by Emma Couette
“Will I be able to walk?” I wonder.
“To a certain extent, yes. We’re giving you a leg brace for the fracture and we ask that you stay away from strenuous action for at least a week. Do you think you can handle that?”
“I don’t know,” I reply. “It all depends on when we decide to initiate Stage Three of the battle. I will be there, broken leg or no.” Jenson and I need to discuss that as soon as possible. The thought of waiting much longer makes me nervous.
“That’s what I was afraid of,” Shirley says, “just please, be careful. I don’t fancy seeing you in here again anytime soon.”
“When do I lose the brace?”
“When I see fit,” she replies, “but we’ll see you back here in two days to remove the stitches. They’ll have been in for a week by then.”
I nod. “If I must.”
“You will,” she says.
I sigh. “When are you going to put the brace on?”
“I’m going to call the other nurses in a moment and we’ll do it then. You’re going to have to lie back down and if you don’t lie perfectly still, we’ll sedate you again.”
I roll my eyes. “Whatever, just get on with it.”
“If you think you’re ready...” She walks over to the door and calls out.
I take a deep breath and lie down, staring at the ceiling. I imagine Jax’s face as the nurses surround me. I close my eyes.
One of them touches my leg and I flinch.
“Just do it,” I hear them mutter.
I feel a sting in my arm and then nothing.
…
When I open my eyes, it’s dark again and I can feel a presence beside me. Immediately, I fear the worst and tense up.
I hear a groan and someone speaks. “Hey... It’s okay, Silent. It’s just me.”
I sigh and relax; Jax. “What are you doing?” I ask. “If the nurses find you...” I yawn. “Shirley will tan your hide.”
He laughs. “We don’t have to worry about that. They moved you while you were out. We’re in your room.”
I tense up again, senses on hyper drive. Jax is lying in my bed.
Assassins below. This is seriously testing my self-control.
Jax notices my distress and says, “I can leave if this makes you uncomfortable. I just thought you might want someone here when you woke up and you don’t have a chair in your room and I was tired...”
I put a hand on his arm. “Jax. It’s fine. Don’t get so worked up about it.” It’s a reminder to myself too.
“You’re okay then?” he asks.
I sigh. “I’ve never been better, but I’m going to go back to sleep now.”
“You do that. I’ll be right here.”
So I fall asleep, once again nestled in his arms, listening to the beat of his heart in sync with mine.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
The next morning, when I wake, I’m alone, but the bed beside me is still warm. Jax must have left recently, maybe a few minutes ago. I smile, closing my eyes again and envisioning his face. I rub my thumb across my bottom lip. I can’t believe he kissed me. I can’t believe I kissed him back.
Who am I?
I have no idea, but I like the new me, my new life, and above all, my Ajax. I laugh. It sounds ridiculous to call him mine, but the alternative is boyfriend and I don’t think I’m ready for that yet.
I sigh and sit up. Only then do I realize a detail I missed last night when I was half asleep. My right leg is held tight by the brace the nurses must’ve snapped on after they knocked me out again.
Damn nurses.
I haven’t been awake for more than an hour in, well... It has to be at least five days. I should probably find out what day it is, how much time I’ve lost, how much time the Charger has had to prepare a counter-attack.
I slide over to the edge of the bed and swing both legs over, careful not to bang the brace against the bed frame. Tensing up, I place both feet on the floor and stand. There’s a dull ache in my leg, but I can take it. I was expecting a lot more pain.
I relax my stance and begin a slow hobble to my closet. It’s more like a waddle.
Guild, it’s going to take me a while to get used to this.
I reach the closet and search through it for something to wear, breathing a lot heavier than necessary.
I hate this.
I decide on a black uniform shirt and cloak. I’ll have to tackle changing my pants later, maybe ask Blake for help. I have no idea how to navigate around this damn brace. I never should’ve let that axe man get to me.
What was I doing? I never should have let that one guy separate me from my sword.
Speaking of which, where in the Guild did all my weapons go? I hope someone recovered them. I’ve had that sword since I was ten years old. I earned that blade through blood, sweat, and tears. Mostly blood though.
I get dressed and waddle over to the mirror to check out my latest look. I laugh when I see my reflection. I look like shit.
My hair is in complete disarray and I run my fingers through it in an attempt to tame it. It doesn’t help that the axe man got away with several strands of it, but I don’t think that’s the main issue. Dark circles linger under my eyes and a red line runs across my right cheek, courtesy of a man with a hunting knife. I let him get a bit too close. Then I let him get personal with one of my daggers; they didn’t get along. The cut doesn’t look deep, so hopefully it won’t scar.
I check my other injuries: the shallow cut on my left leg and the slice on my shoulder. The nurses must’ve found them because they’re healing nicely.
Finally, I decide to quit delaying the inevitable. I’ll have to face the world eventually, might as well do it now.
Sighing, I make my way over to the door and into the hall. The hall is empty, but I won’t be alone for long. It’s always busy near the cafeteria.
Well, if anybody laughs at me they’ll soon see just how incapacitated I am as I decapitate them. I don’t need a knife to pry their heads off of their shoulders. That’s what most people don’t realize.
