He hesitated before coming closer to her. “I thought maybe you were resting. I hope I’m not disturbing you. I can come back later.”
Fiora shook her head. Again, she didn’t pick up much from his future. She saw him walking through a door, but the impression was light. “Not really. I was sitting and enjoying the silence.”
“I understand.” He nodded once and started to back away. “I will leave you to your contemplation. I have no wish to interrupt.”
“You’re not interrupting. Your timeline is quiet. It doesn’t add to my headache.” Fiora saw the slight flinch when she implied his death mark. There was nothing she could do about it, or her compulsion to speak the truth at all times. “Did you come to ask me about your future?”
To her surprise, he said, “No. I came to tell you about yours.”
“Oh?” Fiora wasn’t sure what to say to that. “Can you…? Are you like…me?”
At that, he gave a small smile. It was a subtle shift of his mouth, but there was a playfulness to it she didn’t expect. “I have a feeling there has never been a woman like you, Lady Fiora.”
“Just Fiora. I’m not a lady,” she corrected.
“All women are ladies here,” he countered. “Especially the sister of our future queen. If anyone dares to imply otherwise, they will have to answer to a kingdom of dragons.”
She waited to see if he would laugh, but he didn’t. She felt the truth in his words. There was honor in this place. She saw it in Grier and his love for her sister. She felt it in the guards who had walked past hours before. She detected it in the queen when she’d met Salena for the first time.
“May I visit with you a moment?” he asked.
“Of course.” Fiora gestured that he should come inside. “You have more right to be here than I do. I’m only a refugee living on the good graces of my sister and her husband.”
“I don’t believe that’s true. You’re part of the Draig royal family now,” Jaxx answered.
The certainty of his words struck her. It had been a long time since she had been part of a family of any kind. Until Salena appeared in the stronghold, she’d convinced herself that her sisters were both dead, and she was the only one left.
“This palace is your home, more so than mine. I choose to live in the forest,” he continued.
“The forest sounds nicer than a palace,” she answered, jealous of the idea. “Fewer people. I miss living in the forest with my family on Noire.”
He gestured toward her face. “The visions take much out of you. I can’t imagine what that must be like. Do you need a personal medic?”
She touched her nose. It no longer bled, but a smear of evidence might have remained.
As if deciding his own answer, he said, “I will have a device sent to you. It will be yours to keep.”
“This nosebleed is not new,” she assured him. “There is little a medic device can do. At best it can force me to sleep until the headache goes away.”
They stood facing each other. Without the onslaught of his future, it became both comforting and strange to have a conversation. Her own thoughts were not crowded out of her mind. She could appreciate the depth in his gaze, the shape of his mouth, the width of his shoulders. A tremor of awareness wiggled through her. There was plenty to be attracted to.
She’d seen him walking naked through the halls. The image came back in vivid colors. It seemed strange that a giant beast could fit inside such a perfect body. Time seemed to slow down when she looked at him. The future stopped as if its transmission was paused.
“Is there anything that can relieve the discomfort of your visions?” He looked like he genuinely wanted to help her.
“Chandoo or death,” she answered.
Blast her constant honesty.
His expression was about what she’d expect when asking a member of the royal family to buy illegal drugs for her. His eyes narrowed at the suggestions, and he gave a firm shake of his head. “I’m sorry. I can’t help you with those.”
“I assumed as much.” She slowly walked toward the couch to put distance between them. The directness of his intent gaze caused her heart to beat a little faster than usual. Her thoughts raced, but not like before. Now they collided with her impressions and needs. Only she wasn’t sure what to think. “I want to apologize for vomiting on you. Between the visions and the flight, I am afraid I was not in control of my stomach.”
“Think no more of it,” Jaxx assured her. He followed her, slowly making his way toward the couch. His eyes didn’t leave her. “I apologize for the rough flight.”
“You helped save me from the Federation. I’m in your debt for that.” Fiora remained standing, unsure of what to do. Generally, by this point in a conversation, she was concerned with keeping images out of her head. With Jaxx, the emptiness of his future let her have her own thoughts. Too bad she still couldn’t figure out what those should be.
“That is why I have come.” Jaxx shifted his weight, and she found herself mimicking his pose. “I wanted to let you know that General Sten has relinquished his claim on you. There is no reason for you to fear him. You are safe.”
Safe. What an odd word. As long as she was breathing, she would never be safe. Her curse would always be a threat. There would always be those who would like to know what she could see.
“I assumed as much, but it is good to hear he relinquished his claim and has gone away for now,” she said. “But you are wrong to say I should not fear him.”
“You assumed?”
“I had visions of the queen scaring him more than the dragons, and his soldiers leaving.” Fiora was proud of herself for calling him a dragon and not a monster. She closed her eyes, trying to isolate the vision out of the many swimming in her head.
