Forget Me Not

by Stacey Nash

  The moment breaks, the emotional wall back up. The familiar feeling of being squeezed on the inside, of losing a mother, makes me ache to throw my arms around him and try to take his hurt away.

  He walks fast, kicking at small rocks and sticks. “Years ago, the resistance were more active than they are now. They fought The Council openly, they tried to expose tech, and they tried to make this country the republic the general population think it is. They were a real threat to The Collective. So Manvyke decided he needed a secret agent, someone he could plant behind enemy walls to inform him of their plans. He wanted to destroy them with his spy.” He pauses, but I don’t speak. I don’t want to break his moment too. Surely, this story has to tie back to him.

  “Who better to do it than his own son? They’d take in a child without question and treat him as their own, he said. Of course, he couldn’t send Nik. As the eldest son, he’s destined to become a patriarch. He was always Manvyke’s favorite anyway, the golden child. So, even if it wasn’t for duty… Abby was too young. But me—the son he never really wanted—I doubt there was even a choice.” He paces.

  “Jax, I’m so sor—”

  “Night after night they argued. He was so angry, always yelling and screaming at her. Mom spoke softly, so I only ever heard him, but I could guess what she said. I was too young, not even ten. He shouted the most horrible things, accused her of loving me more than she should. ‘Sacrifices have to be made for the good of the majority,’ he screamed at her one night. I guess I was just another sacrifice he was willing to make.”

  He spins around, his face flushed, hurt and anger smudging his voice.

  The urge overwhelms me, dragging me to my feet. I need to hold him. I need to help him. I need to love him. Jumping from the log and talking long strides, I throw my arms around his neck and pull myself to him.

  “I’m so sorry.”

  The smells of soap, mint, and boy makes my legs weak. Jax buries his face in my shoulder, slipping his arms around my waist, and continues talking. “We ran. My mother, Abby, and me. Ran for weeks. We never stayed in the same place for more than two nights.”

  When he pulls back, his eyes are dull. They hold mine, and neither of us speak. The moment passes. I sense he can’t go any further; his story holds too much pain.

  I squeeze him tight. “He treated you terribly.”

  “We’re both orphans now, in a way,” he says.

  Orphans? I have my dad, and my mom isn’t dead. My arms drop, releasing him from my hold. I turn to move away. I’m not an orphan. Dad will be okay and, eventually, one day, Mom will be found.

  “What he’s doing now is as wrong as how he treated me,” he says.

  His hand closes around my arm. His other arm circles my waist, and he pulls me into his side, sending waves of heat and cool, pleasant ripples through my body to land as flutters in my belly. Turning to face him, I throw my arms around his middle, pulling us closer together. He’s right. We have both lost our parents—in different ways. He tightens his arms around my waist and rests his forehead on mine. We stand there hugging for a long time.

  “Thank you,” I say, “for everything you’ve done to help me.”

  “I had my reasons.” His mouth quirks.

  “Seriously, Jax, thanks.”

  “So, you’re going to be hanging around for a while?”

  I nod, moving my head to rest on his shoulder, hyperaware of every place our bodies touch.

  “That could be fun.”

  His grip loosens, and he pulls back, looking into my eyes. All my loss and hurt and reservations evaporate, replaced by a better feeling. I can tell he feels it too, because his eyes are now burning.

  The fluttering of a thousand butterflies erupts low in my belly.

  He looks down into my eyes, probing.

  Kiss me.

  His breath brushes my cheek, making my legs quiver. I feel like I’m drowning in his eyes, being pulled into his soul. His lips brush against mine, light as a feather’s kiss. He pulls back, his eyes hooded. His lips are full, pink, perfect, and sculptured. I lean in, pressing my lips against his. They’re warm and firm and pleasant. For a moment I’m frozen, unable to move. His hand moves to the small of my back and pulls me tighter to him, pressing our bodies together, melding us into one.

  Heat floods me. I’ve wanted this so much. Wanted to be there for him, wanted him to want me, wanted to get closer. I slide my arms around his waist. Every curve and lump of his chest and arms and legs burn against me. A warm shiver runs right through me as he kisses me back.

