“I see your point but I’m sure everyone is going to have something to say.”
“What the fuck are you doing?”
“Oh, hey!” Kole smiled. “Wolfe! Join us! We’re ah, recon—recon—”
“Reconciling.” I whispered.
“Yeah, that word with our differences. Did you know he’s actually kind of fun?”
Ryon laughed. “Jay’s going to be pissed that you’re stealing her boyfriend.”
“Nah. She won’t either. She’ll just finally rejoin us and be the fun girlie-girl everyone loves.”
“Well, maybe not at first.” I said. “But possibly eventually.”
“This is weird.” Ryon said, looking between us. “Troy must just be the weakest one.”
I laughed; my head filling with my own echo and I knew this was starting to affect me. “What?”
“Meaning you fell first. First Trever then Aleks and now him. What’s next? Me?”
“You hate me?” I said it as if I was just hearing about it for the first time. “What did I ever do to you to deserve that?”
“Awe. Be nice.” Kole laughed while putting his hand around my shoulders and giving me a comforting rattle. “You’re going to make the kid cry.”
Kole and I broke down even harder with laughter and Ryon just sat across from us, looking at us like he still couldn’t believe we were actually getting along. I couldn’t either but I admit that I liked it. “I think I’m going to need some of that.”
Kole started to calm down just enough to hand the pipe off to him and Ryon took it greedily like he was hoping he could change his mood too.
“Where have you been all night?” Kole asked.
“Out. You the only two up?”
“Suppose so.” I answered. “Haven’t seen anyone else.”
“Good.” Ryon smiled, handing the pipe back to Kole. “Then we have time.”
Most definitely. We smiled back and sat there together until others of the house started to wake up.
“Oh, hey! Darius!” I was first to see him come off the stairs but never questioned why he was alone. I was in too good of a mood. “Good, you’re up! You have to try this!”
I held the pipe out over the back of the couch, ready to hand it off to him. “Put that shit away. You know Ruby’s here. I don’t want her anywhere near it.”
“Well, she’s not up yet, right?” I glanced back at the stairs to prove that he wasn’t followed. “She’s usually out for a while after you put it to her.”
“Wow, really?!” Kole laughed.
Darius sighed and walked around the couch to Ryon to sit down. “We’re not going to talk about that.”
“Well, here.” I said, holding the pipe out across the table. “We don’t have to.”
Darius took it from me and sat back, taking a breath off it. “This is pointless.”
“Yeah. I know what you mean.” Ryon said, getting handed it next. “I’d have to sit here for hours before it would affect me like them.”
It got a smile out of Darius. “Yeah, I’m sort of immune to it. Troy’s the one that never cared to do it at home.”
“You can thank me for that.” Kole smiled. “He was pressured to and fell hard.”
“I can tell. He seems pretty weak to it but I can tell you Jaylyn’s going to be pissed.”
“Why does everyone always think that?” I wondered it more to myself but it apparently came out for everyone to hear because someone replied.
“Probably because he’s right!”
It was Jaylyn’s voice like she was yelling at Kole but she said it to me.
“See?” Darius laughed.
“So, you have a nice talk with him last night and suddenly you’re friends?”
“What’s your problem, Jay?” Kole said. “It’s no big deal.”
“I’ll be the one to decide that and it is a big deal! You’re turning him into you and if there’s one thing that I hate most of all it’s you!”
She stormed off angrily back into another room and I immediately got up to fix this. “Ah, well, looks like this is over for me.”
“Don’t listen to a word she says.” Kole suggested. “We knew it would take some time.”
I just nodded and followed after her. I didn’t want her to be mad. I needed to get her to see the logic in it.
Chapter 14
Jaylyn
I felt that knot in my throat again. I was just so upset and angry. I knew I shouldn’t have let him stay down here last night. I didn’t want this.
“Jaylyn, are you okay?” I felt a hand on my back but I kept my crying eyes down on my folded arms.
“Go away!”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Troy pulled out a chair and pushed it to me so he could sit close. “What’s the matter? Is it just this thing with Kole? It’s not a big deal. I know, it should have happened sooner.”
“No!” I lifted my head to look at him and be the one to make him understand. “I never wanted you to like him!”
“What?”
“If you like him, you’re going to start to be like him and I never wanted that. Do you know how many times I was hurt by him? I couldn’t take it anymore and that’s why we split for the last time. Then I met you and you were kind to me and actually cared about me. I realized what I’ve been missing out on and I never wanted to go back. Don’t make me go back.”
“I’m not doing that. I’m not him and I will never be. This is just something that happened and I don’t see it as a big deal. It’s not going to make me turn into him. He hoped that it would help you relax a little and I agree. You always seem so frustrated and angry when he’s around and I don’t want that. It’s going to be a long trip and we need to mostly focus on what’s going to happen when we get there. I don’t want you to be like this—distracted.”
