Children of the Gods - A Chosen Novel (6 page)

“I was only following orders.”

I walked over to a large concentration of
Easter Lilies that now peppered the entire room, inhaling deeply as
I touched the silky petals. There was no scent like that of an
Easter Lily.

“Thank you, Griff.” I kept my face turned
toward the flowers, smelling each one as I walked around the room,
the tears spilling silently. “This is the kindest thing anyone has
ever done for me.”

Chapter 7

The bells announced Jaxson’s arrival. He
peered in at me through the widening hole. I was so happy I did not
even mind the look of adoration that seemed to be increasing in
frequency and intensity.

“Hungry?” he asked, holding his hand out.

“Starving,” I said, standing to join him. His
eyes widened then swept over me, lingering on places that made me
blush.

“I will have to compliment the tailor. He has
a perfect eye.”

He took my hand to help me through the wall.
I tried not to notice how he continued to watch me like he was just
now discovering the joy of infatuation.

“How was your day?” he whispered, leaning
close as we walked.

“It was perfect.” I thought of the pond and
the flowers and the lamb. “How was yours?” I asked, remembering
myself.

“It was also perfect.”

The way he said it made me want to find out
why, but I did not want to have to share my day with him in
return.

Curiosity got the best of me.

“Oh? What made it perfect?”

He seemed genuinely surprised by my question
and took a moment to speak.

“I got to do something different today.” His
face brightened. “Something special.” There was a far off look in
his eyes. I squeezed his hand and he snapped back to reality. “And
I went outside.”

“You went into the City?”

“Well, not the City.”

“You did not go into the woods did you? And
without Griff?” I stopped. “Are you limping?”

I turned and stared forward, crossing my
arms. It was real concern I was feeling for him and not just the
kind you have for strangers. It was the proprietary kind you gain
when you care about someone. I wanted to run.

“Are you angry?” he asked.

“What if something happened to you? You
cannot think only of yourself. You have responsibilities.”

“I am aware of my responsibilities. This ship
would survive just fine without me.” His tone was harsh.

I turned away. “I am not talking about this
ship.”

The silence was suffocating and I could not
bear to look at him, feeling like I did. So I started walking
without him. He caught up quickly and grabbed my shoulder, turning
me to him.

“Everything I do, I do with you in mind.” He
pulled me into an embrace and I hated how safe it made me feel.

Less than a week I shared his bed, and I
could not imagine life without him, even though I wanted to be free
of him, of them all. Internally I pleaded with Anaya to help me
hate him.

I felt nothing from her, not even the normal
little things. Why was she absent when I needed her most? Was she
really so angry with me that she wasn’t going to help? All I needed
was her reassurance, but she remained silent.

The light squeeze of my hand reminded me that
Jaxson, however, was here for me.

Maybe this was what she wanted, someone else
to be his focus, but it did not make sense for her to push me to
rely on him. Eventually I would die, then what?

“Are you hurt?” I finally broke the
silence.

“I am just tired.” I examined his face trying
to see the truth there. He stopped trying to hide the limp. “And
just a little sore,” he added.

As we approached the dining room, he
straightened and walked normally.

They really were like sharks, and they could
smell blood. I did not want them to know he was injured. Even
though I wanted to continue hating him, I hated them more.

Just outside the entry way where I knew
everyone could see, I pulled his hand and he stopped to look at me.
Worry colored his face, which helped. I drew him close so my body
was pressed tight against his. I breathed in deeply, noting how
pleasant his musky scent was. He looked confused. His body was
quick to interpret my actions though and he leaned in, his face
close to mine. I wrapped my hands around his neck and with an
urgency that surprised even me, I kissed him deeply.

When I pulled away, he looked happily
stunned. The look I was hoping for. He trailed along behind me, and
rather than the looks of hungry predators, we received averted eyes
and flushing cheeks.

The satisfaction I felt, I was sure was
reflected in my face. Maybe I was not as needy as we both
thought.

