“Oh, right. I guess I still forget sometimes.” I folded my arms. “I still think it makes more sense to go out the front door.”
“That’s just Violette,” Rayne replied. “She’s been climbing buildings and jumping out of windows since she was five. Basically, she’ll do just about anything to prove that she was born to be a spy.”
I laughed. “She does have a lot of posters of Scouts hanging on her walls, including one of Ash I might add.” I suddenly pictured Ash’s face and a chill crawled up my neck. “It freaks me out every time I go in there,” I added. “It makes me feel like he’s still spying on me.”
Rayne looked at me carefully. “He’s not. I promise. I truly believe Ash is sorry for what he did.”
I shook my head. “I don’t know how you do it. When I think of him, all I see is the hurt he caused.”
“I know,” Rayne said. “You don’t have any good memories of him like I do. Actually, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t want you to forgive him anyway. I can see that he still wants to be punished.”
My jaw clenched a little. “What he did was wrong, Rayne. Don’t you think he deserves to pay the consequences? Even if he is sorry.”
Rayne lifted his hand in submission. “Believe me, I wasn’t trying to excuse what he did. You know better than anyone how angry I was with him. But he is still under lock and key at the Court, so it’s not like he isn’t paying the price for his choices.”
“Right,” I muttered. “That must be really tough for him to live out his days in a velvet-lined suite at the poshest building in the city.” I could feel the muscles in my neck getting tighter.
Rayne reached for my hand sympathetically. “Hey… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. Tonight was supposed to be… nice… and relaxing.”
I looked again at the elegant table setting and warm candles all around us.
Rayne lifted one eyebrow. “If it makes you feel any better, the last time I went to see Ash he seemed pretty miserable.” Rayne was trying to lighten the mood.
I chuckled. “I guess that does make me feel a little better.”
Rayne pulled me toward him. “Good,” he said. “I don’t like it when you’re unhappy.” He leaned in for a kiss. “And Violette did make this delicious meal for us… we wouldn’t want it to go to waste, right?”
“Are you kidding?” I said. “I’m starving. And from what I hear, Violette is a really good cook.”
Rayne laughed. “Well, my mom pretty much had to force her to do it, but the girl does have some skills.”
He moved behind one of the chairs at the table and pulled it out for me. When I sat down and scooted the seat forward I said, “So, what’s the special occasion, anyway?”
Rayne chuckled as he circled the table. “What, a guy can’t make his woman a candlelight dinner just for the fun of it?”
I laughed. “Of course you can. Believe me, there’s no complaint here.”
I watched as he stepped into the small kitchen a few feet away and returned with a platter of food.
“You had me worried though,” I added. “For a minute I thought I forgot something important, like our anniversary or something. I’ve just… had so much on my mind lately.”
Rayne placed the dish on the table and settled in his chair. His gaze was soft. “I know,” he said. “You’ve been working so hard. I guess that’s why I wanted to do something nice for you tonight.”
I leaned over what looked like herbed pork chops on a bed of roasted vegetables and rice. “It smells amazing,” I said. “This was so sweet of you.”
I reached across the table for his hand. “Thank you. Really, it’s just what I needed.”
One corner of his mouth lifted. “That’s good to hear.” His words lingered as he looked at me thoughtfully. A tingling sensation moved up my arm. I could feel the warmth and energy from Rayne’s essence streaming out from his fingertips into my hand.
For the briefest moment, my mind was free.
We dished up our plates and started to eat.
“Was everything okay at your session today?” Rayne asked. “You came back pretty late.”
And just like that, the stress returned.
My throat clenched. I stared at my food. “I… uh…”
I couldn’t answer. I didn’t want to tell him. I let a man die. I let a man die!
Rayne knew something was wrong. We were so close at the table I could literally feel his pulse getting harder. “What happened?” he demanded. “What did they do?”
I hated when he got upset. I hated it.
My voice grew quiet. “It wasn’t them. I… I had another nightmare, about Voss.”
I couldn’t tell him about the man. I just couldn’t.
“You mean, last night?” Rayne asked, confused.
“No, at the testing center. You know… afterward. When I passed out.”
His brow pinched. “Has this happened before? During the day like that?”
“No,” I mumbled. “That was the first time.”
Rayne burst to his feet, causing me to flinch. “I think it’s time I have a talk with Orion,” he said. “They’re pushing you too hard.”
I wanted to take it back. Even telling him about the dream was too much. I didn’t like when Rayne got upset. I didn’t like when he worried.
“It’s okay,” I urged. “I’m fine. I can handle it.”
“No, Sadie, it’s not okay. They’ve been experimenting on you nonstop for over a month now, pushing you harder and harder. It’s not right. I’m going over there first thing in the morning.”
I stood from the table. “No, you can’t…”
Rayne shook his head. “I have to. I can’t just sit by and let them walk all over you. They’re running you ragged.”
I looked at him with imploring eyes. “Please… listen… I know it’s been ingrained in your brain for the last ten years that you need to step in and protect me every chance you get. And I love you for it. But… I want to be there, Rayne. Don’t you understand? I want to learn how to use my abilities. Yes, some days are crazy and hard, but I have to do this. You know I have to do this.”
