Chapter 10 #2
He walked around her and over to the guy’s side. She looked at his back as he walked by; it was no less impressive than the front. There was no way he didn’t exercise daily. If he were to ever lift her, he probably could do it just as easily as Kaed would, if not easier.
After finding the means to move, the ball was tossed to her. She hadn’t served yet, and that prospect scared her. Everyone had their eyes on her, but the strength of Jayce’s gaze made her tremble.
Centering herself, she tossed the ball up, and with a gentle smack, lobbed the ball over to them.
The game began, and as before, it was just as competitive.
Azahara found her mouth clamped shut, as was Jayce’s.
While she didn’t mind bantering, the prospect of calling them names seemed too personal, and she didn’t feel close enough to them yet.
The ball found its way to Jayce, and she knew he would immediately hit it right at her.
Preparing herself, she angled her shoulders, and as he spiked the ball down at her, she put her hands together, allowing the speed of it to tap off her forearms with no additional force behind it.
Alyse was moving to flick the ball upward, and Tessa came to spike it over just the same.
It was hit with such force that she swore it was done to inflict harm.
Zayne, who was closest, only had enough time to put the back of his hand up to ward off the ball, hitting him right in the face.
It ricocheted so quickly that Azahara had no time to react, as she had been in the front.
The smack against her nose had her stumbling, a soft curse escaping while her hands clasped over her nose.
“Oh shit, Aza!” Zayne gasped. “I’m so sorry!”
The sound of rushing water towards her was drowned out by Jayce, “I’ve got her.” While his voice was gentle, it held a resonance that spoke of it not being a request.
His hand rested against her wrist, “Let me see.”
“I’m fine,” she winced as she moved her hands. While it stung, she could tell nothing was broken. His hand was on her cheek, his thumb brushing gently against the crease of her nose.
The way he held her made her heart bounce around in her chest. The hand that wasn’t against her face had the back of her head, cradling it to ensure she wouldn’t go anywhere.
Fuck, I need him to back up. Try as she might, she couldn’t remove her eyes from his.
It was as if she was bound to them, which was both terrifying, and calming.
“Nothing is broken,” he gave her a nod. “Strong nose. At that proximity, it should have.” She swore at that moment he was about to lean in and kiss her forehead, but instead, he shook his head and stepped back.
Releasing a breath, she visibly relaxed. She wasn’t sure if she should thank him or not. The thick fog in her brain kept her from thinking coherently.
Alyse was the savior to their building tension. “Oh, Rowlin!” She yelled, and at that moment, everyone sensed the game was ending.
Thankful that Jayce was now a few feet away, she could breathe without tasting his worldly, peppermint scent that brought her a sense of calm and tranquility that she both loved and hated.
Unsure of what she should do, she turned away from him and looked up at the sky, a longing, desperate look about her. A breeze swept through, gently tousling her hair, which was beginning to dry. Some strands danced and swirled around her face.
She stepped further into the sea. The thought of going diving to round off their time here in Celadon crossed her mind. She smiled and was about to do it when Jayce intersected her thoughts.
“Lucky sky,” he was walking up beside her.
“How so?” She brushed her hair behind her ear, crossing her arms under her chest and leaning away from him.
“To be looked at like that.”
“Pfft,” she scoffed, “the sky has never disappointed or hurt me. It can have any look it would like.” That wasn’t necessarily meant to be a jab, but she supposed it came out like one after saying it.
“Ouch,” a verbal confirmation.
“Aw, where does it hurt?” A playful smile brimming at her lips. His eyes trailed to them, and she instinctively bit at the corner. “I can get Carmen to bring you some aid when we return to the ship.”
“We?” It dawned on her that she hadn’t talked to him about staying onboard. Maybe that was why he had avoided her yesterday and this morning.
Sheepishly, her eyes diverted away from him, moving to give them space, “If you want, that is.”
His feathery chuckle would have been all she needed to confirm that he would be getting back on the Neptune, but he still said, “I’d love nothing more.”
She splashed him, “Doesn’t mean I’m still not a little suspicious of you.”
As if he wouldn’t have splashed her back, and by the Mother, did he. It felt like he pushed an entire wave over her, sending her underneath the surface. With an audible gasp, she came up, her red hair covering her face.
“Jayce!” She shrieked, her fingers fighting against the tangles, her forearm lifting and throwing her hair back. “I threw a fish; you sent the god of the Sea after me!” A laugh accompanied her outburst, and she fixed him with a glare.
His shoulders jumped as he laughed in mock victory, “Don’t start the fire if you can’t take the heat.”
Reigning in how his laughter made her feel, she furrowed her eyebrows, “In all seriousness,” she cleared her throat, “not that I was looking for you or anything, but where were you? The night of the party and yesterday.”
He groaned softly, “I was around, not too far.”
“Cryptic, but okay.” She wouldn’t push him, as he was nothing to her; and she was nothing to him. Neither of them had a claim to the other and needn’t answer further than what they felt necessary.
That wasn’t to say she wasn’t curious though.