  His lips move together with mine, and his tongue slips into my mouth. I gasp against his kiss. Heat rushes to my cheeks, and my heart pounds to the sound of unheard music. I run my hand up the back of his neck, hold him to me, and kiss him back eagerly.

  This moment is all that exists.

  Jax and I are all that exist.

  # # #

  Sneak Peak of Remember Me

  Chapter One

  ~ Mae ~

  “GOTCHA!”

  The wooden stick thwacks into my calf, knocking my leg out from under me. The muted ache makes me stumble, my free arm whipping round like a propeller. It doesn’t help. My foot slides off the rope anyway. Will grabs my shoulder, hauling me back onto the narrow slatted bridge and barely stopping me falling from the trapeze training area high in the tree canopy of The Ring.

  We’ve been training like crazy since saving Dad from The Collective. I won’t be an easy target again. I’m resistance now and I’ll fight.

  Laughter booms from below, drawing my gaze down to Jax and Lilly where they sit at opposite sides of the cleared forest floor. Jax leans back on his elbows, peering up into the canopy, his gaze meeting mine with the half grin that makes my insides melt. Pulling my gaze away, I don’t let him distract me for long. Instead, I swivel around and bring my padded stick up, crunching it into Will’s side. He lets out a grunt but barely sways on the rope. Jax says something I don’t quite catch, and stifled giggling floats up like a tolling bell. Clearly Lilly’s trying not to laugh, but Jax’s humor is too much for even her steely grudge.

  Focus, this is it.

  I’m not the helpless, defenseless girl they think I am. I can best them all up here, just need to concentrate on outwitting them. A quick glance around gathers my thoughts; ropes over there, down there, up there too. Yes, that’s the way. I spring off my feet, grab the support above me, pull myself up, and scurry along it while Will’s still looking around trying to see where I’ve gone. He’s too strong, so there’s no way I can win if he gets the upper hand. Play like a squirrel, quick and smart. My hand moves toward the pendant at my neck, but I pull it away before I touch it. As temped as I am, I’ll play fair. Hanging upside down with my legs wrapped around the rope, the stick tucked between them and up over my shoulder, I pull myself along into the thick canopy. I try to block out Lilly’s giggling which Ace, her dog, has now joined with yelps at the air.

  Right. Shuffling back, deeper into the tree, I let the branches and leaves close around me.

  Ha, get me now, Will Avery.

  A wall of greenery blocks the view in front of me, but I can peer through the branches under me to the ground below where Jax still lazes back on his elbows. He looks straight at me and closes one eye in a slow steady wink, flooding my chest with delicious warmth. I shoot him a smile and hold my finger to my lips.

  The leaves on the far side of where I am rustle. Damn, Will’s already passed. Pay attention, Mae! I swing down out of my hiding place and silently creep along in Will’s wake.

  He pokes at the branches in front of him with his training stick, oblivious to me. “This isn’t a game of hide and seek, Mae.”

  Holding the practice swordlike baton out in front, I creep so close if he spun around we’d both lose our balance and topple over the side of the ropes. My breath catches as I bring the stick around to my side, just below shoulder height. It whooshes through the air and thuds against his right leg, making the whole
structure sway.

  “Ahh.” His fingers spring open, letting go of the rope, and he grabs his leg, then, like he remembers, makes a grab for the handhold but it’s too late. He falls off the side, growling. “Cheat.”

  The safety attached to his makeshift harness snaps taut, twanging the walkway under my feet and I clench my toes to hold on. Will isn’t so lucky. He topples over the side then dangles in the air held captive by his harness. It’s kind of hilarious. I have to clutch the rope handrail double handed to stop my laughter unbalancing me too. “I win and I didn’t cheat.”

  “Don’t get too cocky.” He climbs back up the rope, hand over hand.

  Still holding the handrail one handed, I reach out and haul him up beside me where he sits with his legs hanging over the side. “Let’s take a break, I’m beat.”

  “Sure.”

