Chapter 44 Xeni
Xeni
Light filters through the window as I raise my arms in a stretch, forcing myself awake with a long groan that echoes softly in the quiet room. I reach beside me, fingers searching the cool sheets, but I already know Bash is up and about.
For the first few days we woke up in the village, he’d stay here until I was awake, then would dote on me until I dragged my ass out of bed. He’s always been an early riser while I am not, so I finally told him it wouldn’t hurt my feelings if he starts the day without me.
I take a quick shower and wash away the remnants of sleep, then get dressed in an oversized sweatshirt from Bash’s drawer. A smile crosses my lips as I step out into the trees, the fresh air crisp as I hug my torso against the morning chill.
Bash’s voice reaches me over the others, carried on the breeze, and I follow it to the large brick building in the center of the village.
It was once just used for storage, but the open space provides the perfect place for research.
Sunlight fills the room through the tall windows in golden streams.
A few tables and chairs have been moved to a corner devoted to their studies, with papers and notes scattered across the surfaces. I step inside the doorframe to find him and Sprocket almost head-to-head, bent over a table and talking animatedly as they review the research spread around them.
“Have they had any luck yet?” a voice behind me asks.
I glance over my shoulder at where Reyes stands, staring into the building too.
My gaze moves back inside, and I’m surprised to find Nyx curled up in an armchair, curiously watching them work.
Bash catches him peeking and waves him over, and Nyx smiles softly as he joins him.
His brows furrow in concentration as he nods yes or shakes his head no, and a tinkling laugh leaves him as Sprocket says something that makes them all smile.
“I’m not sure,” I say with a sense of contentment buzzing warm in my gut.
In the weeks since we’ve been back, barely a moment has gone to waste.
Bash jumped straight into his research, and there was something comfortingly familiar about watching him, Sprocket, and Aryn collaborate again.
They always made a good team. Now they work for what’s right, and their hearts are fully engaged.
Reyes steps forward to stand beside me. “Nyx told me about Bash’s theory, and how he thinks it all comes down to intention.”
“Yeah, he’s been stuck on that for a while. He believes the connection to the rifts exists only when the subjects allow it.”
“It would make sense,” Reyes muses, gesturing toward the three of them.
“If the prophecy went down the way it’s been told, and it’s up to the mates to make a difference in this world, it would have to be their choice.
I don’t think the Fates would’ve allowed it to be forced, given they were the ones who closed them. ”
“Yeah, I’m with you on that, although I won’t pretend to understand how the Fates think.”
Reyes grunts a quiet agreement. “We’d have to travel to one of the rifts to test the theory, and honestly… I’m not sure I’m ready for that.”
“I don’t blame you,” I say, smiling to myself as Bash asks another question and Nyx nods enthusiastically. “Though if his hypothesis is correct, it wouldn’t have to be Nyx. It could be any of us.”
He hums thoughtfully, but before he says anything else, movement in my periphery catches my attention.
Cameron swaggers over with his usual troublemaker grin in place. “Hey, you two.”
“Why do I feel like you’re up to something?” I ask.
He scoffs. “I am simply minding my own business.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re the last person here to mind your business. Ever.”
“That is an insult,” he argues, “and although it is painfully accurate, I’m still choosing to be offended by it. And here I came, a noble knight riding in on his steed, selflessly bearing this incredible, world-changing good news just for you ungrateful peasants.”
“Peasants?” I ask, hiking a brow.
“Oh, right,” he drawls. “I forgot you’re literal royalty. My apologies, Your Highness. Shall I bow? Kneel? Kiss the ring?”
“You could fetch me a snack?”
I haven’t had breakfast yet, after all, but Cameron only snorts.
It was worth a shot.
Reyes shakes his head, far better at ignoring Cameron’s theatrics than I am. “What good news?”
“Has August agreed never to cook dinner?” I ask, because that would benefit the entire village.
Cameron snort-laughs and shudders, undoubtedly remembering the soup August attempted last night. “Guess again.”
“Okay… have Sprocket and Ego gotten more solar panels running?”
“Ugh, no. Damn. That’s actually a better surprise than what I have, but no. Not yet.”
The two of them have been hard at work adding some modern conveniences to this place and have been joined at the hip.
Ego had a breakdown a couple of weeks into our time here when she realized she no longer had access to hair dye, but Sprocket recruited Nyx to help her find some plants with strong colors.
While it’s not as bright as it used to be, she’s pulling off the tamer blue with just as much… well, ego.
“I give up,” I say, distracted by the approaching footsteps.
