Two years later
Amaya’s POV
We just got off an assignment but Alanza insisted we had to go out to our usual bar. I should’ve known something was up, considering Alanza started trying to convince me to go out as soon as we stepped on the plane. I barely had time to change out of my mission clothes before Josie and Alanza were knocking on my door.
“Let’s gooooo!” Alanza said, causing me to roll my eyes.
“Okay, okay. I’m coming!” I gave myself one more glance in the mirror.
We headed out on our bikes when we parked, I noticed Jace, Ian, Lavi, and her mate’s vehicles all in the parking lot. Great the gang’s all here, I thought sarcastically to myself.
“We deserve a night out, Amaya. You deserve a night out,” Niamh’s voice sounded in my head.
“Doesn’t mean I have to enjoy it,” I retorted back mentally rolling my eyes.
We found our group easily even in the mess of supernaturals that were in the bar. Alanza went to the bar to get us drinks while Josie and I joined everyone at their table in the back of the bar.
We were chatting and laughing for a little while when the mood in the bar shifted. Niamh cooed and I looked around knowing the cause of the shift. Fox, Jax, and their teammate Matthew walked up to the bar. I glared at Alanza. She gave me a look that said “What did I do?” My eyes narrowed and I growled low.
Jace threw his arm around my shoulder, “It’ll be fine cus,” he whispered softly in my ear.
Jax cleared his throat, “Hey guys,” Alanza and I both got up, I gave him a hug first so Alanza could have her way with him. They pulled apart when Matthew and Fox walked up, “You guys remember my teammates Fox and Matthew.”
Everyone said their hellos except Jace and me. Jace sniffed the air, making sure we were surrounded by supers, I assumed, “So you’re the infamous Fox.”
Fox stiffened, “And you are?”
“Jace. Nice to finally put a face to the name,” it didn’t go unnoticed that Jace didn’t clarify he was my cousin.
“And what makes me so infamous?” He asked with his eyes narrowed.
“You left your mate. Even after you found out what we all are. You still left her,” I could feel Jace’s dragon rising.
“Jace cut it out.” I turned to Josie, “I’m out. I’ve got other shit to do before tomorrow.” I turned back to Jace and pushed my dominance into my voice, “stay in control.”
I felt his dragon fall back and he gave me a nod. I pushed past Fox, relishing the contact we made for just a brief second. Then I was gone, on my bike, on my way back to the compound.
I was in my small apartment nursing a beer still doing paperwork when someone knocked on my door, “What?”
“Can I come in, Little Duck?” Jax’s voice sounded on the other side of the door.
I sighed, “Why not?” I got up to grab him a beer as he let himself into my apartment.
When I came back into the small living room I tried to hand him his beer, but he grabbed my face between his hands and looked at me for a long beat. “You’re not sleeping.”
A statement, not a question. I removed my face from his hands and gave him his beer. “I just got off assignment, Jax.”
“You and I both know that’s not what it is. You’re not sleeping because of the nightmares. It’s not healthy, Amaya. You need Fox.”
I flinched at the mention of his name, “I’m fine Jax. When do you guys leave again?” I was desperate to change the conversation.
Jax sighed, “Day after tomorrow.”
“Go be with your mate Jax.” I pushed him toward the door, “Stop worrying about me and go be with Alanza.”
“Just-”
“No Jax. We’re broken. Just accept it. He’ll never accept me for who I am and I don’t know if I can forgive him for that. Leave it alone,” I shouted at him.
He looked at me hurt and instantly I felt bad for snapping at him. “Right. Please forgive me for caring about you, your majesty.”
Before I could apologize he gave me a deep bow and walked out the door. I fell into a heap on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. I didn’t realize he came back in until I felt his arms wrap around me and his scent enveloped me. “I’m sorry Jax. You don’t know what it’s like having a mate that doesn’t want you. It hurts so much every time you guys push us together and he doesn’t say or do anything. It’s killing me.” My body was racked with another round of sobs, “I can’t keep seeing him. You guys can’t keep doing this to me. He can’t and won’t ever love me.” I barely got the last sentence out. I was sobbing so hard.
Jax just held me, as I cried, rubbing my back, “I’m sorry, Little Duck. I just want you back, and to have what Alanza and I have. You’ve been an empty shell for two years. We don’t know what else to do.”
His words only made me cry harder. We stayed like that until I stopped crying.
Jax picked me up and placed me in my bed. He more or less tucked me in and kissed my forehead, “Get some rest, Little Duck.”
“Yes, your highness,” I said with a lazy smirk.
