Page 31 of Soul Redeemed
“Calla sent me to get you. She wants to see you.”
For some reason, that summons had her chest beating harder than if the Orcosian lords had summoned her right then. She gave a nod, her throat suddenly dry as a cotton sock. “Okay.”
As she pushed up off the couch, it occurred to Ava how quickly her body had morphed into panic mode, as weakness claimed her limbs and she stumbled forward.
Logan caught her arm before she tumbled to the floor. “You’re certain I didn’t hurt you?” Remorse danced across his face, as his eyes flicked back toward the floor like a young boy facing punishment.
“I’m certain. I just tripped, is all.”
“Ava.” Logan released his grip, tucking his hands into his pocket, and took a step back. “You’re welcome to stay. What I said about wanting to kill you—”
“I get it. You wanted to ground me into hamburger and feed me to the dogs. You were pissed. I messed with your life, and I promise it won’t happen again.”
He gave a slow nod and rubbed his chin. “So you know, I’d never feed you to the dogs. There’s a dirty ass lycan tiger that likes to run with Ayden. I’d definitely feed you to him first.”
A burst of laughter beat from her chest. “Never pegged you for having a sense of humor, Logan.”
“Seriously, though. Thanks. And I’m sorry for being a dickbag earlier. It’s genetic.”
“Lovely. I’ll take that into account where Calix is concerned.”
With a jerk of his head, Logan led her out into the hallway, back up the staircase, but instead of turning toward Calix’s room, she followed him to the right, and into a much darker room.
A lamp illuminated the space, and still, it was eerily darker than Calix’s room.
Cleaned up and lying in bed, Calla sat holding a thick bundle, all wrapped up in small blankets. Somewhere in that mess of cotton was a brand new baby, confirmed by the fresh powder smell that drifted through the room.
Ava’s eyes instinctively shot to Calla’s throat, with the marks from the bands still tracing the soul-binder she’d removed from there. A warm smile stretched Calla’s face, as Ava made her way beside the bed.
Calla patted mattress beside her. “Please sit,” she whispered.
With a bit of hesitance, Ava did as she’d asked. Folding her hands into her lap, she let her gaze wander everywhere except on the female beside her.
A warm hand gripped hers, and she looked up to see tears in Calla’s eyes.
Oh, God. I can’t do this.
Never in her life had she done something particularly spectacular, and in her mind, what she’d done for Calla really was no big deal. Just a prick of blood and some quick chants.
“I can’t thank you enough.”
“It was … really, you don’t have to thank me. I kind of … you know, betrayed you.”
“That’s not important anymore. You saved me. My baby. I owe you for this.”
Ava cleared her throat and shifted on the bed. “Truly, don’t thank me. That’d make me feel like sh—” Her gaze dipped toward the baby and back. “Really bad. Let’s just call it even.”
“It’s not even, though. I’d planned to leave that night. I was going to go out on my own. I could’ve been killed then.”
“I doubt it. You seem … pretty strong.”
She chuckled and glanced toward Logan and back. “You know, I was certain that I’d deliver a boy. I was going to name him Jacob Logan after my brother.”
“Yeah, I was … surprised you had a girl. I thought Wrath’s mostly gave birth to boys.”
“They do. A female is very rare, so I …. Well, we … decided to name her Avalon.”
Ava wanted to smile, to show some appreciation for that, but all she could summon was a frown. Why on earth would they name the child after her? After what she’d done? “You don’t—you don’t have to do that. I’m sure there are a number of females you’d prefer to name her after.”