  I walk along the suspended path, my bouncy steps matching my light mood. Then jump down to the next and swing to the ground, my feet thudding on a large fallen log. I’m more confident in the crisscrossed rope training area than I was last month. The height no longer makes my stomach lurch or my eyes zoom in on ground.

  “Nicely played,” Lilly says from her cross-legged position on the cleared forest floor. She tosses a water bottle back and forth between her hands, her eyes glued to it. Probably to avoid accidentally meeting Jax’s gaze. Since finding out his true heritage, that he’s not only of Collective blood but Manvyke’s son, their whole friendship has changed. It’s like she doesn’t trust him anymore, like he’s not the same person he always was.

  “Thanks,” I say, throwing my practice stick onto the ground and grabbing the drink from her outstretched hand. I swipe the back of my arm across my sweaty forehead and pop the top of the bottle, gulping water.

  Will lands with an ungracious thud behind me. “You only won because my knee’s still not a hundred percent.” He snaps the elastic brace wrapped around the knee I didn’t hit.

  “Whatever makes you feel better, Will. That’s why we’re training in the tree tops, less weight to rest on your bung knee, gives us even footing.” I smirk, tossing him the bottle.

  “Some more even than others,” Jax says.

  “I’ll take you on,” Will challenges.

  Jax laughs.

  He shouldn’t be so confident though, Will almost his match now. Will tips his head back and squirts water into his mouth. As he brings it back down, he grabs the bottle with his other hand and squeezes. A long steady stream of water spurts out and hits me in the face.

  “Will!”

  He snorts.

  “That is not funny.”

  Jax chuckles as he pushes himself up coming to join us, then shoots Lilly a wide smile. “Who’s next?”

  Lilly doesn’t meet his gaze. Instead, she finds a stick which is picks up and idly drags through the dirt, clearly snubbing him. The silence lingers while Will eases himself onto the ground, without bending his leg then squirts me again.

  Trying really hard not to laugh, I pin him with a glare. “I think it’s time you went home.”

  He chuckles. “Nah, told Mom I’m staying for the weekend. Besides, it feels kind of strange with your house being empty and all.”

  The thought of our abandoned house squeezes my heart. The photos of happier times, the memories of Mom, my dad knowing me are all mere haunting memories. I’ve only been back once and Dad hasn’t visited at all. It’s safer here while he’s still—

  “I can’t believe you guys actually pulled that stunt off,” Lilly says.

  “As if we couldn’t,” Jax says, and satisfaction strokes my conscience. Manvyke’s really off our case. Turns out he’s more scared of losing his council standing than going after me, but the thought of him makes the satisfaction slip. I’m not quite sure I trust him to keep his end of the deal.

  “Who’s next?” Jax asks.

  I meet his gaze and smile, trying to cover up Lilly’s snub. “I’ll go again.”

  He shoots me a crooked smile and strides to the hanging rope. Grabbing a knot just above his head, he looks over his shoulder. “Let’s go,” he says then scurries up the trapeze like he’s half-monkey. Before I’ve had time to move he’s in the branches hopping along the walkways, making it look far easier than it really is. “I’ll make it fair, no weapons,” he shouts.

  “I’m smarter than you, Jax. Weapons won’t make a difference.” I scale the dangling knotted rope, swinging my gaze in an attempt to follow his laughter as it moves through The Ring.

  “Whatever, Cupcake.”

  The nickname that once angered me brings a smile to my lips. I pull myself onto the lowest walkway and peer up. There he is. Sitting right at the top of the concaved canopy, where the tree tops all bend and wind together to create the domed roof. I blow out a long breath; to say this will be a challenge is an understatement. He’s so good.

  “Come on, if you want to be good enough to go up against Manvyke, you have to push the limits.”

  Manvyke. His name never fails to sear my veins and make my head throb with anger. The empty shell that once held my father now holds a shattered man that doesn’t know his own daughter. The twined rope above me comes into focus, every fiber taunting me with his name. I grab it, swinging my legs up onto the twisted branch at its side, looking from left to right, then to the next walkway above. I need to figure out a way up. If I come straight at him, winding up the spiral-like twine ladders, I’ll be a sitting duck. He’ll see me coming and wait in ambush. That means that I need to use his high placed advantage against him.

