She prayed. She cursed. She wandered the room in search of anything to occupy her mind until news came. The chamber was simple, yet comfortable and inviting. The elaborate stonework surrounding the fireplace spanned the entire wall. The mantle was beautifully carved from deep, black stone, and she ran her fingers across the smooth polished surface. Hundreds of books lined shelves that were built into the walls on either side of the hearth. A wide variety of eras were represented, from ancient looking tomes, their pages brittle and yellowed with age, to a few recent bestsellers. What an interesting combination of the old fashioned and the modern. But the same could be said of the chamber itself.
A black rug covered the floor before the fire, and a fairly modern looking pit couch, filled with tons of pillows, sat in the center of the room. She picked up one of the pillows and hugged it to her chest, burying her face in the scent that always clung to Jackson. Earthy, musky, and all male, she inhaled deeply wishing for the strength of his arms around her, needing the comfort only he could offer.
The sound of the door opening ripped her from her reverie, and her gaze shot to Jackson.
His grim expression didn’t bode well.
Fear welled in her gut. She shoved it ruthlessly down. “Well, how’d it go?”
“It could have gone better.” His gaze met hers.
“Ah, but it could have gone worse. Right?” Her heart skipped a beat. She held his gaze. Waited. If she didn’t stop chewing on her lip, she was going to put a hole through it.
Jackson grinned, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Yeah, I suppose that’s true.” He sobered quickly. “But not too much worse.”
A sob threatened, and Ryleigh struggled to stifle it. “What happened?”
Ryleigh followed Jackson’s gaze to Mia. Tears tracked down the young girl’s face, and she wiped them away with a shaky hand.
Ryleigh headed for her.
Dakota beat her there. “Here.” He held out a handkerchief. “Don’t worry, Jackson’s tough. Whatever happened, he’ll find a way out of it.” Dakota shrugged and sent Jackson a conspiratorial grin. “He always does.”
“I don’t know about this time, Dakota. I seem to be in a bit over my head.” Jackson’s shoulders hunched for the first time since Ryleigh had met him.
The young man’s expression turned serious, and worry filled his dark eyes. “What’d they say?”
With a deep breath, Jackson massaged the back of his neck. “I’ve been found not guilty on most of the charges.”
“Most?” Ryleigh held her breath.
He moved back and forth before the fire, restless, stopping to stare into the flames then resuming his pacing. He finally stopped and faced her, held her gaze with his. “I’ve been found guilty of trespassing.” His features hardened. A barrier slammed down over his eyes, but not before she caught the flash of pain.
“What are they going to do?” She forced down the cry pleading for release.
“I don’t know yet. I was asked to leave while they contemplate my sentence.” He returned to pacing, a caged animal desperate for escape.
“Isn’t the penalty for trespassing death or banishment?” Dakota’s voice shook.
“Yeah.” Jackson lowered his gaze to the floor. Silence fell over the room.
Nahara’s whimper broke it.
Jackson wrapped his arms around her. “It’ll be all right, girl. Don’t worry.”
“Can they decide to do something else?” Ryleigh lost the battle, and her tears escaped.
Jackson shrugged. “I guess they can do whatever they want, but with Kai pushing…” He shook his head and raked a hand through the long hair that already stuck up in tufts around his head. This was not the first time he’d repeated the gesture in the past few hours. “Come on. I need some fresh air, who wants to take a walk?”
“Could I wait here with Nika and Nahara?” Mia grabbed the tigrelle blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders. “I’m sorry, I’m just so tired and cold.”
“Are you okay?” Ryleigh pressed the back of her hand against Mia’s forehead.
“I’m fine. Just tired.”
Ryleigh glanced at her watch, which still read fifteen minutes past the knock on her door. How long had it actually been since they’d slept? “Why don’t you lie down on the couch? I’ll stay with you.”
“I’m sure Jackson would rather walk with a pretty lady than with me.” Dakota aimed a smirk at Jackson. “Why don’t you two go ahead, and I’ll stay here with Mia?” A blush crept up his cheeks.
Ryleigh froze. No way was she leaving her sister with this stranger.
Jackson rubbed the tension from her shoulders.
His touch sent chills skittering through her.
“It’ll be fine, Ryleigh. Dakota is my best friend.” He shot the other boy a dirty look. “Sometimes, anyway.”
Dakota waggled his eyebrows and laughed.
“He’ll keep an eye on her while she sleeps. Besides, Nika and Nahara will be here with her too.”
Nika lifted his head, his posture proud, as if he understood Jackson’s trust and faith in him.
“Go, Ryleigh. I’m fine. I just need to sleep for a little while.” Mia sank down onto the rug and curled up between the hounds, the blanket tucked tightly around her.
Nika and Nahara snuggled closer to her, offering warmth and protection.
Dakota settled on the couch, his eyes never leaving his charge. He appeared to be about Mia’s age, though he was probably much, much older. He was handsome, in a boyish way, made even more so by the sweep of dark hair that kept falling over his eyes. He swung his head once more to remove the hair and caught Ryleigh staring at him. He shot her a charming smile that lit his almost black eyes.
