“Give her a break. She had a rough day yesterday. Let her sleep. We have another ten or so days to go yet. She needs her rest.”
A soft growl made its way up his throat. “What do you think I am! She woke up in the night shivering and crying. I’m assuming she had a nightmare. She asked me to hold her so she could go back to sleep.”
I heard a snort.
“Well no. I’m not saying I’m not enjoying this immensely. She feels heavenly in my arms. Fits perfectly. And if we are fated, the least you can let me do is hold her.”
I couldn’t help myself. He sounded so happy at having me in his arms. I giggled.
“Good morning. I thought you were still sleeping.”
I glanced up at his face and smiled. He was so red. I snuggled my face back into his chest.
“Good morning,” I murmured.
He wrapped his arms around me tightly and put his lips on my hair.
I didn’t want this moment to end. That’s when I had a thought that made me laugh. “Man, Shaynna is going to say ‘I told you so’!”
“What about?”
I sighed. “You.” I heard a foot stomp.
“No. I told you. It didn’t happen. I didn’t kiss her. It is taking every ounce of strength I have not to do just that right now. But I won’t jeopardize everything.” He sounded so sad. He did let himself kiss my forehead and then proceeded to untangle himself from me and the blankets. I looked up at him as he stood.
Was it really possible to look that good after sleeping outside all night? He could have been modeling camping gear as he made sure the fire was out, his dark curls disheveled, yet perfect.
That’s when I wondered... what did I look like right now? Not like a model, that was for sure! I ran my fingers through my hair. Thank goodness for elastics. I pulled my spare one off my wrist and tied my hair into a ponytail.
I got up and gave Dodge a hug. “Morning, buddy.” I jumped back quickly. “Oh! Sorry. I forgot you’re not a horse. Well, you are. But you’re not.”
Jasper laughed. “Don’t be sorry. He doesn’t mind that at all.”
“Oh. Good.” I rubbed his ear.
Jasper brought my saddle over and put it on Dodge. “He is wondering if you would mind going without a bridle.” He held it out to me, giving me the option to put it on or not.
“Of course not! I wish I had known you understood like this before. I feel horrible!” I stuffed the bridle into my saddle bags.
Dodge shook his mane and nudged me with his nose.
“He said not to worry about it.”
I swung up into the saddle and Jasper put a hand on my knee. “Ready?” he asked.
I looked down into his eyes, looking for the courage I needed to say yes. He smiled when I finally nodded.
This is turning out to be one hell of a dream, I thought. Might as well see where it goes.
We traveled at a walk, stopping only once to have some lunch.
I felt like a teenager with her first high school crush. My eyes were forever stealing glances at Jasper as we walked and I would blush when he caught me looking. My heart would jump in my chest when I would look down at him and catch him looking at me as well. But under all of the heart flipping and breath catching there was another, more primal feeling I hadn’t felt in a long time. I was definitely not a teenager, and my body was aching to have Jasper take care of a need I hadn’t had satisfied in over a year.
We made it to the base of the mountain just as the sun was starting to set.
I unsaddled Dodge and gave him a pat. “Thanks, buddy.”
He bobbed his head.
“Are you leaving again?” I tried not to laugh as he looked to where Jasper was making a fire. “I don’t think he’ll try anything. That is a man with one amazing sense of duty!”
Dodge snorted.
“Go,” I said. “Be a horse! I’ll see you in the morning.”
He nuzzled my face goodbye and then trotted off into the woods.
“What was that about?” Jasper asked, standing directly behind me. I nearly jumped out of my skin.
“Shit! How do you do that?”
He grinned. “Sorry.” He started untying the blankets.
“Here, I’ll get those.” I grabbed them and quickly looked up at Jasper as my fingers touched his. His eyes were wide. I looked away and concentrated on setting the blankets a short distance from the fire.
“I wish Dodge would have waited. Can you stand being alone for a minute?”
My head snapped up. “Why?”
“I just thought you might want some supper.”
My stomach answered for me.
“I’ll be right back.” And with that, he was gone.
I busied myself finding more fire wood. I didn’t want to think about what might be lurking out there. When I had a decent pile stacked nicely I went to sit on the blanket and waited.
“Hayden, it’s just me.”
I exhaled, not realizing I had been holding my breath.
He pulled a rabbit out from behind his back. “Supper.” He presented it with a smile. He sat and skinned it for me then placed it over the fire on sticks. “I’ll be right back.” He sprinted away into the woods again.
I looked after him and waited for him to get back again, wondering what he had gone off to do. I tried to keep the nervousness from taking a hold of me. Surely he wouldn’t leave me alone if there was any danger.
I checked the rabbit. It seemed done, but I waited a few more minutes just to make sure.
My reasoning about immediate dangers started to fade with time and I was getting more than a little nervous that Jasper hadn’t come back. “Crap!” The rabbit was turning black. “I guess it’s done now!” I mumbled to myself and pulled it off the sticks to let it cool down.
I took a piece off and was pleasantly surprised. It wasn’t half bad. I looked up as Jasper walked back into camp. I forced myself to swallow.
