Crossover 'The Chosen One Trilogy: Book One'

by Chester, Mireille

  Jasper’s voice floated into my head. “More than anything in this world or the one you came from. That’s how much I love you.”

  I put my head in my hands. “I love you more,” I whispered to the voice. All I could think about was how much I missed him and wanted him to be here with me. To feel his arms around me, his lips on mine. To look into his eyes and forget about everything else that might exist.

  “What if mom is right? What if it’s years?” I felt the panic start to take a hold and I tried to push it back down. “I don’t think I can handle another week of this, much less years!”

  I took a few deep breaths but the fear refused to go away.

  “Hayden? Are you ok?”

  I wiped the tears from my cheeks and tried to smile at Shay. “I’m fine.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  I shook my head even though there was nothing I wanted more than to be able to tell her what was happening.

  “Well, looky who I found!”

  We jumped at the sound of Dave’s voice. He was walking toward us with two other guys I didn’t recognize.

  “Who are those guys?” I whispered to Shay.

  She shrugged. “He brought them tonight. I’ve never met them. They don’t ride here.”

  Dave passed a bottle to one of the others and the man took a drink. All three of them were evidently feeling the liquor.

  “So this is her, is it?” asked the shorter one.

  They stopped a few feet from us. I could smell the alcohol on them.

  “That’s her. And her mouthy little friend.”

  “Why don’t you guys go back to the barns, Dave. I’m sure there’s more beer for you to drink.” I tried to sound a lot calmer than I was feeling. I glanced at Shay and saw her staring at them, her eyes wide.

  “I don’t think I want another beer. I think you know what I want.” He grabbed my arm and pulled me off the fence. “Who’s going to protect you now, Hayden?”

  Shaynna tried to make a run for the barns but was tackled by Dave’s taller friend. “I don’t think so sweetheart.” He clamped a hand over her mouth.

  “Let her go!”

  “I don’t think so. From what Dave’s been telling me, she needs to learn some manners.”

  “Look, just do what you want with me. Just don’t hurt her!”

  Shay’s eyes bulged out of her head and she tried to free herself.

  Dave looked at his friends. “What do you say, boys? Do we take her up on the offer?”

  The shorter one shrugged. “How about we see if she makes it worth our while before we promise anything.”

  Dave smiled. “Good plan.” He turned back to me. “It’s up to you Hayden. You be a good girl, and we’ll keep our hands off of Shay.”

  I nodded. My heart was beating a mile a minute and I had to swallow to keep from throwing up.

  “Let’s take a walk then.” Dave dug his fingers into my arm and turned me toward the trails. The other two pushed Shay along behind us, making sure not to let her scream.

  Good job, Hayden, I thought to myself. That’s twice in about six months someone is going to try to rape you. That has to be some sort of record.

  Had it been just me, I would have fought and screamed and kicked, but the thought of Shay getting hurt because she happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time kept me from trying to cause a scene.

  We walked deeper into the woods until we were well out of sight and hearing range of the arena.

  The fear and panic were starting to take over everything. Could I let them do it? Should I let them do it? Even if I managed to fight Dave off, the other two would hurt Shay. I couldn’t fight three of them. I could feel the weight of my knife against my leg. Maybe if I could reach it without them noticing.

  Dave pushed me to the ground and straddled me. I started to try to wiggle out from under him. He put all of his weight on me and ran his hands up my shirt.

  “In a hurry, honey?” He grinned at me. “Don’t be. I’m going to take my time and enjoy this.”

  “Dave,” I tried to reason with him. “You’re drunk. Do you really want to wake up tomorrow morning and realize that you forced me to do this?”

  He laughed. “I didn’t force you to do anything. I seem to recall you just volunteered your services.” He pinched my nipple hard and I jumped at the pain. “I bet you like it rough,” he mumbled.

  “Dave, please…”

  He pinched me again. “Please what?”

  I realized he wasn’t about to stop. I spread my hands over the ground and ran them along until one of them found rock. It wasn’t a big rock, but it would have to do.

