Dark Flame (The Immortals #4)(45)
I take a deep breath, speaking past the lump in my throat when I say, “Listen.” I turn toward him. “I know things are kind of—strained—” I pause, knowing that hardly describes it but continuing anyway. “But, well, after you left, I came across something so extraordinary, I rushed here to tell you. And if we can just push all this other stuff aside, at least for now, I think you’re gonna want to hear this.”
He cocks his head and drinks me in, his gaze so deep, dark, and intense it halts the words right in my throat.
Forcing me to gaze down at the ground, marking a series of small circles into the dirt with my toe, pushing the words from my lips when I say, “I know this’ll probably sound crazy, so crazy you probably won’t even believe it at first—but I’m telling you—no matter how far-fetched it may seem, it’s totally and completely real, I saw it for myself.” I pause, sneaking a peek and seeing him nod in that encouraging yet patient way that he has. Then I clear my throat and start again, wondering why I’m so nervous when he’s probably the only person I know who would truly understand. “So, you know how you always say the eyes are the window to the soul and the mirror to the past and all that? And how you can recognize someone from your past lives simply by looking into their eyes?”
He nods, unhurried, noncommittal, as though he’s got all the time in the world to see where this leads.
“Anyway, my point is—” I take a deep breath, hoping he won’t think I’m any crazier than he already does when I blurt, “Ava-is-Romy-and-Rayne’s-aunt!” The words rushing out of me so quickly it sounds like one very long word, as he just continues to sit there, looking as cool and calm as can be.
“Remember when I told you how I had that vision where I watched their life unfold and I saw their aunt? Well, as crazy as it sounds, that aunt is now Ava. She died during the Salem Witch Trials and came back in this life as Ava.” I shrug, not really sure how you follow up a statement like that.
His lips curve ever so slightly as his gaze lightens, pushing his swing slowly back and forth when he says, “I know.”
I squint, unsure if I heard him correctly.
He moves, veering so close our knees nearly touch, looking at me when he says, “Ava told me.”
I jump out of my swing so hard and fast the chains slam together and spin in on themselves—winding all the way up before dropping back down, circling around and around in a fury of movement that makes a horrible, dull, clanking sound. My knees wobbly, unsteady, as I narrow my gaze and slowly take him in—wondering how this guy who claims to love me for all of my lives could possibly befriend her, endanger the twins, and betray me like that.
But he just looks at me without the slightest trace of concern. “Ever, please.” He shakes his head. “It’s not what you think.”
I press my lips together and avert my gaze, wondering where I’ve heard that before. Oh right, Ava. It’s pretty much her favorite, most oft-repeated phrase and I can’t believe he fell for it.
“She saw it on a visit to the akashic records. And today, when I was unable to find a way to help you, I confirmed it. She’s been getting her place ready, trying to find the right time to tell them, and, well, even though I believed her, I wasn’t really sure what would truly be best for them. And so, today, when I asked for a little guidance, what the best course for them would be, the story was revealed. In fact, they’re with her right now.”
“So, that’s it then.” I look at him. “Ava’s no longer evil, she’s reunited with the twins, and we get our lives back.” I try to laugh, but it doesn’t come out quite the way I intended.
“Do we? Get our lives back?” He cocks his head to the side and looks at me.
I sigh, knowing I’ve no choice but to try to explain it, it’s the least I can do.
I drop onto my swing, fingers twisting and looping around the thick metal chains as I look at him and say, “Today—in Summerland—despite how it looked, it wasn’t at all what it seemed. And I was going to explain it—explain everything that’s been happening—but when you disappeared so fast I—” I press my lips together and look away.
“So, why not explain it now?” Damen says, eyeing me closely. “I’m right here. You have my full attention.” His voice so stiff and formal, my entire heart breaks. Just crumbles into a million jagged pieces as he sits there beside me, so handsome, so strong, so well-intentioned—wanting only to do the right thing, no matter what it costs him.
And I want so badly to just reach out and hug him tightly to me, find a way to explain it away. But I can’t, the words are held hostage by the monster within, so instead I just shrug and hear myself say, “It—it was totally and completely innocent. Seriously. I did it for us—despite how it looked.”
Damen looks at me with so much patience and love—I can’t help but feel guilty. “So tell me, did you get what you set out for?” he asks, the question so loaded I can only guess at the real intention behind it.
I pause, trying not to wince under his dark, probing gaze, palms slick with sweat when I say, “You know how bad I’ve been feeling for attacking him and all—and so, I thought that if I took him to Summerland, then maybe he could be healed and—”
“And—?” he prompts, voice laced with the patience of six hundred years, and I can’t help but wonder if he ever gets tired of it—of being so tolerant, so long-suffering—especially when it comes to dealing with me.