The firelight glistened off of his wet bare chest. His dark hair looked black. He hung his shirt up on a branch to dry, then shook his head like a dog, water flying in all directions.
I couldn’t stop staring.
“Is everything ok?”
I nodded and made myself take another bite and looked into the fire. It was either that or make a fool of myself. I held the rabbit out to him.
“Thanks.” He tore a leg off. “Are you sure you’re ok?” He kept looking at me.
I nodded and chanced a look sideways at him. “How’s your side and your shoulder?”
He shrugged. “Fine.”
“Do you think I could go to the creek and... clean up?” What I should have said was cool down. Good lord, was it possible he didn’t know what he was doing to me?
“Sure. Just let me know when you’re ready.”
“I’m ready.”
He looked like he was going to ask if I was ok again, but stopped. “Alright then.” He led the way down a little hill. The creek was clear. “Keep coming. It runs into the lake up ahead.”
When we got there, he turned to leave.
“Wait!” Suddenly, the thought of being alone was very unnerving. “Stay. Please. Maybe you could just... I don’t know.” I was glad it was fairly dark because I knew my face was beet red. “Just turn around?”
He walked to the log I had pointed to and sat facing the forest. “Like this?” He glanced back, grinning.
“Yes. Thank you.” I waited for him to turn back around and then quickly stepped out of my clothes. I walked to the edge of the water and dipped my foot in. It was warm. I kept going until I had to swim and ducked my head under.
Where’s a shampoo bottle when you need it?
I started to swim back towards the shore. When I looked up I was a little surprised to see Jasper sitting exactly like he had been when I had gone in.
I shook my head at myself. I can’t believe you wanted him to peek!
I used my sweater to dry off and pulled my jeans and tank top on. I combed my hair with my finge
rs as best as I could.
“Ok. I’m done.”
He turned and came back towards me. “Ready to go back?”
I shook my head. “No. This is beautiful!” It was dark now and the moons were full. I blinked. There were two moons. A normal sized one and a slightly smaller one that was partially hidden behind the first. The reflection in the lake was breathtaking and the blue tinged trees around the edge looked more of a deep purple. I sat on the sand to admire the view.
Jasper sat down.
“I have more questions.” I glanced at him.
He nodded and waited.
“What is it exactly that I am supposed to do? And none of this ‘I can’t tell you’ crap.”
He grinned. “We’re not sure actually. Legends had it that a baby girl would be found abandoned in the Wedelven Woods. This girl would have powers beyond belief. It is also said that the dark king Damian would use this girl to destroy the good queen, but that it was possible to change the outcome of this future. When the Wedelves found you, they sent you from this world to keep you safe. It was told that when you were ready, you would find your way back. The legends don’t specify much after that. All we know is that you are important and I will do everything in my power to keep you safe.”
The change in his voice as he said those last words made me look up in surprise. The pain was back in his eyes.
“You are a Namael.”
“Yes.”
“I am a....” It occurred to me that I still didn’t know. “I guess we don’t know what I am, do we?”
“Well, after yesterday, I think it’s safe to say you are a sorceress.”
“I am a sorceress.” It sounded weird. “Can there be a Namael that is a sorceress?
He nodded.
“Could I be a Namael?”
“I suppose you could be. I could check for the mark if you want.”
“What mark?”
“All Namaels are born with a mark. It is a perfectly straight line, just behind your ear. Would you like me to look?”
I nodded.
He moved behind me on his knees and gently brushed the hair back from my neck and pulled my ear forward a bit. Not finding anything there, he moved on to the other side. My skin tingled at his touch.
“Nope. Nothing. So you’re not a Maj, either. They have a crescent mark.” He sat back down beside me. “The dogs,” he explained. “My guess is you are human.”
“Well, that’s no fun.”
He laughed.
“Ok. So back to my train of thought. I’m not a Namael. Beings are only fated to their own kind.”
“Yes.”
“And you know you are fated to someone because you dream of them.”
“Yes.” He was starting to look a bit confused as he confirmed my statements.
“I have never dreamed of you.” I took his hands in mine. His eyes were so sad. “What I mean is, you can stop being so upset. You don’t have to deny being with the one you are fated with because I’m not her.”
Understanding crept into his eyes. “It doesn’t make sense,” he whispered. “Why have I been dreaming of you?” He shifted so that he was kneeling in front of me, his hands still in mine.
“I don’t know why. But even you just said it. There is no way that we can be fated.”
He was quiet as he looked into my eyes.
I put my hands up on his chest. Goose bumps appeared under my fingers and he jerked a little at the touch. “Right?”
He looked a little unsure about what I wanted, but gave a small nod.
“Then there’s no reason why I can’t do this,” I muttered as I stretched up and touched my lips to his.
Jasper’s eyes widened in surprise.
I laced my fingers behind his head, scared he was going to pull away. I didn’t need to worry. He groaned and pulled me tighter against him, wrapping his arms around me.
I couldn’t think of anything else but the feel of his body against mine. He felt as solid as stone, his arms hugging me to his chest. That’s when I saw a flash. But that didn’t make sense because my eyes were closed. There was another flash.
