New Roots (Fate's Intent Book 8) Read Free Page A

“I think we do have to tell her.”
    “All she’ll have to do is see this and know.” Zayden said as he took Troy’s sword out of Darius’s hands.
    “You should give her the details that you know. You don’t want her to automatically assume that he’s dead.”
    “Though we don’t know whether that’s actually true?” Darius asked.
    “You’re obviously not going to tell her that. She’ll need to hear that you’re going after him and will bring him back.”
    “Should we do this now then?”
    “Dinner was just about over. I’m sure they’re waiting to see you.”
    “We should talk to her alone. I don’t really want to give her the news with an audience. Can you send them upstairs and just tell them that we’ll be right up? We have to get our stuff or something.”
    “Of course I can. I’ll let you know when she’s safely alone.”
    “Thank you.”

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 5
     
     
    Zayden
     
    My father left and we stayed behind to face this burden on our shoulders.
    “This is not going to be easy to see.” Darius muttered.
    “No. It’s not or to say for that matter.”
    “I just hope she doesn’t do anything too irrational.”
    “She’ll probably be too upset to want to leave the room until she sees him again.”
    “Yeah. Probably.”
    We waited until my father came back in with the okay to see her and we started upstairs. We walked down the long hall with our eyes on her door and finally stopped in front of it.
    “Should we just go in?” Darius asked.
    “She’s expecting Troy. That’s what he would do.” I brought my hand up to the door and knocked.
    It didn’t take long for Jaylyn to open it. “Oh, hey, guys. Let me guess. Either you injured yourselves and need me to heal it so you can painlessly sleep with your wives or you’re really stupid and forgot where your room was.”
    I tried getting out a laugh but it turned out to be more fake than real. “I wish both of those were true but we actually need to talk to you.”
    Jaylyn’s once happy smile to our presence faded and she tried looking around us. “Where’s Troy?”
    “Can we come in?” Darius asked.
    She was looking a little confused to hide her worry and opened the door a little wider. “I guess as long as you tell me where he is? Did you eat before you came up?”
    “No.” We stepped through the door and I tried to do this as gently as possible. “We don’t actually, with a hundred percent certainty, know where he is.”
    Jaylyn took a slow step back. “Wha—what do you mean?”
    “This is all we found.” I took Troy’s sword out from behind my back and Jaylyn quickly turned around with a light gasp to hide her face.
    We looked at each other and knew this wasn’t going to go well but there was more. We stepped closer to her and tried to explain while giving her a little comfort.
    “It’s not as bad as it looks.” Darius said.
    “What happened to him?”
    We looked at each other again and I took a step closer within arm’s reach. “He was taken.” Jaylyn collapsed down onto the floor and her tears came to her. “But it’s all right.” I knelt down. “He’s alive and we’re going to get him back.”
    Jaylyn sniffled while wiping her eyes like she was trying to suck it all in and looked over. “When do we leave?”
    “Oh, no.” Darius stepped up on the other side of her and kneeled down too. “You are not coming with us.”
    “But he could be hurt! He needs me! You can’t ask me to stay here while he could be dying! Zayden, please!”
    “We’re not asking you, Jaylyn. It’s too dangerous for you to go.”
    “I’m an Assassin. Since when did I become this helpless?”
    “You know when.”
    “You think I care about that right now?”
    “Troy will.” Darius said. “He’s not going to want you to risk your safety because of him.”
    “I don’t care about that either!”
    “Jaylyn, you won’t have to worry about a thing.” I said. “We’re leaving in the morning and