Marked By Destiny, page 17
“This is…” Ira’s voice faded as she tried desperately to find the right word. When she looked over at Kaiden’s furrowed brows, she remembered the current issue they were facing with Thameus. This place definitely had a way of making people forget about their problems.
“Nela, where is Thameus?” Kaiden asked.
“I’ve got him quite comfortable in my tent. It took you three long enough to make your way in here. I’m glad I intervened.”
The trio turned in unison to see an older woman standing in front of them. She was wearing a floor-length emerald cape, with loose gray wisps of hair escaping past the hood of it. Her stout figure hobbled toward them, an impatient and disgruntled look set firmly on her face. As she grew closer, Ira cocked her head to the side. She wasn’t sure if it was the magical touch of the Sacred Ruins, but something about this woman seemed extremely familiar.
“Who are you?” Kaiden finally asked. Kaiden’s hands twitched at his side.
“Really, boy? Do I seem like I am that much of a threat to you?” The woman let out a raspy cough before defiantly placing her hands on her hips. Her eyes glowed with an accusation that her coughing fit was his fault. “Now, do you want to keep chatting all night or do you want to see your friend? I need some questions answered before I can properly heal him.”
Ira tried to hide the smile that toyed at the corner of her lips. She had to admit, she loved this woman’s spirit.
“You’re a healer!” Nela exclaimed. “But, how did you know we were here?”
“Well, didn’t she tell you?” The woman pointed one crooked finger toward Ira.
In unison, Kaiden and Nela gave Ira matching confused looks.
“Tell us what?” Kaiden prompted, not taking his eyes off Ira.
“That she summoned me of course.”
Chapter 28
“How?” Kaiden narrowed his eyes at Ira.
After recovering from their initial shock, the three shuffled into the healer’s tent, answered all of her questions, checked on Thameus’ condition, and were quickly shooed out. Since then, Kaiden had not stopped pacing and asking Ira the same question over and over again.
“I don’t know,” Ira groaned, slumping against a tree.
“Only a sorcerer or sorceress can summon a healer, and even then it takes extensive training and energy,” Nela supplied, brows furrowed. She paced alongside Kaiden, drumming her pointer finger on her chin.
“All things that you don’t have,” Kaiden interjected.
Ira shot him a glare.
“No offense,” he dully supplied, returning to his pacing.
Ira only rolled her eyes in response and groaned while rubbing at her temples. Scattered memories of a dream slammed back into her after she saw the healer, but she couldn’t piece any of it together well enough to make a sound memory.
“Don’t let Kaiden offend—”
“I’m not offended, Nela. I’m frustrated. You’ve both asked me the same questions over and over, and I don’t have the answer you want, or really any answer at all.” Ira dropped her head in her hands and groaned again. “How did she know to even meet us here? I’d never been to the Sacred Ruins before. I wouldn’t have been able to give her any guidance with that.”
“She must have seen it in your head.”
“What does that even mean?”
“Healers can grab images from your mind to find places to meet you. It’s called mind jumping. It takes extensive training, but given her age, I’m thinking she has the skills,” Nela said. “You and Kaiden had already planned the trip here, so she must have grabbed it from your memories.”
Kaiden stopped his pacing for a moment before growing restless again. He ran his hand over his face with a huff.
“Maybe instead of dwelling on how this happened, we could all just thank the Sacred Four that our last effort worked and we found a healer. Maybe now we should all just get some much-needed rest?”
“But how…” Nela’s voice trailed off.
“Most people find a bed and lay down,” Ira joked, tossing a smile her way.
“A nap does sound nice.” There was a longing in Nela’s voice. Even though the Sacred Ruins had regenerated her magical energy, she still looked exhausted, with purple bruises lining under her eyes.
“You should rest. You need extra recovery after that strain on your magic.” Kaiden’s voice was stern, almost demanding.
Normally, Nela would have provided some kind of witty retort, but she was far too exhausted. Instead, she simply nodded in response.
“Do you need help setting up your tent?”
