New Roots (Fate's Intent Book 8)

by Bowles, April

  “Zayden, there you are. What are you doing up here? Everyone’s downstairs.”

  “I know. I just don’t feel like doing anything today.”

  I sighed and sat next to him, Rift being just as close like he was worried too. “Still feeling bad about staying here?”

  “Should I not? Try looking at this from their point of view. It makes it seem like I don’t care.”

  “Don’t say that. They know you do.”

  “But that’s not how I feel.”

  I didn’t like seeing him down like this. Something had to be done. A thought crossed my mind and I turned towards him, taking his hands to share it with him. “Maybe you should go anyway.”

  “Now? It would be too late. There’s no way we’d be back in time for our son to be born. I want to be here for that.”

  “Well, I don’t like seeing this. What about setting up your visits in certain colonies and any neighboring ones can come see you if they want? That way it wouldn’t take as long and you’d still be able to make it back in time.”

  Zayden moved his hands from mine and slowly nodded his head to the idea. “Okay. That may work but we don’t know how long it would take Troy to recover enough so Jaylyn would be allowed to heal him.”

  “Maybe he has already. He hasn’t really felt much of it lately.”

  “But my father would be the one to make that choice, not us and I’m not sure that he would.”

  “Let me be the one to talk to him then. If he knows why then maybe he’ll approve. He was the one that wanted you to go so badly in the first place.”

  “Don’t make him mad, Love. I don’t want you to have to see that.”

  “Don’t worry.” I leaned in and kissed him before getting off the bed. “I’ll make this right.”

  “I’m surprised that you even approve of me leaving again.”

  “I know why you have to and I’ll be fine. Promise.”

  Zayden smiled back and I left the room. I walked down the hall to find the King and kept my mind on what I would say. I was positive I could make Izin agree and allow things to progress as they should.

  I made it all the way downstairs and the conference room was my best bet to find him. It was where he spent most of his time. I walked right in and he was surely in there but he wasn’t alone. Seni’s General was standing to the King’s right when Izin looked up to see me just closing the door. “That’ll be all, General.”

  “Yes, your majesty.” The General nodded, taking a few papers from the King and walking around the table. “Princess.”

  “Hello, General.” I smiled politely as he passed with a simple bow.

  We both waited until the General left completely before either of us spoke.

  “What do I have the honor to help you with, Adele?”

  “I’d like to speak to you about the trip Zayden was to make south, your majesty.”

  “Adele, please. We’re family now. There’s no need to use formality titles. Don’t you agree?”

  “Sorry, Izin.”

  “Better. Now, what about it did you want to say?”

  “I’d like to request for fulfillment of that trip to be reopened and have you permit them to complete it.”

  “It’s too late.” He said, looking down at the remaining papers in front of him. “That time has passed.”

  “But it hasn’t yet.”

  “They would not be back in time for the births and that doesn’t seem like something you would encourage.”

  “Please. Zayden needs this. He’s feeling guilty for not being able to go. There would be time if it was split up. Organize certain meeting points and anyone who wants to see them can.”

  Izin sighed, meaning he didn’t fully agree yet and looked up. “Let’s pretend that would work and they came back on time. In order for that to happen, realistically, they would have to leave within the next few days and Troy is not nearly ready for that.”

  “Don’t you think he’s suffered enough? He’s hardly reacting to it anymore. We’ve all seen it. Give your consent for Jaylyn to heal him and restore his title. They’d be able to leave within the next few days.”

  “But will he allow that?”

  “Why wouldn’t he?”

  “I never wanted to authorize his torture, Adele. Understand that. He insisted on it and gave me no choice. I’ve wanted them to go because it’s their job but now Troy has to be the one to decide that he’s ready. This is his honor he’s fighting for. I cannot be the one to feel he’s gotten that back. He has to.”

  “So, if I get him to, will you allow the various visits to be acceptable enough for them to complete their job?”

  He stalled from answering then nodded. “Of course but Troy is the one you have to convince.”

  “I can do it.” I said abruptly.

  He sat back in his chair and smiled. “I admire your determination. Now, let’s see if you can fulfill it.”

  “Watch me.” I started to turn.

  “Good luck!”

  I left the conference room and headed back upstairs to see Zayden first.

  “Back already?” He had just stepped out of the closet, fully dressed.

  “He agreed.”

  “But?”

  “But—we have to get Troy to agree which means he has to feel he’s gotten his honor back.”

  “That may be hard.”

  “But we’ll get him to do it. He should agree that this is all for the better.”

  “All right. We can try. When?”

  “I was thinking after lunch. We get him alone with all of us where there’s nowhere for him to walk away. He’ll have to talk.”

  “You’re very determined to have this happen, aren’t you?”

  “I want you to feel like you again. The people aren’t going to hate you for this because you’ll be able to go. I’ll make sure of it.”

  “Then let’s be sure this goes smoothly.”

