She leaned her head on my shoulder with a sigh of her own and I put my arm around her, kissing her head.
I didn’t want her to be this way right now and have these negative thoughts. I already promised her I would fix this and I meant it. No one could make me change my mind now.
Chapter 26
Darius
What was he up to?
I was back nearly forty paces with Ruby next to me but I could still see them together. Troy was behaving oddly.
“What do you think they’re saying?” Ruby whispered.
“It’s hard to say but I think he’s planning something.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not sure what but I know he’s up to something. He’s always had a weakness for a pretty face.”
Ruby got a slight smile on hers and looked toward them again. “And you?”
“What about me?”
“You couldn’t possibly have a weakness.”
“What makes you say that? I just might.”
“Really? What is it?”
“Why, so you can use it against me later?”
She laughed enticingly. “No! I won’t. I promise.”
I thought about it for a moment, finding it unusually easy to talk to her. I’ve never been like this with anyone else and telling her seemed simple. “Well, I guess you could say my weakness is—good company.”
“Oh, you mean women?”
“With the use of different words, yes. Women would be it.”
Ruby smiled and looked forward while we kept walking but I couldn’t look away. “I see. I’m not surprised. How dare someone say no to you?”
“Would you?”
She raised her eyebrow and looked up at me still watching. “Are you asking me?”
I got a big smile on my face that would have been hard to hide. “Just curious.”
“I bet you are. I’m already thinking of all the things I could do with you and those muscles.”
It sounded delightfully exciting and I was already trying to picture it in my head, knowing how long I’ve wanted her but something changed. I knew where we would be by morning or tonight even at this pace and what would happen when we got there. “That’s awfully tempting to find out but I don’t believe I’ll ever get to, will I?”
“Well, I wouldn’t say that. You did say he’s planning something. Maybe that something involves another night out here.”
She was right, wasn’t she? If I knew Troy and I did, he was planning something that involved Jaylyn and we really might be out here another night before arriving in Randal. I’ll admit that my curiosity overwhelmed me. I wanted badly to be with her and kept that clear on my mind as we continued to walk east with her held close on my side.
Whatever Troy was planning, I hoped he do it soon. We were getting close.
Chapter 27
Troy
I still knew that I had to get Zayden to stop for another night. To do that, first I had to get him to see the wrong in what we were doing then maybe he would have a plan to stop it. It would surely give him more time with Adele to work on their problems if they were forced to spend their time together.
To me, there was always something worth trying for and I knew what it was. Having Jaylyn and calling her mine would be worth it. It didn’t matter where she was from. All I had to do now was to get Zayden to see it.
The day went on and the sun was going down by the time I had decided to approach him. “All right. I’m going for it.”
“Now?” Jaylyn asked with a whisper.
“I have to before we get too close. We see the wall and he’ll never agree. Stay here, okay?”
“Troy, I don’t think—”
“Trust me. It’ll be all right.”
“I know. I know. You’re a good talker but I don’t want him mad at you.”
“He won’t be. I’ll get him to see it. I promise.” I pulled myself from Jaylyn’s side and started walking back toward Zayden, who was walking a distance behind everyone.
“What is it, Troy?”
“Zayden, we have to talk. This is wrong. I can’t help but think about what will happen to them when we get to Randal.”
“There’s nothing we can do about that. It’s the law. It’s what’s best.”
“But after getting to know them, I don’t think they deserve such an end and I know you don’t believe they do either. There has to be something we can do.”
“I recall telling you not to get attached.”
“I couldn’t help it. I’ve never met anyone like her before. She’s everything I want.”
“Your mind is just clouded from being out here so long. When we get back, things will be different.”
“No they won’t. Zayden, this isn’t about the need to be with a woman. This is different. I’ve never felt like this with anyone else before.”
“Well, there’s nothing we can do to stop this and after what happened this morning, they can just forget it. We’re going through with the plan despite your feelings for Jaylyn. You care enough? Then don’t watch.”
I couldn’t bear the thought of losing her or even believing Zayden couldn’t care. There had to be something. I wouldn’t let death be it. My eyes traced ahead at Jaylyn walking alone in the distance and I thought of her and how I’ve felt since I’ve been around her. Her smell, the way she had a smile for everything and how she made me feel when I was being healed. It was so relaxing and she seemed even more beautiful.
That was it.
A plan had begun to come together in my mind. Convincing Zayden to save them for another reason. Jaylyn could heal anything. Having control over a power like that would make Seni the most powerful country in the world though we always thought we were already. It may have been something Zayden would agree to but I just as quickly dropped the idea as soon as it came. I couldn’t do that to her. I cared about her and didn’t want to see her be used for her gift but I was running out of ideas.
Thinking back to her last words, I knew what I had to do. Getting Zayden worked up may cause his own ideas and common sense to be talked out and I knew exactly what to say.
