Chapter 19
Jaxon
What a fucking shitshow.
Staring up at the stained gray fabric, I rolled over, wincing as something jabbed me in the back. Grumbling, I adjusted, moving so that the piece of wood holding up my cot was no longer trying to embed itself into me.
I needed to get up, needed to start the day, but my limbs felt heavy, and my chest felt as if it were filled with water. Something was wrong. I could feel it. I was restless, and something in the back of my mind, my gut told me I should leave, that I was needed elsewhere.
But where? Why?
Swinging my legs off the side of the cot, I pushed myself up, running a hand through my hair. It was almost longer than Xavier’s now, the blonde strands falling past my vision as I shook them aside.
My mind drifted to the other night, to that fucking scrimmage with Lana. To Zara—fucking Zara—showing up.
She looked different, no longer soft and carefree.
There was an edge to her now. Her body was stronger, taller than I remembered.
She was powerful, but that shouldn’t have surprised me, she was brother’s fucking mate–of course she was powerful.
They were equals in every way, or were meant to be, according to what I knew, which wasn’t much.
My thoughts drifted to what had occurred before they had arrived…
to Aria. To what happened between us in her tent.
I couldn’t stop replaying it. Every night it was like it was on repeat, showing me her mouth, her lips, her sharp gaze.
Her thighs as they straddled my hips… I shook my head again, leaning over and pulling on my boots.
Lacing them, I went to the basin of water and dumped it over my head.
It was hot, nearly stifling in these tents, and it felt good even if the water was slightly warm.
Water dripped from my hair as I shook it out, speckling the tent walls. Grabbing my shirt hanging on the back of the chair, I strode out of the tent and into the camp.
I had picked the furthest tent from Aria, wanting to keep my distance, but I knew if she really wanted to find me, talk to me about what happened between us, she would have found me.
She hadn’t, of course. She was avoiding me, and if I were honest, I was avoiding her too. The occasional passing in watch rotations and at dinner had been the only times I have really seen her.
Aria's crumpled face from all those centuries ago resurfaced in my mind, and I had to stop walking and close my eyes at the memory.
It's haunted me, stayed with me through these centuries, and I still couldn't fully remember what happened.
Only an overwhelming sense of guilt and her devastated face.
Now all we had were moments like the other day, fleeting and far between.
It was one of the reasons I had so desperately wanted the mate bond with Zara. It would have meant… it didn't matter. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes.
Throwing on the shirt I grabbed, not bothering to button it, I stalked toward her tent.
It was time to go. I'd done what I set out to do, and she hadn't made any move toward the ward, aside from repelling the attacks that breached its defenses.
I'd be more useful elsewhere. Staying any longer would only create more problems or complications, and I needed a clear head for the fight ahead.
To fix what I caused by opening that damn portal.
The aftermath of the previous day's attack still lingered in the camp.
Even though we managed to extinguish the fire, the heavy, crisp smell of smoke still permeated the air.
As I turned down a row of soot-covered tents, I noticed the scorched earth where I had encountered Lana.
A large ring marked the area, littered with scattered fragments of wood, torn fabric, and broken furniture from the ruined tents.
Fortunately, we had enough supplies to ensure the previous inhabitants were taken care of.
As I approached the scorched earth, I spotted Agatha and the others rolling in the dirt.
They were outside of Aria’s tent, and they were all chirping to one another as if they were laughing or talking.
A smile tugged at my lips as I crossed my arms over my chest and stared at the bizarre clump of feathers and fur.
A flash of red between them caught my eye, and to my surprise, Aria’s head appeared over Dimitri’s long, outstretched feathery wing.
The wing snapped back, brushing against Agatha’s face.
Agatha puffed up in irritation, then ducked under, allowing Aria to see her again.
Aria was in the middle of them, scratching and laughing as they rolled playfully, each vying for her full attention.
A large grin spread across her lips, and my throat tightened at seeing it.
Her laugh sounded again, and I struggled to take a breath.
Aria looked happy. She was grinning, laughing, and that was something she didn’t do nearly enough anymore.
I held my breath, afraid to move. I didn't want to interrupt or ruin the moment, but Aria had already seen me.
She straightened her back, her smile vanishing as she jumped to her feet.
