Farren
The sun was already starting to set by the time Avi came to my room to get me. When I opened the door to him, the first thing that hit me was his scent. The fresh sea air was strong this morning. I wasn’t anxious for once, so the usual calm it gave me was gone, but damn, if I didn't soak in their scents every chance I got. After taking an obnoxiously obvious deep breath, I reached out and took his hand. I was working hard on being more casual with the guys, and it was already becoming second nature to be around them and touch them without feeling weird about it.
Avi’s smile grew the moment my hand was in his, and I knew I had made the right choice.
He was already in his winter parka and boots, so I grabbed mine, pulling it all on so we could make the trek out to the cabin. Once I was ready, he pulled me to the back door. We cut through the back hall, only running into West along the way. He gave me no more than a hasty hello before rushing off. I swore I barely saw the old man anymore; he was too busy with renovations.
The sky was painted with oranges and pinks as the sun sank below the horizon. Thankfully, there was enough light that it wouldn’t be hard to get to the cabin, though I doubted it would have been a problem either way. I knew this walk like I knew how to breathe.
Getting through the snow was a bit more difficult since the valley between the cliffs was always a bit more compacted with snow, but Avi walked first, forging a path so I could make it through easier.
As my cabin came into view, I felt that same sense of familiarity and déjà vu, though I couldn’t place the memories that were trying their best to fight their way out.
“So I hear the dates you had with Kane and Levi went well?” he said as we made our way to the front door which we had to dig out.
“The aquarium was amazing.” I grinned, filling him in on the adorable sea lions. I had the plush tucked into my bag to add to my nest. “And Levi is an amazing cook.”
“That he is,” Avi agreed. “He doesn’t let any of us in the kitchens anymore. We’d always ruin things, and he can be a bit bossy when it comes to fucking with his food.”
I laughed. “I’m not even surprised to hear that. It’s always the carefree ones that get the most passionate. Those poor kids working there.”
“They’re dragons. I hear your kind have a hell of a backbone,” he said as he bumped his shoulder into mine with a smirk. “Speaking of Clark and Victor, has anybody told you about the night they joined us?”
Of course the first thing I tried to do was bring up the memory, but nothing happened. I shook my head in defeat, and he gave me a sympathetic smile.
“It was right after Quinn and the others finished moving in. We went out there to meet with them, and they made this elaborate dinner. Well, we decided it’d be fun to watch a scary movie afterward,” he explained as he got the last of the snow out of the way so I could unlock the door.
“Oh, my favorite.”
“I know,” he answered smugly before continuing his story. “Just as it got to the biggest scary part, we noticed someone creeping around outside. They were searching for you.”
“Me?” I asked, surprised. Then I realized it was when the dragons first started coming to find me, drawn here to seek out the last of the royal line. “Nevermind,” I corrected myself.
“Maxon and Kane almost killed them on the spot for freaking you and Quinn out.”
“I can imagine that.” Maxon and I had only met once since the accident, but he had that same intimidating presence Kane did, though Maxon was a bit more stoic.
“So what brought them up?” I asked as we took off our winter gear and shook away all the snow still clinging to us. I was pretty sure we looked more like snowmen than people at this point.
He grinned over at me. “Well, I thought we'd have a scary movie night of our own. We can build a fire. Hell, we can sleep out here if you want. That's up to you. But I was thinking we’d do some snacks and a movie.”
“That sounds perfect,” I said honestly. “I was kind of tired today, so I wouldn't mind a low-key night.”
“I had a feeling you might,” he said as he pulled me close and placed a soft kiss on my forehead. A shiver ran through me at the sweet gesture. “It’s been a crazy few weeks, and we’re all trying to find our place here together. I’m sure that’s not easy, along with being pregnant.”
“These babies drain me of energy,” I agreed. “Well, it’s either that or the lack of magic. I have this awful hollow feeling all the time now.”
“We’ll get it back,” he promised me, and I wanted to believe him. Because the thought of having the eggs and losing my magic or even my life in the process, terrified me. If they were the only things giving me magic now, would I wind up entirely human?
Stop, I told myself.This isn’t the time for worries. You’ll find him together and get your magic back.
Avi threw a fireball at the fireplace instead of me having to gather wood and start it the human way. He chucked a few logs on it from my supply, which I now noticed was twice as full as I usually kept it. Plus the green tint to the flames meant it likely wouldn’t burn through the longs.
While he was busy doing that, I got comfortable on the couch, smiling when I noticed he’d already brought in a television and dvd player. I didn’t usually have anything like that out here since I got next to no service for anything else. I’d never bothered with any of that before, much preferring a good book and some peace.
Avi had thought of everything. He had extra pillows and throw blankets at the ready. Plus, they were new, so he was adding to our collection. I loved that they had things here now, making it moreourplace than just mine.
“When did you do all this?” I asked him.