It takes twice as long as it should for me to get to the cafeteria. No one makes fun of me as I waddle down the halls. A solid glare is enough to keep the snickers and name-calling at bay. However, I don’t doubt that someone will run along to her highness to let her know how stupid I look.
I swear, if she shows up at our table, I will skin her alive with my fingernails. I’d rather screw up my other leg than see her ugly face.
I shove my way through the crowds in the cafeteria and plop down on the bench beside Bast at our table. Blake sits across from us. They both jump at the sight of me.
“Night!” Bast exclaims. “Jax didn’t tell us they released you from the infirmary yet. How are ya? We would’ve come to visit you, but the rules are family only and they almost refused to make an exception for Jax.”
“That’s okay,” I reply, “I understand, and Jax probably didn’t tell you because I was released late last night.” I don’t tell them he slept with me. That would be an awkward conversation, especially since I’m pretty sure they don’t know about our new relationship status.
“Right,” Bast says, “but how are you?”
“I feel okay. I’m a little rough around the edges, but what do you expect? The real problem is trying to deal with this.” I stand up and show off the leg brace.
Bast whistles. “Nice, man. That looks fun.”
I roll my eyes. “Oh, yeah, fun is definitely the word I would use to describe this monkey suit.”
He shrugs. “It’s for your own good.”
I scowl.
Blake looks at Bast and says, “Zip it, the poor woman’s already been through enough, she doesn’t need you poking fun at her.”
“What are you,” he counters, “my mother?”
“I don’t like your tone, Sebastian,” she scolds him.
He glares at her.
Blake and I laugh. “You brought that one upon yourself, Seb,” I gasp through m
y giggles.
“Aw,” a voice says from behind me, “what did I miss?”
We all turn to face Jax and he squishes onto the bench beside Bast and I.
“Just a Bast joke,” I tell him.
“Damn. Was it a good one?”
“Oh, lay off of it,” Bast whines.
“It’s not as if you don’t tease the rest of us,” Blake chides him.
“I’m not going to apologize for it if that’s what you’re implying, Blake.”
“Okay, okay,” Jax says, “let’s everybody calm down. There’s something we need to talk about.”
Bast’s face loses its cheer. “What is it? What happened?”
Jax laughs. “Oh, don’t look so serious; nobody died. I just want to tell the two of you that Silent and I are—”
“—together now,” I finish for him before he can use the word “dating.” It seems like such a juvenile term. This isn’t a fling. This is something I’ve invested in, something I’ve put my trust in.
Bast raises a fist in the air. “Yes! I knew that ten bucks was mine!”
“What?” I ask.
He runs a hand through his curls. “Um... Trey and I might’ve had a bet going...”
“On our relationship status?” I ask.
“Yeah.”
I scowl. “Are the two of you five years old? Do you have nothing better to do?”
“Yes and no,” he replies.
I roll my eyes and shake my head. Beside me, Jax is frowning.
“But, uh, congrats,” Bast goes on. “I was rooting for you either way.”
“Uh huh,” I say.
Blake smiles at Jax and me from across the table. “I’m glad to hear it,” she says. “This will be a nice change.”
I smile back. “I hope so.”
“Thanks, Blake,” Jax says, “good to see someone cares about us.”
“Hey, I said congrats didn’t I?” Bast complains. “It’s only a little bit of money.”
“You gambled on your friends, Bast,” Jax retorts.
“Yeah, those are the easiest bets to win; I know you guys.”
Jax shakes his head. “All that aside, Silent and I are together, but that doesn’t change how this team operates and I still regard all of us as equals. Now, there are a few more important things we need to go over.”
“Like filling me in on everything I missed since the train?” I suggest. “What day is it, for starters?”
“It’s June eleventh,” Jax replies.
Ugh. So I did lose five days. Great.
“How did any of us even survive that battle?” I ask.
“The reinforcements arrived shortly after you lost consciousness,” he tells me, “and they bombed the remaining assassins so we would all have time to evacuate.”
I wince. “That should make the Charger real happy.”
“There haven’t been any repercussions yet. I think we’re both just watching and waiting.”
“Lovely. Has Jenson come up with our next move?”
“No,” Jax replies. “He wanted to, believe me, but Avery told him to wait for you to recover, because you’re the leader of the mission.”
“Avery came here to talk to Jenson about me?” I’m astounded. I know Avery trusts me more than Jenson does, but I didn’t think he would postpone the entire operation because I was out of commission.
“Well, actually,” Jax answers, “he came here to see you.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. Jenson sent him a message, telling him what happened, and an hour later he showed up with two bodyguards and demanded to be escorted to the infirmary.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No. It was the weirdest thing. Oh and that reminds me, we should probably go see Trey sometime today. She’s been in hysterics ever since she heard what happened.”
“Why?” I didn’t think she cared.
“No idea.”
“Probably a girl thing,” Bast pipes up.
Blake scowls at him.
“Don’t give me that look, Blake.” He leans back in his seat. “Hey, you know, we should do something to celebrate Night’s recovery.”
“Like what?” I ask.
