I can’t tell if he’s smirking by the way his voice sounds when he says, “Anytime, darling.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
PHOENIX
I have a lot of groveling to do. I only hope it’s enough to get Kazh to agree to help.
We make it to Kazh’s inn right after sun sets. I don’t want to miss her.
It’s humiliating, what I’m about to do. Yet, I’m determined. I glance around the street. No sounds. Right now, it’s empty. But it won’t be this way for long.
“You can leave me be and go back to Vera’s studio,” I tell Jax.
“I don’t think so,” he says. “It’s not safe.”
I click my tongue. “I don’t need you protecting me. You can leave.”
“Okay,” he says, lightly.
He lets go of my hand, and his presence next to me is gone. I tilt my head, listening to his footsteps as he walks away. The sound disappears rather quickly.
This bastard.
My senses are still all over the place. I’m unable to close them completely. So, of course I can sense him. Right behind me.
“I know you’re still here,” I call over my shoulder.
“Good to know your Decarios abilities are still intact!” Jax calls back.
Fine. If he doesn’t want to leave, I won’t fucking fight him. I don’t have the energy or time for this shit.
With a sigh, I lower myself on my knees right in front of the entrance door. I fold my hands in front of me and lower my chin. The ground is hard under my knees, but I’ve faced harder conditions during my training with Kazh.
I can endure.
I know when the sun rises all the way, because the street blooms. More and more people are passing behind me. Their curiosity lingers on the tip of my tongue. Not being in control of my senses and having everyone’s emotions mingle with mine is extremely uncomfortable.
It’s been over a decade since I was this out of control. Actually, I may have been a toddler.
I have no clue how long I kneel in front of Kazh’s inn before the door finally opens. My hope dies quickly when whoever opened the door doesn’t acknowledge me. Decarios, that much I know. Two pairs of steps. Must be Kazh’s men I met when I stayed with her.
They pause in front of me, and without saying a word, they walk around me.
I continue kneeling. Waiting. Praying that Kazh doesn’t hate me and will forgive me and take me back.
The noise in the street grows louder. I bet it’s late afternoon.
Once in a while, I reach for specific network of emotions in the crowd to see if Jax’s still there.
He is.
I yawn, my joints aching. But I don’t give up. My back is straight, and even though my muscles tremble from the tension, I don’t get up.
Slowly, the noises of a busy street die down around me. Kazh’s men come back and walk past me as if I don’t exist. Thunder rumbles somewhere in the distance.It’s so rare to rain in Ekios.Just my luck.
A faint chuckle echoes at the back of my mind. I blink. What the fuck?
The sensation is familiar. But I can’t pin it down. I wait to see if it happens again. Did I imagine it?