She couldn’t help but smile back at him.
“We won’t go far.” Jackson reached for her hand, twined his fingers in hers.
She started to walk beside him but pulled back on his hand. “How will we know when the Council has reached a decision?”
Jackson opened the door and nodded to the guard who stood at attention. When they started to walk, the soldier fell into step a few feet behind them.
They walked in silence through the castle. Although they were each lost in their own anxious thoughts, the silence was comfortable, companionable.
When they stepped out into the dark night, the cold, brisk air slapped against Ryleigh and sent a surge of cold rushing through to her bones before her body quickly regulated its temperature. She tried to ignore it, but the certainty that she somehow belonged here had already crept into her heart and mind, settled into her very soul. There was no way to deny it, and yet, she couldn’t stay without Jackson. Her grip on his hand tightened. She couldn’t lose him. The multicolored starlight reflected a myriad of colors across his profile.
“I want to show you something.”
She jumped, startled by the deep timbre of his voice as it broke through the silence.
He led her down a dimly lit pathway, the echo of their feet striking the cobblestone the only sound in the quiet night. He stopped at a fenced courtyard where two soldiers stood guard.
They bristled as Jackson and Ryleigh approached, stiffening their stances, placing their hands on the handles of the swords at their sides.
“Stand down, soldiers.” Jackson casually dismissed the pair.
The two men stood tall, blocked the path. “I’m sorry, Jackson. We can’t do that.” The words were respectful enough, but his attitude and the challenge in his stance contradicted them.
“That’s a direct order.” Jackson pulled his hand from Ryleigh’s and let it hover close to the dagger on his belt.
“You have no authority here, Jackson.” The bigger of the two men flexed as he issued what could only be interpreted as a warning.
Jackson’s stance stiffened, aggression emanating from him. He stepped in front of Ryleigh, blocking her view of the altercation.
Ryleigh stayed quiet, unsur
e of what would be expected of her and afraid of unwittingly provoking anything between the men.
“Let it go, Lucas.” The guard who’d followed them intervened, stepping between the two.
At first it seemed as if Lucas would argue with him, derision puckering his already tight lips, but in the end he stepped aside. His glare followed Jackson into the courtyard, though, before he finally sank farther back into the shadows and allowed Jackson and Ryleigh at least some semblance of privacy.
“What was that all about?” Unease crawled up her spine, and she looked over her shoulder to find both courtyard guards staring at her. They were probably too far away to hear her hushed words, but discomfort gnawed at her gut.
Jackson tugged her hand, bringing her attention back to him. He lifted his other hand and pushed back the hair the wind had blown across her face. His dark eyes held hers.
Her heart rate kicked up. Excitement? Fear?
“I wanted you to see this.” He tore his gaze away.
“See what?” Way too breathless.
He gestured to a bare tree surrounded by a stone wall as high as her chest. Lanterns hung from tall metal poles illuminating the entire courtyard, but mostly focused on the tree. “This.”
The tree wasn’t encased in ice as the others she’d seen since entering Cymmera. It stood tall, its bare branches reaching for the stars as if beseeching them. The smooth bark a much deeper, darker shade of brown than any tree she’d ever seen.
Jackson studied her, his dark eyes intense, his elbows resting atop the wall, hands clasped together.
“I don’t understand.”
He didn’t answer, simply waited while she directed her focus back toward the tree.
She studied the unmarked trunk, followed it up and searched each of the branches, looked at every…A green speck. Her breath caught in her throat. Her gaze tracked back to the spot she’d just passed. When she spared Jackson a glance this time, she was once again met with the cockiest grin.
“What is it?” The reverent whisper was all she could manage.
“What does it look like?”
A thrill coursed through her. “A small bud.”
“There are actually three.” He pointed out two more small green buds not far from the first.
“I thought nothing grew here, other than in the greenhouses?”
“It doesn’t. These three buds have been here since my mother’s death. There used to be twelve, but they gradually fell away, one by one, until only these three remained.” Emotion choked him, made his voice huskier. “Our Tree of Hope. For centuries we’ve guarded it closely, waited for the buds to bloom. But…” He shook his head. “Nothing. When Mia said earlier, it felt as if Cymmera were waiting, I was certain she was right. But when I arrived here, another bud had fallen, and I have to wonder if Cymmera is destined to die.” He lowered his forehead to his folded arms and let his shoulders slump.
Ryleigh tried to choke back the tears, but it was no use. She gave up and allowed them to flow freely as she approached him, reached out to place a tentative hand on his back. “It’ll be okay. Cymmera won’t die. You’ll fight to keep her alive, Jackson.” She rubbed small circles on his lower back. “I’ll help you.”
He lifted his head, and his gaze met hers, fierce determination etched in his hardened features. “I don’t even know if I’ll be permitted to stay here.” Pain etched in every line of his face as he swallowed hard before once again lowering his gaze. “If I’ll be permitted to live.” He added the last in a harsh, bitter whisper.
His pain consumed her. She wiped the tears coursing down her face. “Jackson.”
