Chapter 39
S
he found herself unable to shake off the thoughts, every reverie leading back to him—his lips on her breast, fingers exploring her most sensitive places. The mere touch of his hands had left her feeling so overwhelmed that walking in a straight line seemed like a feat.
After spending hours amidst the Floating Mountains of Xi, Jayce brought them back to the ship. It wasn’t just for sleep but also to address the collateral damage he had caused: a few broken boxes and half of the wall in her room. Surprisingly, the door’s hinges had managed to stay intact.
Although the desire for continued intimacy lingered, the day’s events had taken a toll. From conversing with Death to the enjoyable moments they shared, the exhaustion hit her hard. The moment her head hit the pillow she began snoring—no doubt about it.
The next morning, they decided it was time to return to Isis, at least for a while. Jayce told her if she wanted to come back when they caught up with everyone, he would be more than happy to oblige.
He had his fingers laced with hers, and she was staring down at them as though they were going to slip between her pants and once again please her till she came.
There was more satisfaction to what he had done for her than just the pleasure, Goddrick was no longer the last person to have done that to her and would never again.
She found relief in that simple fact. That the tainted feeling she had when she thought of releasing, would begin to associate with Jayce, or anyone but Goddrick.
Aware that her emotions were in turmoil—shifting from pleasure to anger, satisfaction to rapture—Ilkiz even grumbled, though she didn’t voice anything.
“Jayce to Azahara,” he said, pulling her closer, his fingers unlocking to put his arm around her shoulder.
Lifting her head, she blinked away the thoughts plaguing her. “Sorry, did you say something?” Her lips curled upward, but his expression remained neutral.
“What’s wrong?” He slowed their pace just before reaching the threshold of the City of Spirits.
“You’ve been a bit quiet this morning. Are you sure you wanted to come back?
There is no rush. We can spend some more time alone.
” Concern laced his tone, and she felt her heart swell.
“Also, if I went too far yesterday, you can tell me. I can—”
She shook her head vigorously. “Not at all!” She nearly yelled, “I’m sorry, that definitely isn’t it. Sheesh, I think you know what my body needs more than I do.”
He let out a hearty laugh. “When you are ready,” he brought her in front of him, placing a hand at her cheek, “I will give your body everything it wants, needs, and desires.”
Her face was burning. “Jayce…” she felt flustered and hid her face against his chest.
He hummed. “I love when you call my name.” His fingers fluffed out her hair. “I do enjoy making you flustered, but sweetheart, what’s wrong?”
“It’s embarrassing,” her grip on his shirt tightened, a pit forming in the center of her stomach. “It’s not bad. I’m just thankful that I was able to… finish, and I can begin associating it with pleasure, and not pain.”
He was silent, and his hand had stopped moving down her hair. She didn’t want to look at him, maybe saying it out loud was too much. Ready to begin apologizing, she felt his arms move and tightly pull her to him. His arms were trembling, and she felt his heart racing.
“I should have killed him.” Her body stiffened.
“I swear on my life, no one will ever touch you without your consent ever again.” Pulling her back just enough so she could see him, tears immediately filled her eyes upon seeing him look the way he did.
His handsome face was pained, and when he closed his eyes and bared his teeth, she felt her breath hitch in her throat.
“I will help you destroy him and anyone that wishes to bring you or your family harm.”
“I…” She blinked, and tears fell from her eyes, her hands coming to cup his face. “I do not deserve you. Thank you.”
That drew a smile from him, and he leaned down.
“You do. You deserve peace, love, and happiness. You deserve the entire world; it is they that do not deserve you. Everyone is lucky that Death won’t take you.
” His violet eyes bore into hers, the passion in his words tangible, wrapping around her.
“They are also lucky I won’t just take you.
I could bring us somewhere safe and beautiful, wait out whatever shit is coming for this world, and we would survive it.
I’d make sure of it. Then we would help rebuild whatever was left. Always know that is an option.”
Her heart felt so full and light that it was impossible for her to stop crying.
His thumb brushed across her trembling lip while she sucked in a deep breath. “I want that so much.” She wrapped her arms around him. “I want to run away from this responsibility.”
“Say the word,” Jayce leaned down to her, his lips kissing her cheek. “Tell me to take you, to take our family, and we’ll go. We will get Illyan, Zhal, and Kaed.”