Repeating the queen’s words, heard by a soldier watching the interplay that happened at the palace entryway, she said, “Any off-world prisoner brought to or captured on this planet by visiting authority, that would be the Federation, must be divulged to the royal shifter families, that would be us, immediately. Since we have not received such documentation of…” She paused, trying to grasp at the string of thought as the timeline merged with that of the king. “I can only assume that this is a misunderstanding. Otherwise, you are in violation of the temporary settlement agreement and must at once vacate this planet. Of course, we would welcome those who wish to remain in the settlement known as Shelter City to stay, with the understanding that they were no longer under Federation rule, but free to choose whether or not they wish to leave or become true Qurilixen citizens. We would welcome them with open hearts.”
Fiora opened her eyes, wondering if this was the moment that brought forth the end of Shelter City. The dragons would have thought it a moment of victory, but the general was not a man to take the actions lightly. He was a man of control, and the dragons had taken away his psychic toy.
Was the imminent destruction because they’d saved her?
“That is exactly what the queen told General Sten. I would swear it was word for word, or at least very close,” he said.
“It was word for word,” she assured him. “It was brave of her to try.”
“I think she rather enjoyed telling the general off. I know we all enjoyed watching her do it.” Jaxx gave a small laugh.
Fiora tried to return his smile but couldn’t.
“I’m trying to keep in mind that you don’t want to be asked questions,” Jaxx said, “but I have them.”
“You want to know about your death,” Fiora concluded. “I’m sorry I told you. I don’t like giving that news.”
“No.” He shook his head firmly. “No man should ever know when the end is coming. I don’t blame you for telling me. I know you can’t help it. But I don’t wish to know more. I can’t let fear dictate my actions. I must go on as I am meant to.”
On that she agreed with him, but the comment still took her by surprise. “Then what is your question?”
His eyes fixed on hers. “Do you wan
t to be here?”
Want.
That one word echoed in her mind. Did she want?
“No.” The truth came out of her before she even realized what the truth would be.
He slowly nodded. “Do you want to be taken back to the facility?”
“No.” She shook her head.
“What do you want?” he asked.
A tear slipped down her cheek. “To travel back in time, to the day before my parents were killed and my sisters were taken from me. I want to know that love and acceptance again. I want to sleep without fear. I want to be away from all the timelines. Every single one of them ends in death because that is where life leads. Death. There’s so much of it here. I hear the distant screams. I sense them like nails scratching against my skin, clawing and begging me for help. There is nothing I can do but watch it replay from every angle.”
“Screaming?” He closed some of the distance between them. “Here? In the palace?”
“Shelter City,” she said. “I saw its end, and it is not pleasant. There will be an explosion. Everything will set on fire.” Fiora shivered and rubbed her arms. “They can’t escape it. There is all this desperation and fear. It will feed on everyone, building and churning and erupting.”
“Did you see what triggered it?” he asked.
A tear slipped down her cheek. “Please don’t ask me to try. There’s so much. So many reasons. So many thoughts.”
She felt a tickle under her nose and wiped at the fresh blood.
His mouth opened, and she could see he was torn.
Fiora wished she could be deceitful. Then she could trick him into escorting her back to the Federation base. One quick flight, and he could drop her off at the facility door. She’d walk right back into captivity. Instead, all she had was the truth, which was uncertain and shaky.
“I think I know what might change it,” she said. “If you take me back to the Federation and give me to the general, we might stop this future from happening. Or we might not. The visions flooded me when I left the facility. Salena’s coming for me shifted the future. This might undo it.”
“So, the future is not set?” he asked. She heard the hope in his words.
“It’s fluid and churning. By the time it reaches me, it’s usually set on its course, and it takes a great feat to interfere with its flow.” The screams tried to get louder, and she had to concentrate on forcing them away. She again swiped at her nose.
“If I say I’ll take you back, can’t you look to see if that will change things?” He lifted his hand as if he would catch her as she swayed on her feet. He didn’t touch her.
“I won’t know until I actually go. I usually can’t see my direct future, even in someone else’s timeline. Ironic, right?” She gave a humorless laugh. “A psychic who can’t even predict what she’s going to have for dinner unless it’s green nutrient paste in the Federation stronghold, but that’s less of a prediction and just the only thing they fed me.”
He glanced over her body, his gaze lingering on her waist. “Now that we know there is an immediate threat, we will figure out another way. You should not have to go back.”
“The universe does not run on should.”
Jaxx’s eyes moved back to capture hers. His steady gaze did something to her. The calmness she felt in him gave her strength. His presence didn’t invoke visions. His nearness seemed to cast away the emotions scratching at her skin.
“I should never have been brought to this planet in the first place. I should not have had my family ripped from me.” She found herself inching closer to him and forced her feet to stop and hold their place. “I should not have been born with this curse.”
Fiora frowned and looked down at her hands.
“I am dwelling in sorrow when I know there is much worse that can happen.” She needed to stop feeling sorry for herself. Fiora wasn’t used to so much space in her head. “It’s like you’re too quiet, and now I’m circling in my own thoughts. And since I can’t see your future, I’m just babbling. And I know I’m doing it, but I can’t compel myself to—”
Jaxx placed his hands on her shoulders.
