Aligning Stars (Fate's Intent Book 1) (16 page)

“But isn’t that what you’d want, Love? Only this time kill me and you’re home-free.”

“Awe. Look how cute they are fighting like that.” Jaylyn whispered.

Ruby laughed quietly. “They were so made for each other. They just don’t know it yet.”

I looked over at Darius, wondering if they knew we were close enough to hear them or more importantly, Zayden.

“You don’t know anything about what I want.” Adele went on.

Zayden smiled and he took her wrist, flipping her over onto her back and leaning over her with both her hands secured in one of his over her head. “Don’t be so sure about that. Our wants could very well be similar.”

The position they were in only reminded me of so many delightful things and it wasn’t helping keeping all of those thoughts from taking over. Neither was how she was acting.

She was breathing heavily from being pinned down to the ground. It took no effort but his own weight but she was only seeming to get more frustrated with him instead of enjoying it like women usually do. “You wish.”

Zayden laughed. “And yet you’re not fighting me off.”

“Why should I? Nothing will happen. You don’t mix with
our kind
.”

“Awe.” Zayden leaned in to rub his nose against her cheek and barely brushed his lips on her. I almost needed to look away but I couldn’t seem to. “We could easily wean out your bad blood with a little of our own.”

“Try anything cute and you’ll regret it.”

“We both probably would so perhaps you should avoid putting yourself in these situations before you get hurt.” He stood up and brought his hand down to Adele to help her up but she just looked at it and stubbornly got to her feet by herself, keeping her eyes on his.

They stood in front of each other like that and just stared. Adele seemed to be looking a little less mad than usual but she didn’t let it last. She turned away first, grabbing the meat that was set aside for her and walked back inside our sleeping quarters.

“So.” Ruby said. “You sure you still want to go with Adele’s plan?”

“Why?” Zayden asked. “You have one?”

“Maybe!”

“Ruby.” Jaylyn sighed. “Please no.”

“What? It doesn’t even involve me.”

“Well, now I am surprised.”

“What is it?” Zayden asked.

“I’ll tell you what you want to know
if—
” She paused like she was trying to build up the suspense and I have to say, it was working. “You have sex with Adele so she relaxes.”

It was an odd request and I looked right at Zayden after she said it. His face was blank at first and then he started to laugh. “Yeah right! Firstly, like she would let me and secondly, why would I want to?”

“Don’t be naive. You know why you’d want to and I can help you out with that first part.”

“You going to convince her of it?”

“No. I was going to hold her down so you could. No one would be able to escape my grasp when I incorporate my strength. She’d be helpless.”

“Thank you but no thank you. We’ll deal with the issue on our own.”

Ruby let out a long breath. “You are one tough being to crack, Zayden but don’t worry, we have all day tomorrow.”

“Ruby.” Jaylyn cut in. “She can probably hear you.”

“As is why she’s letting me continue. She agrees.”

“I think you need sleep.”

“Fine. Are you coming?”

“Yeah, give me a second. Blood really does get everywhere. I have to wash it out before it ends up staining my perfect skin.”

“Well, you hurry and clean out your claws while I make sure Adele doesn’t freak out from the delay.”

Jaylyn nodded and turned around and walk all the way to the river this time. She kneeled down by the water’s edge and started scrubbing at her hands with the clean water.

I was watching her very closely and wouldn’t miss a move she made.

“You feel like a total ass right now, don’t you?” Darius joked.

“Shut up.” I got up to my feet, ready to give her my apology. “I’ll be right back.”

“Don’t be long.” Zayden said.

I nodded, glad that he allowed it and I approached her carefully.

Chapter 19

Jaylyn

I was alone in my own world but I could hear footsteps coming up behind me. I mentally sighed, already knowing who it was but I wasn’t sure where this would go. I didn’t want to fight right now, something I seemed to do a lot with men of late. “Not talking to you, remember?”

“Jaylyn, please. Just listen, okay?”

His voice was how I remembered when he was caring but I tried to push passed it. “Whatever you have to say, I don’t want to hear it either.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know about before. I—you sounded genuinely truthful when pretending to kill me.”

“It’s fine. You don’t have to apologize. It’s better this way.”

He wasn’t going away like I had hoped. Instead, he kneeled down beside me and his voice was even more caring. “How can you say that? I know that’s not what you want.”

He was right but so was Adele. They were the enemy and I shouldn’t feel this way. A part of me just wanted it to end like she did. “Even if it wasn’t, there’s no way things would change. Not even you could stop this now.”

“I still may.”

I stopped what I was doing and fought not to look over but I did and saw the forgiveness and trust in his eyes. “Why would you want to? Why do you even care? You shouldn’t.”

He was silent, maybe thinking about how I was right but he never took his eyes from mine. His were so beautiful. They were a mysterious green but I saw light in them and his voice came out veritably sincere. “But I do. There’s something about you. My duty is telling me to forget it but my gut is telling me that you mean something to me and I can’t see you be killed.”

I slightly smiled and looked back down at my hands and started cleaning them again. I was feeling so nervous with him beside me and hearing him say that. He really did want me and it seemed even war wasn’t going to stop him. “That’s probably the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard but I don’t foresee it happening. Adele and Zayden would never let it.”

“Unless we get them to realize it. I know you’ve seen what I’ve seen between them. It’s only a matter of time before they accept it and end this behavior.”

He was right but I sighed for a few factors, mostly because I knew Adele. “But we don’t have time. We should be reaching Randal by tomorrow night then it’s over for us. That’s not enough time for Adele to get over any of this. Believe me.”