Her griffins scrambled up too, their eyes scanning the surroundings for danger.
Their growls were loud and menacing, and Agatha was the first to spot me.
Her growls intensified, and I shook my head, my smile morphing into a smirk. I opened my mouth to say something sarcastic and teasing, but someone else spoke first.
“Well, I’m glad I arrived in time to witness this.”
Theo was trotting toward us. He was shirtless, his navy blue tunic strung around his neck, the brown leather of his pants worn and stained from his travels. Theo swung off his mare Konai and his horse ran off into the trees. Theo glared after her but turned toward us with a grin.
“She is finally going to do it!” Theo said, chuckling. “Xavier, of course, won't be happy, but at least I can confirm how you died.”
“I wasn’t going to kill him,” Aria deadpanned, but her black eyes burned like coal. “Agatha on the other hand.”
Aria smiled wickedly, and Agatha huffed as if in confirmation, standing up taller.
I rolled my eyes at them. “As if.”
Agatha narrowed her gaze on me, challenge sparking in her golden eyes as if saying, try me. I only shook my head at her, my smirk still plastered on my face.
Aria pushed past her towering protectors, stopping at Agatha’s flank. She crossed her arms and leaned against the vicious, murderous beast at her side. “And what do we owe the interruption, Theo? Xavier worried about his brother’s safety suddenly?”
“Just passing through. Watching you two face off is just a bonus,” Theo said, winking.
Pulling my gaze from Agatha’s still piercing one, my spine prickled in irritation as I faced Theo. “You can tell my brother I don’t need a babysitter,” I spat.
“No, but it looks like you could use some backup.”
Theo squared up to Aria like a fighter, tossing a few exaggerated jabs into the air. “So—what are we fighting about?”
Theo continued to jab the air like a little kid, and I could have sworn Aria was holding back another smile. I punched Theo in the arm, and he flinched dramatically, rubbing the spot as if I’d broken a bone. So dramatic…
“We aren’t fighting about anything,” I sighed. “I just woke up and found her in the middle of some kind of tickle fight with her beasts.”
Theo choked on his laughter, struggling to stifle it when Agatha’s gaze snapped to him. Her growl rumbled so low it shook the air, and Theo’s face lost a shade of color.
“Easy there, beasty,” he said carefully, a smirk forming. “I like a good scratch too. It doesn’t make you any less terrifying.”
My stomach dropped as he stepped closer to her.
“Theo, don’t,” I yelped, reaching out to stop him, but he was already in front of Agatha, hand raised.
To my horror and utter shock, the massive griffin leaned into his touch, giving Theo a throaty purr.
I blinked in surprise and my mouth nearly fell open as Agatha cracked one of her sharp beady eyes at me.
They were sparkling with amusement and I could have sworn she was fucking smirking at me as she chirped again into Theo’s scratches.
Aria pressed her hand over her lips to smother her laughter, but it burst out anyway, rich and unrestrained. I made the mistake of smiling back at her and she straightened, her smile vanishing as Agatha, sensing Aria’s change in mood rose with her and once again glared at me.
“You can tell your brother, message received,” Aria scoffed in annoyance. “You have done what you came to do. You can leave.”
She pat Agatha on the flank before turning and striding for her tent.
“Wait, Aria!” Theo bellowed, following her, and the two of them disappeared into her tent.
I would have followed them, but the way Agatha was still glaring at me had me turning and stalking for the forest’s edge.
Sunlight slanted weakly through the trees, not yet heavy with the heat of midday.
A slight shiver ran through me, and I reached to button my shirt that was still open.
At least we are on the same page about me leaving; that made it easier.
My chest felt lighter at Theo being here. I could tag along with him when he left, and I wouldn’t have to travel alone. He could give me intel on where best I should be or go next. I was sure he had updates from back home.
Something glinted between the trees, and my steps slowed. Someone was there.
Carefully, I scanned the treeline, searching for movement. It was quiet, maybe even a little too quiet.
There it was again, a flash of red between two tree trunks about thirty feet to my left. I hadn’t seen Aria leave her tent, and surely, I would have heard Theo if they had.
Shadowing onto a high branch, I peered down into the thick trees, but again nothing was there.
