Chapter 90
Chapter 90
Avery’s POV
The space on the other side of the high stone walls opened up into a large space. The walls expanded to left and right in gentle curves, while the path continued forward before splitting in two and running around a small hill dominated by a huge oak tree.
I stepped forward in amazement. The space was overgrown. Vines and weeds had crept over the walls and garden beds that lined the edges, but the land sloped away downhill, dotted with fruit trees – the remains of an old orchard.
“Truly?” I spun to face Gideon who was standing, hands in pockets, watching me. “You would give me this space p>
Already I was having visions of what I would do here. Add a large basin for reflecting the moon at the base of that circled path, plant bulbs in the winter so that in the spring this place would reflect bright colors against the melting snow.
“I would give you pretty much anything.” Gideon said softly.
I tilted my head at him, biting my lip.
“Except…?” I said softly.
“Except.” He repeated, moving closer. He left it at that.
We both knew what he wouldn’t give.
He wouldn’t give me my freedom.
He wouldn’t be my mate.
I turned back to look at the garden behind me. The words he wouldn’t say were written in the trees and the
clouds.
They sure were beautiful.
This place was beautiful.
Neglected, but lovely.
Was that my future?
To plant seeds in hopes of them growing? Or to continue in invisibility, kept, but unloved?
I reached out and cupped a budding branch in my hand. Its growth didn’t depend on how many eyes saw it. I was just blessed to have witnessed it.
The private garden was chilly, but Gideon’s heated stare warmed my back. It was incredible how I could be so in tune with someone who was not my mate.
And despite his cool exterior, his emotions certainly ran high where I was involved. I had been irritated when he’d dragged me back to my room after my ritual last night, but I recognized a peace offering when I saw one.
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Chapter 90
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I turned back to Gideon and gave a small, private smile.
“This is exquisite.” I said, honestly.
“You like it p>
“I love it p>
He nodded, as though that was the only thing he needed to hear. His eyes roamed around our surroundings, at pretty much everything except me when I was talking to him.
“Is this how it’s going to be?” I asked softly.
“How do you mean p>
“Where we talk about the things we don’t care about, and never the things we do.” I tilted my head at him, regarding him from the corner of my eyes.
He thought for a long moment.
“Does it make it any easier when we talk about them?” He posed a question in return.
“Not really, no.” I admitted. The hard truths were hard no matter what.
“Then, best to leave things unsaid.” Gideon said with finality. He came to stand next to me, his hand gently touching the small of my back.
We stood that way for a long moment, listening to the finches in the juniper and the far-off screech of a red-
tailed hawk.
“I need to get back.” Gideon said finally, but his arm lingered around me for a heartbeat longer before he pulled away. “I hope this makes up for…
He didn’t finish the sentence, just nodded and walked away.
The door closed behind him as he departed and I was left with my thoughts.
How could we resolve any of this, so long as his missing mate was flapping in the wind? I frowned and bent down to dig my fingers into the soil.
The ground was moist and warm from the sun. It knew what its job was – to germinate and grow in whatever way it could. It had tools, and so did I.
If I couldn’t wait for this to resolve itself, then perhaps I needed to use my tools to force a resolution.
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