“Define always.” I merely looked up, not ready to play these games. “Okay maybe but you see why it has to be you. It’s your connection to Izin.”
“He hates me.”
“Exactly. You can still save her.”
“Only to let her go.”
“Did you ever really have her though?”
“I’d like to think so.”
“Nah. She was only holding you back. Remember all the fun we used to have?”
I knew what he was doing but I couldn’t be cheered up, knowing that they knew all along that she would be ripped from me like this.
“Come on. Don’t start acting like you didn’t know. It’s why we’re here.”
“But Zayden? Why couldn’t it be that brawny tower or the gentle optimist?”
He chuckled, kind of muttering to himself. “Jay sure can pick’em huh?”
“You know what I mean.”
“We didn’t know she already knew him and some adjustments had to be made. This is just the way it is now. Come on. Agree and we can be on our way.”
I sighed and walked away from the door. “Why should I?”
“You heard her. If you don’t save her, she’ll die there. Is that what you want just so Zayden can’t have her?”
“No!”
“Then?”
This was not a good day already but I couldn’t say no. I had to save her—but it would only be for him. I’d keep watching and wait for any opportunity that tells me Adele won’t give in. That’s when I’d want to be there and I would be.
“Fine. I’ll do it.”
“Good.” I turned back when I heard the door unlock and he was holding it open. “Aleks wants us to get going so we’re right behind them. He’ll be staying behind, of course but Trever says that’s really for the best anyway.”
“Then what?”
“We wait for Izin’s word and that’s where you intervene.”
“Only so she doesn’t die there.”
“Yes, and that’s a very good reason, isn’t it? Let’s gear up.”
I stepped out of the room with a heavy breath. I still didn’t like this plan but they were right about one thing, it would save her from death and that’s the only reason I was willing to do it. I tried not to think that I will lose her forever after this. For now, keeping her alive was the goal. We would have to see how she really felt about this when they finally made it back.
Chapter 23
Jaylyn
I woke to the brightness of the sun beating down on the shelter but something seemed different. I was laying on an arm. I looked down and saw another one around my waist. I was worried to see them and quickly moved away to look behind me.
Troy was laying there, open-eyed. “How long have you been up?”
“A minute. What are you doing in here? If Adele or Zayden catches you, they’ll kill us!”
“No they won’t. It was Adele that agreed for us to come in here.”
I was shocked speechless that she would allow it and quickly sat up, looking around. Ruby was laying with her head on Darius’s meaty arm while her arm was over his chest and he had his hand around her back, holding her other. I was even more shocked to see Adele and Zayden laying close to each other, sharing a blanket. I had to blink twice.
“Are you sure it was her?”
“Yeah, that’s what Ruby said last night. Why?”
I pointed behind him without saying anything and he looked. “Oh, shit. Things might be moving quicker than I thought they would.”
“There’s some good news.” He smiled too and was just staring at me. “What?”
He still had his smile and moved my hair away from my eyes. “You’re so beautiful.”
I was almost breathless. He could make the simplest things sound completely surreal and I failed to conceal my smile. “Awe. Thank you but I already knew that.”
He laughed. “Of course you did. It was stupid to point out.”
I smiled again as we mutually leaned into each other and shared a passionate kiss. It was perfect just like one I’ve dreamt about. I put my hand around his neck and he put his on my waist, pulling me closer. Of course I went with it but took it a step further and rolled on top of him. He welcomed it and held both his hands around my back. He was so amazing and I just wanted to strip all his clothes off to make this an even better morning.
“Gee, you don’t seem happy to see him in here, Jaylyn.”
I regrettably pulled my lips from Troy’s to look to my left. Ruby was smiling while leaning over Darius. “Was that hard to guess?”
“Don’t let Adele catch you like that. She didn’t agree for it to go that far. I wouldn’t want to see what she’d do.”
“Nothing. She’s busy herself.” Troy told her, looking at me with a smile because we already knew.
“What do you mean?”
We merely pointed behind her. When Ruby looked back and saw Adele with Zayden, her body stumbled to get away, falling to the other side of Darius.
“Oh, I know but be careful. You’ll wake him up.”
Troy laughed. “No she won’t. It’d take more than that to wake him up.”
“Really?”
Ruby smiled and climbed on top of Darius, straddling her legs around his waist. “I found this to be the easiest way.” She leaned down and started kissing him.
Darius started to kiss her back and slid his hands up her legs and settled them on her hips. “That is probably the best way to wake up.”
“I can think of a better way than that.”
I started to get off Troy with a long sigh, knowing Ruby. “Please don’t.”
She laughed. “I can’t. He’s already awake. Besides, he wouldn’t anyway.”
“Now wait a second!” Darius sat right up in a hurry and the anxiousness of it was clear on his voice. “Whoever said that?!”
“You don’t mix with our kind, remember?”
“That’s not true.”
“Oh, really? That’s not what Zayden says.”
“Well, that was misrepresented.” Troy explained. “He wasn’t really serious. He just had to say something because he knew it was a trap like you said.”
