Chapter 41 #2
“How about we talk about it over a drink?” Julian said, and offered me a crooked smile. His head tilted towards the light filtering in from behind him but his eyes shifted to someone past me, a wide grin forming on his lips. “Your Majesty.”
I turned to find Xavier at my back, already lunging forward to pull Julian into a hug. Tears were falling down Julian’s cheeks, and Xavier pulled away, punching him in the arm playfully.
“Is that my shirt?” Xavier asked, and Julian laughed, his grin widening.
“You aren’t using it anymore. I thought it could use a proper home.”
“I’m pretty sure he took more than one shirt,” Jaxon muttered, appearing beside Xavier.
Xavier grinned. “They are all yours friend. But maybe lend Jaxon some.” Xavier scrunched his face and turned toward his brother. “He could use some style. Must be taking notes from Soren.”
A slow smirk spread across Jaxon's face. “That's odd, considering I found it in the back of your closet.” We all burst into laughter, and Xavier turned back to Julian.
“Now what was this about a schedule?” Xavier asked, lacing his fingers with mine. The feel of him touching me sent tiny pulses of energy through me, and I had to resist tackling him again as desire bloomed.
“Julian has the entire day planned,” Jaxon muttered, and Julian glared at him.
“I figured as much,” Xavier said with a chuckle.
“Right, come on. The others are waiting.” Julian spun excitedly as Jaxon followed him out the door.
We looked after them, smiling, and stepped out onto a large cliff overlooking the sea.
Distant seabirds wheeled and cried overhead, their calls mingling with the roar of waves crashing against the rocks below.
The grass was a vibrant green, promising a carpet of wildflowers come spring.
Winding paths crisscrossed the neighboring cliffs, eventually connecting to the castle and village far below.
The ocean stretched endlessly on the horizon, but it was the people standing at its edge that had my full attention.
My gaze landed on a curvy, red-haired girl first and I watched her pull away from Theo, who had just had his tongue down her throat, looking upset that she had stopped their kiss.
They were also both in black, and as Theo followed Cynthia’s gaze toward us, he practically pushed her away as he started to run toward Xavier.
Cynthia cursed as she almost fell over and ran after him, using her magic to cast ice under his feet, making him fall to the ground in a cry of surprise.
Laughter erupted around us, and Cynthia flipped him off as she passed him sprawled on the ground, her body crashing against mine.
I had never hugged so many people in my entire life, but I thought I was starting to like it.
“Theo, huh?” I asked through my laughter. It was mixed with restrained sobs, and Cynthia beamed at me as she pulled away.
“Well, yeah, once he got his head out of his ass. Well, mostly anyway. He has proven to be adequate,” she said, a lopsided grin on her lips as she beamed at me.
Theo scoffed, rubbing the back of his head as he finally approached, “Adequate wasn’t what you were saying last night when I—”
“Ah! No, please, I don’t want to know,” I shouted, placing my hands over my ears. Theo smirked as Cynthia blushed and Xavier grabbed onto his shirt and pulled him into a hug as well, followed by Dedra and Aria who had followed after them.
Aria hadn’t hugged me, but she did nod toward me in greeting, which I guessed was a step in the right direction for us. She still had horrible red burns on her skin, and a lot of them were bandaged. What they had done for Jaxon…
My stomach twisted, and I asked nervously, “Agatha?”
Jaxon smiled softly, but Aria’s gaze pierced mine, and I nearly flinched. “Agatha’s pride is wounded, but she survived.” She nodded toward the opposite side of the cliff, and I sucked in a breath as I turned in that direction.
Agatha was lying on her side, her paws dangling over the edge.
Her once thick golden fur was replaced by raw, mutilated skin.
Her once massive form, now frail and small.
Bandages covered her from head to talon, and her wings looked as if they had been plucked bare.
She was gazing at two distant bobbing figures, and my chest tightened at the yearning in her large golden eyes.
Her yellow beak was now massive compared to her frail boney face.
“Her recovery will be a long one, but she'll fly again.
Once she's more stable, Julian can regrow her feathers and fur, but for now, she is, well… ” Aria gestured towards Agatha, who, as if sensing they were discussing her, let out a mournful, agitated chirp.
Rolling over, she let out a painful yowl putting her back toward us.
“She's a bit unbearable to be around, but soon she'll be back in the sky with her brother and sister.”
Jaxon smiled softly as Aria walked toward him, and Aria’s mouth turned up at the corners.
Jaxon cautiously draped an arm over her shoulder, avoiding her bandages and leaned down to place a gentle kiss on her forehead.
Aria seemed to breathe deeply, her eyes shutting as she leaned closer to him, and I looked around at everyone in shock, trying to see if this was as much a surprise to them as it was to me.
Xavier was the only other person who seemed to be confused, and we both looked between them in question as Jaxon snorted.
“She is my mate,” he said, shrugging, and I had to stifle the laugh that bubbled up from my throat. Aria’s gaze shot open, and she glared in my direction, a snarl on her lips.
I put my palms up in a defensive position and snorted. “I’m sorry, I just saw all of those daggers you put into his face in your castle and it’s just a shock, is all,” I said with another laugh.
Jaxon’s brows rose nearly to his hairline as he looked down at Aria in surprise, her cheeks instantly reddening. “You put daggers in my face?” Jaxon asked, and everyone exploded into laughter.
“You didn’t know?” Dedra asked, her hand over her mouth as she stared pointedly at Aria. “I thought he knew!”
“How could I have known?! I haven’t been in that castle in centuries. Aria never let me visit… and I guess I now know why,” he grumbled, frowning down at Aria, who merely shrugged, a small smirk on her lips as she continued to glare at me.
“We were cursed. I was angry, and aren’t you both supposed to be gods now? Shouldn’t you know these things?” Aria spat, scoffing, and I shrugged.
“We did only just die… wait, how long have we been dead?”
Theo chimed in, slinging an arm around my shoulders.
“An entire month, princess. So, I bet you are hungry. Cynthia already ate all the cheese, but don’t worry.
” Theo leaned in close, whispering into my ear.
“I hid some from her, and I’ll share.” He winked and I rolled my eyes at Cynthia.
Her and her fucking cheese. Cynthia shoved Theo aside and looped her arm through mine.
Cynthia leaned in conspiratorially.“And I already hid all of his sandwiches in retaliation,” she said smugly, causing Theo's mouth to pop open.
“No, you did not,” he growled and genuine panic flashed across his features.
Xavier smacked him on the back, laughing, and Theo looked to him desperately.
“I’m sure we can conjure you up some more sandwiches, Theo. Don’t worry.”
“He’s already had about five,” Dedra muttered, and I swung my gaze toward her.
She looked better than the last time I saw her.
Her hair was pinned up into a neat bun on top of her head, and she was in her usual leathers, weapons strapped to nearly every inch of her, but she was smiling as her gaze met mine and I returned it with one of my own.
“The naval pirates had to double their shipment because someone didn’t think there would be enough cheese,” Dedra continued, rolling her eyes, and I watched as Theo and Cynthia gave each other sly smiles.
“Naval pirates?” I asked curiously, and Xavier eyed Theo before looking back to Jaxon.
“You are sailing for the other kingdoms?” Xavier asked, and Jaxon pulled Aria closer to him, nodding at Theo.