“Sure. Eventually.” Jax pauses. “Until then, let’s use it to our advantage.”
I frown. “How?”
“Your heartbeat is out of control. And your breathing is rapid and shallow.”
I snort. “Haven’t noticed it.”
“Darling, patience,” Jax purrs. “Let me get to my point.”
“Fine.”
“Through our bond, find my heartbeat,” he instructs, all serious.
I lick my lips, hesitating for a moment.
But then I do as he says. Ignoring my own racing heart, I lean into the bond and listen for his heartbeat. It’s not hard to locate.
It’s the oddest feeling. As if there are two hearts beating in my chest, at different rhythms.
“Good,” Jax says. “Now, find my breathing.”
This time I don’t hesitate. I lean in even farther and grasp Jax’s breathing quickly. It’s slow, deep, peaceful.
I’m lost in simplyfeelinghim for a moment.
The steady, strong rhythm of his heart. The soothing way he inhales and exhales.
“Breathe with me,” he says, voice soft. “Focus on the space between breaths.”
I do as he says.
My mind is clear as I focus on the way our bodies are joined. My chest rises and falls in tandem with his, without us physically touching.
As we continue to breathe in sync, my heart slows. The dragon that’s been straddling my chest flies away, and my limbs loosen. I sink deeper into the mattress and the soft pillow under my head. Before I know it, sleep drags me under.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
PHOENIX
When I wake up the next morning, Jax is still asleep.
I don’t wake him. That’s the least I can do after not letting the poor man sleep until criminally late.
Quietly, I sneak out of my bed and pad over to the bathroom where I quickly wash my face and get dressed in my leathers.
It’s a little after six in the morning. Through the windows I can see the early sunlight spilling over the mountains. The sky is gorgeous. I need to go outside, to enjoy a peaceful moment alone before the rest wake up.
Jax mumbles something under his breath and I freeze halfway to the door. He rolls over onto his back and shakes his head in his sleep. Then, he exhales heavily and continues to sleep.
I let out a breath I was holding and tiptoe out of the room. Thankfully, monks keep their hinges well oiled and the door doesn’t creak as I open and close it quietly.
I’m so surprised that neither Ezkai Emil nor Ezkai Bjorn guard my door that for a moment, I just stand there, looking around the empty corridor.
Damn, I miss being a free woman.
Feeling giddy, I march outside. Last time we stayed here, there was that lovely small garden with a stone perfect for meditation. I want to find it again.
Once I’m outside, the crisp dawn air bites my cheeks. A gentle breeze rustles my untamed hair as I walk the narrow pathways towards the side of the monastery.