Bash walks over and wraps his arms around my waist. “Hey princess,” he murmurs as he drops a kiss on my lips. “So nice of you to grace us with your presence before lunch.”
I wave my arm along my frame, gesturing at all of me. “This requires a lot of beauty sleep,” I argue, and Bash chuckles as he squeezes me in another hug. “We’re waiting impatiently for Cameron to tell us his surprise.”
Cameron bounces on his toes, nearly vibrating with excitement. “I’ve convinced them to have a tournament.”
“A tournament?” I repeat, brows high.
“Yes!” he squeals so loudly my eardrums flex. “So, me and August were talking, right? And he mentioned this tournament thing that Elas used to take part in on the other side. Something to do with boulders, but I’ll admit I wasn’t really listening to the details.”
Bash has his signature expression of alarmed and intrigued on his face, and he leans forward as I try not to laugh at him.
Cameron’s whole body lights up, shoulders bouncing in a little victory dance while he claps his hands together, barely able to stand still.
“They’ve agreed to a fighting tournament,” he says. “I was trying to plan this thing so I could, like, steal the water hose from the garden to get them all wet—”
“Hey,” Reyes argues, “that is not why that spigot is there.”
Cameron waves him off. “Oh, come on. It would be hot, and you can’t tell me otherwise. So many abs.”
“Don’t let Ronan hear you say that,” Reyes teases. “It’s been a while since we’ve had a drama queen tantrum. We’re probably due.”
“Probably,” Cameron agrees with a manic grin, then shakes his head. “Anyway, I was also maybe doing a lot of shit-talking, and now they’re full of adrenaline and raring to go.”
Sprocket rushes by in a blur.
“I am so here for this,” she shouts over her shoulder as she pushes past Cameron.
“Yeah, not to be dramatic, but I’m with her,” Cameron says, then runs off as well.
Reyes shakes his head and flashes us a smile before he goes inside to find Nyx, and Bash takes my hand as we walk down the pathway towards the roar of voices.
Lillith, Matuk, and Elas chatter excitedly together, and Ronan and Daiwyn are deep in conversation. Ronan’s hands move as if he’s showing her maneuvers, and she’s fully engaged as she listens to whatever advice he’s passing along.
Closer to the treeline, Aryn sits against a trunk with a book in his lap, with his wavy onyx hair falling over his shoulders. Cato hovers nearby like he can’t decide whether to stay or bolt, but Aryn doesn’t even seem to notice his presence.
It’s painfully awkward, and I’m giddy as I stare.
“Are you fighting?” Cato asks. His hands are shoved deep in his pockets, and his shoulders are stiff in a way that’s nothing like his usual cocky sprawl.
Aryn glances up at him, then stares over toward the makeshift arena for a beat before focusing on Cato again in quiet curiosity.
“Why would I?” he asks in his usual calm tone, obviously puzzled by the question.
The response seems to irritate Cato, and he takes a step back, arms crossing over his chest.
“It was just a question,” he snaps. “Thought you might want to do something other than read for once.”
Aryn hesitates, his brows arching in a subtle V as he glances at his book, then meets Cato’s eyes with a slow, quizzical blink, head tilting slightly like he’s waiting for the rest of the sentence.
“I like to read,” Aryn says after a pause, stretching the words.
I’ve known him long enough to recognize he’s just confused about why he needs to explain, but the statement comes out condescending. To a stranger, it sounds like he’s concerned Cato might not understand that books are more than just pretty covers.
From the way Cato’s jaw tightens and his nostrils flare, that’s exactly how he’s taken it.
“Never mind,” Cato grits, turning on his heel and marching toward us, face flushed as red as Aryn’s skin.
“I thought you said he was nice,” he barks at Bash.
I bristle at the way he’s speaking to my mate, ready to step in, but Bash beats me to it. He raises a hand, calm as always.
“He is,” Bash says, visibly confused as he glances at where Aryn stares at the back of Cato’s head with a frown. “I’ve known him for years, and he’s incredibly polite.”
“Could’ve fooled me. He never pulls his nose out of his own ass long enough to bother speaking.”
“Maybe he just doesn’t want to talk to you,” I say sweetly, then grunt as Bash elbows me in the gut. “Okay, sorry, let me rephrase that. Maybe he thinks you’re an asshole.”
“Xen,” Bash hisses. “You aren’t helping.”
I throw my hands out in exasperation toward Cato. “Now you’ve gone and made Bash mad at me!”
Bash buries his face in his palms.