“You’re being just as stubborn as Adele.” Zayden looked over at me with his eyebrows raised. It worked immediately but I didn’t back down just yet. “Well, you are! Why do you keep pretending like you don’t feel anything for her when I know you do?”
“The signs are pretty clear that she hates me, Troy. There is nothing I can do about that. She’ll never see me as anything but a killer.”
“That’s because you haven’t even tried. You’re not the only killer here. We’ve all done it, even her.”
“Well, do you see the way she treats me?”
“That’s not the point. You are giving her every reason for her to act the way she is. If you would just show her the same respect you would want, maybe things would change but right now I’m coming to you to ask you to do the right thing here. I don’t want to see them get killed.”
Zayden sighed. “Troy, listen to me. There is very little, if anything, we could do to stop this and I don’t believe that we can.”
“But there has to be something.”
“Why are you trying to stop this now? You know how close we are.”
“Exactly, I know how close we are—and I promised her that I would.”
Zayden sighed again. “You shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep, Troy. That only gets you into trouble.”
“Not this time. This time I know it can work.”
“So, why come to me? Why drag me into this? Why not just run away with her like you want?”
“Because I know you want the same things. You can’t hide that from me. You’ve been walking back here all day by yourself but I know what you’ve been watching. Her.”
We both looked forward at Adele walking alone a distance in front of us. “Maybe but there is nothing we could do that can get them out of this. We’re too close now. Turning back could jeopardize everything.”
> “But there must be something, Zayden. I know you. You’ve been thinking about something back here and I’m not going to walk away until I hear it.”
Zayden couldn’t keep anything from me just as I couldn’t him. It was a mutual respect we had for each other and he always liked to drop his plans by me before acting upon them. I had to get him to tell me about the one he was thinking. I knew there was one and he finally came out with it but slowly. “There might be one way we could try but it’s risky and I mean risky as in if something were to go wrong, we’ll be in the same trouble as them.”
“I’ll do anything to save them from a brutal death. What’s your plan?”
“There’s always the option of presenting them as Leccan warriors; one of our closest allies who have come to aid us in war. If it works then maybe we can keep them alive long enough to send them back but trying to convince father will be difficult because they’re women.”
“That sounds like it could work but will they do it?”
“That’s another part I’m unsure about. We’d have to discuss it.”
“Well, can we? Tonight? Now?” Zayden just looked over at me like he still wasn’t sure about actually doing it but I wanted this. If it was going to happen, I wanted it now. “Zayden, please. You know it’s the right thing. Let it happen.”
I watched him closely. He probably would have rather paced through this talk but we were only going in one direction. I didn’t want his thoughts leading to what was ahead of us and the things he was responsible for. The Kalu Assassins posed no threat to our city. I hoped he was going to see it and choose to save them. They deserved it and I knew he felt that way too.
“All right but only because this means so much to you. None of us can decide how this will change Adele.”
I was able to breathe more calmly after I knew he agreed. “That’s fair. When?”
“It’s sunset now. We’ll set up here and find out if it works tomorrow. It’ll be better to arrive during daylight hours.” We stopped and Zayden whistled for everyone ahead. They all turned back and we waited for them to get closer before explaining. “We’ll make the camp here tonight. There are some things that need to be discussed before we reach Randal.”
Jaylyn looked at me with the most hope I’ve ever seen in someone’s eyes. I smiled to her and lightly nodded my head so she would know that I had succeeded.
“What exactly do we have to discuss?” Darius asked as he approached us.
Zayden looked at him with a sigh, tapping his foot on the ground. I guess he wasn’t quite ready to talk about it yet.
“We have a plan that will keep them alive.” I said. “As of now, they are prisoners no more.”
Darius looked at Zayden and had this look like he couldn’t believe he agreed. I was still a bit flustered by it myself but was glad.
“Let’s just set up so we can discuss it further.”
Darius didn’t say another word about it and we started to help unpack.
Our sleeping quarters came together in no time with my eagerness to do so.
“Come on.” Zayden called everyone in and Adele did not look happy but they filed in, Jaylyn stopping outside with me before entering.
“I told you.”
She gripped my arm like she was already nervous. “We’re not there yet.”
She was so beautiful standing in front of me. I felt that I could do anything. I touched the perfect smooth creamy skin of her cheek and looked right in her eyes. They were even more beautiful and even though it was still daylight, I could see the stars shine within them. I thought of them as her inner hope and smiled because they were so bright. “I wouldn’t let anything happen to you. I promised.”
I did but didn’t need a thank you. This was from my own will and I kissed her forehead. She gripped my arm tighter and we walked inside to see how others would react to this; Adele specifically.
Chapter 28
Adele
I just knew something was up. I saw Troy earlier, leaving Jaylyn’s side. He walked right passed me to the only thing that was behind me; Zayden.
