Stupid little thing that organ is, and I can hear Nyxa chuckle in my mind.
“Careful, or I’m kicking that cute stray outta here,”I warn.
Her chuckle dies.
“I know it’s late,” Jax says, his voice low and far too addicting. He closes the door behind him. “But I had some time to check the outpost by your village, and there was a letter for you.”
His head tilts slightly, his dark lashes brushing against his cheeks as he looks down, shielding his eyes for just a moment.
“A letter?” I ask, unable to hide my surprise. I somehow hadn’t been able to find the time to write back to Char after the last one he’d sent.
Did he send two in a row?
Guilt works its way into every crevice of my mind. Char’s my best friend, and I’ve been neglecting that, neglectinghim.
He asked me to keep writing to him, and I haven’t sent him a single letter in over a week.
But it’s not like I haven’t been busy, learning all I can about the Essentari, building my strength, and making sure I’m someone worthy of his respect.
Reaching out, I take the letter from Jax. I recognize the handwriting immediately, and my lips part in a silent gasp.
I clutch it to my chest, right over my necklace.
“My mother?” Tears sting my eyes, blurring my vision, my ability to keep my emotions in check completely leaving me. “But…how?”
My heart pounds because I never told my parents where I am. I never told them because I didn’t want to offer them hope when it might not actually exist.That I might be coming home.
“You’re going to survive the third trial, Serafina.” His voice is even lower than before as his eyes lock on mine. “There’s not a single doubt in my mind. You’re…remarkable. With what you’ve been able to accomplish these last few weeks…even if you don’t see it.” He hesitates, his jaw tightening before he exhales heavily.
My mind hyper-fixates on that word.Remarkable.He’s used it before. I had a hard time believing it then, and I find myself feeling the same way now.
“I know it wasn’t my place, but I…I wrote to your parents. I told them you were alive. That you’re okay, and that you’ll be coming home soon.”
Speechless.
That is what I am. Overwhelmed, undone, and at an absolute loss for words.
He wrote to them.
The prince of Velegoriawrote to them.
And before I think better of it, I’m closing the distance between us, and my arms latch around his neck. I cling to him, and a choked laugh escapes me.
“Thank you, Jax.” The words feel heavy, like I should be saying so much more, but for now, they’ll have to do.
He stills.
Completely stills.
His breathing halts.
Shit.
I release him, stumbling back a step, my hands trembling as they fall to my sides. My wide eyes meet his, but his expression is unreadable, carefully masked.
“I’m so sorry,” I stammer, my pulse thundering in my ears. “You don’t like being touched.”
What the hell is wrong with me?What am Idoing?