“I was thinking about a trip to the Den and a way cool party...” He trails off; the glare Ajax is shooting his way silences him. “What? Come on, man, it would be fun. I won’t do anything this time, I swear.”
Jax takes a deep breath. “I don’t like it at all, but it’s not up to me. Silent?”
I swivel my head, gazing from him to Bast and back again. “Well, this is a fun decision.” I sigh. “I agree with Bast; it could be fun. It’ll take everyone's minds off of what’s been happening and Jax, I promise you I won’t drink anything unless I’m positive it’s a glass of water.”
“You swear?”
“On my life and my mother’s grave.”
“Even with your injury?”
“I can still walk; I’m not incompetent.”
“All right, I guess it’s a go then, but if you feel any strain, let me know and we’ll get you to bed. Oh, and that reminds me: I’m supposed to give you these.” He pulls a bottle of pills out of his coat pocket and sits them on the table. “You need to take two to start and then one at every meal and before bed until they’re gone.”
“Ugh. Must I?”
“If you don’t, Shirley will kill the both of us.”
I laugh and take the bottle.
I down two pills as Jax turns to Bast. “So, when were you thinking for the party?”
“Tonight?” Bast suggests. “Eight o’clock should do it. I’ll get the word out. Sound good?”
I nod and reply, “As long as Natalie doesn’t find out, I’m okay with whomever.”
“Yeah, no. Her highness is not invited. Over my dead body.”
“Which can be arranged,” I reply, grinning at him.
“Oh, I know, believe me.”
“Good.”
“Well, Silent,” Jax says, “are you going to eat something or can we go and get this meeting with Jenson over with?”
I raise an eyebrow. “Meeting? What meeting?”
“Right, I forgot to tell you. Jenson wanted to meet with you as soon as you were released. Like I said earlier, he wants to move on with the planning, but we can eat first if you want.”
“Oh, I intend to, and I think I’ll go see Trey too before I bend to his will.”
He shrugs. “Go right ahead; I’m not going to stop you, and if Jenson wants to punish you, he’ll have to go through me first.”
I smile. “You know, I’m mighty hungry. This might take a while.”
He laughs and Bast says, “What do you guys want on your tombstones? Flowers? Adjacent graves?”
“Lay off it, Bast,” I say, standing up.
He shrugs. “I’m just saying.”
I snort and hobble over to the counter to get some food. Jenson has been waiting for five days. He can wait a couple more hours.
CHAPTER THIRTY
After I eat, Jax and I walk to Trey’s room. I still don’t understand why she was so upset over my injury. I didn’t think she thought that much of me. I didn’t even think we were friends. I mean, she’s obviously connected enough to bother placing bets with Bast, but I didn’t think she liked me.
The cafeteria is a few halls behind us when Jax speaks. “Hey, I just want to let you know that so far, Bast and Blake are the only people that know about us. Well, other than the nurses, I guess.”
“Yeah,” I reply. “So?” My hand brushes his as we walk and our fingers intertwine, almost without thought.
“Well, I was thinking we might want to keep our relationship on the down low for a bit.”
I stop walking, dragging him to a stop beside me. “Why, are you ashamed of me?” I’m hurt by his words, but he looks horrified at mine.
“No! That’s not it at all,” he assures me. “I just don’t think our leaders would approve, seeing as we come from two different worlds, so to speak.
They might forbid us from—”
“Screw them,” I snap, “we’re both human. I will not let anyone tell me what to do or who to love.”
“Are you sure...”
I cut off his sentence with a quick kiss. “Positive.”
He kisses me then, deeper but just as quick. I moan when he pulls away, wanting more.
“If that’s what you want,” he says, “then that’s what we’ll do, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Danger is my middle name, Jax; warnings don’t scare me.”
“Hey, speaking of that,” he says as we start walking again, arms swinging between us. “Now that we’re together, can you tell me your real name?”
I grin. “Not a chance.”
“Rylie?”
“No.”
“Blair?”
I snort at that.
“Dallas?”
I laugh. “Now you’re just being ridiculous. Don’t you like not knowing? Doesn’t it add to my mystique?”
“Quite, but I’m still curious.”
“Well then, you’ll just have to keep guessing.”
He sighs, but does just that all the way to Trey’s room. He doesn’t get anywhere close.
Trey is staying in a guest room and we reach the guest hall five minutes later. It’s a dead end corridor with five rooms on each side, but it looks friendlier than the usual square corners and grey palettes of the rest of the base. The ceiling is arched, the walls painted a dull green.
Trey’s room is at the end and Ajax knocks on the door. We hear footsteps from within and then the door opens a crack. Trey peeks out.
She sees us and smiles. “Jax, Night, nice to see you. Come in.” She opens the door wider and we follow her inside.
I find myself jealous of her room. It’s painted a deep purple and it has a couch, an armchair, a small kitchen table set, and a bed. Jax and I sit down on the couch side by side while Trey leans on the chair arm.
“You’re looking good, Night,” Trey says. “You certainly gave us a scare a few days ago. How’re you feeling?”
“Better than I was. I’m still a bit sore, but I guess that’s to be expected seeing as I escaped death by a hair. The nurses say I’m really lucky.”