Chapter 44
AVA
I’m sitting on the couch with Pom Pom on my lap when Valen’s key jingles from the other side of the front door.
After they left, I picked up the mess and made sure no shards or debris were on the ground.
The fluffy pup was shaken after everything, and I had to comfort him since Valen was away.
Celine decided to go back to her own apartment and decompress.
She didn’t outright yell at me for what I did, but there was definite disappointment in her downturned expression.
Sensing his favorite person, Pom Pom jolts up, and sleep is forgotten. He launches himself off the couch and runs toward Valen. He gives the familiar a few pats but doesn’t pick him up and give him love like he normally does.
Fuck. I’m in deep shit.
Sensing he’s not going to be the first to talk, I test the waters.
“Were you able to send Levi back?”
Valen growls at the name and shoots a glare my way before giving me his back and leaning against the counter. The stiff set of his frame has me biting my lip.
“Is Luna okay?” I hedge.
An angry sigh is my only response.
“Are you okay?”
A slight breeze is my only warning before I’m flat on my back on the couch. Valen holds himself above me and anger dances in his brown eyes.
“Am I okay? Are you fucking kidding me, Ava?” he grates through clenched teeth.
My heart jumps at the emotion behind his words.
He’s never this harsh with me. “What were you thinking? You summoned a literal demon. Not only did you put yourself in danger, but you risked Celine and Luna. How do you think Zavier would have felt if something happened to Celine at your hand? What do you think I would have felt coming home to you hurt or worse because of a demon? You know how I feel about them after what happened to my sister. I don’t understand your thought process with any of this. ” Valen huffs after he’s finished.
I’m stunned at first, but it quickly morphs to anger. I thrash to get him off me, but he’s an immovable boulder.
“Get off,” I grunt to no avail.
“No.” Valen holds my legs tight between his and crowds my face with a hand on each side.
“You are going to explain to me what the hell you were thinking with that death wish summoning spell. To answer your question, Luna is still stuck with the demon for now. They couldn’t separate them and the only reason he’s with her alone in her apartment right now is because the bond won’t let them kill each other. ”
Trying once more to get out from underneath him, even though I know it’s impossible, I let out a cry. Frustrated tears leak out of the corners of my eyes. My chest heaves with desperate breaths.
“I was trying to help you, you stupid vampire!” I shout in frustration. “I want to protect you, so fucking sue me.”
Valen’s eyes widen, but he still doesn’t move. Pom Pom barks from the yelling and we both ignore him.
“I know it was stupid, and yes, I should’ve been more careful, especially with my friends involved,” I admit reluctantly.
“But it was all to help you! I feel so powerless, which is ironic for someone with supposed magical powers. There are bad vampires after you and it doesn’t seem like they’ll be letting up anytime soon.
I refuse to let them drag you back to that dungeon!
” I shout and collapse, boneless against the couch.
A tear falls down my cheek and soaks into the cushion.
“I had to do something, okay? You and Zav can’t stop all these vampires, and I can’t sit and wait through slow lessons with Jade.
I decided to act. It might not have been the most thought-out plan, but I tried to save you.
” The last line comes out as a whisper, and I shut my eyes to avoid the disappointment in his gaze.
“I can’t lose you, Valen. I just … can’t. ” My voice cracks.
The room is silent aside from my heaving breaths.
Pom Pom whines from wherever he is. The weight above me lets up, and I peer through one eye to see Valen sitting on the corner of the couch, gazing out the window at the starry night sky.
Pulling myself up to a sitting position, I hug my knees to myself in comfort and wait.
I’m not sure how long we sit there before Valen speaks.
“Having someone so dear to me is foreign. Yes, I had my sister, but even then, it was a different kind of love.” He turns toward me and the devastation on his face is painful to look at.
“Ava, you are my heart and soul. I cannot have you entering situations where you put yourself at risk, even for me. It would wreck me to lose you. It would be far more harrowing than being kidnapped again.”
I jolt up. “Don’t say that. Nothing is worse than that.”
Valen shoots up too, hands on his lean hips. “While I understand where you’re coming from, I have to disagree. What you did was foolish and stupid. It never should have happened.”
“You know what? Fucking fine! I’m done talking to you about this. You can sleep on the couch tonight,” I shriek and stomp into the bedroom, yanking the door shut behind me. It slams with finality, and I slide down until my back is leaned against it.
Resting my head on my knees, I cry softly until darkness greets me.
Waking up on the floor in a strange position is something I haven’t done since college. My body aches in protest as I attempt to find my bearings and figure out where I am. Patting the floor, I feel around for my side table. Once I hit the wooden leg, I fumble my way to turning on the lamp.
I squint against the light and blink to adjust to the room.
Sitting on the bed, I remember the yelling match Valen and I had.
My phone is almost dead on the side table since I didn’t plug it in during my rampage.
The time says it’s three in the morning.
I groan, rubbing my stiff neck. It’s surprising I was even able to get a few hours of sleep, but it was probably the emotional drain of it all.
Flipping back the covers, I settle into my bed and attempt to go back to sleep.
As the minutes tick by, I realize it’s not going to happen.
I hate to admit it when I’m pissed at him, but Valen is my secret to sleeping well these days.
The stubborn side of me wants to stay camped out in our bedroom, but the other doesn’t want to start a new day mad at each other.
Having made up my mind, I tiptoe over to the door and stand in front of it. I reach for the handle but hesitate.
What if he doesn’t want to see me? I acted like a brat, and his concerns were justified. This mate thing is fucking hard.
“Are you just going to stand there or are you going to come out?” Valen calls and I stiffen at being caught. “Please come out, Ava,” he pleads, softer this time.
I open the door and peek around to see Valen’s tall frame bent up uncomfortably on the couch.
Pillows and blankets are tossed around the living room haphazardly and his hair sticks up in all directions.
It seems like neither of us could sleep very well.
Pom Pom, on the other hand, dozes in the corner, and his little legs flail like he’s having a doggy dream.
“Come here.” He holds out his arms, and I shuffle over before joining him. He cradles me against his hard body, and I sigh at the contact, already feeling loads better.
“I’m sorry,” I murmur, needing to apologize.
“It was totally foolish to attempt a spell way above my skill level. I was focused on nothing but helping you, and in the process, I hurt those I love. Tomorrow I’ll apologize to Zav, Celine, and Luna for pulling them into such a dumb plan.
” I run a hand through the rat’s nest on my head and cringe at the knots I’ll be ripping out tomorrow.
“I love you so much, Valen, and I need you to know that I only want what’s best for you and your well-being. ”
Soft strokes against my side are his only answer at first. He nuzzles his face into my neck and places a kiss along my throat. A flick of his tongue has me shivering and backing farther into his body.
“I love you too. You are my heart and soul given form outside of my body.” His words make my heart squeeze.
“I know your heart, Starlight, and it’s full of nothing but pure, unadulterated love.
It’s touching that you care so deeply for me that you’d resort to something as extreme as this.
If we swapped places, I suppose I would’ve come to a similar conclusion as you.
While I’m still very displeased, I took the hours we were apart to reflect on your side of things.
Apologizing to the others would be beneficial, I agree, and I appreciate your apology to me.
I must also apologize for shouting at you, but you have to understand where I’m coming from,” Valen explains, but I cut him off with a hand over his lush lips.
“I do,” I concur. “Let’s both say we’re sorry and agree to move forward with a plan where everyone is on the same page.”
“Agreed,” Valen whispers and tucks me in with him for a peaceful rest of the night.