“Fuck off, smart ass,” he said, laughing, “Get some sleep you asshole. I’ll see you later.”
I blew him a kiss and he flipped me the bird. I took a shot of the herbal supplement that barely worked anymore, and drifted off to sleep.
I woke up a few hours later sweaty, but at least I wasn’t screaming this time. I got up and took a shower. I looked over my scar covered body. There was barely a spot on my torso and thighs that didn’t have a scar in it. My eyes traveled down to my hip where the three brands were bubbled up and colored white. My beautiful lightning scar was almost completely covered by whip and burn marks, the only place you could still see it is at the base of my neck.
I slipped into an oversized sweater and yoga pants. Settling into my chair at my desk, I got to work checking intel on various assignments given to troops. After a couple of hours, I decided to take a break and walk to the coffee shop down the street from my apartment. It didn’t take too long before I was back in my building with my caffeine fix.
When I reached my hallway, I saw Jax sitting outside my apartment smelling like sex and vaguely of Fox. “What the fuck Jax?”
“What do y-” He took a minute to smell the air and started laughing. “No, oh gods, no. Alanza and I just got done, you know. We were talking and thought maybe if we couldn’t get you and Fox together, all you need to get you through the night is his scent. So I went into his apartment and stole a few things for you,” he grinned proudly.
“You think you’re so fucking smart don’t you?” I said, letting us into my apartment.
“Just say thank you and bow down at my feet, and you can have your stolen goods.”
“How about I beat the shit out of you then dump you outside Fox’s place and tell him what you did, so he’ll beat the shit out of you too,” I said, staring him down as I took a drink of my coffee.
“Damnit. You probably would do that too,” I nodded, “Fuck. You drive a hard bargain, but here are your goods, my lady.” He bowed deeply, holding out his hand with the bag full of Fox’s clothes.
“Goddess’s sake, Jax. You could’ve left him a few clothes to wear.”
He laughed out loud, “Yeah he’s not going to be happy when he wakes up. Thank the gods he isn’t a super. At least this way I have a little t-” Just as he was about to finish his phone rang, “Uh-oh. Now how did he figure that out so quickly?” He said quietly to himself.
He answered the phone and Fox didn’t even give him a chance to say anything, “Why the fuck did you take all of my clothes, Jackson?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Grey,” he looked at me with a thumbs up and a smile.
“The fuck you don’t. I know it was you. Bring them back now.”
“I still don’t know what you’re talking about, Grey. You might want to get checked for paranoia,” Jax gave me a wink. I rolled my eyes.
Suddenly there was a pounding on my door, “Open up Jackson. I know you’re in there.”
“How the fuck did he find me?” Jax looked at me as if asking me what to do.
I did what would keep my neighbors happy, I walked over to the door and opened it wide. Fox’s shock was palpable. I walked away leaving the door open, and glared at Jax. “Thank you so much for listening to me last night.”
He had the decency to look upset with himself, “What do you mean last night? How long has this been going on?”
Fox slammed the door shut effectively gaining my attention, as I turned to him furious that now he cares. I slammed him against the door, “What gives you the right to ask questions like that? You have ignored any request made of you in regards to me and you allow women in bars to throw themselves at you.” He opened his mouth as if to deny it, “Don’t. I can smell her on you. So tell me what gives you the right?” He opened and closed his mouth several times like a fish. “That’s what I thought,” I said, shoving off of him. I walked silently to my room and changed into my running clothes. I could hear them whispering but didn’t make an effort to listen in on it. When I walked out they shut up, “Jax lock up when you leave. Don’t let him stay in my apartment.”
“Amaya,” Fox said and I hated that it sent a shiver down my spine.
I didn’t let him say anything else, I just walked out and started my run. I ran longer than usual trying to make sure they were out of my apartment before going back.
I was almost finished with my run when Daniel mind linked me, “Are you free for breakfast?”
“Yeah. I’m just killing time. Meet at the usual spot?” I linked back.
“See you there in ten,” he linked back before cutting the connection.
I got to the diner before Daniel and slid into our usual booth, ordering a coffee. I wasn’t seated long before he walked in and slid in across from me. The server dropped off my coffee and took out her pad to take Daniel’s order too. “Just coffee, thanks,” Daniel said, “How’s the intel check going?”
I took a sip of my coffee, “Fine. So far there isn’t anything unusual.”
He nodded, “Good. Lyosha thinks he might have a way of tracking Joseph.”
I raised an eyebrow, “Really?”