  “Dave! What the fuck are you doing?”

  Dave didn’t look up from what he was doing to my breast. Both of his friends jumped and turned.

  Shawn’s eyes bugged out of his head at the sight of his girlfriend being held hostage. He looked down at me and back to Shay, trying to see which situation he should deal with first.

  I swung my arm around and brought the rock up to Dave’s head as hard as I could. He grunted and fell to the side.

  Shawn strode to where Shay was being held.

  Her captors pushed her to the side and got ready for a fight.

  Shay ran to my side. “Are you ok?” She helped me sit up.

  “I’m fine.” I pulled my pant leg up and pulled my knife out.

  Her eyes widened.

  “Go hide behind those bushes over there.” I gave her a push and she did as she was told.

  The calm I felt when I was sparring engulfed me. I could see everything happening. Shawn was handling himself quite well with the other two. Dave was standing and marching toward me.

  “You’re going to regret doing that.”

  “Stop there, Dave. I don’t want to hurt you.”

  He laughed at me then charged.

  I stepped to the side and flicked my knife over his arm.

  He cried out. “You stupid bitch!”

  He came at me again, this time more cautiously.

  Behind me, I heard a growl. I looked back quickly, my heart in my throat. All I could see was Shawn and the other two men. Shawn had one in a head lock while the other one was swinging a large branch at his head.

  My small distraction was all Dave needed to tackle me to the ground. He grabbed my wrist and slammed my arm on the ground. I lost my grip on my knife.

  “Any last words before I knock you out?” grumbled Dave.

  I couldn’t help but grin at him. “Actually, yeah. I should have listened to Jasper and brought my swords.”

  I heard another growl. “Yes, you should have. But you’re always to bloody stubborn to listen. I thought you said it was safe here.”

  Dave’s head snapped up and looked behind me.

  Relief washed over me and I relaxed. “It usually is, hun. I wasn’t lying.”

  Dave looked back down at me then back at Jasper.

  “Would you mind getting off my mate, please.” Jasper spoke softly but no one could deny the calm threatening tone in his voice.

  “Your mate?”

  Jasper growled again. “My wife.”

  Dave stood up and kicked me. “I’ll deal with you after.” He looked down at me and as an afterthought added, “what is it with you a big Scottish guys, anyway?”

  I laughed.

  “Shlova ?”

  I looked at Jasper and noticed the strange look in his eyes.

  “If you’re all done making small talk, I’d like to get this done and over with.” He closed his eyes then opened them again, before taking a deep breath.

  Dave smiled, taking this as a sign of nervous weakness. “Scared are you?” he sneered at Jasper.

  Jasper raised an eyebrow at him. “No. You see, I haven’t seen my wife for over a month now, and the sooner I get rid of you, the sooner I can hold her in my arms again.” He bared his teeth and Dave’s smile faltered. “No worries, Shlova. I can’t see this taking too long.”

  “No
, I don’t imagine it will.” Dave didn’t stand a chance.

  Jasper stood still. He looked so relaxed. But I knew his battle calm. By the set of his mouth, I was sure he could have taken out five Maj by himself. He was breathing faster than normal, probably because he had run here. His curls had grown out a bit and were in his face. It looked like he hadn’t shaved since I had left. Standing there in his buckskin pants, his shirt slightly damp with sweat, his dagger at his side, and his teeth bared, he looked wild. But Jasper being Jasper, he pulled it off with a certain degree of sexy.

  I shook my head at myself and took a deep breath. I had almost been raped, Shawn was fighting twenty feet away, and all I could think about was pulling Jasper into the woods and having my way with him.

  His eyes flashed with amusement like they always did when he would sense me feeling this in public. He turned toward me. His eyes met mine and widened.

  After not seeing him for a month, I wasn’t ready for the pull of his gaze. It was like being newly fated all over again. I caught my breath. God, I had missed that perfect blue.

  I saw him take a deep breath and he swallowed hard. Obviously he was feeling it too. I frowned. He was shaking.