  I smiled and took his arm to join him for lunch in the dining hall.

  It went quietly as I mentally prepared to explain reason to Troy. All I could hope for was that he saw what we did. Just coming up with the punishment and accepting it gave Troy back honor but he had to be the one to see it. I had to make him. It was what’s best for everyone. Moving on from this was the only way.

  “Maybe we should talk to Darius about this first.” Zayden said while were sitting in our room just after lunch had ended.

  “Why?”

  “It would be great if we convinced Troy but I want to know what he thinks. It will mean he won’t be here for Ruby.”

  I sighed and got up to pace. “I didn’t even think of that. Well, let’s ask him. Maybe we can think of something.”

  Zayden nodded and we headed straight for Darius’s room. “Hey, can we talk?”

  “Sure.” Darius said. “What do you need?”

  We walked in farther and Ruby was curled up in bed.

  “Is she all right?” I asked.

  Darius briefly looked back. “She’s just not feeling well right now.”

  “Okay. Well, we came to talk to you.”

  “About?”

  I glanced at Zayden and started to be the one to explain. “We’ve gotten Izin to agree to let you finish what you started before all of this happened but things will be done a little bit differently. First, after we convince Troy to get his life back, the colonies will arrange combined meetings so it won’t take as much time but—”

  “But it may mean that you still won’t make it back in time.” Zayden said. “And I wanted to know what you thought before we even went to talk to Troy.”

  Darius paused and looked back at Ruby on the bed. She laid still and wasn’t a part of the conversation at all like she was asleep. “If that’s what you want to do then I’m fine with doing it.”

  “But is that what you want? I don’t want to force you to miss something this important.”

  “I’m surprised you’re even talking about going. It must mean that you really want to a
nd I’m not going to stand in your way.”

  Zayden sighed loudly in frustration and turned away.

  “Okay, let’s think about this.” I said, pulling him back to the conversation. “There has to be some middle ground here somewhere. What if you went and got back before Ruby gave birth?”

  Zayden and Darius looked at each other.

  “But she’s only like two months away, maybe less.” Zayden said. “How could that be enough time?”

  “Make it a fast trip like I suggested be for.” Darius replied.

  “And I already told you why we can’t. We always travel with an announcement party. They don’t know what we can do. It’s something that needs to be kept quiet.”

  Darius rolled his eyes and I cut in before he could say anything. “Okay, why are they necessary?”

  “It’s an image. Shows approaching authority.”

  “But why is that necessary? People take one look at the three of you together and they’ll know exactly who it is.”

  “And what about just appearing out of nowhere?”

  “Simple. You stop outside of town before you can be seen and ride in, doing the same thing when you leave. You should get through them and be back on time.”

  Darius smiled. “She does come up with some pretty good plans. It sounds like it could work.”

  Zayden paused, pacing back and forth and thinking about every detail. “All right. Do you agree in going if I say we’ll try that?”

  “I agreed anyway. We just had to find something that made you happy.”

  “Fine. That part is done. Now we just have to talk to Troy. Come with us?”

  Darius nodded. “We’ll force him to listen if we have to.”

  “Great!” I smiled. I was happy this turned out okay and was ready for our next trial. “Come on.”

  We went to Troy’s room and he was sitting on the edge of the bed with his hand on his abdomen and Jaylyn right behind him all the way on the bed.

  “Hey, what do you need?” Troy asked.

  “We need to talk.” I said.

  We spread ourselves out, blocking Troy’s view of the door.

  “What’s going on?” Jaylyn asked.

  “Well—” Zayden began. “We’ve decided to go on the trip this year after all.”

  “Without me?” Troy asked. “The King allowed that?”

  “No. You’ll be coming with us.”

  Jaylyn gasped. “What are you saying?! He can’t go!”

  “He can if he accepts what everyone else already has.” I said with my eyes on Troy. “You have regained your honor. Let us help you so you can help them restore what should have been.”

  “And if I don’t feel what you do?”

  “Well, what do you feel?” I sat down next to him and was ready to do anything I had to get him to see our way. “The pain isn’t much for you anymore. The suffering part is over. You’ve accomplished what you wanted.”

  “What about you, Darius?”

  Darius smiled and took a few steps forward. “Don’t try to use that as an excuse. There’s a plan. Now we’re just waiting on you.”

  There was a long pause and Troy sat silent, making everyone wonder what he was thinking. It was hard to tell by his expression because it was blank until he took a long breath and turned his head to the side, looking behind him. “Jaylyn.”

  She smiled and looked at us. “Leave.”

  “Ooh.” Darius joked as he started to turn. “Think we know what you want.”

  I smiled just from that comment and got off the bed. “Let me know when you want proof of your title back.”

  Troy just nodded and I gladly left to let them reunite in their own way. I was just happy that everything worked out and Zayden would soon be himself―well after he gets back. That was most important to me.