We fell quiet as our server dropped off Daniel’s coffee and topped mine off, “He thinks so,” Daniel responded once our server walked back behind the counter. “He and Lavi are putting it to the test soon. It’s supposed to follow hotspots of rogues and various other known allies of his. Lyosha thinks if we follow their movements, we could get closer to catching him.”
“That’s great. It sounds like a pretty solid plan,” I responded.
“Let’s hope,” he said, taking a drink with a thoughtful look on his face, “Why are you killing time?”
I sighed before recounting this morning’s events, “I’m just trying to give it enough time before heading back.”
“Jax’s intentions and actions never meet up do they?” Daniel said with a chuckle.
I smiled, “Very rarely.”
“After your mom was killed, sleeping with a shirt of hers helped after I got Ruairi back under control. I still have a few things to help me through the night, so I think Jax is onto something.”
I blew out a breath, “Yeah. It doesn’t mean I have to be happy with how he handled it. He and Alanza keep trying to push us together as if Fox will ever be able to move past my other side.”
He sat back, assessing me, “It will be a long time before I forgive him for not coming to you after your run in with the hunters.”
Niamh growled in my head, “He’s right and you know it,” I told her, causing her to growl louder.
I rolled my eyes, “You know I’m right,” Daniel said.
“The eye roll wasn’t for you. I know you’re right, but Niamh is delusional and completely in love with the asshole.”
“The goddess wouldn’t have paired you without accounting for who he is as a skeptic. You guys will work it out. The goddess doesn’t make mistakes.”
“There’s a first time for everything,” I mumbled.
Daniel paid quickly, “Not with this,” he said with a pointed look, “Come on I’ll walk you home.” When we got to my apartment, Daniel insisted on walking me to my door.
I was surprised to see Fox sitting with his back against my door. Before I could say anything Daniel pushed me behind him and growled low and menacingly. “Why are you here?”
He stood up and started to take a step toward us, but Daniel growled again causing him to freeze. “Jax stole my clothes and brought them here. He locked me out after Amaya left. I need to talk to you Amaya, about more than the clothes Jax stole.”
“Dad, it’s okay. I’ll see you later,” I said, turning him to me. He gave me a conflicted look but finally decided to let me deal with this. I gave him a tight squeezing hug which he returned happily.
“Let me know how it goes, little one,” he whispered so that only I could hear him.
I nodded and looked past him to my mate who was waiting, staring at his shoes. Once Daniel was gone we stood in the hallway, unable to move into my apartment. “So, I thought you were going for a run. Why did Daniel bring you back here?”
I could tell it’s not the question he really wanted to ask but I answered it anyway, “We had things to discuss, so we met for coffee.”
He bobbed his head. I moved around him trying not to touch him in the process afraid I would lose my resolve. He brushed against me as I opened the door to my apartment and Niamh cooed, but I held back the shiver that threatened to go up my spine. “What happened to your back?”
I snorted, “Now you care?”
“What do you mean?” He was frozen where he stood.
“I mean two years ago you were asked to come help me because I had been hurt badly. What did you think had happened? They were exaggerating?”
His face turned white, “I didn’t know. They didn’t say.”
“If a dragon is hurt badly assume it’s pretty fucking bad.”
He sat down on the couch with a heavy thud. He asked quietly, “What happened?”
“What does it matter now? It’s over and done with, they’re dead, you didn’t show up, and I made it through,” I snapped back.
His eyes met mine and I saw nothing but regret. I could feel it coming off of him in waves, “Why did Jax steal my clothes?”
I sighed because I didn’t want to admit I was still having problems to him, “I still have nightmares. Jax thought your scent might help since you won’t have anything to do with me.”
He looked down at his hands, “I don’t understand how I could help if you don’t even like me.”
“I’m angry with you. Mates have a connection called the mate bond, even when they’re angry with one another or don’t like each other. Niamh, my dragon, still coos any time you’re around and would purr if you hugged me right now even though I’m pissed at you. The sparks you feel when we touch is the mate bond trying to make us come together. If we slept together I would sleep through my sleep cycle, maybe the entire night at this point, without any nightmares because your presence comforts me. Here get up,” he gave me a look but complied, “Hug me.”
Again he did as he was told, it was a bit stiff to start, but he and I both relaxed into it and Niamh soon began to purr. “Does she do that for anyone else?”
“Not really. She does it in a different way for Jax, Josie, Jace, and Daniel,” I started to pull away but he held me to him. “Fox, you still smell like her. Please let me go.”
Author: Kailan Counahan 