I watch Jax’s naked chest rise and fall as he breathes. He’s deep asleep, face peaceful as ever.
Sleeping, he looks so…innocent. No masks, cheeky smirks, or mischievous glitters in his dark eyes. When I realize I’m staring, almost hypnotized by the moon-pale skin, and the tousled hair that falls messily on his forehead, I shake my head and slowly climb out of his bunk.
I pause, listening to his breathing. I have no clue what time it is, but I don’t want to wake him. There are many reasons for it.
Last night is hazy in my memory. Once that damn draught started working, I was so out of it I’m not sure what’s now the fruit of my imagination and what’s real.
Jax’s worried gaze, his fingertips softly tracing the lines of my face, pushing my hair away from my eyes while I trembled and winced as my insides burned like an open fire.
Fuck.I close my eyes and run my hands over my face.
I need to keep my head straight. After Daegel…I can’t let anyone get under my skin.
On my tiptoes, trying my hardest not to wake Jax up, I sneak towards the door. My hand wraps around the iron handle and I gently tug on it.
Of course the hinges groan as if they haven’t seen any movement in three centuries. I cringe and pause.
A sharp inhale, followed by a sleepy, “Phoenix?”
Fuck.So much for sneaking out before he wakes up.
Hesitantly I glance over my shoulder where Jax leans on one of his forearms, trying to rub the sleep away from his eyes. He yawns, stretches his powerful, lean body, and cranes his neck to look at me with a smirk.
“Sneaking out without waking me? How rude.”
I roll my eyes. “Shut up. I have to go.”
He opens his mouth, and I know he’s about to spit an exceptionally inappropriate but somehow hot remark that will make me flushed and even more annoyed. So before he has the opportunity to do so, I open the door and leave.
I don’t dare glance back through the small opening in the cell door just in case my abrupt exit hurts Jax.
Of course Ezkai Bjorn and Ezkai Emil are standing guard on each side of the door.
I roll my shoulders, eye them as if they’re a leaf stuck to the sole of my shoe, and head down the dimly lit corridor towards the stairs.
A yelp escapes me and I almost jump out of my own skin when I walk straight into Noire. He stands in the middle of the corridor with that familiar pleasant smile, hands clasped behind his back.
“Good morning, General,” he says with a hint of amusement.
“Noire!” I slap a hand over my chest. “You almost gave me a heart attack.”
“Apologies, General,” he says, tilting his head. “That was not my intention.”
I huff and shake the tension off. When I meet Noire’s gaze, there’s a silent warning.
“Not here,” I say and head for the stairs.
All three of them follow. Once we’re off the prison floor, I whirl on my heel to face Noire.
“I see you’re feeling well after the ritual,” Noire says, his gaze sweeping over me with care.
“Yes, Noire.”
A pause. Then, “I know you’re close with Mr. Kregger. But I must warn you, spending the night in his cell is not?—”
Cheeks burning, I lift my palm to silence him before this becomes even more uncomfortable than it is. “I went to ask him about the trial, and accidentally fell asleep because I felt so awful after the damn Ashen Oath.Nothinghappened, and this won’t happen again.”
Noire purses his lips. “I’m not implying anything inappropriate, General.” A corner of his mouth lifts. “But if the Ezkai General starts sleeping in one of the cells regularly, it may raise some eyebrows.”