I let out a long breath through my nose and wiped my eyes. “Okay. I know. I have been a little—bitchy I guess. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I know why but I hope that you can get passed this for now at least. Just be yourself. Not whatever it is he makes you be.”
“I’ll try.”
Troy leaned in and kissed my forehead. “Thank you. Sorry if we woke you.”
“No. You didn’t. I already knew where you were. I just didn’t want it to be true.”
He smiled and gently pulled my arm towards him. “Come here.”
“What?” I got up from my chair with a playful sigh and sat straddled in his lap.
“This isn’t going to make us change. Not ever. I won’t let it. I’m still me. I still care about you—a lot.”
“At least that’s good to hear.”
He kissed my lips and made me lean in closer for more, wrapping my arms around his neck.
“Is this a bad time?”
I parted from Troy and looked towards the door. Adele stood with her arms crossed and that annoyed look on her face.
I tried to smile to make it seem more normal. “No. We were just—”
“Great. You have five minutes to get that out of your system. We’re packing up. Time to finally get on the road. It’ll be a couple of days before we stop for the night again.”
“Okay. I guess since you’re giving us the time, we’ll meet you out there!”
Adele rolled her eyes and left the kitchen.
“Want to?”
Troy met me with his beautiful smile and said the perfect thing. “When do you ever have to ask?”
Chapter 15
Zayden
Adele came out of the kitchen with a bothered expression.
“They not in there?” I asked.
“They are but they need a few minutes and I’m happy to give them that.”
“Oh, hey!” Kole said in an obvious complaining voice. “Are you going to give us five minutes of fuck time?”
“It’ll take you longer just to line up someone first of all.”
“Not when you’re right here.”
“Back off!” Ryon and I looked at eac
h other when we said it at the same time.
Silence hit the room and Kole looked between us. “Wow. Good feeling suddenly gone.” He moved Ryon aside to join the others outside in preparing to leave.
Adele just stood there for another moment before casually starting to follow him out. “Thanks but I don’t need your help.”
Ryon let out a long sigh when she went out the door completely and spoke in a low voice as to himself. “This is going to be a long ass trip.”
“Tell me about it.” I said.
“Sorry about that. Old habits.”
“It’s okay. I know she loves you.”
“I’m sorry about that too but she doesn’t realize that it’s too late. I’m not trying to get anything back. For her to really be with me—no. I can’t even come to tell you what I would have to do but know that you would never see her again. That’s not something that I ever plan to do as long as she still wants to be here and I know she does.”
“Is this about your vacation?”
He was silent for what seemed like the longest time. “Yeah but I would never take her from you. You deserve what you’ve fought for.”
“Are you going to tell me now?”
“We’re leaving, Zayden. This isn’t the time.”
“Then when is?”
“When I say, so end it.”
He walked out first and I could only stand there and stare in his direction. I didn’t know if I was ever going to find out, at least through him.
“You okay?”
I turned and saw Jaylyn and Troy walking towards me. “Ah, yeah. Are you—done?”
Jaylyn laughed and hooked her arm through Troy’s. “For now. Is everyone ready?”
“I suppose. We should get going.”
They nodded to agree and followed me outside.
“Good. Time to go.” Aleksander said. “Gear up. We have a long road ahead.”
“You know, I’m surprised we’re even on this trip.” I said.
“Why is that?” Aleksander asked.
“Just surprised that we’re not taking some magic gateway to Seni or being teleported like Madam Carla did with Trever.”
Trever laughed. “What an interesting observation, Zayden. We would have loved to take the portal but your father would have never opened it on his end.”
“Then there is one?” Troy asked.
“It was considered but we could never convince Izin to let us use it even if it was for you to get there sooner.” Aleksander said. “He wouldn’t risk who may follow.”
“You mean you.”
“Yes. This will come as an unwelcome surprise when he sees me again but it must be done. Let’s go.”
Nothing was said between anyone and we began our journey north.
The hours passed slowly until the sun had fallen and risen and fallen again. Everyone was getting weary from being on horseback for so long and rest was well needed.
We stopped on our third night of travel that would be our last in Kaluian territory and everyone was eager to get the time to sit around and do nothing.
An underground shelter was made to protect us from the elements and we made sure the horses were stripped of their gear before going inside.
Ryon and Kole were sitting down on separate couches that were formed in the main room and it was odd that it looked so real. Nothing like Adele usually does but I guess that was Kole’s doing.
“Look at this.” Ryon smiled while bringing the cigar he was holding up to his lips as a sure sign that he was already relaxed. “What’s the matter with you? You guys look like shit.”
Troy, Darius and I walked over to them with long sighs to join them in sitting for a while. Rift raised his head and came over to me when I sat on a couch of my own and he laid himself down by my feet.
“What’s wrong with you?” Darius asked, dropping himself down in the empty space next to Ryon.
“Don’t ask.” Kole laughed, moving his feet back just a little so Troy could sit on the other side of him. “Traveling like this doesn’t really affect him anymore.”
