Page 55 of Imbalance
"We just need to find a way to reach them, then." Pandora nodded, "Good to know."
"If you have a moment," Drayven looked directly at the Lieutenant and Pandora, "I would love to see an updated map of the mountain range passages, so we can ensure there aren't any issues on our end that we know of." Pandora nodded and Cason stood, winking at her, and strode towards a door to the side I hadn't seen before. The room began to break into smaller conversations as I examined the table in thought, feeling positive about the situation but also worried...Pandora wasn't wrong.
This was a lot for them to risk, and they were doing it for me. My gaze moved to the windows, and I rose, walking across the space to look over the Kingdom of Impurus—a place that would accept me without a second thought. My eyes fell to the massive gathering of soldiers that were lining a training area, clearly preparing to leave. My heart squeezed seeing family members there, hugging them, and I wondered—not for the first time—if this was the right move.
"You look guilty," Pandora's voice had me jolting slightly as she appeared next to me.
"Because you're not wrong," I pointed out. "I am putting everyone at risk."
"Do you believe it's worth it?" she asked softly, not sounding accusatory.
"Yes."
She nodded, "Hang on to that belief. I have a feeling you're going to need it in the coming days."
I had a feeling she was right, and that was what scared me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Ama
The darklands were exactly as creepy as I remembered them—the only difference this time was that we had an entire army with us. I wasn't positive if that made it worse or better. I mean, at least we had numbers. But it also freaked me out how often I heard noises around us in the forest, only to realize that it was someone behind us or in front of us. I think my men could tell I was jumpy because they had spread out around me. Either that, or they were being their normal overprotective selves. I eyed Drayven, who was right in front of me, and I may have not so subtly checked out his butt.
What?! It looked good in his pants.
To his right was Damien and to his left was Adrien. Spread out behind us were Finias, Colt, and Nico, who were all on horseback. I smoothed a hand over my mount, and the warmth of her beneath my hand calmed me. Jace, who rode next to me, was mostly silent, but I could feel tension brewing between us. I would be the first to admit that things were confusing between the two of us. I mean, only a day ago, he had literally fought my other mates for the right to keep me in the Kingdom of Impurus, which I could have viewed as romantic if it hadn't also pissed me off because he was putting the people in Pura I cared about at risk.
So I wouldn't lie, I was a bit miffed with the bastard right now.
"Ama," his voice was casual, "I can practically hear you thinking from here."
I let out a small snort, "Yeah? Too bad, you can't hear what I'm thinking about."
A rumble escaped his chest that I knew was from his Hellhound, "Whatareyou thinking about?"
"You," I admitted.
"Yeah?" His voice was heated, and I felt bad because I didn't think it was in the way he assumed.
"I need to know where we stand before this Jace," I kept my voice low and eyes ahead.
"Where do we stand?"
I looked at him, "We are about to involve ourselves in a massive battle for the future of the Kingdom of Pura. I know we are mates, but even with that...I really don't know where you stand. I need to know you're with us. Not your parents. Not your territory. Us...me. I need to know you're with me at the end of the day because I have no doubt that this is going to get messy. If everything goes to shit, where will you be Jace?"
He held my gaze, his eyes flashing with a fringe of orange, and I felt his Hellhound try to surface before he let out an exhale and looked forward, making my heart sink slightly. I honestly had no idea how he felt about this entire situation, which made me ten times more nervous.
"You are asking if I will willingly share my mate?" He cut right to the chase. Jace wasn't wrong because, at the end of the day, that was what it came down to for me. I understood if he wasn't completely okay with the idea, but this was my new family—my new reality—and I could understand needing to get used to the notion...but this wouldn't work if he was completely in denial of its existence.
So, would he accept it or not? Would he accept me or reject me?
"Yes." My voice was far quieter than normal, the sun breaking through occasionally to showcase the gloomy afternoon sky. It had only been two hours of riding so far, but already I had to admit to missing the Kingdom of Impurus. And that was part of the problem because I knew Jace understood the hold the place had over me.
"And if I say no?"
"You lose me," I admitted quietly, hating the ultimatum but knowing it was necessary. I wasn't normally one to do something like this, but the time for indecision in my life was over, there was a massive event on the horizon, and an instinctual feeling told me that now was the time to settle this type of thing.
Jace's lips pressed into a cocky smirk I didn't believe in the least, "You think you could just let me go? I know you feel what's between us, Ama. I think you're lying to yourself if you think for a minute you could forget what's between us." He wasn't wrong, but he also wasn't right.
