6

Aria's POV

My entire body froze the moment those words left his lips.

I managed to keep eye contact as averting my gaze would only make me more guilty.

“Zie, a little help here?” I called out to Zie desperately through the mindlink. “What do I say?”

Silence, she was literally leaving me to crash and burn here.

Jaxon’s eyes narrowed. “You're not Kiera,” he repeated, slower this time, like he was trying to make sense of his words.

“W-What do you mean?” I stuttered, my voice barely above a whisper.

Jaxon didn't say another word, his gaze doing all the talking.

I felt like I was drowning and was seconds away from spilling the truth, unfiltered.

I stylishly averted my gaze and stood to my feet, hoping to escape before I said something stupid, and get both Lyra and I killed, when we've barely spent two days at our second chance at life.

"Is this some weird kinda joke?” I blurted out without thinking as the silence in the room was deafening.

Well, since Zie wanted me to crash and burn, we'll all crash and burn together!

"I don't know yet." He muttered. "But something's wrong with you. You're acting strange,” he continued. “Keira would never reject anything from me. Especially not a meal.”

I looked at him. “I was poisoned, remember?”

Jaxon's face softened and guilt flashed in his eyes.

For a second there I felt terrible, but I quickly knocked some sense into my head, reminding myself that I was doing all I could to survive.

He wasn't my mate, so I shouldn't feel anything when he looks hurt.

But I'd be lying if I said the look in his eyes didn't tug at my.. Keira's heartstrings. This feeling I'm feeling deep inside must be all from Keira, I'm in her body and the mate bond was still active.

“Having survived the cold hands of death,made me a little paranoid,” I continued, and looked over at the table, before stepping away completely, my back turned to Jaxon, as I feared my eyes would give me away. “Most especially of what goes into my body,” I glanced at him briefly and gave an awkward smile, praying to the goddess that my excuse sounded convincing enough.

But Jaxon said nothing for what felt like the longest seconds of my entire existence.

“I understand,” Jaxon finally spoke, and it took all my will power not to sigh out in relief.

I felt Jaxon take a slow step towards me, and before I could register anything he hugged me from behind.

I stiffened. The heat from his body doing things to me I wouldn't dare mention.

The sparks from the mate bond weren't helping either, and Zie, who had been silent like a mute spectator, stirred within me.

That traitorous bitch!

First she asked me to kill him and now here she was acting like his touch was the best thing in the world.

Well it actually was-thanks to the bond. And for the first time since I've known him I could perceive his scent.

He smelt heavenly-Cedarwood and Amber.

Jaxon buried his nose at the crook of my neck and inhaled my scent sharply. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

I blinked, struggling to find my voice. “F-for what?” I asked in a trembling voice that was barely above a whisper.

“For everything I've put you through,” he said, his eyes filled with something I couldn't quite place a name on. “And for the fact that it took me almost losing you to realize how important you're to me.”

My mind went totally blank at this point. I wanted to respond; say something a mate would say to one another when being enveloped but words failed me.

The silence dragged on again.

“Aren't you going to say anything?” He asked, breaking the silence.

“I need to rest,” I muttered, and made to leave his embrace as it was making me not think straight.

I wouldn't want to do something I'd regret simply because of the matebond.

“Of course,” Jaxon muttered, and stepped back, giving me some much needed space.

I let out a sigh of relief, and slowly turned around, and for once I really looked into his emerald green eyes, but what I saw in them left me even more confused.

I can't believe the same man who barely wanted me around yesterday was now looking at me like I'd just broken his heart simply because I said I needed to rest.

Jaxon walked back to the table, grabbed another spoon, and scooped a spoonful of Venison soup, and ate it without hesitation.

“It isn't poisoned,” he glanced at me briefly and took another spoonful. “Eat before it gets cold,” he said firmly, his voice leaving no room for arguments.

With that, Jaxon walked out of the room without even sparing me another glance.

“That went well,” Zie finally decided to speak.

“Oh, great! The horny little bitch is back,” I said sarcastically and shut the mindlink, not giving her a chance to respond.