He shook his head, turned away, and stared at the small buds desperately clinging to the Tree of Hope. Their only hope.
“Jackson. Look at me. You said you wouldn’t give up. I won’t let you give up.” She reached for the lowest branch, ran her fingers along its surface in a loving caress. The multicolored starlight reflected off the tears glistening on her fingertips. A rainbow of color sparkled in the darkness of the night. “I won’t give up. I’ll stand by your side until Cymmera begins her return to life.”
Finally, he straightened and turned to face her. “Will you?” He cradled her cheek.
She leaned into the inferno that burned there.
“Will you stay with me?”
“Yes.” Her whisper was lost as the wind whipped between them.
He rubbed his thumb over her lips, searched for something deep in her eyes, leaned closer to her. His lips met hers, gently at first.
Fire ignited in her heart. Something deep within her responded to him. She pulled back, frightened by the intensity of her response. The blood pounded through her temples, keeping time with the hammering of her heart. The speed increased, the rhythm intensified. She pressed a hand against her chest as if she could contain her heart from leaping out. Wrestling the fear under control, she fought to steady her erratic heartbeat, closed her eyes, and leaned toward him.
He pulled back and lowered his hand from her face.
Disappointment surged in to replace the excitement. When she opened her eyes, she found him staring at her.
“Ryleigh.”
She looked away. What could she say to him? What a fool she was, thinking he cared for her as deeply as she cared for him.
“I want to go back now.” Heat flushed her cheeks.
“Ryleigh, please. You don’t understand.” He shoved his hand back through his hair.
“I said I want to go back. I have to check on Mia.” She turned, but before she could walk away, he clamped a hand down on her wrist.
“Listen to me. It’s not what you think. There’s so much more going on here than I can explain right now.”
Ryleigh shrugged, feigned indifference.
He pulled her to him, pressed her body against his, and his lips crashed down on hers.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, needing to be closer. A dark eddy crept into her peripheral vision, swirled toward her, sucked her down.
He tore his lips from hers, shoved her away. “I’m sorry…I…” He turned away from her, raked his hands through his hair and turned back to her. “Ryleigh, I can’t do this.”
Pain squeezed her heart, and she looked away. “Don’t worry about it. Let’s go back. I have to check on Mia.” She took a step away from him, another.
He grabbed her arm and pulled her back. “Please, let me explain.”
“You don’t have to explain anything, Jackson. You have a lot more important things on your mind right now. I understand, just let it go.” She tried to free herself from his grip.
He held tight and stared into her eyes.
For a minute, she thought he would kiss her again, but he pulled back. Hesitated.
* * * *
“Something almost happened before. When I kissed you.” How could he explain this without scaring her? He dropped his hands, turned away from her, and blew out a breath. He needed some space, some time to figure this all out, but the clock ticking in his head distracted him. He shoved both hands through his hair.
“Whatever it is, Jackson, we’ll work it out.” Her soft whisper slid over his skin like a gentle caress.
Jackson continued to stare at the small buds clinging desperately to the tree. “In my culture, there’s something called claiming. When our men meet their mates, the women who are destined only for them, the urge to claim them is strong, almost irresistible. We don’t have many women left in our world, and most of them are claimed by the time they’re teenagers.”
The horror in her expression startled him. Laughter spilled out before he could contain it.
“What’s so funny?”
“You look so horrified. Claiming isn’t anything bad. Think of it as kind of like a promise. You are promising to stay together forever.”
“How is it done?” She tilted her head.
“Usually, with a kiss…like the one we shared.” He moved to
ward her. “When I kissed you, I felt…something.” He shook his head, tried to clear it. The urge to kiss her again was strong, too strong to fight. Her full lips beckoned to him, pleaded for his touch. “Ryleigh, I don’t understand what’s going on.” If he didn’t back up, he would never be able to resist the urge. He took a step back, had to distance himself from the temptation. “You are human, and yet every instinct I have is screaming at me that we’re meant for each other, destined to be together.”
“How can that be?”
The breathless whisper raked over his raw nerves, tempted him. He took another step away from her. “I don’t know, but before when we kissed it felt like I was sucking the life from you. I don’t think a Cymmeran can claim a human, and I’m afraid that’s what almost happened.”
Her frown deepened. “Well, I don’t know how it works here, but where I come from you can’t just claim any woman you want. She has to agree to be with you.”
“Hmmm…I’ve never thought of it as a choice. You are simply with the partner you are destined to be with.” Confusion filled him. His view on life had always been so black and white. Then Ryleigh came along and threw in all kinds of gray areas. He scratched his head.
Her smooth laughter poured languidly through him, soothing the pent up tension that held him captive. It would work out. At least she hadn’t run screaming at the thought of being with him.
His taut muscles loosened. The stress eased. He joined in her laughter as he reached for her hand then pulled her closer to him.
She brushed a lock of his thick hair off his forehead, his skin tingling where her fingers gazed. “Don’t worry so much, Jackson, and don’t get ahead of yourself.”
“What do—?” A movement in his peripheral vision caught his attention.
“Sir.” A guard approached. “They’ve called you to the Council Chamber.”
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