“Exactly. Just because we’ve never been presented an opportunity, doesn’t mean we wouldn’t take it if ever truly offered.”
“That’s kind of funny because Zayden seemed pretty direct. He didn’t even flinch or look the least bit surprised. Definitely not the reaction she was going for, I’m sure.”
“Well, what else would he of done?” Troy asked. “If he accepted, what would have happened?”
I looked over at Ruby for a moment and thought about it with her, coming up with nothing. “Hmm. I’m not entirely sure. I don’t even think she’d know what to do.”
“How about we ask him?” Ruby moved over to Zayden and tapped his shoulder.
“I’m not sleeping.”
“Are you sure?” Zayden’s eyes opened. “Okay, you’re not sleeping but did you know about that?”
Ruby pointed to what was next to him and Zayden turned his head to see Adele.
He was nervous when he looked back over at us and was about to get up but Ruby quickly crawled to the other side of Adele. “Wait! Stay right there. Want to see something funny?”
My eyes got wide and I tried stopping her. “Ruby, not a good idea. We both know what’s going to happen. If she knows it was you, you’re in big trouble.”
“Oh, relax. She won’t know it’s me. If anything she’ll get mad at herself for letting it happen.” I just sighed and watched as Ruby brought her hand to Adele’s shoulder, nudging her. “Adele, wake up.”
Adele knocked Ruby’s hand away, a normal reaction to anyone that would wake her but she rolled over toward Zayden to get away. Her head ended up on his arm, her arm over his chest and her leg over his.
“Awe. Now that’s what we wanted to see.”
I could see Zayden was trying to lay as still as possible while Adele rested almost on top of him and
he even kept his breaths as slow and silent as he could. “So, what part about this is supposed to be funny?”
“Did I say funny? I meant funny for us, not necessarily for you. She’s going to be so mad at you when she gets up.”
“Thanks. Now, can you get her off of me?”
“Why? She’s cute when she’s sleeping. It makes you forget about what she’s really like.”
“If only she could stay asleep. Now get her up.”
“Okay, but you’ll probably regret it later. She hates being woken up.” Ruby leaned in and held her hands up over Adele’s head, slamming them together. I looked away to the sound but looked right back to see Adele’s eyes open.
The silver of Zayden’s armor reflected in her eyes. She had to have seen it because she quickly backed away and looked at Zayden below her with her mouth hanging open. “How dare you?!”
Zayden returned the look while starting to sit up and my eyes rolled, not ready to hear another argument between them. “Oh, that’s so like you to quickly blame someone else!”
Adele got angry. I’ve seen that facial expression before. She threw the blanket off her at Zayden and started to leave the shelter. “You don’t know me!”
Ruby laughed again but Zayden sighed again. “Thank you. It’s been a pleasant morning.”
I didn’t give Ruby time to reply. It would have only made matters worse. I took her arm and pulled her out of the shelter with Adele’s cloak and boots in hand. “Nice job.”
“What?!”
“You didn’t help, that’s what.” I looked ahead and Adele was already at the river, sitting up on a rock among the flowing water. “Come on.”
I knew Troy said he was going to fix this but he would never get anywhere with Adele. I knew I had to be the one to try.
Chapter 24
Adele
I slept too well. This is not what I intended to befall on me today but he saw me. I was there. He knew. It made everything seem real but it wasn’t. I felt nothing. I had to feel nothing. He could never know otherwise. It’s how things had to be, how they should be but what was I to do now? Surely it’s being talked about. It’s not just going to go away but I wish it would. Why did I let myself fall asleep?
“Adele?”
Only my eyes turned and I saw Jaylyn and Ruby standing at the river bank, unable to come any closer. I said nothing. I had to say nothing.
“Is this really necessary?” Ruby asked. “I think you’re over reacting just a little.”
Keeping my silence didn’t work but I turned my back so they wouldn’t see me cry if I was going to. “No, I’m not.”
“I doubt that’s what Zayden thinks.”
“I don’t care what Zayden thinks.”
“Well, you should because he’s coming this way right now.”
I looked back just as Zayden reached them. He stared at me through the lingering stillness of our words. Our eyes were locked on each other as if tracing through the other’s thoughts and I spoke in a flat yet direct tone, never straying from his gaze. “Ruby. Jaylyn. Leave us.”
“Adele?”
“You heard her.” Zayden said, not taking his eyes off me either. “Go.”
Jaylyn dropped my stuff on the ground where she stood and they started walking towards the camp.
My eyes remained locked with Zayden’s like we were both waiting for them to get far enough away but I wasn’t about to be the one to speak first.
“Are you going to continue to make a big deal about this?”
I was almost glad when he finally did except for the words he chose to use and I replied instantly. “Yes, because it is a big deal.”
He smiled and crossed his arms. “Now you’re just being dramatic. You know it was what you wanted all along.”
“You don’t know anything! What happened in there was a mistake and I regret every second of it!”
I shouted before thinking but made it worse because he shouted right back with things that were all true. “Well, you have no one to blame but yourself! Now you can stay out there and try and blame someone else when it was in fact all you!”
