‘You might look like her, but you are nothing like her.’
‘I can be whatever you like, sweetheart,’ Georgia said, brushing her lips along Jack’s collarbone. He felt shivers through his spine. Something stirred in the pit of his stomach as he looked into her face. Avalon’s face. He swallowed hard as Georgia rearranged her expression into one of blazing determination; the expression that the real Avalon wore, day in, day out.
A small explosion occurred in the pit of Jack’s stomach as Avalon’s lips met his mouth. She kissed him thoroughly. Deeply. Her lips were full and soft; for a moment he believed that he was truly kissing his best friend. Jack thread his fingers through her long hair, his lips moving gently against Avalon’s. But this wasn’t right.
Jack grabbed Georgia’s wrists and removed them from around his neck. He stepped away and wiped his mouth.
Georgia pursed her lips. ‘You do love her,’ she said.
‘She is my best friend,’ he replied.
‘No,’ Georgia smirked. ‘Not like that.’
Jack ignored her. ‘I wish I hadn’t met you. I should have listened to Ava. She knew this was a bad idea.’
‘Should have, yes,’ Georgia agreed. ‘Good luck getting her to believe it wasn’t you who hit her.’
With one last look at Georgia being Avalon, he grabbed his bag and headed for the door.
At once, Jack took the path he knew Avalon would have taken. He would head through the forest instead of taking the main road, in the hopes that he might catch up with her. Who knew, perhaps she would stop so Hawthorne could rest. The chances were poor.
Chapter Ten
The Kiss
AVALON REDDING
An Hour Earlier …
I was too upset to fly. Instead, I wandered through the forest, tears streaming down my cheeks. I made no effort to keep my voice down whilst I cried and ranted at Hawthorne, who walked behind me, clearly afraid. I sent flames hurling at nearby trees and boulders, relishing in the destruction. Hawthorne whimpered behind me, uncomfortable with my rage.
I could not get Jack’s face out of my head. I cursed loudly, kicking rocks and whacking things with a large branch I had found.
How dare Jack talk to me like that? How dare he lay a hand upon me? Here I had been thinking all along, that when push came to shove, Jack would choose me over Georgia. How stupid I was to think that.
The words Jack has said echoed through my mind. You are the most selfish person I have ever met. I don’t know what I was thinking, being with you. Of course I choose her. Why would I choose you? You’re nothing but a fire demon.
He had called me a fire demon, something that I had not expected. Jack had always praised my gift and was supportive of me, so calling me that was just as unforgivable as slapping me.
But maybe Jack was right. Maybe I was selfish. Everything I did, I did for myself. Everything Jack did, he did for me. Perhaps enough was enough.
‘Who cares?’ I burst, making Hawthorne jump. ‘We don’t need him!’
Hawthorne licked my cheek and I felt my anger ebb away in spite of myself. Who was I kidding? I needed Jack. I had thought that once I had found my family, Jack and I could stay together, live together. Hadn’t he expressed the same desire? He had, but that was before we stayed at Georgia’s apartment. It would only be a few more hours until I reached Flamethroat at this pace.
I rested by a large oak and sat between the large protruding roots, where my anger stewed for another half an hour. Hawthorne had wandered off, as usual, to find himself a meal. As I sat there, I felt more alone than ever. The events of the morning stung my heart as I tried to think of anything but the look in Jack’s eyes as he had sent me away. Sitting here and thinking too much would be dangerous. If I dwelled on it any longer I would be reduced to tears again. No, I did not want to cry. Jack had left me and made it very clear that he preferred Georgia.
Jealousy welled inside me as I thought about them kissing. They were probably together right now, laughing at me. In my mind, Georgia threw her head back and laughed heartily while Jack lowered his head and kissed her throat.
‘Hawthorne!’ I shouted, forcing the imagery from my mind.
I stomped through the forest, expecting Hawthorne to trot along beside me at any moment.
A minute passed.
‘Hawthorne?’ I said, unsure.
Usually, Hawthorne could sense when I needed him. Most of the time I didn’t even need to call for him. My heart quickened and I turned on the spot, listening in every direction.