Rayne paused and took a deep breath. “I know… but, that doesn’t mean you have to kill yourself in the process.”
He walked around the table and took my hand, forcing himself to be calm. “What if you just took a break, you know? Just a few days off.”
I stared back at his anxious green eyes. I just wanted him to stop worrying.
“Please just think about it,” he went on. “You could get a little rest, regain your focus, and be back to work in no time—even stronger than before.”
I had to admit, the idea of getting some rest didn’t sound so bad. I finally nodded. “Maybe you have a point. I wouldn’t mind a break.”
Rayne opened his mouth, eager to reply, but I cut him off.
“On one condition,” I said. I stepped closer and looked him sternly in the eye. “I will be the one to talk to Orion.”
4. JAX HIDES THE TRUTH
The photographers in Banya would do just about anything for a glimpse of the illustrious Jax Bennett and the dangerous, glamorous life he represented. They had been following him since he was a child. In fact, Jax had been deemed an icon practically from birth. Thanks to his father, his grandfather, and his father before.
Jax was the direct descendant of Robert Bennett, the founder of the Scout program in the very beginning, before they were even called Scouts. Robert Bennett was also a member of the original Council, right alongside William Fairbanks, Jane Carpenter Fairbanks, and the notorious Sir Thomas Hastings.
By both birthright and public obligation, Jax Bennett had been called to carry the family legacy.
Of course, that didn’t mean they could force him to do it their way. If Jax had to be in the spotlight, he would at least have a little fun with it. From an early age he learned he could get away with almost anything. He could dress in wild clothes; he could do wild things. He could paint his face purp
le, climb to the top of the tallest building in Banya, and BASE jump off the roof to land skillfully in the center of Banya City Park. And they loved him for it.
Banya was his playground.
At least, it started out that way. After a while, the thrill of the show had lost its appeal.
The media crews and intrusive, lurking photographers stalked Jax at his mansion estate on Academy Row incessantly, hoping for just one more juicy story, one more enquiring shot to put on display for all Ambrosia to see.
Jax had pled with his father time and time again to convince the Council to crack down on the intrusions, to enforce some kind of regulations when it came to their privacy, but his father never saw it through. He would give half-hearted assurances that he was taking care of the matter, but nothing ever changed.
The thing was, Councilman Orion Bennett always got his way, even when it came to the Council. If the hounds were still knocking down Jax’s door, it was because his father wanted them to. After all, the Bennett name had to live on in its fame.
As long as his father wanted him in the limelight, that was where Jax would remain.
According to the Council’s regulations, members of the media of all forms were not supposed to cross onto private property at all, not without the owner’s permission. But it didn’t make a difference. They always found a way. Somehow, they always found a way.
Until now.
Jax’s property had been quiet for weeks. A strange peace and aloneness permeated the air like he had never experienced before. It was wonderful and unnerving all at the same time. They still followed him throughout the city as usual, but when he stepped foot on Academy Row or anywhere near the Academy at all, the media pests just disappeared. His father had made them disappear. And Jax had no doubt in his mind that he knew the reason why.
It was because of her. It was all because of her.
***
Sadie thrust her palm up at his chin, but Jax blocked it easily.
“Come on, Sade, that was weak,” Jax teased.
Her arms swung, throwing a jab-cross at his face. He blocked her again.
“Focus,” Jax told her. “Try again.”
She repositioned her stance with more determination, and came back with a combination jab-cross-left hook. The movement was sloppy. Jax grabbed her wrist out of the hook and drove her arm down, forcing it back behind her shoulder and locking her under his hold. When he heard her wince in pain, he released his grip.
Sadie took a step back on the mat, rubbing her shoulder, her eyes staring down at the gym floor.
“We should take a break,” Jax said.
She nodded quietly, trying to catch her breath, and started to walk away.
His eyes followed after her. Something seemed off today. She wasn’t herself.
“Hey, wait up,” Jax called. Sadie stopped and turned.
“Is everything okay?” he asked. “I mean, I know this is probably Rayne’s department, but… is there anything you want to talk about?”
She sighed. “I think I just need a minute to clear my head. I’ll be fine.”
Jax knew he should let her walk away. It wasn’t his place to be her shoulder to cry on. He was there to prepare her for the Academy, not complicate her life with some secret desire to be close to her.
But he just couldn’t help it. There was something about her that constantly drew him in, making him feel this strange desire to be near her whenever possible. He had never felt that with anyone before. It was like she made him feel real, like a person instead of a character in some person’s fantasy.
And she had this quality about her… like a light from within. It always made him feel at ease. The more time he spent with her, the more he felt like he was finding his true self, probably for the first time in his entire life.
She carried some undeniable strength with her that radiated from within, yet he could see that she was struggling too, lately more than ever. She was powerful and fragile at the same time. It was endearing. And inspiring. Something about her made him want to be a better person, to try a little harder, to strive to be something more. He felt it just by being near her, and he couldn’t help it, he wanted to be near her always.