I didn’t want to think it and splashed Zayden in the face in a silent anger from his comments and tried not saying a word to him.
“All right. That’s fine.” He was clearly agitated when he wiped the water from his face. “Go ahead and be a bitch. That’s something I know you’re good at but here’s something to think about, when I went to sleep, you were sitting a good five feet away from me. So, figure out who’s really to blame here.” He bent down and picked up my cloak and boots from the ground but I never said a word. “We’ll be leaving shortly, so if you want these, you’ll have to come and get them.” He turned with them still in his hands and walked away without another word.
My eyes were frozen in his direction. That did it. He really did hate me now and it was my fault. I could live with it. It was better this way but it really only made me hate him more. He may have been right about me but I wouldn’t explain my reasons to him. He wouldn’t understand. That would have been a pointless task and nor would he listen but the more I thought about it, the angrier I got. This wasn’t over. I pushed the water off me with my hand, it slithered down my body like fleeing snakes and I started to head back.
Everyone seemed to stop what they were doing to look at me but I said nothing. My hand shot out away from my body and my fingers curled. My stuff moved along the ground towards me so I wouldn’t have to get closer. Then I turned, stomping my foot and the ground raised, blocking me from all the watching eyes.
I took my time to put on my boots and cloak then took a breath to myself. I was ready to face him.
I pushed my hand down hard towards the ground and the wall fell in front of me, shaking the earth like thunder and my voice expressed an obvious sign of rage while still glaring towards that pompous Prince. “You are the most irritating, uncivil, feeble-minded person I’ve ever met in all my life! You should be ashamed to be you!”
I stepped closer and Zayden pushed his way through anyone in the way to get to me. “You want to start talking about ashamed? Well, shit. There are all kinds of things I could be calling you right now that would make you think twice about who you think you are.”
“Oh, really? Like what?” I was angrily curious.
“For starters you’re the most overly demanding person I’ve ever met.”
“Well, yeah. Are you going to blame someone for knowing what they want? What else do you have?”
“All right. How about heartless, stubborn, reckless, discourteous, ill-mannered, overbearing, provoking, vexatious and dare I say full of self-denial.” My mouth dropped open but he seemed proud for saying it. “That’s right! I said it! You’re full of self-denial! So, now that we’re done here, I want you to move your ass and start walking!”
He pointed east in the direction we would be going and I stepped passed him but something stopped me. My anger was heating me and I turned around to look at him again; my action said it for me. I struck him across the face with a stiff open hand. It didn’t hurt but it felt right and I turned right away before he could react. I was done with this now.
“Enough! Stop this!”
I stopped and looked at Jaylyn after she screamed. She looked angry. “What?”
“Are you kidding me?! There is so much tension between you two that I’m starting to feel it like it was my own! Would you please just sleep together and get it over with before I lose my mind?!”
“What?!” Zayden and I shouted it together. The thought repulsed me and I couldn’t even look at him.
“Well, if you’re not going to then at least give us the decency to not have to listen to you! It’s driving me crazy! I would have gladly killed myself by now but I can’t so let’s go so I can have someone do it for me!” She grabbed her cloak off the ground and started walking east while hanging it over her shoulders.
“Jaylyn!” Troy shouted to her but she didn’t reply. She just put up her hand and k
ept walking. Troy looked over at us and shook his head with disappointment. “I really didn’t want to bring it up but she’s right. You really are driving us crazy.”
He started walking after her and I took a quick glance at Zayden as he did me. Both sets of eyes were narrowed and the muscles in our faces were tensed.
“Well.” Ruby said. “Perhaps it’s best if we—”
“Yeah.” Darius agreed, turning away with her.
Zayden stood there for a short measure of time and still had his eyes on me but slightly softening his stare. I was looking right back and it was like at the river all over again. We didn’t say a word but our eyes remained locked.
“Don’t even think about it.” I said, turning away to follow behind the others.
“Wasn’t planning on it.”
I heard him wait for me to get distance between us before he followed and I only felt sorry for one thing; upsetting Jaylyn. I seldom see her that way and it was my fault. I knew what she wanted of me but I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t give in to Zayden now. I’ve come too far for any of this to be changed. It was how it had to be and I was sorry.
Chapter 25
Troy
I jogged to catch up to Jaylyn after her little outburst and finally was able to reach her side. “What was that?”
“I’m sorry. I just can’t take it anymore. They are never going to get along no matter what you say. I guess it’s best if we stick to the original plan where I’ll see my well-desired end.”
“Don’t say that. I know this may seem impossible but I know that Zayden is not saying what he really thinks.”
“Well, he won’t if Adele keeps acting the way she is. I’d just like this to be over with.”
I sighed and took her by the arm, pulling her closer to me, not hard but enough to let her know I was trying to get a point across. “No, you don’t and I know it. Just let me work at it. I know I can get Zayden to realize what he’s doing and it will be soon.” Jaylyn was silent and didn’t say anything else. “Look, all I’m saying is let me handle it. If they start in again, I need you to stay out of it and let them work it out their way. You don’t need to worry about a thing.”
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