Aligning Stars (Fate's Intent Book 1) (17 page)

It’s all I thought about while I redressed just to stay a little warmer. It was harsh outside around the fire while the weather got colder the darker it got. I made it seem more bearable when I was trying to sleep by thinking of Jaylyn and what it would be like to hold her next to me. I almost didn’t want to close my eyes, fearing that something may happen to her while I was asleep but I couldn’t fully make that choice for myself and it happened.

Chapter 21

Adele

“How do you think they’re doing out there?” Ruby was up still awhile later just to bother me while Jaylyn had already fallen asleep, snuggled up among the blankets.

“I really don’t care and neither should you.”

Ruby sighed and crawled over to the opening and peeked out. I heard her moan and just waited for her to ask.

“It’s freezing out there. They shouldn’t have to suffer in the cold while we get to be warm in here.”

“Good. Maybe the weather will kill them.”

“Adele! Have a heart. I know that’s not what you’re really thinking.”

“Oh, come on, Ruby. It couldn’t be that bad.” I crawled over next to her and looked out. The wind was blowing and the fire was small. They all seemed asleep but they looked cold from laying on the ground with only their armor as clothes on their backs to keep warm. I sighed just because I knew by seeing it I started to feel something for them like a shred of pity and looked back to Ruby. “How about I just build something around them?”

“Adele, please just let them come in here with us?” She sat up on her knees and held her hands together in front of her, trying to get me to agree. “Please? It’s not like there’s not enough room.”

“Yeah, but I know why you want them to.”

“Please? This will be our last night with them and I want to remember it as a good one.”

I sighed again and put my hand over my forehead. The constant talk of it was getting to me. “I’m going to regret doing this but if you’re going to bug me all night then I guess I have no choice but to agree.”

“Really?!”

“I know you. You’ll never let me get to sleep. Just go before I change my mind.”

She smiled and left the shelter. At least she was happy. I forced myself to get up and braved up to go over to Zayden and nudged his shoulder. “Zayden.”

He opened his eyes immediately like he wasn’t sleeping at all and it startled me a little. “What do you want?”

I suddenly lost my words and the ones that came out probably sounded completely stupid to him. “Oh, well, um, it’s cold out here. Maybe you should come inside with me, with us so you don’t catch a death.”

He raised one eyebrow and looked me over. “You’re having a problem staying away from me, aren’t you, Love?”

Nervousness suddenly gone. I stood up with a sigh and fought passed his completely adorable sarcastic tone. “Stop doing that. I just thought maybe you’d rather be somewhere warm.”

“You mean next to you?”

“I’m really not in the mood to care. I’m tired. Ruby has been bothering me and I just want to get to sleep. Stay out here if you want or be next to me. Your choice.”

I went back inside so I wouldn’t say anything that I’d regret. Nothing has changed. He was still who he was and I couldn’t let myself fall for him. Not looking at him was the best way and I just kept reminding myself of all the things he’s done. I could never be with him, the man who left my father for dead.

My eyes lifted and Troy was first to enter.

“Hey.” He said like he didn’t know what else to say to me.

I didn’t say much either, just what he probably wanted to know. “She’s over there but don’t wake her. She’ll be a cranky baby.”

He cracked a smile and walked by me to get to Jaylyn. I carefully watched him lower himself down next to her, keeping his eyes on her. He obviously had feelings for her even after she brought him pain but I knew what she did or what she didn’t do. Sometimes I underestimate her but I know she knows more about where the vital organs are in one’s body and how not to hit them. If only I seen it then, I could have changed things.

Ruby came in with the last two and I kept my silence when they passed me.

“She asleep?” Darius was trying to peek at Jaylyn’s face while he sat on the other side of her.

“Yeah. It’s a great idea.”

“It is now.” He pulled Ruby close to him so they could lay together and I had to look away yet again and keep on pretending like I wasn’t here.

“Just get to sleep.” Zayden said. “No need to talk about it.”

I actually agreed and a long silence followed. Everyone must have gotten comfortable to sleep but I stayed sitting up with my eyes at the entrance.

“Do you want to lay down? You said you were tired.”

Zayden’s voice startled me again but I couldn’t look over. “I’m fine. You just get some sleep. You won’t have to worry. I won’t escape.”

“Why do you want this so badly? It almost seems like you’re looking forward to dying.”

His voice was in a low whisper but was different somehow like he was actually interested in me and I actually replied without giving it much thought to who I was replying to. “Some days I do. I’ve pretty much been a prisoner my whole life. I want to remember what it’s like to be free.”

He didn’t say anything but I felt him close to me for a moment, almost like he wanted to rub my back for comfort but it must not have been something he’d do because he didn’t touch me. I heard him move away and I carefully looked over my shoulder. He was laying with his eyes closed like when I went to wake him. It must have been the armor. There was only one way to lay it in and that was on his back. The other two laid the same way. I turned my eyes back out the entrance and kept myself awake.

The moon rose high and the stars shone brightly that night but I couldn’t enjoy them. I just wanted to be out of here. It would have been so easy too but I wouldn’t ever think to leave Ruby and Jaylyn behind. They needed to be with me and right now, they wanted to be here so here is where we’d stay. This mission was officially failed and our death would be the price.