  Yes, that’s it. Abandoning the rope walkways and ladders, I duck into the cover of the thick branches, grateful that these trees aren’t deciduous. Then settle in for what could be a long wait by leaning against the trunk and letting the tang of crushed leaves and the frigid winter air numb my nose. How to win? How to win? Jax is so darn good. Will’s earlier complaint about cheating tickles my thoughts.

  Tech!

  I reach for my pendant again, but my hand catches only the bare skin at my neck. I’m so used to wearing it that now, I barely notice if it’s there or not. It’s almost like a part of me. My shoulders drop and a disappointed sigh gushes out. No invisibility today. I really do need to get my cover-up back from Marcus. Surely he’s almost finished figuring out what activates the protection bubble.

  I reach for the next highest branch and pull myself up, trying to scale the tree like I was born to do it. My body tenses with each move, trying to make the least amount of noise possible yet stay hidden. It’s much easier than it looks though. I cringe at a slight rustle and suck in a breath when Jax taunts, “Tired of playing?”

  Something clatters as it hits a branch above me, then another tap to my left and the noise continues falling, clacking against branch after branch until it thuds on the ground. Oops, I hope that wasn’t me. Frozen in place, I peer down at the thick stick and my heart doesn’t even race. At least I can control myself to stay calm. That’s something to be proud of.

  “I’ll make it worthwhile.” Jax’s voice is closer now.

  A tingle runs through me—a longing for the feel of him: our hands touching, his soft lips against mine, the warmth of his chest against my cheek. Leaning forward, I take a small step almost out of cover, then pull myself back.

  Dirty cheat.

  He knows the effect he has on me. My insides sing with an inward smile. Not this time, Jax Belfry. I’m onto your sneaky tricks. I wriggle back against the tree, dropping my legs over the branch with a newfound patience setting in. I can’t win this by reaching him, by climbing up to his exposed high position. The climb would make me a clear target. Best to wait, yes, make him come to me which I’m almost sure he’s already doing.

  Will and Lilly’s chatter echoes up into the canopy in sharp contrast to the earlier silence between her and Jax.

  Edging leaves back, I peek up through the leaves trying to see where he is, but they’re so dense I can’t see past them. My eyes close, the sounds around me becomi
ng clearer and holding meaning as I concentrate with every ounce of my being. He’ll be moving—Jax can never stay in one spot for long. Especially now he realizes I’m not playing his game.

  Leaves rustle. I knew it! My eyes spring open and I stare at the branches around me. Where is he? The only movement is a slight swaying that’s too rhythmic to be him; must be just the winter wind blowing. I try to focus on the other sounds, but it’s impossible to hear anything over Lilly who’s now laughing. I let my eyes drop closed again, silently urging her and Will to shut up.

  Snap. There it is, the dry crack of a small branch breaking underfoot. It comes from just above and I can’t help but smile. He’s coming. Then silence. My heart beats; hurry up, come closer. With my legs wrapped around the thick branch I’m sitting on, I edge away from the trunk shuffling forward until I’m just barely under cover. Waiting in the deafening silence. He’ll come soon. I can almost sense him in the air shifting a little with each step closer to me. I pull my legs up and crouch on the branch ready to pounce.

  A soft thud and a small whoosh of expelled breath sound right near me. Grinning, I spring out of cover. His green eyes widen then narrow right in front of me, barely inches away. I move to push him to the side, but his hand darts to close around my wrist in a firm grip. My other arm comes around from the side ready to strike, but as it flies towards him his hand zips out faster than I can blink, snapping around my second wrist. No way! A frustrated grunt escapes me while a smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth.

  “Found you.”

  He leans in, pushing his firm chest against me, against my wrists bound by his grip, pushing them onto my chest which makes my feet give a few inches as I’m forced to step back. I shove against him, leaning all my weight into it, but it’s no use, he’s too strong. I stumble backward and have to give another step to regain my balance.