Chapter 51
Avelyn stared into the mirror. The woman staring back at her wasn’t the one she remembered seeing all her life. Her eyes were red rimmed and puffy, and her attempt at a smile wouldn’t have convinced a blind man. Sadly though, she was the one Avelyn had woken up to ever since returning from slaying Drax. Every night since then she had had the worst nightmares of her entire life. And all of them involved Demina and Jaxon being slain by Drax, or Chase, as she helplessly watched. She would wake up in a cold sweat, breathless and gasping for air. Ayleah had taken to sleeping in Avelyn’s room with her, to be there when the nightmare past. She would calm Avelyn and reassure her it was only a dream. This would only console her at first. For the immense relief she felt at Jaxon’s safety faded some when reality set in and she realized that her dream was at least in part real. Demina was truly gone forever!
At this, Avelyn would break down sobbing. Ayleah tried her best to comfort her and Avelyn was truly grateful, but nothing could console her. Nothing could change the fact that Demina, her sweet, sarcastic Demina was gone and she may have prevented it. Nothing could heal that wound.
A soft knock at her door disturbed Avelyn’s thoughts. Quickly brushing away her tears, she smoothed unruly curly and brought them into submission, as she stood.
“Come in,” she called softly.
Jaxon walked in. He didn’t say a word, for none were needed, but merely crossed the room and gathered Avelyn into his arms. The comforting gesture caused something to snap in her heart. The flood of tears she had tried so hard to keep at bay for the past month, burst forth. Sobbing, she went limp in his arms. He tenderly picked her up and carried her out into the hole, down the stairs and out the door. Avelyn was completely unaware of her surrounding, too deep in her grief. He finally set her down. The sound of running water greeted them and despite the tears blurring her vision, Avelyn knew exactly where they were.
It was their special spot, the place where he had found her all those years ago. The place had proposed to her last year. It was the place she went to when her heart would break for the distance between them. Jaxon didn’t rush her, but merely sat by her side until all her tears were spent. Silence filled the air. Two birds, perched in the tree above them, began chirping away.
“Remember when we first came here, Avy? You nearly had a heart attack when I called your name.”
Jaxon had to chuckle at the memory. Avelyn managed a small smile.
“You were sitting there in the water, with your ball gown sopping wet. And your hair was falling around your face. I thought you were an angel. I had never seen anything more beautiful. You were beautiful.”
Avelyn couldn’t look into his eyes. He pulled her head against his chest and stroked her hair.
“And you know what? You are still beautiful. Right now, you are the most beautiful sight I have ever seen.”
At this, Avelyn had to laugh.
“Yes, because unruly hair and red-rimmed eyes are so attractive.”
He gently lifted her chin so that heir eyes met.
“I see inside you, Avy. Right into your heart. I have never seen anything more beautiful in the whole, wide world. I am in love with you, Ava. I thought I was the night we met, but I didn’t know what love was back then. Because of you, I have learned that love is sacrificial, selfless, and tenacious. I know I am in with you now. And I never want to be away from you again. So I have something I want to ask you.”
He gently pulled her up with him, standing up. He knelt in front of her and Avelyn drew a breath.
“Avelyn Kathleen Cavanaugh, will you marry me?”
“Yes, Jaxon. Yes, I will marry you!”
Cupping her face in his hands, he gently kissed her. It was their first kiss. There wasn’t anything spectacular about it but spoke of a deep, gentle love that would weather any storms and climb any mountain. It spoke of a commitment that ran far deeper than mere feeling. It spoke of true love.
