Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
ODESSA
“Bean, get down from there! I don’t have time for this tonight.
” Odessa set her hands on her hips as she glared up into the branches of the tall tree where Bean had decided to stage his protest. “Dmitri is coming soon to discuss the logistics of having a scavenger hunt on the grounds and I still have about a dozen other tasks to finish before dawn.”
Bean’s tail lashed back and forth as he looked down at her, spread his wings, and gave her the most disturbing interpretation of an angry, hissing swan she had ever seen.
“You can put that attitude back where it came from, young man. Just because you’re upset with me because you ate the mushrooms even after I told you not to and then didn’t like them doesn’t mean you need to be rude.”
He huffed, causing two streams of smoke to curl up from his nostrils. At a little over two weeks old, the young dragon was not only the size of a large hunting dog, but he had also discovered the ability to control his fire breathing.
“I mean it, Beanjamin.” Odessa looked over her shoulder to the shelter where Katrin and Sonya were getting settled for the night. “We need to get going.”
“I want Jax.”
She blinked in surprise at the low, petulant voice that reverberated through her mind. “Since when can you talk to me when I’m human?”
“Since now, I guess. Where’s Jax?”
Odessa closed her eyes as she blew out an exasperated breath. “I don’t know. He’s probably with Dmitri or else…chasing a bird or something.”
The innocent question cut deeper than it had any right now.
In the weeks since Jax’s arrival, he had yet to miss a day of “assisting,” as he called it, and his absence felt pointed.
By some unspoken agreement, neither of them had brought up their brief, shared moment at the lake.
Jax was infuriatingly casual about the whole thing, as if he were completely unaffected and once the dance was over never gave it a second thought.
Meanwhile, the memory of his eyes and his laugh and the way it had felt to be held by him continued to plague her like a whole new curse.
“I really hope that’s me you’re talking about, and not some competition that Dmitri’s brought in.”
Odessa jumped at the sound of Jax’s voice, as if her thoughts had somehow conjured him up. She glanced over her shoulder to see him striding toward her through the woods of the enclosure, looking as annoyingly handsome as ever. “How did you get in here?”
“You gave me a key, remember?” He came to a stop beside her and gripped the strap of his satchel with both hands as he looked up into the tree at Bean. “What’s going on here?”
“Mother made me eat poison.”
Jax jerked back with a yelp and threw a hand to the side of his head. “What was that?”
“An outrageous accusation.” She crossed her arms. “He left out the part where he threw a similar fit because I told him not to eat the pretty red mushrooms and he didn’t want to listen.”
“You didn’t tell me they were poison.”
“I told you not to eat them.”
“I’m glad Jax is here. He’s more fun. You never want me to have fun.”
Odessa pinched the bridge of her nose before turning to Jax with a forced smile. “Where’s Dmitri?”
“He’s on his way. He said he had a few details he wanted to confirm with the head chef before he came.” His voice dropped to a low whisper. “How long has he been up there?”
“Long enough for me to have completely finished with chores in here and then spend a quarter of an hour trying to bribe, beg, and threaten him down.”
“Have you tried being more fun?” The corners of his mouth twitched, and his eyes sparkled with mirth as he sidestepped the punch she threw at his shoulder.
“I’m just kidding, Dessy. Dragons his age are like young children—they push boundaries with the people they feel safest with because they know they’ll be protected. ”
She blew out a long breath, allowing herself to absorb his words before wrinkling her nose and asking, “Dessy?”
“I’m trying it out.” He flipped open the top of his satchel and pulled out his panpipes.
“Please don’t.”
“It was better than Odie.”
“I like Odie. Odie-ous for feeding me poison.”
She deliberately ignored the temperamental reptile in the tree. “How about you just stick with Odessa, the way you have been?”
“We’re friends and co-workers now. Nicknames are practically required at this point in the relationship. Speaking of which, what is mine?” He lifted his instrument to his lips and began playing a lively, syncopated melody that brought to mind images of flickering flames and bonfire dances.
She gave him a flat look. “Your name is Jax. It’s one syllable.”
Jax continued to the end of the phrase, then frowned at his pipes and tapped them against the palm of his hand.
“Nicknames aren’t restricted to a shortening of one’s name.
It could also be determined by a defining characteristic or quality.
For example, you could decide to refer to me as ‘Handsome’ or ‘Charming,’ on account of me being both of those things. ”
He was, but she wasn’t going to admit it out loud. Not when she was cursed and he was leaving and the only way things would end between them would be heartbreak.
