“I told him everything and he was—furious even more so than I imagined.” Her eyes started to water and she failed to keep them at bay. I just wanted to hold her but it wasn’t as easy to accomplish being up on horses. “I seriously thought he was never going to get passed it and when he took Ellie from my arms, I thought I was never going to see her again. I spent the next week in solitude, hating myself and anyone who tried to talk to me until he walked in one day holding her. At that point, I wasn’t even sure if it was real. I thought I was only dreaming again because I dreamt it so many times but that time it wasn’t a dream and even stranger, he started apologizing to me.
“Apparently, Trever told him that I had mother issues because our mother left us when I was too young to even remember her and that I was just trying to make up for it but when he called her Ellie, I wanted to cry. No, I did cry. He kept the name I gave her and was allowing me to be a part of her life even though his entire family disapproved. I owe him. He never should have forgiven me. Ellie has been the only happiness that existed around any of us until we met you and it’s because she doesn’t see the bad things; war and hate. She only sees the good.”
The end. She didn’t have to say it but that was the story and I felt better in believing every word.
“Well, it doesn’t really sound like you did anything horribly wrong if you did it to save her.” Zayden said.
“Maybe to you but I know Kole still doesn’t believe Leah said what she did to me. He still feels like I robbed Ellie of a good mother.”
“Why is he even letting you see her?” I asked.
“I wish I had the answer to that question but I don’t. He never fully answers whenever I’ve asked so I’ve just stopped asking. As long as Ellie is still there, I’m fine with not knowing. Her smile is enough.”
Darius laughed. “Seriously though. She looks just like you.”
Jaylyn laughed too. I was glad to see that smile revisit her face after a story like that. “I think that’s what makes his mother so mad. Just another excuse to hate me even more. She’s never wanted me to be around Ellie, not only because of what I did but just the fact that I’m an Assassin. She doesn’t exactly see it as a good role model but I don’t care. She can hate me all she wants.”
“I think it’s worse now than it was when you were together.” Ruby said.
“That’s because she knew how Kole felt about that when we were together. Now that we haven’t been, she sees no reason why I should get to be around Ellie or Kole for that matter.”
“How long were you together?” I asked.
She looked over at me with that look that appeared hesitant like how could I have just asked that so normally. I didn’t even know but that didn’t stop me from being curious about the answer. “It’s always been on and off over the years. We fight a lot. We leave for weeks at a time and he has fidelity issues. I’d be lucky if he’d wait a day.”
“That’s because he didn’t know what he had. The wait is worth it.”
She smiled and I knew it would have made her feel better but it was also the truth. No amount of time with any other woman could ever replace her. Jaylyn was everything.
We continued on with our travel and it was never brought up again. We all just enjoyed the time together and it help our bond for when we would return.
Chapter 28
Adele
Spring. The frost had all diminished from the earth, awakening life. This time of year also meant it was the rainy season for Kalu. The sun started to disappear from the day and dark clouds were taking over for another storm. The ground was already soaking, perhaps from rain during the night and the horses were kicking up mud as we rode east towards the crossroads.
The day was calm for us. We enjoyed each other’s company and were hardly affected by the ride or darkening skies.
Nightfall soon came but it was like we didn’t notice. Staying at attention through conversation, we rode straight through it, soon starting our journey south once we reached the crossroads. With only short stops to let the horses feed and eat ourselves, another day had quickly passed. Night was soon upon us once again and it became the first real stop on our trip together.
We rode away from the road, not to be seen by passing travelers and I used my gift to create an underground shelter for us to sleep in like I have in the past.
The earth was split, dug out and stairs were formed. Everyone tied up the horses outside under a canopy of their own to keep out of the drizzling rain while I went inside. It was a single large room that I had created with just three beds.
Ruby sighed in relief as she fell back on hers. “Oh, finally. I still don’t think I’m used to all this traveling yet. My legs don’t even want to close from being on that horse.”
Darius smiled with a wanting gesture coming from his closed lips as he climbed over her. “That’ll make things easier.”
Ruby smiled back and pulled his lips down into hers, wrapping one of her legs up around his back.
“No.” My voice was clear yet stern. I wasn’t going to be watching any of that while I was in here.
“What?! That’s like a joke, right?” Ruby pushed Darius away from her just so she could see that I wasn’t joking.
“No. This isn’t vacation for us. That means no fun.”
“Adele!” Darius moved off to the side so Ruby could sit up with her growing begging tone but I wasn’t going to give into it this time. “Please tell me you’re not going to be like this the whole time?! That’s what Zayden is for!”
“Focus. No fun and that’s not all he’s for. I also find him to be a great joy to just look at.”
Zayden smiled and walked over to me. “Now I know why you wanted me to come.”
I smiled back but lost it when I looked around the room. “Where’s Jaylyn and Troy?”
“Having fun.” Ruby sighed.
My eyes rolled and I started taking off my coat to make into my blanket. “That’s great. At least they have the decency to be away from the rest of us.”