“Then we stall.”

“How?”

“By taking another night. In that time, I know I can get at least Zayden turned around. I promise, this will not be your end.”

“You’re risking a lot here, you know that right?”

“I do but somehow it all feels worth it.”

I smiled and gave my hands one last shake, trying to ease off this sudden flushed feeling he was giving me and I stood up with him. “Well, I won’t hold you to your word but I appreciate the effort.”

He leaned his head down towards me and his lips touched mine with the softest gesture of a kiss. It only reminded me and wanted me to have him as before and I bounced up on my tiptoes to press mine harder into his. He followed me back down like he wanted it too and it was the most beautiful kiss. I would have wanted it to go on longer but I knew I had to stop. I knew what I couldn’t get and put my hand to his face to pull away with an apology. “I’m sorry—again.”

He smiled and I tried my hardest not to kiss him again. “Don’t be. Your hands are so cold.” He took both mine in his and blew a few breaths in them to warm them up.

“I know. The water is cold.” I was looking up in his eyes while he still had my hands by his mouth and watched him kiss them. It put a chill of desire down my spine and I slowly started to pull them away with a nervous voice. “Ah, I better go.”

“If that’s what you want.”

“It’ll have to do. What I want isn’t allowed.”

He laughed and grazed the hair aside my head with a light hand. “Not yet but I’m saving that for you.”

My heart just melted. How could anyone be this amazing? Troy was that and so much more and I let him walk me back. I meant to enjoy every second. He was such a gentleman and I relished the time with him. I had one hand in his and my other lifted to his forearm. My eyes traced down and widened, ruining the moment completely with a halting gasp. “Oh, no! You’re hurt!”

We stopped near the fire and Troy looked down to the scratch, barely enough to be called one in the nook of his arm from his bindings that I didn’t notice before. “It’s okay. I’m not dying.”

“You should have told me!”

“Yeah, Troy.” Darius joked, making his presence known. “You should have told her so she can heal you. I thought that’s what you were doing.”

His eyes narrowed towards him. “I’d never use her for that.”

“I’m fixing it because I want to. He didn’t ask me.” I took his strong arm in both my hands and my eyes began to glow, lighting the area around us. “There.” It was a small cut, no real effort on my part to heal it unlike when I stabbed him and it was over quickly.

“Thank you.”

“That’s entirely unnecessary but you’re welcome.”

Darius humorously cleared his throat for attention that they were still sitting there.

Troy’s eyes rolled and he put his arm around my shoulders and turned towards the shelter. “Sorry about him.”

“It’s all right. Do you plan on staying out here all night?”

“Most likely but you know I wish I didn’t have to.”

I smiled and kissed him one more time.

“Now, I really wish I didn’t have to.”

“Then let me take it back.” I leaned into him and kissed him again, this time entwining my tongue with his for a brief sense of pleasure.

“Not helping. I have to stay out here.”

I got a sad, playful look on my face and put my hand comfortably on his chest. “All right. Goodnight.”

It surely would be but I had a hard time turning away. I didn’t want to stop looking at him but I knew I had to and I got right to sleep so I’d see him again sooner.

Chapter 20

Troy

I watched her walk inside and the sight of it saddened me. I badly wanted to follow, to be next to her as she slept and keep her close in my arms. How could I have ever thought to hate her? She was too beautiful. Even after staging my death and actually stabbing me with my own sword, I couldn’t stay strong enough to hate her. I felt weak in a sense like I’d do anything for her and I would.

I was still going to try and save her. I just had to get Zayden to see it. He’s not really as harsh as he’s been pretending to be. He’s thinking about what’s right for the world as I suppose a Prince should but what about what’s right for us? Jaylyn was it. I would never find anyone better and Darius had already begun to show his liking towards Ruby. I knew I could easily get him on board. It was Zayden that needed more work but I would do it; for Jaylyn.

“Your night has gotten better.” Darius smiled.

I sat down next to him and looked up at our sleeping quarters that we wouldn’t be staying in tonight. Picturing Jaylyn’s smile made me smile and I spoke my thoughts aloud. “Not as good as it could go.”

“Hey! What’d I say? You’re not doing that.”

“Oh, come on, Zayden. Why are you still acting like you don’t want it either? You had your chance and you let it get away.”

“She wasn’t sincere. Things would have gone a lot worse if I did anything.”

Darius laughed. “They didn’t go well anyway because of what you said but from where I was standing, their kind was looking pretty damn good. I really wish you let me at that.”

“Get over it.” Zayden sighed. Then it happened. He started to confess something to us even if it was only something small. “But I’ll admit it was a bad choice of words though from where I was standing, their kind was looking
really
damn good and it would have pained me to watch you get it first.”

I looked over at Darius and let out a laugh, trying to keep it from echoing and drawing attention to our conversation. “See, I knew it! You do feel something for her, don’t you?”

“Possibly from just being out here as long as we have. So, I’m not going to do a thing about it. We’re sticking to the plan. Now get your armor back on then get to sleep. I’m on first watch just so I can keep an eye on the two of you.”

I knew why Zayden couldn’t sleep and it had nothing to do with him being worried about us. He was thinking about Adele a lot. I could see it. It was obvious but Zayden was still in denial. I couldn’t explain why. Sure, maybe Adele was a little too proud of a woman. She’s just used to having things her way. If that ever changed, she may start to behave like the other two. They had to have something like that in common if they’ve been together for so long. They didn’t seem like they only tolerated each other for missions like this. They spoke of her as their friend. If that was so, she may eventually come around if I could get Zayden to first.