Chapter Thirty
Jaxs
MAGNOLIA
Aknock sounded on my door, and I stole a breath for myself. A couple of hours had passed since breakfast ended, and I couldn’t stop thinking about Hael. I’d been pacing back and forth in front of my window, watching the suns peek out through the clouds, debating on if I should go look for him.
“You?” I gasped once I saw who was on the other side.
The male smirked, and as soon as I saw his smile, I knew where I recognized him from. He was friends with Hael, or at least, I thought he was. He was the one who dragged me out of the brothel. The same person who showed up in MonClem to warn Hael not to fly with me.
“Name’s Jaxs,” he smiled, holding out his hand for me to shake. I eyed it before crossing my arms over my chest. “Right. Sorry. I forgot about the whole no-touching-you thing.”
My eyes narrowed. “The what?”
He ran his hand through his shiny black hair. It was cropped to his head, except for a few longer pieces at the top. “How you don’t like to be touched, and you go all ghost-like when you do.”
“Ghost-like,” I repeated. “Who told you that?”
He had never been at any of the meals with King Elion. I knew for a fact he wasn’t there when the king made everyone try to touch me this morning, and I wasn’t transparent when he dragged me out of the brothel.
Did everyone know about my Token and I had no idea? And if that was true, did everyone know why I had it? Was the fact that I didn’t want anyone touching me public knowledge?
Suns. It made me want to crawl into a hole. I had spent so many years being invisible, no one knowing who I was, only to now have everyone know…
“Hael told me.”
I swallowed. A flash of relief washed through me that at least not everyone knew. “Why?” I asked.
He scratched his head. “Well, if we’re going to be traveling together, I kinda needed to know. He said it was super important that I didn’t touch you, and that—”
Whatever else he said was lost on me as I felt my mind splitting in two.
Dahes entering my head was even more jostling than before, like each new time he did it, he dug deeper, opening and flaying my skull wider.
My breathing hitched, and I staggered backward on instinct, the sudden movement made everything throb even more.
Shit. How was I going to finish this conversation—
“Relax, little ghost,” Dahes crooned. “I know you’re talking to someone.”
You know? I thought. So you can hear him?
“No, but I can hear your thoughts, and you subconsciously repeat what is said as your brain processes it,” he said. “You need to compose yourself.”
I straightened, completely aware that Jaxs was looking at me funny. I was still clutching my temples. “Travel?” I asked, trying to collect myself. “Who are you?”
“I already told you, my name’s Jaxs. I’m Hael’s second.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” I started to close the door, not having the energy to care if I was being rude. I had to stop this conversation now…
Jaxs caught the wood with his foot before it shut on him. “Can I come in, please?” His voice was sending coils of nausea through me, his words sounding like screams, even though he spoke quietly.
I didn’t answer. I couldn’t find my voice as I let myself do a cycle of breaths, trying not to make the turmoil inside me obvious.
My world was reduced to the pulse of Dahes squeezing my skull. Suns, how had I put up with this for years? The pain was so constant that I had gotten used to it, but now, it felt foreign, twisting and turning and taking up too much space.
“Keep talking to him,” Dahes ordered. “I want to know what he wants.”
“Is Hael okay?” I asked, unable to stop the question from rolling off my tongue. Dahes could ask me about it later.
“I’ll explain everything,” Jaxs droned, “just let me come in first.”
“Fine.” I pushed away from the door, turning toward the window to close the curtain. The bright lights suddenly felt like glass shards were hitting my eyes.
A click sounded, and I knew he was inside. “Hael’s fine,” Jaxs said, and I immediately hated that relief fluttered through me. “But all of this could have been avoided if you just left when he originally told you to.”
“Excuse me?” I whirled on him and instantly regretted it as my head throbbed. “Are you saying this is my fault?” I forced out through gritted teeth.
Jaxs had the decency to flinch. “No, but things will get worse for him if you stay.”
I furrowed my brows, forcing myself to steady the rise and fall of my chest. “Why?”
Jaxs didn’t answer. Honestly, his expression bordered wanting to tell me versus weighing out if he could keep a secret.
“Why did the king get so mad because he thought Hael and I were together?”
“It’s not really my story to tell,” Jaxs said.