He was slowly closing the gap between them, and while she could say the current was doing it, she saw him walking in her direction. “If you’ll allow me, I’ll never be too far.”
Her eyes widened, “Jayce…”
Quickly, he shook his head and put his hands up in defense, “I’m not asking for anything.” Feeling her heart ready to run out of her throat, she quickly swallowed, watching as he closed the mere foot of distance between them. “Just don’t shut me out.”
“Then tell me why.” Her voice was needy, and she hated that it came out that way.
It visibly took him back, and for the first time, she saw him needing to catch his own breath. “I told you, to protect you.”
“No, that isn’t good enough for me.” She shook her head, “Who am I to you?” It was the question he gracefully continued to avoid.
There was a pain in his eyes, “What if I told you I didn’t know? That I just feel I’m supposed to be by your side. In any way possible.”
“I would say you are lying,” she watched his eyebrow raise, “you aren’t as good at lying as you think you are. I may be worse, but you are no expert.” His hand came to her chin, but he paused and immediately dropped it. “Can I at least ask why you won’t tell me?”
His stare was impenetrable, unblinking as he soaked her in, “Only if you don’t ask a follow-up question, and we go for a dive together.”
Thinking about it for a brief moment, she nodded. At least it was an answer; she already figured it would be cryptic.
“I don’t think it is the right time, with everything going on. It wouldn’t do either of us any good.”
Time. It wasn’t like I didn’t have loads of it. Why did it matter what she was to him? Having him around was becoming the only reason she was looking forward to coming out of her room.
She still wanted to ask questions but promised to concede to his response, “Thank you. Even though I—” She wasn’t going to banter him, but it may have come out that way to him.
His index finger pressed against her lips, “Ah—let’s dive.” She hadn’t realized it until then, but his hands were soft, opposite from Kaed’s, whose were rough from yielding a bow and fighting in battle. Jayce’s were like silk and likely had women and men begging him to return to them.
They enjoyed hours of swimming before being forced out, or risk ruining their skin by pruning.
She found relief and contentment in this fleeting happiness, knowing that her life challenges could temporarily recede and be replaced by a profound sense of joy. Though she understood its impermanence, she cherished the genuine happiness that enveloped her in that moment.
Illyan? Before heading to the ship with the rest of the crew and Jayce, she held back for a bit. Opening the winnox, she reached out to her friend.
“Ladybug. By the Mother, it is so good to hear your voice… or thoughts...”
Illy, how are you—and Zhal? How is she?
She leaned against one of the deck’s posts that led out to the Neptune. “We are okay, just extremely worried about you. Word has spread that the King is looking for you, and the three of us.”
Audibly, she gasped, What… no…
“Don’t worry, we have moved from your home. With my father now aiding the King, we had no choice. Thankfully, we had friends that helped us get moved.”
Where are you now?
“The last place they would think to look. I could tell you, but it is probably best that I don’t.”
Of course, and…
“We have him. I wouldn’t leave him, Ladybug.”
Her hand covered her mouth as a soft sob involuntarily slipped out. Is he…
“I don’t want to hurt you Ladybug…”
Just tell me the truth, please. Is he still… has there been any change?
“No, I’m sorry. He looks like he is sleeping. I’m unsure if it’s because of the magic around him or something else. It’s as though he is frozen in time.”
I see…
“How are you? Have you found what it is you are searching for? When will you come home? When can we see you…”
Azahara wiped away her tears, staring out at the Neptune. Jayce was standing at the ramp, waiting for her to join him.
I’m broken, Illy. I’ve not found what I am looking for and probably never will, but I will come home to you and Zhal… One day, I’ll find the strength to protect you both.
“Zhal and I both see how strong you are, Ladybug. It isn’t always easy to make the best choice for yourself. You are courageous and hold everyone before yourself. While we are hurting that you aren’t here, we understand.”
She turned from Jayce and crouched down, her hands pressing against her face. I love you both, forever and eternity. Please know I left you because I wanted to keep you both safe. I didn’t want to leave you.
“I know, we both know that… Zhal says she misses you and wishes she could hear your voice. But refuses to allow magic to penetrate her mind because she said she’d become scrambled eggs. Then she’d haunt me. And I can’t have that. I just couldn’t.”
Azahara laughed and wiped away the tears from her eyes. Tell her I don’t blame her.
“She wants you to know she’s sorry and can’t wait for you to come home.”
What is she sorry for… There was silence, and she feared that the winnox had broken or it was closed. Illy?
“She is such an oppressor, gods. Such a bully! Always blaming me, she’s so mean. I must go because now she’s all over me to tell you, and I won’t. Reach out more often…please…”
Sniffling, she rose to a standing position. Okay, I love you.
“Love you so much. Bye, Ladybug.”
Taking a deep breath, she was ready to retreat to the Neptune when she collided into a body. It was Jayce, of course. “Sorry, I’m coming.”
“Don’t apologize,” he tilted his head down, “you okay?”
With a weak smile, she nodded, “I will be.”