“There were… other things on my mind,” Xavier muttered, his voice a low rumble as his piercing emerald eyes met mine. A hint of a smile played on his lips, and my stomach flipped at the sight. “That witch who kidnapped you brought a message from Morgana. She’s agreed to meet in two weeks at the realm’s entrance,” Xavier continued.
My mouth went dry. “Do we even have enough time to get to Gunnar and back?” I asked, a tightness forming in my chest.
“As long as Gunnar has no issue fixing our magic and lends us his carriages, we’ll have time to return to Mirronian and prepare,” Jaxon replied, shifting uncomfortably on the bed. His eyes flicked between Xavier and me, and my cheeks burned.
Did he know what happened between Xavier and me last night? The thought hit me hard. Can he… smell him on me? The way Xavier could smell Jaxon when I first arrived?
Panic crept up my throat, and I glanced at Xavier. He furrowed his brows, as if piecing together my thoughts.
“I’ll ready the horses,” Xavier bit out, his voice tight as he brushed past me and stormed out the door.
Dedra sighed, her eyes sympathetic as they found mine. “You should get ready, Zara. Knowing him, he’ll drag you out of here, ready or not.”
I nodded and stepped into the hall, my mind spinning as I made my way back to my room.
“Zara.” Jaxon’s voice stopped me in my tracks, and I turned to face him in the empty hallway. For the first time, his golden eyes held mine without darting away, and the steady intensity made my chest tighten.
He extended a small parcel toward me, and my brows knitted in confusion. Hesitantly, I took it, our hands brushing for a fleeting second before he jerked back as if my touch had stung him.
“It’s why I left when we got to the village the other day,” Jaxon murmured with a shrug. The motion was stiff, his shoulders barely lifting before dropping back down. His fingers twitched at his sides nervously.
Carefully, I peeled back the wrapping, my fingers trembling. My breath hitched. Nestled within was a wooden carving of an owl, its wings unfurled as though frozen mid-flight. The intricatepatterns of its feathers seemed to ripple with motion. Its details were so delicately carved that I half expected it to move in my hand. I traced the edges of the carving with my fingertips, marveling at the care that had gone into each line, each curve.
“It’s beautiful,” I whispered, my voice trembling as I looked up at him, eyes misting with tears. “Thank you.”
He shifted awkwardly. “It was supposed to be a peace offering,” he huffed, rubbing the back of his neck. He held my gaze. “I don’t want this mess between us, Zara. I care about you.”
The words hit like a punch to the gut. My chest constricted, my hands gripping the fragile carving more tightly. I was overcome by a wave of guilt, fear, and sadness, all crashing down on me simultaneously. He must’ve sensed it—seen it—because he reached out, gripping my arms gently, grounding me.
“What’s wrong?” Jaxon’s voice was laced with worry, his brows furrowing as his eyes searched mine. He cared about me… and I’d kissed his brother. My stomach churned, twisting itself into knots as the memory of Xavier’s kiss burned hot and unforgiving in my mind.
His eyes flickered, a storm of emotions swirling in them as well as a flash of understanding. Slowly, a crooked smile tugged at his lips, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Zara, it’s okay,” he murmured, his voice low.
Before I could respond, he pulled me into his arms, his embrace firm, and it felt like he was saying goodbye. That thought only made me ache further. I clutched the carved owl against my chest, leaning into his familiar embrace. I Inhaled deeply, his stormy scent filling my lungs. It washed over me, making me feel safe, like I was home.
“It’s okay,” he repeated, the words softer now, as if saying them out loud might make them true. “I’m not upset.”
Jaxon stroked my back, holding me close as a tear slipped down my cheek. He rested his chin gently atop my head. “You might not understand now, Princess, but you will.”
Why did they keep saying that to me?
He pulled back, his hand gentle as he lifted my chin, tilting my face toward his. His thumb brushed over my jaw, lingering for a moment before he tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. The sadness in his gaze was undeniable, and though he tried to smile, to hide it, the pain still lingered in his eyes.
“You deserve to be happy,” he whispered, his thumb grazing my jaw again, before stepping away.
With a quick turn, he retreated, his shoulders tense. The flicker of raw emotion in his eyes was the last thing I saw before the door to his room clicked shut, leaving me standing there, clutching the carved owl against my chest.
*
I felt utter and absolute confusion. Xavier was now avoiding me instead of Jaxon. From the moment we mounted our horses, Xavier kept himself at the front of the line, barely sparing me a glance. Whenever I tried to approach him, thinking I might catch him alone, he’d come up with some excuse to be somewhere else or quietly disappear before I could say a word.
By the end of the first day, I stopped trying.
We were now on day three, nearing the Niverrian coast where Lord Gunnar resided. He acted as Niverrian’s governing lord unless matters demanded Xavier’s direct involvement.
Dedra had recovered most of her strength, but she wasn’t back to her full self yet. Each day, she grew stronger, and she hardly left my side. I couldn’t tell if it was because she wanted to stay close or if Xavier had quietly ordered her to keep an eye on me.
She slept with me near the fire each night while Jaxon and Xavier took shifts on watch. We had both argued to take a shift, but it quickly became a moot point.
