Under the Burning Stars Read Online Free

room.
    “There you are, ” he said, and sat next to her. “This place is seriously a maze.”
    “I’m sure you’ll learn the layout now that Ava’s staying here,” Melissa said. “By the way, was the bed big enough for you two— ?”
    “Mel,” Ava warned .
    She tried not to smile. “What?”
    “You’re so bad.” Lance laughed and then kissed Melissa’s temple.
    She gave a lopsided smile and leaned closer to Lance. “Yeah, but you like it.” As long as Ava could remember, they were always together. They took care of each other and were at each other’s sides no matter what. In a way, they reminded her of Joss and Eric.
    “What exactly will happen tonight?” Peter asked Gabriel.
    “All of the Halflings, and you, will be initiated into the covens,” he said. “We’ll be doing that soon I’m sure.”
    Ava turned to Peter. “Are you—?”
    “Do n’t even ask.” He raised an eyebrow. His brown eyes melted in hers. “Yes, I’m nervous, but I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life. I promise you that. I meant it when I said I love you.”
    “Gag,” Melissa said.
    Ava tilted her head and gave her a look.
    “ Don’t worry so much,” Peter told her.
    She nodded and then Savina came into the room. “We’re ready,” she said.
    Peter held Ava’s hand tightly as they stood from the table. “Is this going to hurt?”
    “No .”
    She squeezed his hand as they followed Savina and everyone into the conservatory. Hundreds of candles came to life as they all crossed the threshold. Their glowing orange light reflected in the glass-domed ceiling.
    “Wow.” Peter gawked at the ceiling.
    “Keep watching,” Ava whispered.
    The Elders Savina, Aaron, Colden, and Maggie, stood in the center while the rest of the coven gathered in a circle around them. Ava looked around at the growing coven, which now included three Halflings.
    Nicole Eckrich had toned down the slutty clothes and dressed like she used to. T-shirt and jeans. Link Harris had dyed his hair back to his normal blond color. And Seth hadn’t changed his brown hair or his preppy look. But Ava could tell he was uncomfortable being there by the way he twitched and his eyes darted from one person to another. They had each gone through such a traumatic experience and were still adjusting, but they wanted to fight whoever started this just as much as Ava did. She was glad she wasn’t the only one who thought it wasn’t really over.
    Ava swept her eyes over Thomas and Gillian. Anger emanated from them through the necklaces. How long were they going to hate her?
    They were mad at her for telling Peter everything and about him joining the coven. Ava hated the tension and the annoying glares. And she missed her friendship with Gillian. She used to be so nice, but lately she’d been so cruel. She had even threatened to mess with Peter’s mind.
    “We are here to bind us all together.” Savina handed Peter, Seth, Link, and Nicole the black boxes that held the pentagram necklaces. “These necklaces will keep us all safe. They make you empathize with each member of your coven. You feel whatever they feel, although some of us are capable of hiding our feelings. The necklaces link and protect us.”
    Savina grabbed the silver bladed knife with a black handle. “This blood will bind us all.” She cut a slit in the palm of her hand. Allowing blood to drip into the pewter chalice, she then passed the knife and chalice to Aaron. Each of them did this while the ceiling displayed their talents as it had before when Ava was seven. The beautiful orange sun exploded light into the room as Lance dropped his blood. Water cast prisms of light for Ava. The flexible limbs of a fire showed for Thomas, then the silver light from the moon representing Gillian. White clouds formed in a funnel as Jeremy placed his blood in the chalice, and finally earth gathered for Melissa.
    But when Peter and the others slid the knife across their palm, and emptied the blood into