  “Would you mind toning that down a bit, Shlova?” His voice was husky.

  “Oh!” I realized I hadn’t been shielding at all and he was feeling his need and my need full force. “Sorry.” I pulled back on my feelings and his shaking stopped.

  He gave me a half grin then turned back to Dave.

  “Shawn!”

  All of us jumped at Shaynna’s scream. I turned in time to see Shawn drop to the ground. One man was already lying by a tree, unconscious. The other one jumped on Shawn, intent on finishing the job.

  I ran and threw myself on the man’s back and wrapped my arms around his neck.

  He grunted and slammed me against a tree with all his might. I held on for dear life, and looked up to see Jasper and Dave squaring off.

  “Shay! Find my knife!” I yelled at her.

  She nodded and dropped on her hands and knees, looking through the bushes.

  My breath left my body as I was slammed into the tree again.

  I heard Shay give a squeal of victory before running toward us. I let go of the man’s neck and grabbed the knife from her.

  He crouched and looked at me with a grin. “Let’s go, little girl.”

  I took two steps toward him and he rushed at me. His arms snaked out to grab me, but only got air as I pivoted and swung my arm back around in his direction.

  He grunted as the handle of my knife connected with the base of his skull. He fell in a heap on the ground.

  I saw Shay trying to wake Shawn and went to help her.

  “He got hit in the back of the head.”

  I turned his head and looked. “He’s bleeding.” I brushed his hair back so I could see how badly he was hurt. My eyes widened.

  I heard Dave grunt and looked up.

  “We’re going to have to work on you knife work, Shlova,” stated Jasper calmly as he stepped toward Dave and gave him a solid punch to the stomach.

  After fighting trained packs of Majs, taking on one drunk human wasn’t exactly a challenge.

  “Why? I think I was doing just fine.”

  “You were holding it backwards,” he looked back at me quickly and smiled before turning back to Dave who was straightening.

  “That was on purpose. You know how I feel about killing.”

  “Lowlifes like this don’t deserve to live.”

  Dave’s eyes widened before Jasper’s fist connected with his jaw, the uppercut sending him flying onto his back. Jasper walked up to him and knelt on him.

  Shay’s eyes bugged out of her head at the sight of Jasper’s dagger as he pulled it out and placed it against Dave’s throat.

  “Jasper…” I got up and started to walk toward him. At this very moment I could have cared less about what Jasper was going to do to Dave. It was Shay I was worried about.

  He looked up at me, his eyes full of anger, worry, love, and pain.

  I put a hand on his shoulder and he relaxed.

  “It’s not as bad when you touch me.”

  I put both of my hands on him and looked down at Dave.

  Jasper followed my gaze. “What do you want me to do with him?”

  Dave’s tear filled eyes locked on mine.

  I glared at him “We could bring him with us and just leave him there. I’m sure he’d manage to get himself killed within a day or two.”

  Jasper chuckled. “And you think that would be less cruel than just slitting his throat right now?”

  “No. It would be much more cruel. But then I wouldn’t have his death on my hands.”

  Jasper’s eyes narrowed. “It won’t be on your hands. It will be on his own.”

  I took a deep breath, knelt behind him and lay my head on his back. “Honestly, I just want to go home.”

  “Yes, I imagine your parents are expecting you back soon.”

  “No. Not this home. Our home. I don’t care what we end up having to deal with. I’m going back with you.”

  He reached behind him with one arm and pulled me around so I was facing him. “Alright.” He leaned down and kissed me softly. “Now, about this…” He gestured toward Dave who was smart enough not to try and get up.

  “Just knock him on the head and let’s go.”

  He handed me his dagger. “I think you earned it more than me.”

  Dave’s eyes widened and he blubbered something that sounded like my name. I glared at him. “Not so funny when it’s you laying on the ground, is it?” I asked him. “Any final words before I knock you out?” I asked him.

  “Sorry?” He looked at me hopefully.

