“Yes,” she whispered to Crystal. “I need to see him.”
Chapter Forty-Three
Hisrixellawas watching him as Vaxa’an led him into the room. She was small and observant and beautiful.
And though his wrists were chained, it didn’t stop him from crossing the short distance to her, his heartbeat thrumming in his chest wildly, and dropping his forehead to hers.
Her skin was warm. For spans, he’d been haunted by the memory of her lying on the forest floor, Po’grak on top of her, a blade jutting from her chest. He hadn’t been able to sleep, knowing she was a short distance away, knowing that he could not see her, be near her after so long apart.
“Rixella,” he murmured, peering into her eyes, seeing his own reflected in her dark orbs. “I have been so worried.”
But his words conveyed nothing of what he’d felt since she was taken from his base. Not even close to the fear, the guilt, the horror, the rage.
Her own gaze shuttered closed and Jaxor retreated slowly, unease curling in his belly. With a glance at Vaxa’an, standing with his arms crossed over his chest in the corner of the room, he asked him, in Luxirian, “Can we have a moment in private?”
Vaxa’an blew out a sharp breath, but Jaxor was relieved when he inclined his head in a nod. “I will be outside the door.”
Then he left, leaving Jaxor alone with his mate. His mate, who would not quite meet his eyes.
“Erin,” he said. “Look at me.”
Dread was roiling in his belly like waves against a cliff, violent and cutting. But she did look at him, though it felt like she was far away.
“What is it?” he asked softly, pulling a chair up beside her bed so that their eyes were level. His chains clinked together as he did, drawing her attention to them.
“Did you ever care for me?” she asked, looking at the chains. “Or was it all a ploy to get me to trust you? I need to know and I need you to tell me the truth. For once.”
A ringing started up in his ears and Jaxor sat, frozen in place, staring at her in disbelief.
“Rebax?” he asked quietly, not entirely sure he’d heard her right.
Finally, her eyes connected with his and he held them fast, afraid she’d retreat again. “Am I really your mate?
Jaxor jerked, as if struck. “Of course you are. How can you even ask that?”
“I don’t have an Instinct. Not like you,” she murmured. “Maybe what I felt was just strong attraction. Nothing more. How could I be certain?”
He stood from the chair, his unease doubling. “What is going on,rixella?” he asked. “Why are you even saying these things?”
Her chin quivered. The first show of emotion from her. Whispering, she said, “Because you lied about everything else, didn’t you?”
Pain struck him in the chest, a desperate ache that spread and spread. He took her hands, gripping them tight, though the icy coolness of his chains made her flinch. At least, that was what he believed. Perhaps it was his touch that made her react.
Tavar.
“What did he tell you?” he rasped.
“Everything you wouldn’t,” she snapped, anger finally rising within her. Jaxor gave a helpless look at the monitors lining the walls, not wanting her to get upset. She was still recovering.
He cupped her cheek but she turned her face away.
“Don’t,” she whispered. “Just—just tell me. Once and for all.”
The truth.
Jaxor sank into the chair again. She wasn’t looking at him anymore. Her jaw was set, though her lips trembled slightly. He didn’t want to see her cry. He didn’t want to be the reason she cried.
“Ask me anything,” he finally said, his shoulders sagging. “Ask me anything and I will tell you the truth, however ugly it might be.”
