New Roots (Fate's Intent Book 8) (11 page)

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.

“Could have knocked.”

“Old habits. Sorry. I just saw Jaylyn going to get more food, not so surprising.”

“I bring out the hunger in her. What do you want?”

She stopped in the middle of the room and held up a syringe with a tiny bit of black ink within it, almost enough that I thought it was empty at first. “Have a free moment?”

“It takes a lot longer than that.”

“Not for me and it won’t be nearly as painful as I’m sure it originally was. I remember mine. I wanted to die.”

She held her hand out to the bed and I sat down, leaning back on the pillows. “Just a moment, huh?”

She came to my side and sat down so she was facing me. “That’s all. I swear. You’re going to feel this but everything after that won’t be a pain. It’ll just feel creepy.”

“Creepy?”

“Like something crawling under your skin so it’s been described.”

“You’ve done this before?”

“Had to. A couple years back, Ruby got slashed right where her mark is and I had to repair it after Jaylyn healed it. Kind of like this.”

“Okay. I trust you. Do it.”

She opened the left side of my shirt to expose my chest and held her hand on it while she brought the needle closer. “Here it comes.”

“Just do it. I’ve been in worse pain than this.”

She kept her eyes down on what she was doing and stuck the needle into my skin. I didn’t flinch at all and Adele injected the small amount of ink.

“See? Nothing.”

“Good. Now this is going to get weird. I’m going to have to touch you a lot.”

“Oh, no.” I said sarcastically. “This is where she discovers my hidden feelings for her and I can’t do anything about it because I just gave that pleasure away to my wife.”

She sighed her usual sigh and hit my arm. “Quit it. You know what I mean.”

“Didn’t you sense the tone?”

“Stop anyway. You’re starting to sound like Darius.”

“Okay. Continue. We can’t have that.”

“No we can’t. One of him is enough. Let’s just finish this. You have somewhere to get ready to be.”

“I still don’t see how Darius is fine with this. We won’t be back in time.” She began to use her gift and started expanding the ink under my skin to the respected Great Seni Fighter symbol with my first initial and it did feel a little weird, almost creepy.

“Well, that’s why the trip will be selective. It’s the plan.”

“Selective?”

“Yeah. One larger gathering in one of the colonies where the ones nearby can visit you if they must. It will save you from going to every single one.”

“And the King agreed to this?”

“You mean, your father? He did but said it would be really up to you if you thought you were ready to accept you went through enough to get your honor back.”

“I’m still not really sure I have.”

“Don’t say that. You have and we’re all proud of you. Even him.”

I didn’t know how much I believed that and Jaylyn came back in with a hot roll in her hand that was served with lunch. “Hey, thought you weren’t going to do that till later after you rested?”

“She said it wouldn’t take long.”

“And it hasn’t see?” Adele backed away to get a look at it. “Exactly as before.”

I got out of bed and stood in front of the mirror again, looking it over. “Wow. It scares me to ask how often you’ve checked me out to get it this perfect.”

Jaylyn laughed, trying to keep it back as Adele got off the edge of the bed with that sigh again. “It’s all in the dimensions of your body, Troy. Not how many times I’ve looked at you.”

“Although she’s done that a lot too.” Jaylyn came over and ran her hand down the front of my chest. “And why wouldn’t she? Yum!”

“Okay. I’m leaving.” Adele started to turn. “You should meet with Zayden and Darius at some point to schedule a leaving time.”

“All right. There’s just one thing I have to do first.”

Jaylyn nodded. “Izin just went back into the conference room.”

“I need to do this alone.”

“I know. I’ll be right here.”

I had my mind on one thing and that was getting my full life back by making it official. I walked right into the conference room and Izin was standing in front of the table with Zayden and Darius at his sides. I didn’t say anything about it when I saw them and just closed the door, walking straight to them with my head held high. I got eight feet in front of them and dropped to my knees, lowering my head.

“We’ve talked it over and strongly agree to your decision to accept your true place.” Izin began. “You have regained your full rights to be once again known as a Great Seni Fighter. There’s just one last thing that needs to be done.”

Darius stepped towards me and started to circle me. “Hmm. I don’t know. Maybe we should reassess. His skills are weaker. I can feel it.”

Zayden kneeled down to me, lowering my sword in front of me. “Make him take that back.”

