Under the Burning Stars (32 page)

Peter walked up
and took Ava’s hand.

Gabriel’s eyes shifted to Peter. “Peter, you cannot blame yourself at all. You are a fighter just as much as the rest of us.
You cannot expect anything like this to happen.”

“Gabriel, your turn,” Natalia said.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he told them and then walked up to Savina.

Thomas took a shocked Gillian to her room and just before Lance walked out of the room, Ava caught his hand.

Without hesitation, he leaned down to hug her. They held each other for a while, and then he pulled away.

“We’ll find them,” he said. “We have to.”

“Of course we will. Come on. Let’s try and get some rest.”

The three of them walked up the long staircase to their rooms. They didn’t speak. As soon as Peter closed the door to their bedroom, she threw her arms around him and held him tightly. He kissed the side of her head and embraced her.
Ava finally released the tears.

He leaned down and crushed his lips against hers.
She ran her hands through his thick hair as he took her head between his hands. Their hearts filled with their immense love for each other. “Is it so wrong of me to feel so relieved?” he asked.

She shook her head. “No.
”

“I w
ish I could take your pain away.” He wiped her tears with his thumbs.

“
I wish I could take yours away. Why do you feel so guilty?” She touched his necklace.

He cleared his throat and released her. He moved toward the bed and
dropped down on the edge. “I thought I was ready.” Agony filled his brown eyes. “I thought I could do this. They overpowered me so quickly. I couldn’t protect you. Or Seth. Anyone. I should’ve trained more. I should’ve taken it seriously. Havok took them because I couldn’t—.”

“Pet
er, don’t. It wasn’t your fault.” Her voice was stern. She crossed the room and sat beside him. “You can’t be so hard on yourself. We will find them. We won’t give up. We will have a second chance to do what we couldn’t do tonight. I refuse to let them overpower us again. I just hope he won’t take their souls.”

“I will do everything I can to get them back.” He kissed her forehead. “I wi
ll make sure he never takes you.” He pulled her into an embrace once more and kissed her.

They stayed
wrapped in each other’s arms throughout the night as they waited for morning to come.

To all of my readers, thank you immensely for your enthusiasm, your kind words, and most of all your support. I couldn’t do this without you.

To all the musicians I have ever listened to and who continuously inspire me.

To Jennifer. You are truly amazing. To Chani for all of your editorial advice and support. To Angie, Rachel, Derrick, and Laura. To Laura Gordon for the beautiful cover.

To Indie World Publishing & Author Services and all of the amazing women
I’ve met: Marisa, Angie, Paige.

To my mom; my dad; Patrick, Morgan, and Alison. You are incredible and I love you all. To my amazing new family. Your kindness and zeal
is greatly appreciated.

To Chris. Thank you for being so patient and loving. For always making me laugh, encouraging me, and supporting me. My heart will always be yours.

Letters
From the Sky – Civil Twilight

I Will Not Bow – Breaking Benjamin

Ungodly Hour – The Fray

Crush – Jimmy Eat World

The Red – Chevelle

Code Red – Tori Amos

Demons – Imagine Dragons

Weight of the World – Evanescence

How To Disappear Completely – Radiohead

Rusted Wheel –
Silversun Pickups

Under Control – Ellie
Goulding

The Sinking Night – AFI

Heartless – The Fray

Bleeding Out – Imagine Dragons

The Meddler – Chevelle

Lacrymosa
– Evanescence

Leave My Body – Florence +
The Machine

Hurt – 2Cellos
(Sulic & Hauser)

The Lightning Strike (What If This Storm Ends?) – Snow Patrol

All I Need – Within Temptation

You Look So Fine – Garbage

Carrigan
Richards is the author of
Pieces of Me
and
Under a Blood Moon.
She graduated from Kennesaw State University with a degree in English. She lives near Atlanta with her fiancé and their three dogs.

Website:
www.carriganrichards.com
.

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/authorcarriganrichards

Twitter:
www.twitter.com/carrigan34

Pieces of Me

Under a Blood Moon (Elemental Enchanters #1)