“Strange indeed.”
Chapter 11
Zara
We reappeared in my room, Jaxon’s arms still encircling me. I shoved against him, panic surging through me, and stumbled backward. I tripped over the edge of my alabaster rug and crashed onto the cold stone floor, scrambling to my feet and backing away.
“Zara,” Jaxon said firmly, his hands raised slightly as if to show he meant no harm. Blood stained his shoulder, a tear running down his sleeve from Xavier's attack.
“You're bleeding,” I stated, still reeling from the shock of what had just happened. He needed a healer, and I needed to know what in the holy gods was going on. I took a tentative step back, wondering if I could outrun him, but I knew that was stupid.He had magic, for fuck's sake.
“I’m fine,” he replied with a calmness that only heightened my alarm as if he were speaking to a skittish animal.
“No, you need a healer,” I insisted, turning on my heel and racing toward the door. My heart was pounding frantically, urging me to call for help.
I was only a few feet from the door when arms suddenly wrapped around me from behind. A firm hand clamped over my mouth as I opened it to scream, muffling my cries and preventing any noise from escaping. My body thrashed wildly, my legs flailing, as I desperately struggled to wriggle free.
“Shh, Zara,” he murmured soothingly into my ear. “Please, calm down. I’m not going to hurt you.” His voice took on a sharper edge as irritation crept in. “Stop thrashing.”
I stopped struggling, only because it seemed to be a waste of energy. His hold was too firm, and I cursed that these men kept getting their hands on me.
My anger flared, and I growled back at him, the muffled noise low and guttural, conveying my fury.
“I can explain everything, but only if you stay calm and promise not to run,” he murmured into my ear. I took a deep breath, uncertainty prickling at the base of my spine.
Cautiously, he withdrew his hand from my mouth, his movements deliberate as he released me. I moved away from him, stumbling and pressing my back against the wall. I raised my hand instinctively to keep him at a distance.
“Explain. Now,” I demanded.
“I am not from your world,” he began, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “As you now know, my name is Jaxon, and that was my brother Xavier. We come from a realm called Nexia.”
His words hung in the air, and my eyes widened at the information. I had been disappearing to anotherrealm?!The realization stunned me, keeping me frozen in place as I waited for Jaxon to continue.
“A long time ago,” Jaxon began, his voice full of sorrow, “A witch named Morgana started a war. She wanted to enslave our people and use their blood for power. She had a book and used dark magic to unleash horrible beasts called Daka into ourrealm. Our father stole her book and her magic, managing to imprison her in a magicless realm so that she would live out the rest of her days powerless and die.”
Jaxon sighed deeply, rubbing his face as if trying to erase the weight of the past. “He sealed her prison before he died, but the rift the beasts came through remained open. Without the book or the spell, we’ve been unable to close it.”
He glanced at me, his eyes searching, but when I remained silent, he pressed on. “It's been centuries, and we still can't find the book. Witches now somehow have control over the Daka and are able to ride them. They have been rebelling again and destroying villages. We need that book to close the rift,” he hissed, annoyance clear in his tone. “The witches have started rumors suggesting Morgana is still alive, among others.”
He shook his head, taking a deep breath. “It was my job to investigate them. And while doing so, I came across another…” He paused, his gaze unwavering and intense. “A rumor that my mother is still alive, trapped. Here. And that she may have the book.”
Exhaustion weighed his expression. His gaze stayed fixed on the ground, avoiding mine, and I caught the way his lips pressed into a thin line. The hollowness in his expression made my chest tighten.
“And your brother doesn’t believe this rumor?” I asked softly.
“My brother doesn’t know about this rumor,” Jaxon replied sharply, his gaze sharpening as it locked onto mine. “He has enough on his plate.” He continued, rubbing his face wearily.
“So, he thinks you’re here only about the book and the rumors regarding the witch?” I murmured, tryingto understand the information he was presenting tome.
“Yes.” He sighed. “They never recovered my mother’s body after the war. They found my father, but not her.” The glimmer of hope in his gaze tightened the knot in my chest.
“Why go through the trouble of gaining a position here?” I asked slowly.
“Because powerful people have powerful things. I figured the ruling family would be the best place to start looking.” He shrugged. “I needed to blend in and have a position that allowed me access to people and places that others wouldn’t.”
“How do you look so normal when your brother looks…more,” I trailed off, unsure of what I was asking.
“I can shapeshift, or at least my brother can.” He saw my brows crease and continued, “I used his magic to alter my appearance to make me look less intimidating, more human.”