I looked over at Ruby and she laughed, knowing exactly what I was talking about. “Oh, like you really knew! You were sleeping and in your own room!”
“Just please think about the rest of us, okay? It won’t be like that this time.”
“That wouldn’t make it very fun.”
Darius laughed. “I could still make it.” That put a smile back on Ruby’s face.
“Okay.” I cut in before it started up again. “I think that’ll do. We should probably get started if we want to rest tonight with a full stomach and please do not interpret that any other way. I’m talking about real food.”
“Oh, good.” Jaylyn reached the bottom of the stairs with Troy right behind her. “Because I could eat.”
“Well, then go.”
Ruby sighed when she got off her bed which she clearly didn’t want to do.
“And please make it quick like he just made it for you because it’s raining.”
“Ooh!” Darius laughed, looking towards Troy. “Ouch!”
Ruby let out a longer sigh as they started going up the stairs to leave. “Ah! I hate Kalu!”
“Then you should have stayed!”
They were gone out of hearing distance now and Troy was quick to get on the subject. “What does that mean? Don’t you have to go on missions together?”
“Of course.”
“Then why would they have stayed?” Zayden asked.
Why did he ask that? I looked at all of them and realized they were actually truly confused and that could only mean one thing. “They never told you, did they?”
“Told us what?” Darius asked.
“That they could have stayed with you in Seni.”
“What do you mean?” Troy got closer with an even higher curiosity.
“Your father offered them a life there.”
Darius and Troy immediately looked at each other, eyes wide. “Really?”
“Yes. That’s why he talked to them without me.”<
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“And they said no?” Zayden asked.
“Not because of you guys. They do want to be with you. They said no because of me.”
“Why because of you?”
“They knew he wasn’t going to offer me the same thing and they didn’t want to stay if I couldn’t.”
“Why didn’t they tell us?”
I shrugged. “Maybe they didn’t want you to get hopeful and try convincing them to stay. We don’t do anything without each other—usually.”
“It wouldn’t have worked anyway, even if they did agree.” Darius said. “Father still left and Lamar still would have had you killed. We had to get out either way.”
“I guess. Just don’t mention it to them. They get weird about it like they made the wrong choice or something.”
“We won’t.” Troy said.
“Good. I wouldn’t want to lock them up when we get back because they’re emotionally unstable.”
“You mean in the prison you have under the manor?”
I paused. “What? How did you know we have our own private prison?”
They all looked at each other.
“Guess.” Darius said with a wide grin.
“Is that where they brought you?!” I had no idea about that. When I saw them, they were sitting in the dining room with Trever.
“Oh, they took us there all right and had a pretty gruesome plan too.”
“I’m so sorry about that. That was my fault.”
“We’ve talked about this and we’re not going to blame you.” Zayden said. “It’s not like we actually expected our presence to go perfectly smooth. We knew there’d be conflict.”
“Okay. Then be sure to leave me out when you explain it to your father because I seriously don’t want to be there.” The strangest thing happened after I said it. They all got silent and looked at each other then right back to me and I knew something was wrong. I could already feel it. “What?”
Darius looked a little shocked, turning his eyes to Zayden. “You didn’t tell her?”
Zayden just shrugged his shoulders.
“Tell me what?” I had my complete focus on Zayden and he better tell me right now.
“Ah, well, we won’t have to explain it to him because we’re not going back.”
My eyes widened and anger struck. “What? Ever?” Zayden just nodded and I went off. I couldn’t control it. “Are you crazy?! You did not say anything about that! You can’t just—”
“Relax, Love. We know what we’re doing.”
“Do you? I would never have agreed if—”
“Like that was really up to you. You weren’t around when we left. We could have stayed but we didn’t.”
“So, that’s it then? You’re just never going to go back and feel perfectly fine with letting your father down by leaving him without an heir?”
“It was a hard choice but I already made it.”
“I won’t let you do that! You have to go back!”
“And what? Are you going to come? My father sees you again and you’re dead! I’m not going to let that happen and I’m not going to go back so he can marry me off to some prissy-ass Princess!”
“Oh, is that what this is really about?”
“Of course not.”
“You can’t because of me. You don’t know—”
I paused in frustration but I was only making Zayden appear more confused. “Don’t know what?”
“I need some air.” I turned without saying anything else and left up the stairs. My eyes were out of focus with tears filling in them and I tried to get as far away from the shelter as I could up the hill.
I sat there with my tears going and all I thought about was Zayden. I loved him but I didn’t want to be the one to make him give up his life or his title, especially since he didn’t know. I was already in deep and Zayden has yet to find out about the details of my test mission when I saw him for the first time. I always knew he would hate me for what I’ve done. I didn’t know if I should tell him but I knew I couldn’t ruin this. I had a plan.
