Xenos leaned back in his chair, his hand resting protectively on my thigh as he spoke. His voice was calm, steady, yet carried an urgency that filled the room.
"Sage and I spoke with Smokey last night," he began, his piercing gaze sweeping across Cynfael and Alohi. "He confirmed that Mortis's forces are indeed gathering near the eastern border, as you suspected, Cynfael. But…" He paused, his jaw tightening. "It's a trap."
Alohi's teasing demeanor vanished, replaced by sharp focus. "A trap?" she repeated, leaning forward.
Xenos nodded. "Mortis is planning something far more sinister. While his forces distract us in the east, he, along with Citrus and Cyra, is planning to kidnap someone from the Lost Forest. A girl named Jemisha."
"Jemisha?" Cynfael's brow furrowed. "Who is she?"
I cleared my throat, my voice steady despite the tension in the room. "Smokey said she's like me. Her mother had magic, and her father was human. She's powerful, and Mortis sees her as a valuable asset for his plans. We have to find her before they do."
Alohi's eyes widened. "Another like you? That's... rare."
"Rare and dangerous," Xenos added, his voice low. "Mortis doesn't just want her for her power. He wants to break her. Use her against us. If he succeeds..."
The weight of his words hung heavy in the room.
Cynfael's fingers tapped against the table as he processed the information. "If the eastern border is a diversion, then we'll need to split our forces. Keep them engaged there while we send a smaller team to the Lost Forest to locate Jemisha."
Alohi glanced at Cynfael. "And by 'smaller team,' you mean us, don't you?"
Cynfael nodded grimly. "Who else can we trust with something this delicate? Sage, Xenos, Alohi, and I will go to the Lost Forest. The rest of the army will maintain their positions along the eastern border to keep Mortis's forces occupied."
I shifted in my seat, unease prickling at the back of my mind. "Smokey said Jemisha is powerful, but she might not know how to control her abilities. If we find her, she might not trust us."
"Then we'll have to make her trust us," Xenos said, his voice firm. "No matter what it takes."
Alohi crossed her arms, her expression resolute. "Well, it wouldn't be the first time we've done something impossible."
Cynfael gave a wry smile. "Then it's settled. We leave at first light."
The room fell silent, the weight of the mission pressing down on all of us. There was no room for error—not with someone's life and the fate of our world at stake.
I was in my room, carefully organizing vials of healing potions and bandages into my satchel. My hands trembled slightly as I worked, the weight of our mission pressing on my chest. Jemisha. A girl like me. I couldn't stop thinking about her and what Mortis might do if we failed.
I reached for a jar of salve when the door creaked open behind me. My heart jumped, and I spun around, clutching the jar tightly.
Xenos stood in the doorway, his broad frame leaning casually against the doorframe. His eyes softened when he saw my startled expression.
"Relax, Sage," he said, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "It's just me."
I let out a shaky breath, setting the jar down on the table. "You scared me, Xenos. Couldn't you knock?"
He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "I did. You didn't hear me."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the small smile that crept onto my face. "I was busy."
He walked over to me, his gaze briefly flicking to the supplies I'd been packing. "You're always busy," he teased, his voice low and warm. "You know, you don't have to take the weight of the world on your shoulders. That's what I'm here for."
I shook my head, turning back to the satchel. "If someone gets hurt, I need to be ready. You know how dangerous this mission is."
Xenos moved closer, his presence enveloping me. "I know. But you don't have to do it all alone."
Before I could respond, his arms slid around my waist, pulling me back against him. His chin rested lightly on my shoulder as he looked down at the supplies.
"Bandages, salve, potions..." he murmured, his voice brushing against my ear. "You've thought of everything."
I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the way my heart raced at his proximity. "It's just... I want to be prepared."
He tightened his hold slightly, his voice softening. "And you are. You always are. But don't forget to take care of yourself too, Sage."
I leaned into him slightly, the tension in my shoulders easing. "I know. It's just... this feels so important."
"It is," he agreed, his lips brushing against my temple. "But I'm not letting anything happen to you. Not on my watch."
I turned in his arms to face him, my hands resting lightly on his chest. His eyes met mine, and for a moment, the weight of the mission faded, replaced by the steady reassurance of his presence.
"Thank you," I whispered.
He smirked, leaning down to kiss my forehead. "Always, my little overachiever."
I huffed a laugh, swatting his chest lightly. "Go on, let me finish packing. You're distracting me."
He released me with a chuckle but stayed close, leaning against the table as he watched me work, his steady gaze a quiet reminder that I wasn't alone.
I packed the last vial into the satchel and secured it tightly. Letting out a breath, I turned to Xenos, who was still leaning against the table, watching me with an amused expression that sent a small flutter through my chest.
"All done," I said, brushing my hands together.
He raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "Good," he said, stepping closer. "Because it's been a while since we've done this."
"Done what?" I asked, tilting my head at him.
Instead of answering, he reached out and caught me by the waist, spinning me gently around before guiding me onto the bed. I let out a startled laugh as I landed, propped up on my elbows, looking up at him with wide eyes.
"Xenos," I started, but he leaned over me, his grin widening.
"You've been all work and no fun," he said, his voice warm and teasing. "I think you need a reminder to take a break."
Before I could respond, he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead, lingering there for just a moment before pulling back to meet my gaze. His expression was gentle, his usual confidence softened into something far more tender.
"You're ridiculous," I muttered, but the warmth in my voice betrayed me.
"And yet you haven't pushed me away," he countered, his grin widening.
I reached up and lightly poked his chest. "You're impossible."
His laughter filled the room, and it was so contagious that I couldn't help but join in. As he settled next to me on the bed, he pulled me into his side, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
For a while, we just sat there, talking about nothing and everything, the weight of the day lifting with each shared smile and laugh. By the time I rested my head on his shoulder, all I could think was how grateful I was to have him by my side.
I packed the last vial into the satchel and secured it tightly. Letting out a breath, I turned to Xenos, who was still leaning against the table, watching me with an amused expression that sent a small flutter through my chest.
"All done," I said, brushing my hands together.
He raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "Good," he said, stepping closer. "Because it's been a while since we've done this."
"Done what?" I asked, tilting my head at him.
Instead of answering, he reached out and caught me by the waist, spinning me gently around before guiding me onto the bed. I let out a startled laugh as I landed, propped up on my elbows, looking up at him with wide eyes.
"Xenos," I started, but he leaned over me, his grin widening.
"You've been all work and no fun," he said, his voice warm and teasing. "I think you need a reminder to take a break."
Before I could respond, he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead, lingering there for just a moment before pulling back to meet my gaze. His expression was gentle, his usual confidence softened into something far more tender.
"You're ridiculous," I muttered, but the warmth in my voice betrayed me.
"And yet you haven't pushed me away," he countered, his grin widening.
I reached up and lightly poked his chest. "You're impossible."
His laughter filled the room, and it was so contagious that I couldn't help but join in. As he settled next to me on the bed, he pulled me into his side, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
For a while, we just sat there, talking about nothing and everything, the weight of the day lifting with each shared smile and laugh. By the time I rested my head on his shoulder, all I could think was how grateful I was to have him by my side.