My eyes flew open and I pulled back a bit. Jasper ran his lips along my jaw line then back to my mouth. This time it was my turn to moan. The instant I closed my eyes there was a flash.
One of his arms let go of me and reached past me so he could lay me on the sand. He lay on one elbow, his other hand on my waist.
He ran his tongue against my bottom lip and a flash came and stayed.
I gasped.
“I’m sorry.” Jasper started to pull away. “I don’t know what-“
”No!” I threw myself at him again, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him down on me. The instant our lips touched the flashes started. Over and over. Picture after picture flashed through my head.
The kiss slowed, became softer. Jasper groaned and buried his face in my hair. “What have I done?” he whispered.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.” I tried to catch my breath. “You didn’t do anything! I kissed you first!”
He had seen the flashes in my head as I had seen the ones in his. Flashes of me in his dreams. Flashes of him in dreams I didn’t remember. Until now.
Chapter 3
When Dodge walked into camp the next morning he found us sitting cross legged facing each other holding hands. We couldn’t stop looking at each other. Jasper answered another of my million questions about Quelondain.
Dodge stopped short, his head coming up in surprise.
Jasper looked up at him, embarrassment and guilt radiating from every pore of his perfect body.
“It was my fault,” he said. “I couldn’t stop it.”
Dodge stamped his foot.
I turned to glare at my horse. “Now, don’t you start with him. I’ve never seen a person feel so horrible about finding the one he’s supposed to be with.” Not that I had ever had the pleasure of witnessing such a event before last night. But I was sure most people would have been a bit happier.
Jasper’s head turned back towards me, his eyes wide.
I continued talking to Dodge. “I kissed him first. He was being a perfect gentleman. If you want to be mad at someone, be mad at me!”
I turned back towards Jasper. “That brings me to another question. Why are you upset about this?”
He brought my hands to his lips and kissed my knuckles. “I’m not upset. How could I be?” He smiled at me and I caught my breath. “I’ve finally found you.”
“Oh!” My eyes got wide with surprise.
“What’s wrong?”
That’s when I realized I could see colors floating through the air. They looked like waves. I let go of Jasper’s hands.
“I can see it!” I was scared to speak loudly. “There are all sorts of colors!” I reached out and touched a green wave. My fingers tingled. “What does green mean?” I whispered to Jasper.
“I’m not sure. I don’t think you should play with it until you’ve talked to Marilynn. She’s the head sorceress at the castle.”
I pulled my hand away, but the green followed. “It won’t leave me alone.”
Jasper and Dodge stood as still as stone.
“Well, what should I do?” My voice rose a bit.
“Ok. Well, maybe if you touched something. Wait.” Jasper looked around the campsite. He glanced at Dodge. “Good idea. Here. Come touch this stump. I don’t think you could do much of anything to a stump.”
I walked to the stump, the colors swirling around me. I kept looking at my fingers silently hoping the green would leave. It didn’t.
Once at the stump, I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and put my hands on it.
Dodge swished his tail and I heard Jasper’s mouth fall open.
I was scared to open my eyes. “What happened?”
Jasper recovered and laughed. “Well that worked out well!”
I slowly opened one eye. “Oh!” The dead stump was still there, but coming out of it were
new, live shoots. It was growing!
I suddenly felt very tired. I sat on the ground. Jasper knelt in front of me, worried.
“Are you alright?”
I nodded. “Just really tired. Why do you think that is?”
He brushed some loose hairs back behind my ears. “I don’t know. The only magic I use is to shift back and forth.”
“So green is healing,” I said.
“Is it gone?” he asked. When I nodded, he took my hands in his. “I want you to promise me you won’t play with this until we’ve seen Marilynn.”
I nodded.
Dodge snorted. I looked at Jasper for the translation.
“He is wondering how we are able to function at the moment. When a couple who is fated finally bond, there is a period of time where...well...” He blushed. “We should be holed up in a cave...”
I realized what he was saying and turned scarlet. “Do you want to?” I asked.
His eyes widened. “Well, yes. I can’t deny it’s on my mind. However, there is more at stake here than my personal wants and needs.” He looked at me closely. “And you?”
I wouldn’t have thought it possible, but there was a deeper shade of red than the one I already was. I nodded. I had to admit that for a girl who wouldn’t have looked twice at a man three days ago, the thoughts I was having about this one were shocking. “But like you said. Things to do.”
We stared at each other to the point where I thought any self-control we had was going to fly out the window. He exhaled slowly. “Alright, then. We better get going, Shlova.”
Dodge shook his head in amazement.
“Well, I don’t know!” Jasper sounded annoyed. “We aren’t your typical fated, now, are we? This has never happened before. How am I supposed to know why it did?” He almost seemed angry as he looked at my horse.
“Are you upset this happened?” I asked.
He wouldn’t look at me. “No. I’m not upset it happened. That’s not it at all.”
I wasn’t reassured. I swung onto Dodge and gave him a kick. He flattened his ears back at me.
“Sorry,” I muttered to him.
We took off at a trot along the base of the mountain. Jasper’s tiger stride matched the horse’s.
Crossover 'The Chosen One Trilogy: Book One' Page 5