Page 37 of Tears of Gold

I drop off the last step with a heavy thump of shoes on concrete, not meeting Harper’s eyes. Vanrey sweeps me up and down with a searching look, maybe confirming I don’t have any significant injuries.

Harper holds something out, but I angle my body away from him. When I don’t take it, he jumps off his pallet with an annoyed huff and threads a long piece of twine through the belt holes of my pants, bringing our bodies close together. I stand stiffly, trying to ignore my racing heart rate as he draws the string tight and knots it.

“Ava?” he whispers.

I jerk away from him. “Vanrey, can you please take me back to the academy?”

His face softens. “Certainly.”

Harper sighs. “Give me five minutes, and I’ll erase our traces.” His voice scratches, and I wonder if he’s been crying too. His footsteps thump slowly up the stairs and across the mezzanine floor overhead.

Vanrey watches him go, then swings toward me. “Forgive my directness, Miss Ava, but did he force you?” His purple magic flares as if he’s the one with emotions swinging in every direction instead of me.

“What?” I gasp. “No! He didn’t! I just, well, my memories came back all at once, and it was a real shock.” My cheeks heat up as I consider what we were doing when my memories returned. How on Earth am I supposed to explain this to Skye and Erritt, and more importantly, why didn’t they give me a heads up about our relationship so I didn’t throw myself at the first drop-dead gorgeous guy who came onto me? “Um, it’s been a rough night.”

Vanrey’s green eyes light up. “All your memories?”

I play with the ends of my shirt knot. “Well, a lot. I still can’t remember everything from the Davina camp.” I brush my forehead, unsure if the lingering traces of a headache are from crying or my memories rushing into place. It’s all overwhelming.

Vanrey smiles. “I know someone who will be overjoyed to hear about the returned memories. I’m sorry we left as we did. I hope you understand it wasn’t safe to associate with us. His Highness has been very worried about you.”

I hang my head. “I’m sorry I’ve added to his stress.”

He rests a hand softly on my upper arm, his warm touch against my chilled skin reassuring after the chaos. “It’s not your fault. The Davinas attacked the festival.”

I wince. Everywhere I turn, the Davinas are making a mess. Is there no way to settle this without bloodshed?

“It’s—” It’s hard to sort through the convoluted mess of guilt, desire, relief, and fear, and talking about it is even more complicated.

Vanrey offers me his complete attention, giving me the courage to continue.

“It’s not because I’m here, is it?”

“No, of course not,” he answers firmly. “It was a tempting event for them to cause our people great pain, and remember, it’s not the first time they’ve struck the capital.”

Harper returns, his brooding figure sending jitters through my stomach as we silently leave the warehouse. We came so close to sex, or maybe we crossed enough bases for it to count, and I know for sure the attraction is real but I have two boyfriends, which Harper well and truly knows. I need to get home to my dragon, and hopefully Erritt too, soon.

Vanrey watches intently as Harper relocks the door behind us using his little metal picks.

“We’ll warp close to the city gates and walk from there. Ready?” The royal aide holds out a hand, and I take it quickly. The sooner I can leave here, the better.

The warehouse distorts into a mauve blur, and in a blink, we rematerialize with the city wall looming over us, a dark shadow against the sky lightening with the first hint of dawn. The streets that sharpen into view are quiet, yesterday’s festival crowd replaced by somber guards on patrol.

The teleporting process might instantly put my body back together, but my belly doesn’t agree and promptly voices its disapproval. Shuddering, I dry heave over the low wall that marks the teleport zone, glad my stomach is empty. When I return, Vanrey drapes his warm jacket over my shoulders.

“Thank you,” I murmur, and he nods curtly. Despite his brisk manner, something in the older elemental’s considered care means he no longer seems so imposing. Harper casts sidelong glances at me as we step into the tunnel under the wall, the pain in his face tugging at my heartstrings but not enough for me to reach out to him.

Vanrey flashes his gold bracelet at the city gates checkpoint, and the guards wave us through without question, even though they don’t seem to be letting anyone else leave the city. I sneak a few glances at the three-inches-wide cuff jangling with gold chains and royal number nine symbols which hang like upside down tears on the dignified aide’s arm.

Everyone responds instantly to that bracelet, but it also came with a price since using it alerted the emperor Erritt was in the city. Maybe that’s why Erritt wanted to avoid the palace, because the golden glitz of his life as a prince comes at a cost to his freedom, binding him in a gilded shackle, just like Vanrey’s bracelet.

I can’t wait to see him again, to let him know I remember and love him.

We trek up the long hill to the major portal station, my shoes eating my damp socks until I eventually give up pulling on them. I already have blisters on my heels.

Finally, we arrive at the top of the hill, and I pant as I press a hand against my belly, feeling weak and wrung out.

“Ava!” Rita runs forward, waving wildly. She scoops me into a bear hug, lifting my shoes an inch off the ground. “Shit, girl! What a night! Don’t ever disappear on me again!”