Chapter 25
“Y
ou are joking, right?” It was Alyse nearly cawing at Azahara as they walked through the canopies early the next day.
As much as she wanted to sleep longer, locked in Jayce’s arms, her nerves were getting the better of her. It was similar to the feeling she had just before the Battle at Sunfall.
Just as the sun was seeping through the trees, she had made her way out of the beehive-inspired pod.
Jayce had woken, but she urged him to go back to sleep and that she wouldn’t be going very far, except that had been a lie.
In her defense, it was technically Alyse’s fault.
Her ability to talk and continue a conversation was impeccable, and they had both not realized they’d made it nearly past the fall of homes and into a different section altogether.
Azahara had slipped the same dress on from the night before and one of Jayce’s black cloaks, which helped shield her from the crisp, morning air.
“I’m not.” Azahara finally answered, the pause merely for dramatics.
Alyse was incredibly animated that morning, and Azahara wondered if she had already had her beans for breakfast. Throwing her arms up in frustration, Alyse scowled at Azahara.
“You’re telling me he hasn’t kissed you?
And he’s been a perfect gentleman even though you’ve slept together for how many nights now? ”
“Alyse, lower your voice,” She scolded, “He hasn’t, and yes, he has.”
“I don’t think I give him enough credit,” she tapped her finger against her chin, sighed, and shook her head. “No kiss though?”
Azahara shook her head. She wasn’t sad about him not kissing her. They had almost done so when they arrived in Isis, but the exuberant captain had cut that moment short. If they had then, she would have been more than happy with that. Last night, that was a different story.
That wasn’t to say she didn’t want to, that would be wrong, she would have if he had leaned in and closed the gap. It was what she wanted, but not what she needed.
He was so perfect. It was like he was put onto this planet just for her.
He knew exactly what she needed when she needed it, and beyond that, he never wanted anything in return but to simply be in her presence.
That had always been what she wanted, for over five hundred years, for there to be people in her life that didn’t expect anything from her.
It was why she loved Illyan so much. She had nothing to offer them but herself.
They weren’t sexually attracted to her, didn’t need her to feed or protect them, they were just there to be with her.
“Goddess to Azahara?” Alyse was waving her hand in front of her face, “Are you okay? Do I need to get Jayce or Xol?”
Shaking away the fog in her brain, she looked at Alyse, a smile lining her lips. “Sorry, I’m okay. I tend to do that a lot these days.”
Alyse had a judgement-free, understanding expression on her face, “Don’t apologize. I was just saying that he really is one of the good ones.” Azahara nodded in agreement as she continued, “Rowlin and I were both suspicious in Celadon, but we are glad he cleared all that up.”
“Cleared what up?” Azahara asked and immediately wished she hadn’t. Alyse tensed almost instantly and rolled her eyes in another direction. “Alyse.” She felt her heart drop, fear rearing its ugly head behind her eyes.
Alyse laughed nervously, “Rowlin saw Jayce send a raven, but he cleared it up—”
“Jayce cleared it up?” Azahara cut her off, “The same way he somehow convinced Zephyra that…”
Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath.
Jayce was perfect, but he was a liar. She was a liar too, that didn’t make him a bad person.
It doesn’t make him a bad person, her mind wandered back to Helgum.
She had so much distrust for the people that she loved and cared for.
It had blinded her, and it in the end, nearly got Zhal killed.
If she had seen what was happening, and not felt suspicious of all three of them, she may have seen right through Illyan’s plan.
She could have tried to find another way.
With another heavy sigh, she looked at Alyse, “What did he say that convinced you both otherwise?”
Azahara and Alyse separated shortly after that, and she made her way back to the pod to get dressed.
The rest of the city was waking, and soon it would be time to meet with the twins.
They were going to discuss with her the plan to get to Ilkiz’s tomb, where she would find what she was looking for.
Akua, whom she was becoming quite fond of, had suggested she wait a few days to acclimate to the different land, whereas Kaen couldn’t wait for her to get things going.
After returning to their sleeping quarters, she found it empty, and for the first time, she was happy about it.
Speaking with Alyse hadn’t necessarily made her mad at Jayce, but keeping herself together and not prying, would not do her any good.
