Chapter 30 #2
“Your friend is likely going to kill me with the look he is giving me,” Akua murmured, a hint of nervousness creeping into his tone. “By the skies above, why is he so intimidating?”
She laughed, leaning forward, and remarked, “You’re flirting with his woman, what do you expect?”
Akua shot a quick glance in her direction. “Ah, I do apologize. Alyse said you and he weren’t—”
“I like you Akua,” she interjected, rising to her feet, “So please take this with all the respect in the realms.” Her smile was gentle, devoid of any animosity. “I’m unavailable, other than as a friend.”
Awkward interactions weren’t her forte, and had this occurred before Ilkiz, the expression on his face would have likely prompted her to fold, followed by profuse apologies as if she had committed some grave error.
However, to her surprise, he took the initiative to apologize, bowing his head and almost pleading for her forgiveness.
After what felt like an eternity, he eventually relented. Akua reassured her that he would be on his best behavior, emphasizing his commitment to serving her as the Keeper and avoiding any actions that might jeopardize their relationship.
Once she was satisfied that the air was cleared and there were no lingering reservations between them, she bid him farewell. It was time for her to start getting ready.
Having been awake for the past day since her return, the realization that she hadn’t slept in over three months loomed over her.
Despite the lack of fatigue, the prospect of maintaining this energy throughout the ceremony that night was daunting.
There was a nagging concern that her body might suddenly give out in the midst of it.
As she contemplated this, a sinking feeling settled in, and her head dropped with a groan.
“I wasn’t eavesdropping or anything,” his voice was always a savior to her souring emotions, “but that was the smoothest rejection I’ve ever witnessed.”
As Jayce sauntered over, hands tucked casually in his pockets, their eyes instantly connected.
Her heart leaped to her throat. Nerves gripped her, and the sting of anxiety knifed right at her stomach.
The need for a conversation hung in the air, but she wasn’t quite prepared for it.
Earlier emotions had been intense, the rush of realization that he hadn’t seen her in months, even though it had only been days for her, had clouded her thoughts completely.
Not that she regretted the moment—she wouldn’t have changed it for anything. However, that didn’t alter the fact that Alyse’s words to her, right before she left, still lingered.
“Nervous?” His ability to read her so effortlessly made her curse herself.
“I did mention that before, you know?” As he approached, she gently bit her bottom lip, tilting her head to maintain eye contact. “You overheard, then?” His hand enveloped hers, which had been slowly picking at her nails, on the verge of tearing them off.
“I was trying not to eavesdrop, I should say.” His thumb brushed the back of her hand, “Don’t worry, I don’t think I heard anything important. Just that you were unavailable other than friendship.”
By the Mother, why are my emotions on the fritz right now. I feel sad, mad, happy, upset, nervous, confident—Ilkiz!
“While I am enhancing them, this isn’t my fault.”
“Azahara?” Her heart thumped so forcefully against her chest that it bordered on painful. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry.”
“Huh?” Attempting to refocus, her tone turned breathy, eliciting a squeeze from him on her hand. “For what?”
“When I saw you, after being away for so long, I—” He sighed heavily and dropped his gaze.
“My head, I had just gotten you back, and then you were gone again. The circumstances around this time were much, much better, but it didn’t make it any easier.
When you came back, by the Mother, I had forgotten how to breathe. I didn’t believe it was you—”
Placing her hand against his cheek, she lifted his gaze to hers, “Jayce, it’s okay. I would have done the same thing. You got the short end of that stick. I only had to miss you for a few days.”
He leaned into her hand, turning and kissing her wrist, sending an unexplainable pleasure shooting down her spine. “I just hope I didn’t force you into that kiss because you felt it was the only way to pull me back.”
Her cheeks ignited with warmth. “Oh, you… are sorry for that?”
“Only if you weren’t ready.” He looked at her cheeks, and it elicited a smile from him.
“I was, Jayce.” His hand came to the side of her neck, “If I hadn’t, well, it wouldn’t have happened.”
Never again would she allow someone to take advantage of her. Without a shred of doubt in her mind, she was determined that no man, woman, or other would touch her without her consent.
His face softened, and the laughter that emanated from his throat sent a lightning bolt through her chest, straight down to her stomach. “Good to know,” he remarked.
Taking a step toward him, she noticed the surprise once again flicker in his eyes.
“I need to get ready, or Kaen will kill me. I can feel her eyes bearing down on me,” she groaned.
Looking up, she spotted a very angry Kaen within the canopies, standing along a wobbly bridge.
She had promised to be with her before the sun cascaded towards the horizon, and unfortunately, it was already kissing its edge.
“She’s scarier when she’s mad,” Jayce commented, also looking up. It looked like Kaen was saying something, but she was drowned out by Azahara humming a gentle laugh. It brought his attention back down to her.
“Before I go,” she said, pulling out a piece of paper from the pocket sewn into her dress, “this is for you.” Jayce took a step back, accepting it into his hand.
“The only stipulation to you opening that, Jayce Latimer—look at me,” he was staring at it longingly, and when she called out, he redirected his gaze to her.
“Actually, there are two. One, you can’t open it until I’m getting ready.
Alyse won’t let anyone see me until the celebration starts.
She says Kaen is adamant that I don’t appear until it’s time.
” There was annoyance in her tone, and she did air quotes to emphasize it.
“The second, I just want to ask you something, and I want the truth,” her hand quickly shot up and stole the letter from him.
The pure shock on his face charged her confidence.
“It’s about Xol,” his eyes focused on her, “did you somehow bring her to me, or did she come on her own volition?” There was no shift in his expression, and he was searching for something behind her eyes.
“Both. I had an influence, but she didn’t need convincing,” she replied, and the edge of her lip curled upward.
“Okay,” she handed the letter back to him, “once you read it, we will talk in the way we know best.” She spun around him and skipped towards the ladders that led to the canopies above.
“How is that?” He called after her.
“You’ll know when it’s time.”