“Stop,” she finished with a deep inhale.
Warmth spread down her arms, and everything became still. The echoes of distant screams silenced completely. All dread dissipated.
He let her go and took a step back. The murmur of her promotions instantly flooded back.
She reached for him, placing her hand on his shirt. It didn’t work like anticipated, and she slid her palm up to press to his bare neck. The sounds again stopped. She tried with her opposite hand on his cheek. The same reaction happened.
Fiora stared at the contact. She released him, and the visions came back. She touched him, and they left. She released him and then touched him, over and over, testing the results. The connection turned the feelings on and off like a switch.
“What are you?” she whispered, her hands on his face.
“A dragon-shifter,” he answered, confused. “A Draig prince. My father is a prince and brother of the king. My grandmother wanted all of her grandchildren to have the royal titles, not just Grier and his brothers.”
“What is this?” she insisted, staring at where her hands cupped his face.
“Uh…?” He didn’t pull free of her hold. “It is my face.”
Her thumb moved closer to his lips as he spoke. In the calm, she shifted her focus from inside her head to the feel of his skin, and the shadow of a beard that had started to grow. Heat radiated down her arms. Her headache lessened.
“I don’t want to release you,” she whispered.
“I don’t want you to,” he said.
“There is silence in you.” She worked her fingers against his cheeks, not breaking contact. “I’ve never seen this before.”
He mimicked her actions, cupping her face. The contact startled her, and she reached to cover his hands with hers. She felt his wrist. The intimate touch of him holding her caused a shiver to work its way over her, and she slowly pulled his hands away.
“I’m sorry. I should not have overstepped.” She didn’t want to release him. “Please pass the appropriate apologies to your wife.”
“Wife?” Jaxx arched a brow.
She reluctantly released him, and the undercurrent of screams returned, more noticeable now that she’d gone without hearing them.
Fiora gestured at his wrist. “My sister told me about your customs. She said that the unmated men wore crystals on their wrists or necks to signify their status. I have seen them on some of the people here. You do not have one.”
“I do not have a wife,” he said.
“Oh, I’m sorry. When did you lose her?” Fiora asked.
“There is no her,” he explained.
“My apologies. Him. When did you lose him?” she asked.
“There is no him.”
“Then…?” She wasn’t sure what to say.
“I am not mated. I simply choose not to wear my crystal. It’s a long and complicated story.”
“But then how will your dragon know if you are to be mated?” Fiora asked. “I know my sister was only telling me about local culture to take my mind from my premonitions, but I admit, I find the whole concept of glowing crystals to be fascinating. Do you really choose who you are to be with by using a stone? How does that work?”
Jaxx nodded. “Yes. That is how our marriages are decided. It is an old tradition, but one that never fails us. It is simple. A crystal glows when we are next to our potential mate. It’s said to be an amplification of what we already know.”
“But you don’t wish to be married?” she asked.
“Of course I…” He lowered his gaze. “I’m not sure what I want matters.”
“Because of the death mark,” she concluded. Fiora sighed. “I’m sorry. I hate myself sometimes. I don’t want to say these things. I just can’t stop them.”
“You do not need to keep apologizing to me,” he said. “I understand that you cannot t
emper your words. I find it refreshing.”
“Refreshing.” At that, she gave a surprised laugh. “I don’t think anyone has ever called my conversation refreshing.”
“You appear exhausted. Is there anything I can do to make your stay here easier?” Jaxx looked as if he wanted to stay even as he moved toward the door.
“Don’t leave,” she blurted.
“You wish for my company?”
“Yes. Actually, you’re right. I’m exhausted.”
“So, you do not wish for my company?”
“I wish for you to let me touch you while I sleep. Something about your skin calms the visions, and it’s so quiet. I think, maybe, if you were here, I might not have the nightmares.” Fiora bit her lip. “I know it’s a strange request, and it takes advantage of your generosity. I apologize.”
“Stop apologizing,” he admonished. “I am happy to remain as your guard while you sleep.”
“Really?” She let loose a deep and trembling breath. “Thank you.” Fiora glanced around. “Should we…?” She looked toward the bed and then decided on the couch. She gestured toward the cushions.
Jaxx nodded. He sat on the end of the couch and arranged a pillow next to his hip. “Come.”
Fiora lay on the couch, facing the back. The top of her head was close to his thigh. He dropped his arm to hold her hand lightly.
The screams stopped, and she breathed a sigh of relief as she closed her eyes. “You’re better than Chandoo.”
8
Well, this was awkward.
Jaxx watched over Fiora as she slept. Of course, his body wanted to do much more than watch, and the arousal pressing against his pants refused to ease. When had he turned into a complete dragon who could not control his base urges? This woman needed protection, and all he could think about was not glancing at the soft rise and fall of her chest.
Which he was doing. Again.
Blast it all!
There was a difference between lying and choosing not to speak. Neither of which seemed to be options for Fiora. He couldn’t imagine being compelled to say every thought in his head. If he had, he would have confessed his attraction to her at a time when she was talking about the destruction of a city.
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