As we waited for our food I tried not to let
the ramifications of what I had committed myself to taint my
momentary triumph. And like he could read my mind Jaxson reached
out and took my hand.

“Thank you.” His voice was so soft I more
read it on his lips than heard it. He leaned forward and his eyes
dropped to our clasped hands. “Maybe you are not quite as delicate
as I have worried.”

I looked up, but he did not meet my eye. He
saw through my charade and was letting me off the hook. Why?

As dinner went on, I could see how cruel what
I had done was. Was I becoming one of them? Using people with no
regard for their feelings?

I spotted Griff at the same time Jaxson did.
Jaxson motioned for him to join us. Griff bent close and whispered
something in Jaxson’s ear. He went rigid and his jaw clenched.

Griff looked up at me and nodded in response
to Jaxson’s question. His look made me uncomfortable, like I was
the subject.

I was not hungry after their exchange. A
young boy, Tiberius I believe, seeing that I was done, took my
plate.

“Ready?” Jaxson’s breath was warm on my ear.
I braced for the false display of affection I expected to follow.
He pressed a feather light kiss to my neck instead. It was this
kind of tenderness that made me feel monstrous.

I offered my hand and he led me back to our
room. As soon as the wall closed, he turned on me.

“You promised, Anaya!”

“What did I promise?” My voice sounded
sharper than I meant it to. He rarely called me that, and I found
hearing him use her name made me angry.

“You cannot go wandering about without Griff
or I.”

“I only went to the garden.”

“Those people,” he motioned in the direction
of the dining room, “you have not made their lives easy and they
hate you for it. A few would like to see you bleed. I know you feel
strong, but you are not ready to be wandering around unescorted
yet.”

“You just said I am not as delicate as you
thought,” I said, looking at my toes.

He stepped closer and lifted my chin with a
finger. “What if something happened to you? You cannot think only
of yourself. You have responsibilities,” he said with half a
smile.

“No fair using my words against me. Besides,
I am not the one limping.”

He kissed my nose and I scowled at him. He
looked suddenly tired, like our argument took everything he had
left. “I am going to bathe.”

I lay in bed trying to fall asleep while he
bathed. When I heard him approaching I closed my eyes.

“I know you are not sleeping,” he said,
sliding up next to me. “You are holding your breath.” He kissed my
neck softly.

“Are you still hurting?” I asked.

“Not now that I am close to you.”

I knew he was lying from the set of his
muscles.

~o~

I could feel that he was awake, though he did
not move. I did not understand why he was not doing his normal
routine of reaching for me, then holding me close for a few minutes
before rising. Then I realized I had not moved away from him in the
night.

Learning my lesson from that night, I
concentrated on keeping my breathing slow and steady. He nuzzled my
hair and neck, pulling in a deep breath, then gingerly pulled his
arm from beneath me.

I opened my eyes a fraction and watched as he
dressed slowly, clearly still hurting. There was still no response
from Anaya regarding the growing concern I felt for him.

I closed my eyes as he turned back toward me.
He must have stood there for five minutes. Watching me?

Finally I could hear him move toward the
wall. I chanced a peek and watched as he knelt down and pressed a
hand to the wall lower than normal. There were no bells.

“Griff, I am leaving now. Could you come keep
an eye on her?”

I gritted my teeth.

“How are you feeling?” I almost gasped when I
heard Griff’s voice as if he were in the room with us.

“Still a bit groggy.”

“Jax, you should not be out wandering around
in your condition. I can take care of things today.” The concern in
Griff’s voice surprised me.

“I will be alright. Besides, she needs her
space.”

“She needs you safe more than she needs
space.”

“If it will make you feel better, I will take
Orson with me.”

“Take Alton instead, and promise me you will
visit the Waters and stay clear of the garden.”

“Did she like the flowers?” Jaxson asked,
ignoring Griff’s request. His tone was different, it was
softer.

“She loved them, but she thinks they are from
me.”

