‘Avalon is dangerous sometimes,’ Jack agreed half heartedly. ‘But she needs me. She is utterly hopeless -’
‘I need you,’ Georgia simpered, brushing the tip of her nose against Jack’s cheek. ‘She left you.’
‘I don’t know why she would do that. I thought she … I thought -’ Jack felt his resolve slipping as Georgia’s lips brushed his neck lightly.
‘I told you, she wished you had never come.’
Jack let out a low, guttural growl as Georgia’s lips found his earlobe and bit gently.
‘No,’ he said suddenly. ‘I need to hear it from Avalon herself.’
He felt as though Georgia was trying very hard to persuade him to stay.
Georgia did not know about Hawthorne, obviously, but Jack knew that Avalon would take advantage of the newfound swiftness. Without him, Avalon and Hawthorne could fly, or run together. They would reach Flamethroat Valley in two hours by air. It would take him several hours to get there on foot. It had already been half an hour since Avalon had left. For all he knew, she could be a quarter of the way there by now.
Georgia coaxed Jack onto the sofa, where she stroked his hair. He wished he knew why Avalon had decided to go on alone. He could not be comforted. This heavy feeling in his chest was new to him and he did not know how to make it go away. He felt defeated. Exhausted.
‘Honestly, as if you would choose her, over me,’ Georgia crooned. ‘She seemed quite upset about our kiss-’
Jack’s head snapped up. ‘What?’
‘Hm?’ Georgia said, looking up at him.
‘What was that you just said? About when you … when we-’ he couldn’t bring himself to say it. He had felt guilty about that kiss ever since it had happened.
‘Oh,’ Georgia said. ‘Avalon said she saw us. Just before she left – she mentioned it.’
‘She saw us kissing?’
Georgia nodded and then frowned. ‘What’s the big deal? It’s not like you are together.’
Jack bit his lip. Avalon had seen him kiss Georgia and not said a word about it.
Georgia scowled. ‘Honestly, spying on me in my own house. What I do is my own business.’
Jack remembered how the picture frame in the hall had smashed to the ground during the kiss. Had that been from Avalon, fleeing the scene? Jack pinched the bridge of his nose and thought hard. He knew Ava had expressed dislike for Georgia, yet he hadn’t understood why. Was it jealousy? A sudden thought occurred to him. Did Avalon leave because she was jealous and thought Jack preferred Georgia? He knew it was vain to think such a thing – but his heart leapt in hope.
‘She saw us,’ Jack groaned into his hands.
Georgia stood and put her hands on her hips,. ‘Why do you care so much?’ she asked. ‘What does it matter any more? She left. It’s just you and me now.’
Jack stared at Georgia. ‘Is this what you wanted?’
‘Of course! You are too good for that Fire-Mage. She didn’t know how good she had it with you. I’m glad she left!’
Jack stood up from the sofa. Something was not right.
‘You did something,’ Jack said suddenly. ‘You made this happen.’
‘No!’ She reached out a hand and touched Jack’s arm. Instantly, he felt soothed by her touch.
Jack wrenched his arm away from her. ‘You’re doing something to me. Stop it.’
‘I’m not doing anything,’ Georgia said, taking a step closer, her arms outstretched to embrace him, ‘Don’t you know how I feel about you, Jack?’
‘What did you tell Avalon?’ Jack said in a low voice. ‘I know Avalon and she wouldn’t leave without me. How did you make me believe you so readily?’
‘Jack, she left you,’ Georgia said, grabbing his wrist and holding tight, ‘Why won’t you believe me? She’s not here, is she?’
‘You’ve driven her away,’ said Jack, pointing a finger at Georgia. Once again, Jack felt the fight in him dying with Georgia’s touch. He felt oddly relaxed and knew he could trust her.
No, his mind said. She is tricking you. Avalon was right. Georgia is up to something.
Jack snatched his arm away from Georgia. ‘What’s your Power then, huh? I asked you that day in the stables – you said it was a secret. I thought you were just trying to be coy, but now I know you didn’t want to tell me.’
Georgia looked up at Jack with great, shining eyes, full of tears. ‘Wh-what do you mean? I’m not tricking you. Jack, don’t you remember? She burned me! How could I do that myself?’
‘Oh, I believe Avalon burned you, but I think you provoked her.’
Georgia’s eyes watered. ‘How could you? I thought you liked me.’
‘I like Avalon more,’ Jack said harshly. ‘She is my best friend. Do you really think you can come between two friends so easily?’
Georgia glared at Jack. ‘You choose her? You choose a fire demon over me?’
‘Every time,’ he replied.
‘You’re mad,’ Georgia said. ‘Utterly mad.’
‘Probably,’ Jack agreed. ‘Now tell me what you have done.’