She choked and put her arms around his neck. “You would bring them to me?”
“I would, the three of them. I’d bring them right here to you.”
Her arms were trembling then, every bit of her elated at the prospect. “Four. I want Karver too. I don’t need him there; I need him here. Fuck the King.”
He lifted her up by her hips, his hand pulling her head down while his lips took hers. His smile caused her to do the same, feeling the strength in his emotions rip through her.
“Let’s get them here—” she said through their kissing, “then—” he grinned, taking her again, “we can—” and again, “talk about running away.”
There would be nothing better to look at than his smile.
“Let’s bring them home,” he said, pressing his forehead against hers, giving her one last kiss.
Illy… Illy?
Once they made it to Isis, through the Veil and surrounded by their friends and family, she attempted to reach out to her best friend through the winnox. In the past, they had always responded immediately, but this time, all she encountered was unsettling silence.
Jayce was beside her, reaching out to Karver. He had been so happy that she thought of him. He who was like a brother to him. Karver had no reason to stay with the King, and they would deal with the fallout later, together.
Illyan? She tried again, only to be met with a hollow silence that filled her mind. Looking at Jayce with growing concern, she asked, “Don’t tell me. Silence?”
“I have never been unable to contact him,” Jayce admitted, his voice laced with concern. “Even if he couldn’t speak at the moment, he would still acknowledge me and ask to come back later.”
Xol approached them, accompanied by Alyse and Rowlin. Noting their distressed expressions, she inquired, “What’s wrong? You both look... well, distraught. Not at all what I would have expected after a few days alone.” Alyse was grinning ear to ear.
While Xol knew about Jayce’s true nature as a Fae, the rest of the crew didn’t.
Jayce had preferred to keep it a secret until they departed Ilkiz, considering that Fae weren’t the most beloved, and he felt more comfortable sharing this information with the crew alone rather than all of Ilkiz’s descendants.
Azahara sighed, “I’m trying to reach Illyan through the winnox, but there isn’t anything on the other end. It’s like their window is gone...”
Jayce rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder, “Let’s not assume the worst. There might be something going on with the Magic, or Ilkiz itself could be influencing this. The wards in this place might be blocking your ability to reach out.”
Nodding, Azahara took a deep breath, her gaze shifting down to her hands.
“Do you think we could—” Her sentence was abruptly cut off by a searing pain that coursed through her body, akin to being struck by an arrow directly through her head. Her legs gave way, and as her knees met the ground, Xol was there to catch her. “Aza?!”
Her arms felt immobilized, as if bound to her body with an unyielding force.
“Hello, Princess.” The unmistakable voice echoed in her mind.
“Jayce, it’s... Jaakobai. Wait, don’t—Ah!”
Darkness, her unwavering ally, embraced her tightly. Standing in its presence, she found herself in a void with a solitary window. It remained featureless, offering neither light nor warmth. The frame, white with gold accents, stood flawless in a world marked by imperfections.
“You truly are something else,” Jaakobai’s voice sliced through the silence as he approached. “What do you think of my window?” His sudden appearance seemed surreal, challenging her mind’s inclination to deny the unfolding reality.
“What do you want, Jaakobai?” Azahara’s voice dripped with venom as she watched him circle her, his gaze sweeping from head to toe.
“Not even a ‘hi’? You completely forget my kindness. I fed you and clothed you after my father left you in that cell.”
Rolling her eyes, she laughed without humor, “Doing something for someone, and expecting something in return, is not kindness.”
Not to mention how you touched me…
A laugh escaped him, “Oh, you missed out on me really touching you. The offer still stands; if you ask me to take it off, I will.” He gestured toward her, and when she looked down, the same lacy dress he had forced her to wear adorned her body.
Clenching her jaw, she met his gaze through lowered lashes.
“I suppose this is the winnox; my thoughts are my voice. I’ll tread carefully.” Her voice echoed, drawing on Death’s power to break through his hold on her mind.
“Please, you won’t escape from here.” A brief pause made her narrow her eyes.
As though thoughts were consuming his means to speak, his eyes wandered about.
“Hmm, interesting…” he pondered something before laughing again, his hand running through his silk gray hair.
“It looks like you found those who can actually protect you. For now.”