“As long as they made her happy, I do not
care who she thinks they are from.”

“She should know, Jax,” Griff pleaded.

“She may not like them if she knows the
truth. Do not tell her, please.”

“I am on my way.” Griff’s voice had resigned
frustration in it. I could imagine him shaking his head at
Jaxson.

I closed my eyes as he turned and came
towards me. Kneeling next to the bed he caressed my cheek. I
blinked and looked up at him. He smiled.

“Good morning, Love.”

I could not help but smile because he did not
call me by her name. “Morning.” I yawned and stretched.

“I have to go, but Griff will be here to
escort you anywhere you would like to go.”

I narrowed my eyes and glared at him.

“It is for your protection. I cannot have
anything happening to this.” He kissed my forehead. I touched his
cheek as he pulled back to look at me. “How are you feeling?” I
asked.

“I feel amazing. Being with you makes
everything better.”

“You are a terrible liar.”

My sense of compassion wrestled with the side
of me that wanted nothing more than to see him disappear through
the wall. How could I let him though, after what I just witnessed
of his character.

I did not like feeling I was the cruel
one.

The wall chimed announcing Griff. As it
opened completely and Jaxson turned to leave, I grabbed his
hand.

“Stay.”

Chapter 8

The wall whined, indicating it was locked.
Jaxson pulled on his animal skin pants and walked carefully to the
wall. He situated himself so he was standing casually, then pressed
a hand to open the wall.

“Duester?” he said her name with
surprise.

“Jaxson, what is the meaning of this? Sending
a guard to complete your responsibilities!” She made a sound of
disgust.

My blood was boiling instantly. I did not
even think. I grabbed the sheets up around me and crossed to where
Jaxson was standing.

“Jaxson, my love, that would not be my good
friend, Duester, speaking so irreverently to you, would it?”

Reaching under his arms, I pressed my palms
to his bare chest and rested my head against his shoulder so I
could look Duester in the eye.

“Anaya!” she gasped. “I meant no disrespect.
I was concerned. Jaxson, here, has never missed a single day, not
even on changing days. Now I see there was no need to worry. He is
merely attending to the whims of his queen.” Her tone filled me
with acid.

“Which is my number one priority,” Jaxson
responded.

“I simply could not stand to share him
today.” I reached out and touched her shoulder. “You of all people
should understand the desire to be close to the one you love. It
has not been so long since the human, Lennie, robbed you of that
privilege.”

She made a sound like a hiss at the mention
of Lennie’s name. Her cheeks glowed red.

“No it has not been so long. I understand
your need perfectly, especially after such a
long
separation. Please, forgive the intrusion.”

She bowed deeply, and it appeared to take
much effort as she backed away, still bent at the shoulders.

“You should not provoke her further. She
would already love to see you fall,” Jaxson whispered as he pulled
me near.

“I can handle her.”

“I see that.” He was smiling when he leaned
in and kissed me, pulling my body tight against his. The
desperation in his touch took my breath away.

“Sorry,” he whispered, loosening his grip,
his lips brushed mine as he spoke.

I looked into his concerned eyes. “Whatever
for?”

“For being too rough. Lately, I am overcome
by the need to be near you.”

“I am not so fragile as you imagine.”

He kissed me again. This time slower and
gentle.

“We should eat,” he said, drawing back.

“If we must.” I shrugged, but really I was
grateful. I was feeling ravenous. He smiled and went to the bureau.
He returned with a soft pink slip dress which he helped me
into.

As we entered the dining hall I wrapped my
arm around his waist and slipped my hand just inside the waist of
his pants. He gave a start, but did not look at me or pull away. I
did notice the corner of his mouth turn up slightly and he walked a
little taller which helped to keep my focus on him rather than
those who looked on with wide eyes.

Katy appeared the moment we sat down. She
looked from me to Jaxson then quickly set waters in front of us
trying not to show her surprise, unsuccessfully.