  Chapter 26

  Troy

  The door closed and Jaylyn got up, standing in front of me. Not a word was exchanged. She just held out her hand with a smile and I took it, rising to my feet.

  We stood close to each other and I had my eyes looking down into hers. I touched under her chin while I started to graze my thumb across her smooth polished lips. It didn’t make it all the way across before Jaylyn opened her mouth and kissed me with just the softest touch.

  My eyelids became heavy when she did it and I let out a wanting breath. I haven’t had a touch like this in quite some time and my eyes soon closed all the way and I rushed my lips down to hers.

  Jaylyn raised herself up on her tiptoes as she put her arms around my neck and I missed getting this close to her. I wanted her badly but she backed away, looking at my wound-covered torso.

  “I’m okay. I want this.”

  “But shouldn’t I—”

  “During.” I lifted her chin up so our eyes met. “You’ve done it once. You can do it again. Heal my body with yours.”

  She nodded, trying to take a relaxing breath but it came out trembled. “Okay.”

  Our lips met quickly one time before Jaylyn stepped back and looked at my body again. I unbuttoned the front of my shirt and took it off over my shoulders, exposing the bandages.

  Jaylyn brought her hands to me and slowly started to unwrap them. It was a quiet time as I helped as much as I could until they were all off and my bare torso was completely visible to Jaylyn’s eyes. My wounds were at a healing stage and didn’t affect her like they used to. The stitching was out and they mainly appeared a lush pink color and scabbed.

  She was most likely just glad knowing that the reason she was seeing them now was to get the chance at healing them but she wasn’t the only one looking forward to this experience.

  Chapter 27

  Jaylyn

  I’ve been waiting for it and started reaching for my own shirt. I got it off and Troy brought up his hand, untying the laces to the strip of cloth that covered my breasts and pulled the string right out.

  The cloth fell to the floor and he was able to touch me for the first time in weeks. I waited just as long and was ready to have him like I’ve dreamt about. I put my hands on the waist of my pants and started inching them down. Troy lowered his hands to help and couldn’t take his eyes off me in front of him. He kissed me as we stepped in closer to each other and turned me towards the bed. I sat down on it and kissed the skin between two wounds on his stomach.

  Troy’s eyes closed again to the touch and I started to pull down the waist of his pants while I kissed my way down. I got them to fall to his ankles and raised my head, moving back onto the bed. Troy reopened his eyes when he no longer felt me and just stood at the edge of the bed and watched me lay back right in the middle. My smile is all it took for him to return it and slowly follow.

  Any pain he would have felt seemed nonexistent as he crawled across the bed and made it over me. He kissed my stomach and started moving up to the base of my ribs and over my breasts until he was high enough to reach my lips. He moved between my legs and carefully started to lower himself down, penetrating my body.

  My reaction to him was soothing and he started moving over me. It was like he couldn’t feel his wounds then either because he showed no signs of discomfort. He looked down at me while his upper body was still held up by his arms and I looked back with an already good grip around his back. “I’ve missed you.”

  I smiled. “Oh, you have no idea.”

  “Start when you’re ready.”

  Troy leaned into my lips as he relaxed his arms completely and my hands slid from his back to the wounds on his arms. He looked at me again and my eyes were looking back, glowing even more. I wanted him to feel the best of both worlds and met his lips again. Our tongues were locked in a synchronized dance and the feeling of him being inside me was heightened by the full body healing I was giving.

  I could heal with my body without concentrating that hard on it and that gave me time to enjoy what I’ve been craving from Troy. He was everything I could ever want and took in every second that was given to me. I’ve been waiting for it and the
perfect ending came with the perfect sight.

  Troy’s body was healed and his muscle tone was much more obvious without the wounds.

  Our breaths were becoming steady and Troy moved off of me to my left. “Feel better?”

  He turned his head with a smile. “I’ve needed that.”

  “We both did. Ready for the next step?”

  “Not yet. I need rest first. I haven’t been able to work that hard in a while.”

  I kept my smile and kissed him. “All right. I feel like a snack. Want anything?”

  Troy laughed as I got up and started getting my clothes back on. “We just had lunch!”

  “Must just be me then! I’ll be right back.”

  I skipped happily towards the door and Troy smiled to my enthusiasm as I left. I don’t know why but I was completely full of energy like healing him healed my spirits and I just felt right again.

  Chapter 28

  Troy

  She seemed happier than usual and I was glad to see it but I was still tired. I felt better, just drained now. I had a lot more of my strength back and sat up to at least get dressed.

  It felt so easy and I slipped my pants on while getting to my feet. I stepped in front of the mirror and took a breath when I actually saw myself. My wounds were gone but I wasn’t back yet. I grazed my hand over my heart where my dignity once lied and I had to turn away. I picked my shirt up off the floor, slipping it over my arms and shoulders but left it open just as the door opened. “Troy, good. You’re decent.”

  Adele came in with no care about anything else.