“Okay, then this conversation is over.” I gestured toward the door. If he wasn’t going to give me answers, I couldn’t do this right now, not with Dahes inside my head.
“Explain,” the command was sharp.
I figured out who Hael is, I thought back for Dahes to hear. And I’ve been spending time with him to try to figure out his weaknesses. King Elion was pissed when he found out, and I have no idea why.
“Interesting.”
“It’s also not safe for you to stay here,” Jaxs added, clearly not done with this conversation.
“That’s convenient.”
“It’s the truth. What happened during breakfast was nothing. Elion can and will make things worse for you.” He paused. “Hael asked me to get you out of here, so can you just make things easier and agree?”
“No.” I crossed my arms over my chest as I focused on his blue eyes. “Why does Hael even care?”
I regretted the question the moment it left my mouth, but it was too late.
Jaxs looked taken aback. “Look. I have no idea, but he does, and he asked me to do this, and he never asks me to do anything.”
“Well, that’s your problem. I’m not going with you.”
“I also happen to agree with Hael,” Jaxs whispered, lowering his voice. “Elion isn’t—”
“I don’t think Elion is a good person either,” I cut him off. “But that doesn’t mean I’m leaving.”
“I promise it’s for your own good. I heard you’re running away from the Dead King, and Hael said Elion’s going to use you as a bargaining chip.
If there’s anything the king wants, he doesn’t care who he uses to get it.
It might not be right away, hell, it could be years from now, but it will happen. ”
I didn’t answer, and the silence from Dahes was stifling. I had no idea what he thought of any of this, but it was hard to focus, hard to formulate my own thoughts, while trying to keep my mind blank.
The pain helped—gave me something to focus on, even if I didn’t want it.
Jaxs took my silence as progress and kept talking.
“The two kings don’t exactly get along. Think about it.
King Elion agreed to keep you the moment he found out Dahes was after you.
It’s not safe for you here. Even if you aren’t scared of Elion, which you should be, the chances of him sending you back to Moriann if you stay are significantly higher. ”
“Where does he want to take you?”
“Where does Hael want me to go?” I asked, closing my eyes. Suns, I needed to lay down. I needed this entire interaction to be over, and I needed Dahes out of my head.
“He has a safe haven.” The moment Jaxs said it, Dahes’ grip loosened around my head. Just the slightest fraction, enough for me to think.
“A safe haven?” I repeated, my eyes snapping open. I wasn’t expecting that. I thought he was going to tell me to hide in the Fourth Province like he said when I first came here. My heart was beating so fast. I wasn’t sure if I should keep baiting Jaxs for information.
“Yeah. Only Hael and I know where it is, so no one will be able to get to you there. Not even Dahes.”
I wanted to believe it so badly, but I knew it wasn’t true. My deal with Dahes wouldn’t let up just because I was somewhere else. He owned my soul and nothing I could do would change that.
His nails scraped down my temples at the thought, sending agonizing waves of pain through my spine. It took everything in me not to scream.
“That’s right, little ghost,” he drawled, his voice lowering. “You’re mine.”
“Why did Hael send you?” I asked, trying and failing to compose myself. I was pretty sure I was stuttering now.
“He… uh…” He paused.
“He’s avoiding me,” I answered for him, making the connection myself.
Jaxs flinched which was enough confirmation that I was correct.
It didn’t really matter if I stayed here or not, but if Hael was going to avoid me, I was getting nowhere closer to my hunt.
I needed time with him, and I needed to be alone.
“You still don’t know his weaknesses?”
I was about to shake my head, then remembered that I was still talking to Jaxs. No, but I’m getting close, I thought to Dahes. I just need a little more time.
“Go to the safe haven,” he ordered. “There is no point in staying in the castle anymore with the tournament over, and I’m curious where it is.” There was a pause. “But your time is running out, little ghost. I don’t think I need to remind you what happens if you fail.”
“I’ll leave,” I finally said, and Jaxs smiled, relief sagging through him until I added, “but only under one condition.”
“Sure. Anything.”
“Hael has to be the one to take me.”
“And Magnolia,” Dahes added, and I could already feel the talon-like grip across my mind ebbing. “Remember, there is nowhere in Viven that I can’t reach. You will never be free of me.”