“I’ve got it.” Nela waved without looking back at them, and headed back toward the healer’s tent to set up camp.
Kaiden continued his pacing, letting out a low sigh. Every already rigid muscle on his body seemed to tense further. Ira groaned.
“What?” she practically hissed.
“I’m just trying to understand.”
“Understand how we found a healer?”
“We did not find a healer. You summoned one,” Kaiden grumbled.
“Not helping,” Ira snapped.
“What if this is a trick?” Kaiden‘s eyes trailed in the direction Nela had just ventured. Ira could still see her powder blue waves swaying almost hypnotically as she shrank further into the distance.
“It isn’t,” Ira reassured.
“How do you know? What if…” Kaiden’s voice trailed off. He clenched and unclenched his jaw several times.
“A trap in the Sacred Ruins?” Ira cocked an eyebrow. “After what you’ve told me about this place, wouldn’t it stop that from happening? Wouldn’t it sense the deceit?”
“Fair enough.” Kaiden’s eyes still watched in the direction Nela had headed off to.
Taking a deep breath, Ira pushed herself on her feet and walked over to Kaiden. Stepping on her tiptoes, she firmly planted her hands on his shoulders, abruptly stopping his pacing.
“We did it.” Ira’s eyes searched Kaiden’s, looking to see if her words landed. “I don’t know how we did it. I don’t know how we pulled it off, but we got Thameus to a healer. He’s going to be okay.”
Ira watched as a medley of emotions danced across Kaiden’s face and he harshly blinked as his eyes grew misty. Ira dropped her hands from his shoulders and took a step back.
“Now.” She clapped her hands victoriously. “Before you give the healer more work to do by having a heart attack, I am going to join Nela and get some very much deserved rest. I think I earned it after I basically pulled a miracle.”
Kaiden frowned at her and rolled his eyes. She gave him a playful wink in response.
“I really suggest you do the same.”
“Thanks, but I think I’ll keep watch.” Kaiden scratched the back of his neck and let out an exhausted sigh. “Just in case.”
Ira shook her head, giving him a pointed glare. While blowing out an exasperated breath, an idea came to Ira.
“You know.” Ira innocently clasped her hands behind her back and started rocking on her heels. “I have really been struggling with setting up my tent. I don’t want to ask Nela to use her magic to help because I think we can both agree she’s over spent it.” Ira batted her lashes at Kaiden and puffed out her bottom lip.
“Are you pouting?”
“Is it working?”
Kaiden smirked and shook his head, causing his shaggy hair to become even more unruly. Pressing his tongue to the inside of his cheek, a devilish gleam entered his eyes.
“You and I both know you don’t need my help.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Ira shrugged innocently.
“If you need me, all you have to do is ask.” Kaiden’s words left Ira’s stomach fluttering.
“Need is a strong word.” She tried to ignore her quickening pulse.
“Want then?” There was an intensity in his gaze that left Ira both captivated and terrified.
Her mouth became dry as she tried to think of something to say. An amused smirk tipped Kaiden’s lips, which effectively snapped Ira out of whatever trance she was in.
“Are you coming or not?” she bit out, pushing her auburn hair behind her ears to keep from fidgeting.
“Alright fine, I can help you.”
Ira spun around in triumph, her pale sage skirt spinning around her calves.
“But…” The single word caused Ira to stop in her tracks. She hesitantly glanced at him over her shoulder. “You have to tell me you need my help.”
Ira’s eyes narrowed. Kaiden feigned innocence and now mimicked Ira’s previous movement, bouncing on his heels.
“Kaiden, I…” Ira let the word drift off, as she watched the devilish gleam in his eyes grow brighter.
Turning around she closed the space between them with just a few steps. Slowly lifting her gaze, she looked at him through her lashes. She watched the once bright gleam in his eyes darken as they roamed her face.
“I…” Ira let her words drift off again, pinching her bottom lip between her teeth.
