“Time for what? I don’t even know what happened,” I snapped, and I looked behind me at the tree line again.
I stood and took off after him. Dedra protested, but no one got up to stop me. I had enough of him ignoring me like I did something wrong. I didn’t do anything! His brother trapped me, and the woman who raised me turned out to be an evil witch, and he was mad atme?
I emerged through the trees back at the river’s edge, and my eyes scanned the bank, but Jaxon was nowhere to be found. Frustration gnawed at me as I continued to look for him. He had to be here somewhere. I saw him come this way.
Suddenly, someone grabbed me from behind, covering my mouth with a hand to muffle my scream.
“Still not very observant, are we, Princess?” Jaxon’s voice rang out behind me, tinged with amusement and frustration. I sagged with relief at the sound of it.
As he released me, I whirled around to face him. “What is your problem?” I demanded. My voice trembling with emotion. “I thought there was something between us. Why are you pushing me away?”
“You don't know what you're feeling,” Jaxon retorted sharply, his tone laced with bitterness. He strode toward the water's edge as he continued, “There can be nothing between us, Zara. It's just the way it is.”
“Something is already between us,” I shot back defiantly, stepping into his path. “What changed?”
“Drop it, Zara,” Jaxon snapped, pushing past me and stalking further down the bank. I followed after him.
“I will not drop it,” I persisted. “Tell me what has changed.”
“Everything has changed!” Jaxon barked, spinning to face me, his voice full of raw emotion.
“Is this because of Aria?” I pressed, desperation creeping into my voice. My insecurities were coming back to the surface. “I know you two dated, and I saw her storm from the castle the other night.”
Jaxon's face twisted into anger and confusion. “What? No, it’s not that. It's just… what it is.”
“I don't accept that,” I cried, pushing against his chest with both arms. He seized my wrists, pulling me tightly against his chest. He barred his teeth at me, and his eyes flashed with a sadness I didn’t understand.
“I am a criminal, Zara, and you are…you just… can't be mine,” he declared, his voice bitter. “Stop making this harder than it has to be.”
His golden eyes bore into mine, and our mouths were now only inches apart. My lips parted, andmy breath came out ragged as his eyes darted down to them.
For a moment, I thought he had moved closerand was going to close the remaining distance, but instead, he released my wrists and took a step backward.
A sharp pain pierced my heart as he did, and tears formed in my eyes as I stared at him. “You were supposed to be my friend,” I whispered, my voice trembling with betrayal.
“I am your friend,” Jaxon insisted, his tone softening. He tried to take a step closer, but I could no longer bear to look at him. I shook my head, turning away from him as I started to run back toward the camp.
“Zara,” Jaxon called out after me, and I could hear him following after me.
“No.” I choked, turning to face him again. “Don’t follow me,” I said, my voice cracking as tears ran down my cheeks. “Just don’t.”
Before he could reply, I turned and started to run away again.
I was almost halfway back to the camp, my eyes blurry, when I stumbled forward. I crashed into a broad, sturdy chest—the scent of citrus and cedar enveloping me.
“It’s just me.” Xavier's low, soothing, gruff voice sounded, sending a shiver down my spine.
Stark relief washed over me at his presence, and his muscular arms encircled me, drawing me close to his chest as I clung onto his shirt, which he thankfully had back on. My tears soaked into the fabric, and with gentle strength, he lifted me off the ground.
I didn’t resist, letting him carry me in his arms.
I could hear the faint sounds of twigs snapping and leaves rustling as Xavier carried me through the wooded path.
Tears spilled freely down my cheeks, hot and unyielding, as if every emotion I’d bottled up demanded release all at once. My fingers clung to Xavier’s shirt, gripping it like a lifeline, the fabric bunched tightly in my trembling hands. My body shook with the force of my emotions, each sob tearing through me like a storm I couldn’t control as I buried my face against his chest.
Xavier said nothing, his movements steady and unwavering as he carried me deeper into the woods. Eventually, he stopped, and I lifted my head, realizing he hadn’t taken me back to the camp.
I took in our new surroundings through blurry eyes and wiped at my face to get a better view. We were now on a plateau of a cliff, its edges jagged against the now-night sky. The sun was no longer setting on the horizon and was instead replaced by a shimmering full moon.
