I just nodded, a faint, sad smile on my lips. “I will see you on the battlefield then, my friend.” And with those parting words, I turned, grabbing Cynthia's arm and headed back down the path.
“Do you—” Cynthia’s soft, whispered voice sounded, but I cut her off.
“No. I don’t want to talk about it.” The words came out sharper than I intended, and I let go of her arm.
“I'm sorry that you lost someone,” she breathed, and I felt her gaze on the side of my face.
“Me too.”
Chapter 26
Xavier
A heavy, warm weight lingered on my chest, and I sighed in relief as I began to wake. I felt rested, content for the first time in weeks. It was the first night in a long time that I actually slept through the entire night. The first night I hadn’t been woken up in a heated sweat from a nightmare or a memory.
After what happened in Territan, with my uncle… it was the only good thing to happen to me in a while. I went to turn over, but something stopped me. The heavy weight I felt on my chest shifted, and soft breathing filled the air. My fist began to clench, and my fingers curled onto soft, silky skin. My right arm tingled, and I cursed under my breath as I inhaled Zara’s wintery scent.
My senses focused, and I could feel her head resting on my chest, her arm draped over my body, and I didn’t dare open my eyes. I knew what I would see, and a part of me wanted to stay like this. My grip tightened around her body as I pulled her closer, and I sighed deeply, warring with myself, knowingI should shadow her back to the dungeon before she woke, before someone saw her here.
Slowly I opened my eyes, and her pale face came into view. She was stunning, and I held my breath as my gaze ran over her face.
My door slammed open—fuck.
Throwing Zara off me in a panic, her eyes flew open in surprise as she let out a small shriek. My gaze cut directly to Julian, who now stood frozen at my door, mouth parted.
Zara shot to a seated position, and I did the same.
“What am I doing here?” Zara hissed, and her icy blue eyes narrowed up at me.
“You tellme,” I snarled, already knowing.
The spot on my chest burned still with her warmth, and I wanted to brand it on my skin.
Julian cleared his throat, and my attention snapped back toward him, as I felt Zara stiffen beside me. Fear and guilt permeated the air, and I saw her turn slowly, her chin raising high as she faced him.
I let out a disapproving growl, scowling at her from the corner of my eye.
Julian’s usual carefree smile and warm eyes were now icy and detached. His chest was exposed, a red shirt draped around his shoulders. His bandages were on full display. The gauze wrapped tightly around his entire arm and mid-section, blood still seeping through where Zara had sliced through it with her blade, a blade that had been imbued with fucking poison.
Julian didn’t dare look at her, his fiery intensity solely on me as I watched his jaw clench. I could hear his scolding, even though his mouth was clamped shut.
“What is it, Julian?” I pressed, as I could see the tension in his posture wasn’t just due to Zara being in my bed. It was early. The funeral was still hours away. He wouldn’t have woken me if it weren’t important.
“Jaxon,” Julian said through gritted teeth. “I was on my way to the village and I found him near your uncle's cabin unconscious.” His eyes briefly darted to Zara. “That witch with the scars was also unconscious next to him.” Zara sat up straighter, but she held her tongue. “I am unable to go near them. It's like there is some sort of magic preventing me from disturbing them.”
Zara scrambled out of the bed. “Take me to her, now.” Her voice was panicked, and I winced at her command. She meant it for me, I could sense it, but she had been looking at Julian.
Julian squared his shoulders at her, his dark scowl and gaze making Zara flinch.
“The only place I am taking you is back to the dungeons where you belong.”
Zara turned wide pleading eyes back to me in a panic, probably sensing the debate going on in my mind whether to bring her or not. Grumbling, I threw off the covers and stood, watching as Zara’s cheeks turned bright red. A flash of desire and embarrassment flashed through our bond, and her gaze dipped to my very naked lower half. I smirked as I pulled on a pair of pants, slamming that damn barrier between us back into place.
I grabbed a shirt hanging on the back of my chair and threw it on, not bothering with the buttons. Julian’s attention was on her, intent, ready. As if he expected her to attack. I sighed, hating how wounded he looked. Shadows erupted around us all and I transported us onto the field near my uncle's cabin.
Julian cursed and murmured something about Zara being here, but I ignored him as I scanned the field—there. We ran forward, and Julian stopped suddenly as if pushed by some invisible barrier, but not Zara and me. Julian’s face twisted in confusion, but I had no time to explain. I crouched over my brother, scanning him for injuries, Zara doing the same to Lana.
My suspicion was confirmed as my gut twisted, and my gaze landed on my uncle's pendant.
