“What happened? Where did you go?” Erin stood beside the bed, still looking rather worried.
With Kyle’s help, Ava sat and shook off the last of the muddle. She blew out a shaky breath then recalled the specifics of the vision. “I saw myself, sometime in the future, preparing for the blood ritual. I was sitting on an antique table with Kyle on one side and Payne on the other. There were four other people there, three men and a woman. I don’t know them now, but I will know them then.”
“Describe them,” Erin suggested. “Maybe we can tell you who they are.”
Ava shook her head. “I don’t think it’s supposed to happen like that. I’ll know them when I see them, and when I meet the last one, I’ll know it’s time for the ritual.”
Kyle looked at his mother then back at Ava, clearly confused by her explanation. “What were you two doing? Was this some sort of vision quest?”
“Ava has been distracted by all the unknowns in her life. We were trying to determine whether or not the ancients would accept her.” Erin held up her journal and Kyle nodded.
“Did it work?” He looked at Ava and asked, “Were you able to read the ancient language?”
“I think so.” She smiled at Erin, feeling hopeful for the first time in days. “Were the words I spoke correct?”
“Absolutely.” She opened the book and held it so Ava could see it. “Can you still read it?”
It was rather like looking through 3D glasses, but as soon as the image focused, Ava was able to read every word.
“How far in the future was the vision?” Kyle stood and helped Ava to her feet.
“I have no clue. We didn’t look significantly older, so I suspect it was months not years from now. But I did apologize for making you wait so long.”
“Wonderful,” he grumbled, and his mother laughed.
“The blood ritual has nothing to do with your personal relationship,” Erin reminded them. “Were you still lovers or perhaps even more?”
It was impossible to miss the hopeful catch in Erin’s voice. “We were still together,” Ava assured her. “But I’m not sure if we were bonded mates.”
Her answer seemed to please Kyle, but his gaze remained thoughtful.
Erin stashed her journal back in her overnight bag then motioned toward the door. “Dinner was ready awhile ago. I told them to start without us.”
“I want to tell Carissa I was able to read the journal, but the vision felt personal. I’d rather not share that information with anyone but you two.”
They both nodded then Erin said, “I consider anything I hear private unless I’m told otherwise.”
“Thank you.”
“We’ll be right there.” Kyle pulled Ava into his arms as his mother slipped out of the room. “You’re really all right?”
“I’m fine. Honestly.”
He leaned down and kissed her, his lips warm and tender. “Then don’t scare me like that again. I don’t like feeling helpless.”
She drew his mouth back to hers as a smile curved her lips. She understood what he was feeling all too well.
* * * * *
Zophiel stared at her sister with a mixture of fear and loathing. Nehema was weak and Zophiel had no tolerance for any form of weakness. Zophiel liked to think blood ties accounted for something, but she wouldn’t hesitate to end Nehema if her theatrics drew any more attention to their operation.
If it had been Zophiel’s choice, their road to justice would have been more direct. The atrocities perpetuated by Therian males had been concealed and excused for centuries. Retribution was long overdue.
Nehema agreed with Zophiel that Therian males needed to be punished, but Nehema was obsessed with “saving” innocent females. Zophiel’s thinking was less complicated and much less forgiving. Any female who didn’t openly rebel against the injustices was enabling her own mistreatment. If they were foolish enough to allow their own abuse, who was she to interfere? Zophiel preferred to focus on the males and let Nehema play hero with the females.
“Osric told that bitch everything,” Nehema lamented, baby-blue eyes wild, pale features tinged with gray. Though Zophiel was older than Nehema by almost ten years, Nehema had allowed herself to age while Zophiel culled enough energy to maintain her youthful appearance. They now looked more like mother and daughter than sisters. Another sign of Nehema’s inevitable decline.
“We don’t know that for certain. All Barns said was Carly spoke with Roberto after spending the night with Osric. Barns wasn’t able to unscramble the transmission, so we have no idea what they said.”