  “If I ever hear of you doing this to anyone else, Dave, you have my word. I will hunt you down and next time, I won’t be so nice.” I jammed the hilt of Jasper’s dagger into his temple and watched him crumble to the ground.

  Shawn groaned.

  “Hayden, he’s still bleeding!” Shay’s voice was full of panic.

  I ran over to them. “Jasper, come look at this.”

  He knelt beside me and I pushed Shawn’s hair back away from his ear.

  “Hmm. Interesting. Does she know?” He looked at Shaynna.

  “Do I know what?”

  “I don’t think so,” I said. I looked at Shawn a little more closely. “He needs help.”

  “What do you want to do?” asked Jasper.

  “I can’t tell how bad it is. If we go back to the barns we’ll have to explain this. I’ll have to explain you. I don’t even know if medicine here will work on him. Check his pockets; see if he has his stone.” I looked at Shay. “Do you trust me, Shay?”

  She looked at me with wide eyes.

  “I can help him. But we need to move him back to where he’s from.”

  “I… I don’t understand.”

  “I’ll explain it to you, but we have to move now.”

  She looked down at Shawn and nodded.

  We heard a snort come from a little way in the woods and Doc came wandering toward us.

  “How’s that for good luck. Can you get him on there, Jasper?”

  He nodded then pulled his hand out of Shawn’s jeans pocket. “It’s in that pocket. He’ll be able to cross.”

  “Okay. Let’s get him on the horse.” The three of us lifted, pushed and pulled until Shawn was in the saddle. Jasper hopped on behind him and held him on.

  “Get started. By the time we catch up, you should be there.” I took Shay’s hand and started running back to the barns. “We need Macho.”

  We slowed as we got back to the building, not wanting to draw attention to ourselves. Shay went in and bridled her horse. I gave her a leg up and then used the fence to get on.

  Shay gave him a kick and we loped off after Jasper and Shawn.

  “What’s going on, Hayden?” She sounded confused, but not terrified.

  “Do you remember when I saw that trail i
n the woods, but you didn’t see it?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well, it’s there. And at the other end of it is a world completely different than the one here. That’s where Jasper is from and by the looks of it, so is Shawn.”

  She was quiet. “Let’s say for a second that I’m going along with this…how can you tell he’s from there?”

  “He’s a Namael. Like Jasper. They have a mark behind their ear. A straight line. They’re born with it.”

  “He told me it was a tattoo he got in his wild and stupid days.”

  We cantered over the bridge and headed for the meadow.

  I pulled my mom’s phone out and dialed. I got the answering machine.

  “Hey, mom, dad. It’s me. I’m letting you guys know that I’ve decided to go back, so please don’t worry when I don’t come home tonight. Thanks for everything you’ve ever done for me. I love you.”

  Up ahead, we could see Doc trotting with his charges.

  Macho slowed as we caught up to them.

  “How’s he doing?” I asked Jasper.

  “He’s mumbling. He’s fated to her. That’s all he talks about. But he’s scared to tell her the truth.”

  “Shay?”

  Shay legged Macho closer to Doc and put a hand on Shawn’s shoulder. “I’m here, Shawn.”

  He smiled and lay his head back down against Jasper.

  I heard Shay catch her breath. “I can see it!” She was looking further up the trail, where the cross trail branched off of the main one.

  “How can she see it, Jasper?”

  “I’m not sure, but I think it’s because you’re touching her. You must carry some magic with you. That’s why I didn’t hurt as badly when you touched me.”

  “Does that mean she’ll be able to cross?”

  He shrugged. “I’m assuming that if she can see it, she can cross it. If something happens that you don’t cross with us, I’ll bring back Shawn’s cross gem for you,” he told her.

  She nodded.

  We turned the horses onto the cross trail and trotted up the hill. I half expected Shay to disappear when we reached the meadow.

  “When do we get there?” she asked.

  “We’re here. You made it.” We made our way over to the waterfall and stopped the horses.

  We lay Shawn on the ground

  I took a deep breath and sighed. “That feels much better.”