She let her gaze briefly drop to his mouth before picking it back up to his devastating eyes, boring into her. His tongue darted out to wet his lips, and his throat bobbed. Both of his hands stayed firmly at his sides, but she could see he clenched and unclenched them as she pushed her body a little closer to his. Going on her tiptoes, she brought her lips right next to his ear.
“I would rather sleep out in a cold winter rain than tell you I need your help.”
Stepping back, Ira triumphantly swiveled on her heel and began walking toward Nela, tossing a vulgar gesture over her shoulder as she did. She could hear a mumbled curse from behind her before stomping feet began marching in stride with her.
“Don’t think I’m going to break my back making your tent for you now,” Kaiden grunted, clearly not as amused as she was.
Ira beamed at him. As they got closer to where they planned to make camp, Ira saw that Nela was already sound asleep in her perfectly made tent. The materials for the other two lay in neat piles on the ground.
“I’m so exhausted.” Ira looked at the tools in front of her with a pained expression. “Do I need a tent? Can I just sleep here?”
“I think you need food and a nice trip to the hot springs.” Kaiden gently wrapped his fingers around Ira’s wrist and lightly tugged her after him.
“What about Nela?”
“I’m pretty sure I hear her snoring. Trust me, Nela seems cute and harmless, but she is not someone you want to wake from a nap.”
“She doesn’t snore.” Ira chuckled.
“Regardless, I am going to the hot springs because I think it’s the only thing that will keep me from losing my mind worrying about Thameus and waiting for an update.” Kaiden pressed his lips together as if debating saying his next words. After taking a deep breath, he bore his eyes into Ira’s and said, “I would really like for you to join me, but only if you want to.”
Ira pulled her mouth to the side, hoping Kaiden didn’t notice the flush that entered her cheeks.
“Y-yeah, I’ll go. Under one condition.”
Kaiden studied her apprehensively.
“You have to say you need my help.” Ira smirked.
Kaiden tossed his head back and barked out a laugh that sounded like music to Ira’s ears. She stuck her tongue between her teeth to conceal her own burst of laughter. Finally, Kaiden dragged his glacial eyes back down to Ira’s, his smile still spread wide across his face.
“Ira, if you think that is not a price I am willing to pay for your company, then I hate to inform you that you’re sadly mistaken.”
Ira’s breath caught in her throat, thinking back to the vision the night fox had showed her. She could barely remember all the details of it except one. She could still recall what it felt like to have his lips crash against hers.
“But if hearing it will appease you, then…” A fiery intensity ignited in Kaiden’s eyes as he said his next words. “I want so much more from you than just your help.” Kaiden’s ears tinged pink at his own confession. A burning desire licked at his pupils.
Ira couldn’t help but hold her breath at the sincerity behind his words, until she finally nodded her head.
“Okay, I’ll go.”
Without another word, Kaiden led them toward the hot springs, while Ira’s mind ran rampant wondering what Kaiden could possibly want from her.
Chapter 29
Kaiden brought Ira to a grassy field before pulling food out of his bag and laying it out in front of them. A yawn bubbled up in Ira’s throat as she hastily snatched a bag of almonds and began munching on them.
“Here.” Kaiden handed her a chunk of dried meat. “You need to eat more than almonds.” His voice was flippant as he continued to meticulously set out more food, chewing the inside of his cheek.
“You really care about him, don’t you?” Ira asked. “That’s why you’re so worried?”
“Thameus…” Kaiden let out a deep sigh, scratching the back of his neck. “He was there for me after I found my father. He kind of took me in after that. He and Nela are really the closest thing I have to a family.” Kaiden didn’t look up as he answered.
Ira’s fingers twitched wanting to reach out and squeeze his hand. Instead, she curled her fingers around an oddly shaped fruit he just set down. It was encased in light blue thorns that pointed downward.
“What’s this?” Ira asked, hoping to distract Kaiden from his own tormented thoughts.
“It’s a prickler. Be careful how you hold it, so you don’t prick your hand. It’s sweet, though. You’ll like it.”
