Free Under the Winter Sun (Elemental Enchanters Series Book 3) by Carrigan Richards

he dropped his gaze.
    “Then why do you want me to go so much when you know my reasons? Why are you there so much?”
    “Because, the more time I get, the more time I can prepare. I can’t let what happened in that field happen again.”
    “It wasn’t your fault.” She raised her voice. “All I feel from you is this heavy guilt. If anything, it was all our faults. We weren’t prepared enough. And I stupidly caused Havok to exist now.”
    “But that’s why we should go to the Manor. To practice.”
    “I can’t summon water. I can’t breathe underwater. I can’t even make myself warm. I have no reason to be there.” She crossed her arms in front of her.
    “But being around everyone could help ease the stress—to help you heal faster. I think you should go.”
    Ava shook her head defiantly.
    “Why are you so stubborn?” He stood, exasperated. “I know you’re in a lot of pain. But come on—let’s get out of here. Try different scenery. You can’t be holed up here forever.”
    “I tried getting you to go somewhere with me, but you didn’t want to. You’re so fixated on training. How am I supposed to train when I have no powers?”
    He sighed. “I don’t get why you are so afraid. I mean, you don’t even want to go back to the waterfall anymore. You can’t give up.”
    “You should go. I don’t want to sit around there and watch.”
    “Ava—.”
    “Go.”
    “You can’t always be like this. You have to try. Melissa, Jeremy, and everyone else aren’t going to come back until we go get them.”
    “What do you want me to do? It’s useless.”
    “It’s not useless. I felt you last night. You need to get this out. And being with everyone who is going through the same can help. It can make you stronger. Maybe you should talk to Savina. I don’t think you’re getting any better.”
    “Of course I’m not,” she yelled. “My friends are gone. I killed Colden. And you don’t know that pain because you didn’t know them that well.” She regretted her words as soon as they fled her mouth.
    He was hurt and astounded, but she was too stubborn to apologize or even see his side.
    “My best friend died, Ava. You think I don’t know that pain?” He shook his head. “Why do you have to be so difficult?” He looked at her with disappointment. “Why can’t you be a little bit understanding?”
    “Why can’t you understand?”
    He dragged his hands down his face. “Forget it.” He opened the door and left the room. The farther he walked away, the emptier she felt. She heard the front door open and slam shut. Had he really walked out on her? Was she going to let him? Why couldn’t he understand it was too unbearable to be in that devastating place? To be around everyone who was just as depressed and dejected as she was. 
    Ava wished she hadn’t lashed out at Peter. She couldn’t believe she had said that, but it just came out. She tried so hard to keep her feelings in check for his sake. She didn’t want to make his guilt worse. It was hard keeping it all inside. Couldn’t Peter understand that the second she walked through the doors of that mansion, she would break down? That was the last place she was with them.
    Her phone buzzed and she pulled it out of her back pocket, hoping it was Peter, but it was Gabriel.
    Wanna catch a movie?
    His words made her want to breakdown, but she held the tears back. She typed a response.
    No thanks. I’m going to lay down.
    Okay. Remember I’m here if you need to talk.
    For a second, she wanted to call Gabriel and listen to his comforting voice. But he wouldn’t want to hear about the stupid fight and all of the drama.
     
    Ava jerked awake at the sound of the front door closing. Her father was home and she heard him shuffle to his room. A few minutes later he turned on the TV.
    He tapped on her door and then opened it. He sighed once he saw her in bed. “Ava, why are you always in bed? Where’s Peter?”
    “The Manor,” she groaned.
    “Why