Nix’s eyes widen and she shakes her head. “No, no. That’s not what I meant! I mean yes, that’s one way…but I spoke with Noire and he told me the alternative, which is you binding your life to mine in an ancient ritual so that if I were ever at risk of dying, the spirits of the gods would take you instead.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. I know it’s not ideal. You’ve done all this to gain your freedom, and you’re as far from getting it back as you can be…”
“I’ll do it,” I say without hesitation.
Nix frowns. “No. Think about it first.” She scoffs. “Jax! You’ll be bound to me until the end of your days. Do you understand how serious that is? And if I were to ever get injured seriously, you’d have to die for me.”
I would gladly die for you now. Words dance at the tip of my tongue, but I don’t say them out loud.
Instead, I take Nix’s hand in mine and bring the back of her palm to my lips. Her eyelids drop, her long eyelashes casting a shadow on her cheeks.
“I’ll gladly serve you until the end of my days, General,” I say and wink.
With a scoff, Nix pulls her hand out of mine and rolls her eyes. “Do you ever take anything seriously?”
“Oh, absolutely, darling.” My gaze slides down her body. “I’d be happy to show you just how serious I take?—”
Before I can finish the sentence, she slaps a hand over my mouth. “No, thank you.”
I chuckle against her gloved palm.
“So you sure about this?” Nix asks, face serious.
“Absolutely. A thousand percent.”
Humming, she nods. “Okay. Tomorrow we’ll hold a trial in front of House Dzuni and present this solution as punishment. If they approve, I’ll have you out in a couple of days. I’ll go inform Noire.”
She tries to sit up, but groans and falls back onto her side. Grimacing she curls into a ball, hugging her knees to her chest.
“I hate this so much,” she mumbles. “I guess I’ll speak with Noire later.”
I hate seeing her in so much pain and not being able to do anything.
“Do you want me to ask for water?”
She shakes her head.
I pull the blanket higher up her body, hating just how thin and dirty it is. “Anything to make this better?”
Nix closes her eyes and shakes her head. “Just give me a moment.” I nod, even if she doesn’t see it. So quietly I almost miss it, she adds, “Stay with me, please.”
When I answer, the word is a mere whisper. “Always.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
PHOENIX
Ihave no clue when or how I fall asleep, but when I open my eyes the first thing I see is a dark cell.
Immediately, I perk up and sit up. I slept on a hard, slim bunk. The thin blanket covering me falls from my shoulders. Blinking, I look around.
When my eyes land on a familiar shape lying on the stone floor next to the bunk, it hits me. It’s Jax’s cell.
Shit.
This is so bad.