My eyes turned up to the cloud covered sky, letting the rain hit my face and I let out an echoing whistle. A cry was soon returned and I turned my head to see the outline of a bird fly high over me and slowly descend down. I watched until the golden hawk landed next to me with its big yellow eyes right on me. “Hello, Honey. I need your help.”
Honey squawked and stepped closer. I took a small rolled of paper from the pouch on her leg and unrolled in front of me, blocking it from the rain. It had just the smallest drop of ink already on it and I was able to use my gift to write my message with it.
I rolled it back up and attached it back to Honey. “I need you to take this home to Trever. Fly fast.” She squawked again and took to the skies. I watched as she faded quickly in the night and let out a long breath. “Please hurry. It’s important.”
It was. More than one future counted on this.
Chapter 29
Jaylyn
“Where’s Adele?” Ruby and I walked down into the shelter, a bunch of food from the nearby village cradled in our arms. “Thought she said we were doing this?”
“She needed air.” Troy said.
He and Darius looked over at Zayden for just a second and I knew but Ruby proved she knew a little more abruptly by gasping loudly and stepping towards Zayden. “What did you do?! She wasn’t supposed to be like this because you’re here!”
“It wasn’t my fault.”
“She found out that we’re not going back to Seni.” Darius said.
“You mean, you never told her?” I asked Zayden.
“I seriously thought she knew. Apparently, I didn’t explain well enough.”
“See, that explains everything.” Ruby laughed. “That’s why you’re not a talker because you’re not good at it. I think they explained it quite well.”
Darius smiled confidently. “It helps to actually say it.”
“I’m sure she’ll be fine.” Zayden said. “She hasn’t been gone that long.”
“I’m going to go find her.” I walked back to the stairs. “Ruby, don’t touch the food!” Her laugh echoed as I walked up the stairs and left to find Adele.
I stopped just outside of the entrance and looked around, feeling for life. The moment I got her pulse, I followed it to the top of the hill.
“Hey.” I lowered myself down next to her. “We got the food.”
“Did you know?”
Her voice was low like she’s been out here for a while thinking about this and I nodded. “Yeah, I did.”
“How could you let them? How am I supposed to let Zayden walk away from his country? He has a responsibility there.”
“He made the choice. I don’t think it can be changed. He made it for you.”
“But he doesn’t even know. You know what will happen when he finds out. I killed someone close to him.”
“But he loves you. It may just help him put it in the past. You’re his future and that’s how he wants it to be. You should accept it because I know you want to.”
“I always have.”
“See? Now what?”
“Jaylyn, really though? Never going back? Isn’t it a little crazy?”
“Well, love makes you do crazy things. It’s better than never seeing him again. We all know what that would do to you now. You admitted to everyone that you love him. It would be too hard to just throw all of that away now. You know that.”
“Yeah. I’ve loved him for a long time and the worst part is he has no idea about it.”
“He may someday and I know you’ll get passed it. Now come on.” I got up to my feet and held my hand down to Adele. “I think you have something to say to someone.”
Adele just nodded as she got up with my help and we started back down the hill towards the shelter. I didn’t want her to be distant from Zayden when there’s the test to be thinking about. She had to make it right.
It was quiet inside until Ruby sighed in relief. “Food?”
/>
Adele went right over to the space she created and looked through the sacks of food we brought while the silence continued.
I knew this was hard on her but I had to get it moving and cleared my throat. She stopped what she was doing to look up and I moved my eyes towards Zayden in a silent attempt to make her respond.
“Okay, fine.” She sighed, shifting her eyes to him. “You’ve made the decision to come and you’ll be the ones to live with it but I’m not going to pretend that I approve or that it was right.”
“Fair enough.” Zayden smiled as he walked over to her. “It’ll be worth it. I promise.”
“I hope so.”
Zayden smiled bigger and kissed her lips. “No hoping. It will be.”
Adele smiled back and put her hand on the back of his neck, pulling his lips back into hers more intensively. That was better. Everything was better.
“Oh, I don’t think so!” Ruby bursts out. “We can’t then you can’t!”
“She’s right.” Adele said, gently pushing Zayden a step away. “I should get dinner started anyway. You could tell us what happened while everyone else waits.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, we’ve never really asked you what happened after we first parted in Randal and you never really bothered to mention it.”
They all looked at it and seemed hesitant.
“It wasn’t fun.” Troy said.
“Can you tell us?” I took his arm with a sweet smile and a hint of a begging voice.
“Maybe if you promise not to think differently of us.” Darius said.
His comment made Adele stop handling the food and look to both Ruby and I curiously. “Is there a reason we would?”
“Ah, we’ve done some things.” Zayden replied slowly. “We’re not really proud of them but maybe if we do tell you, you’ll understand more of why we can’t go back. It’s not only because we don’t want to go on without you anymore.”
“Okay. Go ahead.”
Everyone got comfortable on the beds while Adele worked with the food and prepared to listen as Zayden volunteered to tell their tale. It was the first time we really got the chance to hear it and I’ve been wanting to know what really took them so long.
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