I was curious about what was going on, wondering why we had to do this again and waited silently for someone to explain. I sat on the ground since it was easier than standing inside here and everyone seemed to follow after me.
Zayden sat right in front of me but didn’t focus his eyes directly on me. He spoke as if speaking to us all. “Now, I’ve called this little meeting to discuss a different path we may take. It would seem the team no longer sees you as prisoners but as guests and therefore our mission has changed.”
I jumped to one instant conclusion. “Oh, good. So, we can just go then?”
“No. We’re too close to the city and some of the King’s spies could have spotted us so we’ll have to go through with part of the plan and bring you to Randal.”
“So, we are in fact still prisoners because you’re making us go.”
“All right, maybe you are but—”
I was getting heated already and didn’t mind interrupting him. “And what awaits us in the White City other than death?”
“Would you just listen?” It was an arguing voice and I sat quietly, letting him continue. I didn’t want to get into it completely right now because I did want to hear about this. “Thank you. Now, we’ve decided to stop for the night because we’ve come up with a plan that will save you from the deaths you may or may not deserve.”
He looked right at me when he said it but I just couldn’t understand. I didn’t expect this would be the reason we stopped again. “Why? Why do you now suddenly give a damn about us?” I was watching Zayden’s reaction. It was almost emotionless and I continued with a little sarcasm. “Oh, no, Jaylyn! Quick! Do something!”
“What?”
“He must be sick or something. It might be some kind of fever from being out here so long.”
Zayden sighed and rolled his eyes. “Fuck, Love. I’m not sick.”
“Well, that’s the worst part! You don’t even know it!”
“I’m not sick!” He shouted. “Can’t a person just change their mind?”
My voice lost its sarcasm and I became serious with my anger as an enemy would. “Sure they can but changing one’s mind about this is completely immoral. If you’re planning on lying about who we are then that’s means of treason for the three of you. No one in their right mind would do that.”
“Do you want to hear the plan?”
I sighed and laid back just so he wouldn’t be in my line of sight. “Kind of pointless but since you’re going to do it anyway, you should make it quick. I want us to get back to not talking to each other. I miss it.”
There was a pause before he went on like he was seriously thinking of saying something mean back but to my surprise he didn’t. “Okay, well, to secure that the three of you are not caught, it’s provided that you’ll have to pose as Leccan soldiers.”
I quickly sat up to hear that so-called plan. “What?! You do know there’s a penalty for impersonating a soldier, right?”
“Yeah.”
“The penalty being death! Oh, that’s a brilliant plan!”
“I never said this was simple but it’s doable.”
“Doable? For how long?”
“Just until we get the time to take you back.”
“Are you crazy? You might as well get it over with and just kill us now because there’s no way that will work!”
“It will. You’ll just have to trust us.”
I laughed like his request were a joke because in my mind, it really sounded like one. “Trust you? Really? Okay, I think I’m just having a hard time understanding why you would do this at all. Maybe you’ve forgotten because you’ve been in the sun too long today but we’re your enemy. Don’t throw that away because of what they think they feel about each other. It’s not going to work.”
“Fine, then death is what will be waiting for you when we arrive.”
“Good.”
“Adele!” Ruby
and Jaylyn both gasped at the same time but I didn’t back down.
“No! I’d rather die. You’re ruining my death if we go through with it. I just want all of this to be ended, okay?”
“But what about what we want?” Jaylyn asked with her stupid pouting lips. “Don’t you love us anymore?”
They were both giving me those baby faces and I’ve never appreciated them. I rolled my eyes just hating their persistence. “You realize something will go wrong, don’t you? It always does. Can’t pretend to be someone you’re not, especially here.”
“But it could be fun. Please?” Ruby begged with her hands together.
“Fun is overvalued and it’d only be fun for you for reasons I can’t even come to say.”
“Please?” They begged.
I sighed and looked forward at Zayden in front of me. He raised an eyebrow and looked at them at my sides still making the sad pouting faces. I could see them out of the corner of my eye and slowly turned my head with a disapproved voice. “Fine. If you find it necessary to get involved with this idiotic plan in hopes that it’s going to save you then go right ahead.”
“Really?” Jaylyn smiled excitedly.
“Mmm hmm.” I got up and brushed myself off casually before saying the next thing. “But you’re doing it alone.”
“Adele—”
“No!” I cut Ruby off from saying anything to try and convince me. I wouldn’t be convinced. “This is by far the stupidest thing you could possibly ever consider doing. Why should I suffer yet again for one of your mistakes? You should already know how this is going to end.”
“You don’t even know that and you can’t say it with knowing for sure.” Jaylyn said in a whining begging way. “It could be different.”
“That’s your problem, Jaylyn. You’ve always had this thing for hope. It shades your mind and you tend to forget things like, oh, I don’t know, we’re at war!”
Aligning Stars (Fate's Intent Book 1) Page 14