She needed to focus, and she knew that with him around, all she would want to do was get to the bottom of things.
That time would come after visiting Ilkiz’s Tomb.
When she was cleaned up and dressed, she went down the canopies to solid ground, where Akua had said to meet the day before. Her clothing, it was something else. These were the traditional garments the twins had provided, and she felt strange wearing such high-quality clothing in a forest.
It was a white and gold ankle-length dress, unlike anything she had ever worn or seen. It was crafted from silk, boasting both a smooth and glossy texture, which shimmered subtly in the light. The wide, flowing sleeves elongated her arms, adding a regal aura when she raised them.
The garment was adorned with intricate patterns; all of the Dragons depicted not a battle, but in flight. They were always seen as creatures of destruction, which she ignorantly believed until now.
A broad sash was tied across her waist, which was the most difficult piece.
Woven with opulent golden threads, it cinched the dress gracefully around her hourglass silhouette.
She knew that her body type was not built for these dresses, which was slightly embarrassing, but it was their tradition.
Hopefully, they found no offense to how she wore it.
Being late to the party was her signature now, and she hated it. How had she been the first one up and the last one to arrive?
Surprised to only see the twins, Xol and Jayce, she shuffled quickly to them. Akua caught her coming first, as he had been facing in her direction. His eyes widened, and a blush crossed his nose. Then, the rest turned to see her, and she hated that they all gave her the same look.
She stopped, dropping her arms down her sides. They weren’t but feet away from her then, and all of them—including Kaen—had their mouths parted, staring at the dress.
“You are kidding me, you guys get to wear pants on this hike, but I have to wear a dress?” She tried to stifle her embarrassment and fight back the urge to run upstairs and put something else on.
“It’s tradition, you have no choice,” Kaen said, her normal aggravated tone slipping, and a more normal, girly note came forth.
“Ilkiz, save me.” Akua was stepping between them and walking to her, closing the distance.
“It’s twisted.” As he reached for her, she felt her skin crawl.
Every part of her went into fight or flight mode, and she stepped back.
His mixed eyes captured hers, and he must have seen her fear because he pulled his hand back before touching her.
“I’ll fix it,” Jayce said, coming up beside her, “You have the sash stuck here.” He smiled down at her before looking at Akua, “Thank you.”
“Yes—thank you, Akua. I’m…” Don’t apologize; It isn’t your fault. “I’m—” She bit her lip and turned away. Jayce untied the sash, adjusted it, and then retied it for her. His hands gently pressed against her waist before he stepped back, giving her some space.
“You are stunning,” Jayce had his hand out towards her, and she placed hers into his. The sense of calm that came over her was like a drug. She hoped that it was not an influence and that it was because of her true feelings.
At that moment, she saw his facial expression shift, and for the first time, she saw uncertainty.
“Thank you,” It wasn’t the time to dwell; she wanted to get this over with.
“All right, now that we are all feeling awkward, thank you both for that by the way.“ Kaen was something else, and Azahara rolled her eyes. It wasn’t lost on her as she walked past Jayce, that he watched her with weary eyes. Good, simmer. She thought, feeling the corner of her lip curl up.
“It’s always like this with them,” Xol chimed in but reached out her hand towards Azahara, who took it without hesitation. “You do look very lovely.”
“You do,” Akua complimented, and an unfiltered smile lined her lips.
“I still don’t like that I am going to be hiking in a dress. Especially one as beautiful as this.” She placed her hand on her stomach, feeling the embroidery and silk under her fingertips.
Xol placed her forehead on Azahara’s hand then, and it took her back. Never had she done that before, and it sent a strange shockwave through her. “We aren’t walking,” Xol stated before moving her hand down and releasing it. “Akua can open portals using his water.”
The elemental magic that the Spirit Riders’ descendants used would never cease to amaze her. Her mouth was wide open, staring at him, and he wasn’t shy about enjoying her gaze. Water has many properties… She remembered back to their conversation just outside of the Neptune.
“That is incredible,” she said, pure amazement written on her face. Using wether portals required a lot of Magic, and for gods, their dyspoxii traversal. To be able to shift water from one place and travel through it to another place just seemed impossible.
Akua placed a hand on his hip, giving her a gentle smile, “I’d love to show you everything that water can do when you return.”