I looked up with a light smile and grabbed my sword quickly. I knocked Darius’s feet right out from underneath him without even taking it out of its sheath. He landed on his back and tried to regain his breath through a laugh while getting up. “Okay. I deserved that but it was still a good joke.”

Zayden laughed as he stood up and pulled me to my feet. “Anyone who can knock him on his ass deserves it.”

I smiled back and Darius patted my back. “And you definitely do.”

“Thank you, boys.” Izin said. “I’d like to speak with him in private now. You can have him when I’m done to discuss what you shall do next.”

Zayden and Darius nodded respectfully and left the conference room.

I stood in silence in front of the King, holding my sword in my hands. “You’ve done it. Everything you set out to achieve has been accomplished and I stand proud of your decision.” He stepped into me and we embraced.

“Thank you—father.”

Izin pulled away with a smile and kept his hands on my shoulders. “You took it all well but let it be something that’s never forgotten.”

“I’ll never use my gift again if that’s what you wish.”

“No need for that. There are times to use it and times not to as I hope this has made those more clear.”

“Of course, father. I’ll know.”

“Very good. Meet with your brothers and inform me when you’ve made a decision.”

“Yes, father.”

I bowed my head and left the conference room where Zayden and Darius were standing out in the main hall.

“Great. So what do you think?” Zayden asked. “We were thinking about maybe restarting this in the morning. The day is almost over.”

“I don’t see why not. The sooner we leave the better.”

“And it’ll be quick so Darius gets back on time.”

“Okay.”

Darius sighed. “Still off about leaving her though. She hasn’t been feeling too well. The baby has been moving around a lot.”

“You backing out already?” Zayden asked.

“Oh, no. We’re doing it. It’s just a worry for her.”

“She’ll be fine.” I assured him. “That’s what Jaylyn’s here for.”

“So, it’s still the plan?” Zayden asked, looking between us. “Tomorrow?”

“Yes.” I answered. “We’ll be ready.”

“Okay. I’ll tell father. In the mean time we should probably be spending as much time with them as we can.”

“Orders to lock ourselves in?” Darius smiled. “I’m on it.” He turned first and headed towards the stairs.

I laughed. “He’s still in there waiting to know what we’ve decided.”

“I’ll tell him. You go up to Jaylyn. I’m sure she’s waiting to see you.”

“Thanks, Zayden.”

“We’re proud of you. Let’s prepare to finish it this time.”

“We will. I know when to use it.”

Zayden nodded and we turned away from each other. I walked to the stairs and went up them, feeling the relief of having my life back. I felt whole again and was more than glad that things were starting to get back to the way they were. Now I just had to go through another good-bye with Jaylyn and was just anxious to be with her until then.

I walked back in the room and she was standing out on the balcony. I went to her and wrapped my arms around her from behind.

“There you are. Did it work out?”

“Well, I’m officially me again. You should come back inside. It’s a little chilly out.”

She walked in with me and I closed the doors. “So, when are you leaving?”

“We’re going in the morning.”

“In the morning?”

“I know it’s soon but we want to be back before Darius’s son is born.”

“I understand. I want you to be too but there’s two things I want you to do for me.”

“Okay. What?”

Jaylyn took a breath and started to get emotional. “Keep your eyes with you and don’t look for me—ever.”

“Jaylyn—”

“Please.” She brought her hand up to my mouth so I wouldn’t speak. “I don’t want anything else to happen. It’s the only way. Promise it.”

“So, I can’t check in on you when I’m just sitting around?”

“Promise it, Troy. It’s only going to be a couple of weeks and I want you to stay safe.”

I didn’t like to think of not seeing her at all but the look on her face was making it hard for me to say no. “Okay. I promise.”

“Do you?”

“Yes. You have my word.”

She stretched her neck out and kissed me. “Thank you.”

“What’s the other thing?”

“It’s happier.” She pulled me to the bed to sit. “While you’re sitting around thinking about me and not being able to watch, I’d like you to think about what we should name our son instead.”

I couldn’t believe I haven’t thought about that once myself until she mentioned it. We didn’t have a name yet, did we? Or at least not one we knew about anyway. “Okay. I think I can do that.”

“I thought since I’m doing all the work, I’d like you to be responsible for coming up with a name but I’ll have to approve. Nothing weird.”

I laughed. “Okay. I’ll do that for you.”

“Thank you. Now what?”

“Now, I wait with you until we have to leave.”

She still had her smiled and inched as close as she could to me. “Oh! What should we do?”

“I’ve already locked the door.”