“But…” Sari’s eyes shone. “It makes the most tactical sense.”
“Milá…,” he breathed out. “I learned the hard way. Not everything is about tactics.”
Ava didn’t know how to describe Sari’s expression. It was pain. Anger. Relief. Rage. It was everything rolled into one, but Ava had cracked open the door to Sari’s inner voice and listened. And the voice inside cried out.
Vashama canem.
Reshon.
Reshon.
Reshon.
The pain of Sari’s yearning was like a punch to the chest. Ava gasped and felt Astrid flinch. She wondered if the healer could sense Sari’s pain, too. It didn’t matter, because in the next moment, they were gone. Damien had walked around the table and grabbed Sari’s arm, marching them both out into the cold night. The door to the cottage slammed closed.
Silence.
“So, I’ll take you to Bergen,” Renata said. “Mala can come with us and guard you. It will be a good first mission.”
Karen glanced nervously at the door. “But Rennie, don’t you think—”
“They’ll sort it out.” She waved a careless hand toward the door. “And I’ll convince them both. You don’t really think they were talking about Ava, do you?”
Ava didn’t. Not for a minute.
She was runningthrough the forest, laughing. Running. Playing. He was behind her, and he was laughing too. She darted to the left, but he caught her, grabbing her with both arms and tackling her to the soft forest floor. They rolled across leaves and moss, which were verdant with life. The birds sang overhead and the new light of a crescent moon shone down.
“Can we stay here forever?” she asked.
“No.”
“Why not?”
He looked confused for a moment. “I… don’t know.”
“What if we didn’t wake?” she whispered, smoothing a lock of hair from his forehead as he braced himself over her. “What if we stayed here?”
“We can’t, Ava.”
“But why?” Something dark lurked at the edge of her vision. Some sadness waited there. She knew if she woke it would find her.
“I have things to do.” He frowned. “I think. When I am not here, I have things I must do.”
“Things more important than me?”
“No. I think… I must find you.”
She smiled. “You already found me.”
“No, Ava.” His eyes were clearer. His mouth firmed. “I must find you. So you know.”
“So I know what? I don’t understand,” she said.
He lost focus. Confusion swam in his eyes. “Kiss me, my Ava.”
“Always.”
Their lips met, and everything fell away beneath the moon.