I swept over the camp and the forest beyond, but nothing caught my attention.
Camouflaged guards stood watch in the surrounding trees, blending seamlessly into the bark, but they made no sign that someone was approaching or that they saw anything unusual.
The tightness in my chest eased, and I was about to dismiss it as an animal or a pixie when, to my right, I saw the flash again.
I moved stealthily to another tree, and there, beneath its dense branches, a girl moved silently between the trunks, making her way toward the camp.
Though the trees were too close for a clear view of her face, she looked strangely familiar.
Tracking her from above, I signaled to the nearby guards, and I saw the trees rustle as they finally spotted her. I signaled again to stand down, but continued to follow her.
She seemed to be alone. I didn't hear or see anyone else, no daka.
The girl turned her head, and my foot nearly slipped on the branch I just landed on.
It was Cynthia—Zara’s maid.
No longer hesitating, I shadowed behind her, the hilt of my dagger slamming into her skull before she even noticed I was there. Her body slumped forward, collapsing inward, and I caught her around the waist, holding her weight against my chest as I reached into my pocket.
My hand grasped the cool metal of the chain I had stolen from Xavier.
I slipped it around her wrist. I had hoped to use it if I ever encountered my mother again, but it would be useful for now on Cynthia.
My power rose to the surface of my skin, my fingers tingling as I forced the spell to activate.
I shadowed both of us back near Aria’s tent, and Agatha immediately let out a yowl.
The look of confusion on her face was probably because of the color of the girl's hair.
Aria’s head popped out of the tent, her gaze spearing right for Agatha, fear and concern shining brightly in her eyes, before landing on me and frowning.
Theo's head popped out next. The smirk on his face fell, and the sarcastic comment on his lips vanished as his eyes landed on the girl in my arms. Recognition flashed across his face, and then I was the one frowning.
“You know her?”
Theo’s gaze cut to mine, and I could have sworn he was blushing. Theo sheepishly stepped out of the tent, his gaze going back to Cynthia.
“I had the pleasure of meeting her on my way here.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “She must have followed me.” Theo tilted his head at the girl, confusion written across his expression, as if he didn’t know what to make of her.
“She is one of them,” I stated, and Theo nearly winced, his gaze, which had been soft and curious, turned steely, but it quickly fell away again to curiosity as he approached me.
“I’ll take her to the interrogation tent,” I said, and shadows were already beginning to form around us, when Theo practically lunged toward me.
“No!” he blurted and basically ripped her from my arms.
Aria and I glanced at each other nervously and watched as Theo gently cradled Cynthia to his chest and started to walk back toward Aria’s tent. Before he could make it there, Aria stepped in front of him.
“What are you doing?” Aria spat, her hands on her hips. “Take her to the interrogation tent.”
“She isn’t a threat,” Theo said, though his words lacked conviction, as if he himself didn't understand why he was defending her. “I mean, she doesn't seem like one to me. Chatty, maybe a stalker,” Theo mumbled, “but not a threat.”
“Theo,” I interjected, “I know her from my time in Velra. She and Zara were close.”
Disappointment flashed in Theo’s eyes. A battle warring behind his brown almond gaze.
I continued. “We can’t risk it, Theo.”
Theo looked down at the unconscious girl, his shoulder dropping slightly as he nodded wordlessly. He turned, and something caught my eye on her waist. Theo was walking past me, and I reached out to get a better look, only to have Theo growl and spin toward me.
What was going on with him?
“There is something carved into her waist,” I said through clenched teeth, and Theo’s gaze dropped to the exposed skin. Theo nodded for me to continue, although his jaw was tight.
I leaned down and examined the mark. It was as if it were still bleeding, but no blood dripped from it. It was crudely carved, as if whoever did it wanted it to hurt. My brows touched as I skimmed a thumb over it. Magic pulsed and my skin tingled.
The symbol was a V with a line down its middle, similar to the Velra crest without its crown. I studied it closer, and I felt Aria next to me as she examined it as well. The blood swirled within its marks, as if alive, and I swallowed thickly.
My mind whirled. The blood looked trapped, slightly raised on the skin, by some sort of magic. Standing up straight, my muscles locked.
“Get an owl, Aria. We need to send a letter to my brother.”