When she didn’t immediately answer, he started playing again, only to pull away his instrument with a frown. “My magic doesn’t seem to be working the way it should be.”
“What does that mean?” She looked up to find Bean staring intently at both of them.
“It just means I’m going to have to go about being charming the old-fashioned way.” Jax smiled up at Bean. “You know, as a Bird Catcher, I know quite a bit about swans—like the fact they don’t roost in trees.”
Bean’s head tilted curiously.
“In fact, if I had to guess, I would think that maybe what we have here isn’t a swan at all. It could be a—”
His words were cut off by a heavy thud as Bean dropped suddenly to the ground.
“I am a swan. Just like Mother.”
Jax chuckled. “Essa isn’t a swan right now, though, is she?”
“She’s a swan. I can hear it.”
“Huh,” he spoke softly to himself. “I suppose I should have guessed that he would perceive magic the same way, since we’re from the same realm and all. Interesting.”
Odessa let out a sigh of relief, thankful that the dragon was finally out of the tree and seemed to have forgotten his previous complaint.
I guess I should have given him more credit in terms of the dragon charming. He does seem to know his stuff. But still…
“Essa? Really?”
Jax tucked away his panpipes and held up his hands. “Still trying things out.”
“I thought you said nicknames aren’t limited to name shortening.” She raised her eyebrows pointedly.
He grinned mischievously. “You’re right, Swania. With as fascinating and multi-faceted and lovely as you are, there are still hundreds of potential names.”
This man.
“Jack.” She gave him a flat glare. “Your nickname can be Jack.”
“How is that a nickname?”
“I left off the ‘s.’”
His peal of delighted laughter brought her far too much pleasure, and the butterflies that danced in her stomach at the way his grin lit up her face distracted her from the fact that he wasn’t being nearly quiet enough.
A familiar excited squeal cut through the air, mingling with his laughter.
Bean honked in excitement, and before Odessa could do more than step out of the way, Sonya came barreling out of her shelter.
She stomped and danced around Jax, throwing her head like a pony.
Bean joined in, and the next thing Odessa knew the three of them were chasing and wrestling one another around the tree.
She shook her head and made her way back to the shelter, where Katrin was standing in the doorway. The doe looked at her reproachfully. Odessa winced.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake her up. Maybe she’ll sleep better after she’s worn out?”
They both knew it wasn’t true, but Katrin seemed content to let the matter go.
Odessa stood beside her, leaning her head against the deer’s as they both watched the play unfold.
After a moment, she ventured carefully, “Dimi’s coming around later.
He wants to talk about one of the games for his guests.
And…” She had been avoiding this particular aspect of the festivities long enough, but it was time to rip the bandage off.
“He wants me to help him select a suitable wife from amongst them.”
Katrin stiffened, and Odessa could almost hear her pulse quicken. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “If I knew how to change things, I would. I could try to tell him that none of them are worth his time. He would probably listen, but I don’t think his mother would.”
She sighed as her eyes strayed once again to Jax, who was bowing dramatically and kneeling in front of Sonya. “I wish I knew what the best step forward is.”
“Your Highness, I present myself as your most loyal servant.” Jax’s theatrical voice carried across the distance. “What are your commands, princess?”
Odessa squeaked in surprise as a swirl of bright light appeared next to her, and Katrin’s form began shifting and shrinking.
Jax’s exclamation was nearly identical as the boar in front of him went through a similar transformation.
Odessa stepped back, allowing space as the deer became a young woman in a simple white dress, not more than a year younger than herself, with long waves of black hair and a pale, creamy complexion.
Her big brown eyes still reminded Odessa of the doe she had once been, with long, thick eyelashes that fluttered as she blinked rapidly, taking everything in.
A peal of giggles drew Odessa’s attention from Katrin to where Sonya, a round-faced child of seven with dark blue eyes that matched the night sky and bouncy black curls, had thrown her arms around Jax’s waist.
“Swandrea,” he said, remarkably calm for having just witnessed a wild boar turn into a giggling child. “Your animal friends just turned into people friends. What kind of Menagerie is your dear old father running, exactly? Should I be concerned about the emus?”
Bean nudged Sonya’s leg with his snout, eliciting another round of giggles. “I like them better this way.”
Katrin laid a hand on Odessa’s arm and cleared her throat. Her voice was hoarse and scratchy from disuse. “You want to know the best step forward?” she asked quietly, her eyes flicking pointedly to Jax. “Marry that man.”