Page 6 of Between Imminent Fates

The lie tasted like poison on her tongue, but it was a habit she’d had to develop. Sometimes, the falsehoods tied so closely with the truth that they were nearly indistinguishable. It was yet another reason why her sovereign had begun to doubt her. Her distaste must’ve shown on her face, because Jax frowned at her.

“You alright?”

The question surprised her. For a foreseer, that was nearly an impossibility. To engage in a conversation with absolutely no idea where it would lead was oddly refreshing. The earnestness in his gaze made her reply honestly.

“Not really, no,” she admitted. “Sometimes it all gets to be too much, you know? Sometimes I wish life was … easier.”

He nodded, solemn. “Yeah, I know what you mean. Nothing is ever simple anymore.”

“Feels like things haven’t been simple in a long time.” She recognized the depressed note in her voice and instantly set about resolving it. “For me, anyway. Something about hiking seems to clear my head.”

That breathtaking smile made a reappearance, and she could feel herself become lighter as he said, “Ditto. That’s why I’m here. Getting away from it all. Strongly contemplating giving up on society altogether and living out here like a recluse.”

She snorted. “You think there’s space enough for two?”

Jax made a point of scouring the landscape before saying, “Barely. But it would definitely be even more stunning with you around.”

“Arguably more so when there’s not rain.” She offered her hand in greeting. “I’m Key, by the way.”

“Nice to meet you, Key. I’m Jax.”

The moment his hand slid into hers, a kick of endorphins flooded her system. His skin was calloused but warm, and she held onto him for a second too long. She fought a blush as she straightened on her rock.

“What are you escaping from, Jax?”

“Oh, the end of the world as I know it,” he chuckled, but it was a bit too bitter. “You?”

“Oddly enough, the same thing.” She took a swig of water, then asked, “What do you do?”

“I’m a captain in the Army. Just got reassigned to the base here.”

“Oh? You like your new assignment?”

He grimaced, as if he was trying to find the right answer. “No, not really.”

Though she latched onto the dissatisfaction like a barnacle, the empathic side of her was disappointed on his behalf. “I’m sorry. What don’t you like about it?”

“If I told you that, I’d probably have to kill you.”

The mischievous twinkle in his eye clued her into the humor of the statement, and she laughed out loud for what felt like the first time in ages. “Ah. That type of work. I see.”

Sharing a smile, Jax offered her a granola bar and she politely declined. It was surprising how easily he’d knocked down her walls. Seeing him here of all places had come as a surprise. Key had been coming to this smaller summit for years, and she had rarely seen hikers make their way to this cliff face.

“I’m not sure I like the look of those clouds,” Jax said. “Perhaps we should save our getaway for another weekend.”

The bad thing about Seattle was that storms could turn chilled mountain air into blizzard conditions quickly. “Perhaps you’re right.”

As she moved to stand, her hiking shoe hit a particularly slick section of slate. The sudden whimper she let out was quickly silenced by two strong arms cinching around her waist. He’d moved so swiftly that he’d caught her before she even started falling.

“Careful,” he warned.

A flare of heat ran through her despite the escalating chill of the air. Inhaling deeply, she stiffened as his intriguing scent washed through her. The blend of spice and leather stirred something unknown deep inside her.

This close, it was impossible to deny how attractive the man was. His arms slowly loosened as she caught her balance.

“Thanks. Probably wouldn’t be good to sprain my ankle the day before my best friend’s wedding,” she chuckled.

“That would probably put a damper on the night,” he agreed. “But, on the plus side, fewer men asking you to dance. You might not have to beat them off with a stick if you had a cast on one leg. Crutches have a longer reach.”

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