Page 75 of Soul Redeemed

“You are the most precious thing,” she whispered. “So beautiful.”

The baby didn’t belong to her, and yet she couldn’t help the overwhelming feeling that she wanted to protect her. So tiny and fragile. And trusting. Perhaps what touched Ava most, was that this child lay quiet and vulnerable, and Ava wanted to honor that trust with the silent assurance that she was safe. Ava could only imagine what Logan must’ve felt every time he held her.

And no wonder Magnus growled at her.

A gusting wind fluttered the blanket, and Ava bent forward, tucking her head against the baby’s to block the cool air. Mingling with the baby’s newborn scent came the coppery undertones, an essence that struck the back of Ava’s throat.

Blood.

She lifted her face from the still-sleeping child and shook her head, closing her eyes to break the spell settling over her.

Behind her shuttered lids, the dream from the other night, with the angel, played inside her head. She inwardly cringed at the memory of biting into the innocent creature’s flesh, but the tingle of its blood left her licking her lips.

She opened her eyes to find the three hellhounds had emerged from the forest. Their hunched backs and red eyes held a warning as they prowled toward the patio.

Ava hissed, clutching the baby tighter.

Avalon whimpered in her arms, her lips creating a downward pout, eyes still closed as if she was caught in a nightmare.

The sight of her broke Ava from her enchantment, and she lightly rocked the infant in her arms. “Shhhh, it’s okay. I promise, I won’t hurt you.”

A sickness churned in her stomach, though. Thoughts she couldn’t bear to face, and when she lifted her gaze, she noticed the dogs had halted their advance toward her. Even so, they watched from across the yard.

Waiting.

No, I can’t. I can’t do this.

“How was she?”

Calla’s voice struck her muscles, and Ava jumped, startling the baby a second time.

A soft mewling cry set Ava’s nerves on edge and her arms went stiff. “Just in time,” she said on a breath of relief.

Calla reached down and lifted Avalon from her arms, immediately settling the baby as she kissed her head. “You’re a natural.”

Without a word, Ava pushed up from the couch, needing to find a place she could quietly crawl into herself and die.

What had she almost done? What could she have done?

The question batted her skull as she made her way to the door, ignoring the scalding burn of her skin and whatever Calla said as she called after her.

Need to get away.

Can’t be here.

She gave one more glance toward the hounds still sitting at attention, and retreated back inside the house. Up the staircase, she made her way to Calix’s room and closed the door behind her, shutting out the light.

What had she become?

The floor hit her tailbone as she fell to a slump against the wall, tucking her knees into her body. She sent up a prayer to the gods that she’d stopped herself.

And what exactly had stopped her? Not the dogs, nor the possibility of Calla returning.

It was Avalon herself who’d saved her own life by appealing to the small bit of humanity that Ava so desperately clung to. Seeing the discomfort on her face had broken the trance and cast a cloud of shame over Ava.

For a brief moment, she took some comfort in that thought, quickly tamped down by the question of what would happen the next time? Would she stop?

“I couldn’t have hurt her.”