting a hand. “You and Rhys have made your feelings on the matter clear enough. You aren’t going to change my mind and I’m not going to change yours.”
“Fine,” Ava relented. “What happened after you tried to climb out of the bathroom window?”
“Well, he made mushroom risotto and roasted asparagus for dinner. I didn’t eat much but it was good.”
Ava groaned and let her head fall back on the couch. “Okay, maybe not that much information. I don’t care if he can cook.”
“Okay, how about this? Rhiannon helped Gaius make Cornelius and Rhys, but with an ulterior motive in mind. She never said what that was, but I’m pretty sure I’ve figured it out.”
“To increase her power,” Rhys stated.
I nodded, sipping my drink again as I petted Satchel. “I think so.”
“The legends,” Ava murmured.
“I don’t think they’re legends, Ava,” I replied. “I think that Rhiannon wanted Gaius to create the animavore with that intent in mind. Their purpose was to increase her power. What she didn’t count on was how strong they would be in their own right. I think Cornelius was too strong for her and that he was going to turn the tables on her. She had to run for her life. Just like she did tonight.”
Rhys cocked his head to the side. “I’ve always been weaker than Cornelius. Why didn’t she come after me?”
I shook my head. “I don’t think she knew about you until Cornelius was dead. I think that’s why Gaius made you after he turned Cornelius. He didn’t want her to know that he had two test subjects. That would certainly explain how you escaped her notice for so long.”
Rhys didn’t look convinced, but I couldn’t think of another explanation. “She’s still out there,” he commented.
Ava nodded. “Yes, but what Savannah did…it depleted Rhiannon’s power. She’s not as strong as she was before. It will take time for her to rebuild her strength.”
“And she doesn’t have Macgrath to help her any longer,” I pointed out.
Ava rolled her eyes. “She might. For all you know, he went straight to her when he left us in the field tonight.”
I shook my head. “I don’t think so. He’s done with her. We’ll be okay.”
“We’ll see,” Rhys replied. He rose from the floor. “I’m going to take a shower and get ready for bed.”
I was grateful that he was giving me time alone with Ava. There were things I wanted to discuss with her.
He leaned over and gave me a kiss before disappearing down the hall to my bedroom. Satchel jumped off my lap and darted out of the living room after him.
Unconcerned with my pet’s abandonment, I turned toward Ava.
“What?” she asked defensively.
“When were you going to tell me?”
“Tell you what?” She wouldn’t meet my gaze.
“That you’ve been touched by the Goddess.” I’d known as soon as I saw her floating there above Rhiannon’s protection circle that she was more than a witch. Her hair was longer and brighter and her eyes had changed to an intense purple. I could see the glow of the goddess emanating from within her, a light that hurt to look at even though it was no brighter than a candle.
Being touched by the god or goddess meant they shared a piece of their power with you, that they acknowledged you as their child. Being touched by the deities should offer you protection. Witches and warlocks, both light and dark, acknowledged the deities. Most wouldn’t risk incurring the wrath of the god or goddess and avoided those who had been touched.
Ava rubbed her hand over her forehead. “I don’t remember much about it. Just that the goddess gave me power when I needed it. I can’t even remember why. Then one night I woke up on the ground next to a stream. I couldn’t remember how I got there or where I had been before. Small parts of my past have come back to me over the centuries, but there is so much that is still a blur.”
“Why didn’t you tell me any of this before?” I asked, feeling hurt. Ava and I had been friends for a decade.
“It’s not something I like to talk about,” she murmured. Her gaze finally met mine and her indigo and violet eyes were sad. “You’ve always said that you were lost when you met me, that I made your life better.” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “But you should consider that it was you who made my life better. There are things…” she trailed off and then swallowed hard. “Things I don’t talk about because they hurt. Just thinking about them, like right now, hurts too badly. Even after centuries.”
I could sense the pain welling inside her. They were emotions she usually kept tightly leashed. I pushed myself off the floor and went to sit next to her on the sofa. She hugged me close and her breathing was ragged. A few moments later, she released me and leaned back. Her eyes were bright but dry as though she had fought back tears and won.
“I love you, Savannah Baker,” she stated. “You are the sister I always wanted.”
“I love you too, Ava.”
She kissed my cheek. “Now, I’m going to go home and get some sleep. Then tomorrow I’m going to get up and order a new mattress for Rhys’ house because that thing is uncomfortable as hell.”
“I don’t think it’ll matter much longer,” I replied.
She grinned. “Why do you say that?”
“I’m going to ask him to move in with me.”
“You’re going to live in sin? What would your grandmother say?” she teased.
“Probably ‘Good for you. He’s a hot piece of ass.’ ”
Ava burst out laughing. “No way. I don’t think I ever heard your grandmother cuss.”
I shrugged. “The only time in my life I heard her say that word was when she was talking about Cary Grant.”
Ava frowned slightly. “Cary Grant?”
“Grandma had refined tastes.”
We both giggled for a minute as we remembered my grandmother and her feistiness.
“Thank you for coming for me tonight,” I said quietly.
Ava took my hand. “I’ll always come for you, babe.” She got up from the sofa. “Now, walk me to the door then go into your bedroom and make out with your man. Oh, and the store is closed for the next couple of days. Then I’m going to hire a manager. It’s time.”
I did as she asked, walking her to the door. After one last hug, I watched her climb into her car and drive away. I closed the door, taking the time to lock it, and walked through the house checking the lights and windows. Though I doubted that Macgrath or Rhiannon would be back tonight, I wasn’t going to take any chances.
When I got to the bedroom, Rhys was pulling on a pair of loose cotton shorts. “Hey, how are you feeling?” he asked.
“Tired, but I need to shower. I’ll be right back.”
I took the shortest shower possible and did nothing more than towel dry my hair. I nearly wept when I came out of the stall and found one of the baggy t-shirts I liked to sleep in and a pair of panties lying on the counter, neatly folded. I slipped into them and walked into the bedroom. Rhys was already in bed, leaning back against the pillows with his arms behind his head.
He looked over at me when I came out of the bathroom and asked, “Feeling better?”
I nodded and walked around the bed, climbing beneath the covers when he threw them back for me. I scooted over until my cheek rested on his shoulder and his arm wrapped around me. “Thank you.”
“For what?” he asked.
“Everything,” I answered. “You’ve given me everything I’ve ever wanted.”