Chapter 22

Ryon

Adele sat in the dark but not alone. She was feet from Seni’s Prince but her eyes traced the stars and she spoke to them.

“I know you’re watching me. Please. I don’t want this. I want to come home—Ryon, take me home.” Her head lowered, eyes closing but her voice was heavily heard. “I’ll understand if you don’t but know that I will die here. I’ll make sure of it. Their King will know exactly who I am and this will all finally be over. If you don’t want that, please, come.”

My eyes opened and I jumped out of bed, ready to make a fight to get her back but I noticed instantly; this wasn’t our room. I was somewhere else. I went to the door swinging it open to see iron bars blocking my path and Trever sitting in a chair in front of them. “You’re awake.”

“What are you doing? Let me out?”

“Why? So you can go to her? I don’t think so.”

My heart was heavy. “You knew she would call to me? Why are you letting her suffer like this?”

“She’s not. Adele will give in.”

“No!”

“In time she will. It’s supposed to happen and you know it.”

“Not like this! Not Zayden of all people! Why didn’t you ever tell me it was going to be him?!”

“Because you wouldn’t have agreed.”

“You’re damn right I wouldn’t have! Let me out!” I grabbed the bars, hoping to move them but it was no use, they wouldn’t budge. I couldn’t understand why I was so weak.

“I freshly dosed you while you were out.” Trever held up an empty syringe and I was more angry than I’ve ever been.

“Let me out, Trever! She needs me!”

“Not anymore she doesn’t but it’s okay. You still have a purpose.”

“I’m not doing anything for you!”

“Yes you will because it will be saving her.”

I couldn’t have been more confused. “What are you talking about? You weren’t going to let me, remember?”

“This is different. I need you to go into Seni and convince the King into our plan.”

“Izin would never listen to me.”

“Exactly. I don’t want him to listen to you. I want him to do the opposite of what you’re going to try to get him to do.”

I collapsed to the floor, my arm hanging through the bars. “I can’t do it. I can’t go there and see her with him.”

“Kole, talk him into it.”

I looked up and Kole was in front of the door, looking down at me with his intimidating gray eyes while Trever was walking away but he smiled in a way to keep light of this situation. “Hey, brother. Nice night?”

He turned the chair around and sat down but I wasn’t in the mood. “Did you always know?”

“Define always.” I merely looked up, not ready to play these games. “Okay maybe but you see why it has to be you. It’s your connection to Izin.”

“He hates me.”

“Exactly. You can still save her.”

“Only to let her go.”

“Did you ever really have her though?”

“I’d like to think so.”

“Nah. She was only holding you back. Remember all the fun we used to have?”

I knew what he was doing but I couldn’t be cheered up, knowing that they knew all along that she would be ripped from me like this.

“Come on. Don’t start acting like you didn’t know. It’s why we’re here.”

“But Zayden? Why couldn’t it be that brawny tower or the gentle optimist?”

He chuckled, kind of muttering to himself. “Jay sure can pick’em huh?”

“You know what I mean.”

“We didn’t know she already knew him and some adjustments had to be made. This is just the way it is now. Come on. Agree and we can be on our way.”

I sighed and walked away from the door. “Why should I?”

“You heard her. If you don’t save her, she’ll die there. Is that what you want just so Zayden can’t have her?”

“No!”

“Then?”

This was not a good day already but I couldn’t say no. I had to save her—but it would only be for
him.
I’d keep watching and wait for any opportunity that tells me Adele won’t give in. That’s when I’d want to be there and I would be.

“Fine. I’ll do it.”

“Good.” I turned back when I heard the door unlock and he was holding it open. “Aleks wants us to get going so we’re right behind them. He’ll be staying behind, of course but Trever says that’s really for the best anyway.”

“Then what?”

“We wait for Izin’s word and that’s where you intervene.”

“Only so she doesn’t die there.”

“Yes, and that’s a very good reason, isn’t it? Let’s gear up.”

I stepped out of the room with a heavy breath. I still didn’t like this plan but they were right about one thing, it would save her from death and that’s the only reason I was willing to do it. I tried not to think that I will lose her forever after this. For now, keeping her alive was the goal. We would have to see how she really felt about this when they finally made it back.

Chapter 23

Jaylyn

I woke to the brightness of the sun beating down on the shelter but something seemed different. I was laying on an arm. I looked down and saw another one around my waist. I was worried to see them and quickly moved away to look behind me.

Troy was laying there, open-eyed. “How long have you been up?”

“A minute. What are you doing in here? If Adele or Zayden catches you, they’ll kill us!”

“No they won’t. It was Adele that agreed for us to come in here.”

I was shocked speechless that she would allow it and quickly sat up, looking around. Ruby was laying with her head on Darius’s meaty arm while her arm was over his chest and he had his hand around her back, holding her other. I was even more shocked to see Adele and Zayden laying close to each other, sharing a blanket. I had to blink twice.

“Are you sure it was her?”

“Yeah, that’s what Ruby said last night. Why?”

I pointed behind him without saying anything and he looked. “Oh, shit. Things might be moving quicker than I thought they would.”

“There’s some good news.” He smiled too and was just staring at me. “What?”

He still had his smile and moved my hair away from my eyes. “You’re so beautiful.”

I was almost breathless. He could make the simplest things sound completely surreal and I failed to conceal my smile. “Awe. Thank you but I already knew that.”