“You’re an expert in what I like now?” Ira teased, but when she looked down at the spread in front of them, she noticed all of her favorite foods were laid out.
Slicing the fruit down the middle, Ira scooped out some of its golden core and popped it into her mouth. She all but groaned as the sweet, syrupy flavor hit her taste buds.
“Well?” Kaiden prodded seeing the light in Ira’s eyes.
“It’ll do,” she casually replied.
“If you don’t like it, I can take it back.”
Kaiden reached for the fruit, but Ira clutched it to her chest, being careful to mind the thorns. Kaiden raised a single brow as a crooked grin spread across his face. Ira hated how that smile made him look both lovably boyish and devilishly handsome at the same time.
“Okay, it’s the best fruit I’ve ever had! Happy?”
Kaiden beamed, and the two grew silent as they continued to eat. Ira sighed contentedly after eating her fill of the food in front of her. She laid back on the grass and looked up at the moon and stars glowing in the night sky. They looked so clear here.
“I think I’m going to head to the hot springs.” Kaiden lifted himself onto his feet, brushing crumbs off his pants in the process.
“I’ll go with you.” Ira had no idea what she was doing, but something was pulling her toward him. It felt as if she was floating at sea, and he was the anchor keeping her from drifting too far. The only thing she could say for certain was that she liked the time she was getting to spend with just him, and she didn’t want to go to bed yet.
“So, how did you even know the hot springs were here?” Ira asked as Kaiden led them through a small thicket of trees.
“I’ve been here once before?”
Before Ira could ask any of the questions dancing around her brain, all her focus became consumed on the sensation entering her body when Kaiden wrapped his fingers around her wrist. It was something he had done countless times, but with them being alone in the forest, something about the contact felt different.
As they approached a particularly thorny set of overgrown bushes, Kaiden pulled her so close to him that their bodies were almost flush together. Ira tried to ignore the woodsy musk and citrus scent that infiltrated her senses and left her head buzzing. She especially tried to ignore the flood of warmth that pooled in her core. It was just her wrist he was holding, after all.
“Is there not an easier path?”
“Trust me, it’s worth it.”
As soon as the words left Kaiden’s mouth, Ira’s foot became hooked on one of the countless roots scattering the ground around them, causing her to lose her balance and tumble forward. Kaiden’s hand splayed across her hip to steady her, gripping firmly, and every muscle in Ira’s body simultaneously tensed and melted into his touch. She could still feel the sensation course through her body long after Kaiden pulled his hand away.
After a little more weaving, Kaiden led Ira to another grassy clearing with four separate hot spring pools, each able to fit a couple of people. Steam filled the sky with a hazy veil. The warmth being emitted from the hot springs felt like a comforting blanket wrapping its way around Ira’s skin, and she detected the slightest hint of lavender in the air, her favorite.
“This is magical,” she breathed, feeling her tension already start to dissipate.
The entire area had been expertly cleared out of all the trees, leaving only the thrush surrounding it in an almost perfect circle. Closing her eyes, she took another deep, relaxing breath. When she opened them, they immediately widened into saucers, and she quickly swiveled around.
“Kaiden!” she yelped, fighting the urge to glance back at him over her shoulder.
“What?” he chuckled.
Caving, Ira looked back to see Kaiden’s now shirtless body. She couldn’t pull her eyes away from the muscles rippling down his arms and chest. Her teeth involuntarily snatched her lower lip as her eyes slowly drank in the sight of his chiseled torso. When she eventually pulled them back up to his face, her cheeks grew hot at the small smirk that danced across his lips. Ira pinched her eyes tightly shut and swiveled back around.
“What are you thinking about?” Kaiden’s tone was heavy with teasing.
Ira could hear his footsteps approaching, closing the already too small distance between them. She released her lower lip from her teeth, and took a deep breath before swiveling around. She refused to let him know how much he was affecting her, but she still had to swallow her surprise at how close he now was. Craning her neck up, she met his icy eyes with a challenge.
