“Debatable.” Rykon said as he turned back to the small camp, walking away like he didn’t just say something horrible about a man I idolized and her father, who she seemed to care about deeply, and that just pissed me off.
“What do you mean by that?” I bark out, stomping my way over to him.
Rykon sat down, fluffed his bag as a pillow as he said, “If you were getting what you need out of your parents, like love and acceptance, you wouldn’t feel the need to push yourself so hard to do things you don’t want to.”
I didn’t even look at Emerald as I responded, “Then what’s your excuse? What makes you push yourself so hard to be the best thief since we all know your parents give you all the love and acceptance? What makes you so special? Your family is so perfect?”
He looked up at me, not glaring or mad, not upset or pissed at me, just a calm matter-of-fact vibe came off him as he said, “My family is not perfect. I don’t think anyones is, but they have given me love and acceptance. I know they won’t be disappointed in me, and will love me no matter my choices in life. That's the reason that I choose to push myself. There is a difference in reasoning. I don’t have this desperation to push myself, but I have this strength to push myself, fueled by my love for them and my family.”
He looked at Emerald, who was talking to Zayden over by the tree. He lowered his tone, out of their earshot, “I have held a family member in my arms as they died. I have killed people to ensure mine stay alive and safe. I have stolen, lied and cheated, taken on all of that darkness for my family to ensure they prevail. That is why I don’t have guilt or shame over what I have done. It was for my family and I would sell my soul for my familybecausethey love and accept me.”
I knew what Rykon was saying was true, that there was a difference, but I couldn’t really wrap my head around it. I have never felt like that. Well, that was a lie. I started feeling that way about Mika, which was why when she left I took it so hard. It compounded even harder when Zayden and Rykon blamed me for it. Making me feel like my father was right after all and I just needed to follow what he wanted of me.
I looked over at Emerald and Zayden, not really knowing what to say to Rykon about what he just told me. I noticed Zayden looked pale, fear and shadows were in his eyes, but as soon as Emerald took his hand, gave it a squeeze and told him something, the shadows receded as they came back to the camp.
“All right boys, time for all of you to get some sleep to be ready in the morning for some steep mountain climbing.” Emerald said as Zayden made a move to get back to his spot on the floor.
I grabbed my bag and put it on the other side of the two of them, all our heads pointing to the middle while our bodies pointed away from each other.
Zayden popped up and looked at me, “Don’t you dare try to cuddle with me, big man. I’m only ever going to be the little spoon for my gem.”
I closed my eyes as I grumbled, “Like I want to cuddle with you.”
I heard him chuckle, “Ya, sure buddy.” He laid back down, saying goodnight to all of us. Emerald told us she will be off to the side watching out for us and to not worry.
I knew with her on the lookout, I never needed to worry, and sleep took over as my body grew tired.
Chapter 17
Insteadofthesunlightgrazing my skin like I was used to when I woke up, it was a light touch against my brow and a voice I recognized calling out to me.
“Zayden. It’s time.” My dick was the first thing to twitch at the voice, wanting to play with the voice as soon as possible. Then the voice and touch left and my dick drooped in sadness.Well, that was not acceptable. My eyes flew open as my arms stretched out towards the voice, but no one was in front of me.
“Rykon. It’s time to get up.” That turned my head to the sound of the voice and saw that Emerald, my gem, was waking us up to start the horrid day of climbing.
She moved over to Ajax, giving him the same treatment as I looked up at the beast we were supposed to climb and felt sick to my stomach. How the fuck was I going to get over that damn thing? I was not a climber.
I looked at Rykon and Ajax, who were already out of their beds, looking in their packs for the rope and harness thingies that I knew nothing about, feeling like a fish out of water. I wasn’t an assassin or a thief; I wasn’t used to climbing into my targets’ windows or roofs. I was the snake you invited into your home through the front door. Depending on the client, the one you showed off to others or snuck around behind your spouse’s back. I did not do strenuous physical activity.
I saw Emerald off to the side looking up, a whole heap of rope at her feet, but nothing else around her. I climbed up, put my bag over my shoulder and walked to her side, staring up into the sky like she was.
After a few minutes of her not moving, I finally asked, “What are you doing?”
Without looking at me, she said, “I’m visualizing where I’m going to climb and the fastest way to get up there to tie off the stagnant rope. Then you guys can climb up a lot faster.”
“Wait, wait, wait. Did I just hear you say you're going to solo climb up this rocky mountain?” Rykon asked with Ajax close on his heels. By looking at Rykon’s face, I guess that was not a good idea.
She looked down and rolled her eyes at him. “Yes, I am.” She lifted her hand before Rykon or Ajax could say anything as she ticked off each finger. “One, I am lighter than both of you and will be faster on the climb. Two, I have free climbed many times before and have my climbing claws.” I was thinking of some sexual come back for climbing claws until she lifted a set of fierce iron metal tools that looked like very sharp bear claws. Yikes! “And three, we need someone to go tie it quickly at the top, then come back down to help Zayden climb.”
“He can just hold on to my back.” Ajax tried to reason. He tried to hide the panic from his face, but I could see his back all tied up in knots over this. Emerald turned to face him.
“And when the rope breaks from your weight half way up, what are you going to do then?” It was a valid question and one I would hastily like him to answer.
He looked back up, squinting his eyes, trying to figure out how to help, but she was right. She tried in a soft, matter-of-fact tone, “Look, making it there and back with one rope is going to fatigue me, you’re right, but I’m also going to have recuperation time while you and Rykon go up. With both of you up there, you might even pull Zayden up by the time we get halfway.”
Ajax’s face pinched, while Rykon shook his head. Both of them did not want to do this, but I saw the resignation in their eyes. They were going to cave because it was the best solution. It also gave me time to psych myself up… Or down, depending on how long it took.
They both looked up. She squeezed in between them and patted them both on the shoulders. “The sooner I get going, the sooner it gets done.”