“Here.” Ryon held out his cigar to Darius. “You need this more than me.”
“Yeah, I do. Thanks.”
“Where’s Aleksander and Trever?” I asked. “Didn’t they come in here?”
“They’re back there.” Kole said, pointing to a closed room far behind him. “And I wouldn’t. They’re being grown-ups.”
“Grown-ups?” Troy laughed.
“Yeah, they’re deciding on who should be the next General or something.” Ryon answered.
“One of you?” Darius asked.
Ryon and Kole looked at each other silently for a moment then broke down laughing.
“What? No!” Kole said. “We’re not military. At least, I don’t think so. I never remember signing a thing. Wait, what was that? Never mind. That was something else entirely. We’re not soldiers so it wouldn’t be one of us.”
“Man, I’d hate to be that guy.” Ryon sighed with remnants of his laugh.
“Why?” Troy asked.
“Are you kidding me? Could you imagine being the poor sap who has to fill the shoes of the great General Balwin? He’s got an insane amount of work coming.”
“Speaking of that.” I said. “Are you ready yet?”
Everyone held still.
“You have really nothing else to think about?”
“Not until we get there, no.”
“What are we talking about?” Kole asked.
“He wants me to tell him.” Ryon said.
“And you’re really going to?”
“It doesn’t matter anymore.” Ryon snatched while not making eye contact with anyone but Kole as he got to his feet. “It has never mattered and it never will. Okay? So just drop it.” He walked passed us without another word and left up the stairs. Rift seemed hesitant when he looked between us but he ended up following Ryon out of the shelter.
“What was that?” Darius asked.
“I can’t believe they never told you when they told you other stuff.” Kole said, looking directly at me.
“It wasn’t their secret.” I said. “But are you going to tell me now? You said you would if he took too long.”
Kole paused there, probably trying to remember if he said that to me or if he was actually going to tell me. “I could if you think you really want to know.”
“He’s been hanging it in front of me for too long. I think it’s time I knew something.”
“Okay.” He looked around and leaned forward, speaking in a low voice, being extra cautious about saying anything. “Let’s start with this. You know things of him.”
“I know things of him that don’t have answers that you’re going to give me.”
“The answers have always been there. You should see them more clearly now.”
“What do you mean?”
He was still acting shifty but I appreciated his attempt to tell me. “His mother for example.”
“Yes. I’ve heard. My father bit her and she survived.”
Kole clenched his fist like he was being frustrated with me. “How could Jay figure this out but not you? I know how his mother survived.”
I leaned forward and was more interested. I’ve always wanted to know. “How?”
“She had the gift inside her already.”
My breath stopped and my eyes slowly started to widen but I didn’t want to believe it. I refused to. “No.”
I shook my head and Kole overruled it with a heavier nod. “Yes. It’s true.”
“How? Did he always know? Did anyone plan on ever telling me?” My questions flowed out without a breath.
“He has a pretty complicated past. You’ll have to ask him but know he won’t be happy about telling you.”
“Are you sure they share the same mother?” Darius asked. “But I’ve already guessed that his mother could have been Kathryn.”
I felt that regret come back to me again just from having to answer. “My mother is Kathryn. Th
at’s why we saw father with her.”
“Oh, no. I’m sorry I ever had thoughts about sleeping with your mother, Zayden.”
I let the comment go. I wasn’t going to fight. This news was big and I couldn’t believe that he never told me or never wanted to.
“It’s your choice, Zayden.” Kole said. “You can seek to have your questions answered or just put it away and go on living like he always has.”
My thoughts were spinning and I was indecisive about what to do.
“Go ahead, Zayden.” Darius said. “You know you want to.”
I turned and looked to the stairs where Ryon left. “I don’t know what good that would do.”
“You can still try.” Troy replied.
I let out a long sigh and started getting to my feet. “When Adele comes back in, tell her where I am and that I’m all right. She doesn’t have to worry.”
“Okay. We will.”
I turned from them with another breath and walked up the stairs. The sky was growing dark but the distinction between that and the tree line was still visible. I couldn’t see anyone and knew I was going to need help if I was going to find Ryon. I took a deep breath with my eyes closed and when I opened them, the vibrations of the forest were all around me.
I concentrated hard to find which ones were Ryon’s steps with a softer four-legged stride next to him and bypassed where the girls were together. I found Ryon much farther back west than I expected and knew I now had to run fast to catch up.
My speed quickly took me out of sight from the shelter and I appeared standing in front of him only seconds later, blackness fading from my eyes. Rift even let out a puppy bark like he was happy to see me but Ryon surely wasn’t.
“What do you want?”
He walked right passed me and I simply followed, not letting him get away this time. “We need to talk.”
“No, we don’t.”
“You knew this whole time, didn’t you?”
“Knew what?”
I was getting frustrated with him trying to avoid the question and stopped him with a firm hand on his shoulder. “That you’re my brother!”
Raining Light (Fate's Intent Book 5) Page 8