He didn’t know if he wanted to kiss her, or just admire her. Just be close enough to feel the way he did when he was with her.
What was he even thinking? Of course he would never kiss her. He wouldn’t. He couldn’t. He wasn’t even sure he wanted to. She was just too… uncorrupted. It felt like, even so much as a kiss from someone like him would just be wrong, like it would taint her somehow.
He just wanted to feel her light. That was it. It had to be. She was a special girl and a good friend and… Rayne’s girlfriend. And that was it. That had to be it.
Rayne was a great guy and a good friend. Maybe Jax’s only real friend. Both of them were—Sadie and Rayne. Jax couldn’t afford to lose that when his list of genuine friendships was already so small.
So far, it had been easy to suppress his feelings for her. He was Jax Bennett after all; one of his greatest skills was hiding his true self behind a mask. All he had to do was keep himself distracted, and for someone like him, distractions were easy to find.
But today was harder for some reason. Seeing her that way, looking so vulnerable instead of wearing her usual radiant smile, Jax just couldn’t help it. He had to find a way to make her smile again.
“Sadie,” he called. She stopped and looked back at him from the doorway. “Actually,” he began, “there was something I wanted to talk to you about, if that’s okay?”
“Oh,” she said with a hint of hesitation. “Um, yeah.” She paused in the doorway. Then she shook her head and took a step toward him. “I mean, of course. Of course we can talk. What is it? Is everything okay?”
The corner of Jax’s mouth curved upward. When he looked at her he couldn’t help it. “Everything’s fine. I just wanted to… uh… to thank you.”
Her head tilted to the side. “Thank me? For what?”
“Just, you know, for being a friend to me these past few weeks. The truth is, you’re the only person I know who doesn’t treat me like a trophy they hope to put up on their shelf, you know what I mean?”
She smiled quietly and placed her hand on his arm. “I know, Jax. You’ve been a good friend to me too. I wish I could make the rest of them see you the way I see you.”
Her touch on his skin was like a surge of energy. Jax stared back at her, frozen, mesmerized. There it was again; that light inside her, shining out through her eyes like heavenly diamonds, like stardust lived within her waiting to break free.
Sadie dropped her hand. “Don’t forget about Rayne,” she said.
Jax tensed.
“He’s been a good a friend to you too,” she added.
“Um, yeah.” Jax pushed down the lump in his throat, forcing himself back to his senses. “Yes,” he said, “Rayne is a great friend. The best actually.”
And then, for a brief moment, Sadie’s radiant smile returned to her face.
“Why don’t you take a five minute break,” Jax said, “but then get ready to work.” He nudged her playfully. “I think there’s a punching bag over there calling your name.”
Her smile vanished. “Actually, I think I’ll just head outside for a run. That always seems to clear my head.”
She turned her back, but Jax reached for her arm with a smirk. “Wait just a minute, my little lizzy fruit. We’re not done here.”
Sadie stopped and folded her arms. “Oh really?”
He reached for a set of gloves and tossed them at her. “Yes. Really. I’m the trainer, and you’re the trainee. Remember? That means you have to do what I say…”
Sadie rolled her eyes and put on the gloves. “I’m really not in the mood to punch things right now.”
“Sorry, but I think you are in the mood.” Jax moved behind the heavy bag where it hung from the ceiling. “Now get over here and show me what you’ve got.”
She exhaled
impatiently and stood in front of the bag, staring right at him as if to say, okay, I’m here, so what do you want me to do?
Jax stared back at her without a blink. “You know the drill. Start punching.”
Sadie sent a weak right jab across the surface of the bag.
“Again,” he demanded.
She sent two more punches into the bag. It barely moved beneath his grip.
“Come on,” he challenged. “I know you can do better than that.”
Sadie stared back at him with tired eyes. “I’m just not feeling it today.”
Jax looked at her carefully, trying to hide his concern. “You want to be a Water Keeper, don’t you?” he said.
She sighed. “Yes.”
“And you want people to take you seriously at the Academy?”
She exhaled a long breath. “Yes…”
“And do you think training to be an agent or going out on missions or anything about being a Keeper is going to be some easy walk in the park?”
Sadie’s jaw went tight. “No. Of course not.”
“You’re upset about something,” Jax said firmly. “And if you want to be a successful agent you’re going to have to learn to deal with your stress. Now hit… the bag.” Then he shoved it right into her chest.
Her feet stumbled back. The next two seconds looked like an eternity on her face as she scowled painfully at the punching bag.
Then, she gave into the rage, and her fists started to fly.
The force of her hits threw the bag into Jax’s face. He watched her intently as frustration bled out through her hands, punching and punching and punching again.
“Now get it out,” he demanded. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
With an angry grunt, her foot sprang into the air, kicking the bag with all her strength. Jax staggered back from the force of the blow. When the bag swung back in Sadie’s direction she lifted her hand and jammed the back of it down into the side of the bag. Then her head collapsed into her hands as if she couldn’t take it anymore.
“He’s dead,” she muttered through her gloves.
Jax moved forward cautiously. “Who is, Sade? Who’s dead?”
Flood Rising (The Water Keepers, Book 4) Page 3