Page 44 of Secrets of Avalon
I grip the blanket tighter around my shoulders. The weight of Nimue's words settles heavy on my chest. I want to be with Hawke, to feel the warmth of his touch and the comfort of his presence. But the fear of my magic, of the harm it could cause–will cause–is a constant shadow looming over me. Can I really be the one to save him, when I'm so afraid of destroying him?
"I don't know if I can do this," I whisper, my voice cracking under the weight of my emotions. "My magick… it's dangerous. I don't want to hurt him."
Kellan's voice cuts through my tumultuous thoughts. "Whatever plans you had for Melinda, they're not happening. She's under my protection now, and I won't let you use her for your own ends."
"Use her?" Nimue scoffs, her expression full of indignation. "I'm trying to save her, to save all of us. The rebellion's methods may be unconventional, but our goal is to restore balance to the realms."
"At what cost?" Kellan counters, his voice rising. "You're meddling with forces beyond your control, Nimue. The risks are too great."
Nimue leans back, her expression unreadable. "I’m merely aligning the stars, Kellan. A guide to help them find their way."
"Find their way to what?" Kellan snarls, his frustration evident in the tight set of his shoulders.
"To each other, of course. The World Tree is in pain Kellan. Sick. Our magick is broken. She’s the first step. They are the first step to putting everything back the way it should be. Opening the Earth door. Restoring the Tree. Fixing the soul mate magick."
The World Tree is sick. Magick is broken. Could that be why my magick is dangerous? I’m distracted from my frantic thoughts by Kellan and Nimue’s continued arguing.
"And if we fail?" Kellan asks, his voice grave. "If your rebellion's plans go awry, the consequences could be catastrophic."
"The consequences of doing nothing are far worse," Nimue argues. "The longer we wait, the more the realms will suffer. Melinda and Hawke are our best hope."
“It’s not that simple, Nimue.”
My heart skips a beat at her words. “Why? What are you talking about? Kellan move, please.” My bodyguard huffs but does as I ask and moves a step to the left. “Answer my question,” I demand a little louder.
She looks right at me, her eyes hard. “The piece you’re carrying of Hawke’s soul inside you makes you his soulmate. Without my visions, there’s no way to be sure, but it’s the only thing that makes sense. You need to bond to him.”
Air rushes from my lungs like I’ve been sucker-punched. Bond? How? Is it a magick spell? The words echo in my mind, a tantalizing promise wrapped in a layer of fear. I've always believed that I was cursed, that my magic made me unworthy of love. But if what Nimue says is true, then maybe, just maybe, there's a chance for me after all. I don’t see how, but I’m willing to be convinced.
“They are mates. It’s quite obvious when they are together.” Kellan rolls his neck and stares at the Siren Queen. He reminds me of a snake coiling and preparing to strike. “How did you know about Melinda? How did you find her on Earth?”
“The rebellion is so much bigger than those puffed up–”
“Peacocks?” Kellan offers, surprising me with the amused tone of voice.
“Yes. Peacocks. Whatever.” She throws up her hands. “The whole point is that we’ve been working for centuries to locate the missing shards. I believe the soul mate magick was broken when the shards didn’t return to the Knights as promised.”
Kellan’s shaking his head, but she keeps going.
“After everything that happened with the Queen. The High Council locked the Earth door. It’s just been one thing after another making the situation worse. Melinda is the first step to fixing everything. I’m sure of it. That's why we led her to the door.”
Led me to the door? I shake my head. My mother had the map. This woman didn’t do anything. I’ve never seen her before in my life.I fist my hands in the quilt and continue listening to Kellan and Nimue talk like they’ve mostly forgotten I’m here.
“You didn’t answer my questions. How did you find Melinda?” Kellan sounds like he’s growling again.
“We have networks of people on Earth helping us identify people who are looking for Avalon.”
“That seems very vague.”
“You’re quite infuriating, Kellan of Gilat. It worked, didn’t it. Melinda is here. She’s Hawke’s mate.” Nimue curls her top lip into a snarl all her own.
“My mother was the one that searched for Avalon. Not me,” I say, interrupting their snapping.
“No. We placed the map in your mother’s journal after she passed away to test you. And you traveled halfway across the world to follow that map. And when you and Hawke simultaneously touched the portal door, Yggsdrasil was able to allow you to communicate.”
Wait. What? I want her to explain more, but before I can ask, the maids start shouting outside the door to my chambers. A moment later the door bursts open, and Hawke walks in, his presence filling the room like a tangible force. His eyes lock with mine, and for a moment, the world falls away, leaving only the two of us in a bubble of perfect understanding.
Kellan’s cold and unyielding voice shatters the perfect moment. "The Council would call your interference on Earth treason, Nimue.”