Under the Winter Sun (Elemental Enchanters Series Book 3) Read Online Free Page A

emotions show or let Peter feel them. She needed Gabriel to teach her how to hide them.
    Peter sighed and Ava looked to him. “Are you okay?” she asked.
    “I can’t be here. Would you be okay if I took your car home? I’ll bring it back tomorrow.” He no longer had a car since Ava totaled his driving home from the Halloween dance. An invisible Trudy McVaine had been hiding in the backseat and attacked Ava while she was driving.
    The tightness in her stomach returned. Why didn’t he want her to drive him home? “Sure. You don’t want any company?” she asked, hopeful. She didn’t want to be alone tonight.
    “I just want to be alone.”
    “Yeah, of course.” She tried to keep her tone level.
    “Sorry.” He kissed the side of her forehead and then got up from the table and left.
    Ava shut her eyes tight, taking deep breaths. She wouldn’t cry. She wouldn’t feel sad or disappointed. She left the dining room and saw Lance, Thomas, and Gillian near the stairs.
    “Hey,” she said, walking up to them.
    Lance gave a sad smile as he put his arm around her, pulling her against him. “Hey.” His dark hair was scraggly and his brown eyes looked tired.
    Gillian stood next to Thomas, hugging herself. Her black hair was always meticulous but now the curls were matted, like she hadn’t brushed her hair. Her big blue eyes were angry and sad. Ava missed her cheerful attitude and her innocent nature. They had always been close until Peter came into the picture. Ava wondered if she was one of those girls who chose a boy over her friends. They had to find Jeremy and the rest. Ava vowed she would get them back. She would do whatever it took to have her friends beside her again. Who knew what Havok was doing to them?
    “Whoa, you all right, Ava?”
    She looked up meeting Lance’s expectant eyes. Their necklaces glowed.
    “Yeah. What were you talking about?’
    “Are you staying here?” Thomas asked. His black sweater hugged his vast muscles and his hair brushed against the neckline.
    “I don’t really have much of a choice. Are you?”
    “Yeah. My mom wants to stay and be around everyone. I don’t.”
    “Sorry, man,” Lance said. “Think I’m gonna go home tonight.”
    “What about you Gillian?” Ava asked.
    Her eyes sliced to Ava’s as she crossed her arms. Ava could feel her hatred.
    Without saying a word, Gillian left.
    Ava let out a sigh.
    “Just give her time,” Lance said.
    “I can’t believe they want us to go back to school,” Ava said, wanting to change the subject. “This is the most ridiculous thing.”
    Thomas nodded. “Seriously. What do they expect us to do?”
    “I agree, but maybe it’ll help,” Lance said. “Or maybe I’m just hoping something will help.”
    Thomas rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m gonna go check on my mom. See y’all later.” He walked away.
    “How’s Peter doing?” Lanced asked.
    “Not well. I can’t believe I dragged him into this.”
    “You didn’t. He knew what he was getting himself into.”
    “Did he? I mean, did he really know the full extent of it? Because of me, all of his friends are gone or dead. He blames himself for not protecting everyone. Anytime anyone feels sad or anything, he feels it, and then feels guilty.”
    “He just hasn’t had much experience and a lot of things have happened in a short amount of time. Just give him some time. He’ll come around. Besides they would’ve come after him anyway because he’s a Paramortal.”
    Time. That was all Ava heard the last few days. It took time to move beyond the grief. Time to build back their powers. Time to get their friends back. She was sick of hearing the word. And its meaning.
    “Hopefully,” she said. 
    After Lance left, Ava retreated upstairs to her favorite spot. The window bench had become a safe haven so to speak for her because of its arched roof. She felt somewhat enclosed. Peering out the window at the garden below, she remembered seeing Kira always watering or