Lights of Aurora (The Stone Legacy Series Book 3) (10 page)

Chapter Thirteen

After hours of riding on a crowded bus that smelled like chickens and cabbage, Zanya’s stomach rolled and pitched. The flight back to Moscow was smoother, but considering it was her second time on a plane in her entire life, the motion sickness lingered like a weight in her stomach.

Happy to have her feet on solid ground, Zanya walked beside Arwan through the airport. “What did Renato say?” She picked up the pace as they approached the pickup, drop-off area.

Arwan closed his phone and pushed it into his back pocket. “He’s waiting outside.”

Hopefully her uncle would have news about Jay.

The double doors slid open and cool air slammed into her. Winter had clearly set in. The foggy air sent a chill down the back of her legs.

A black SUV pulled up beside the curb. The passenger window rolled down, and Hawa hung out, resting on the doorframe. “Hey.” She smiled, which was rare. “Gettin’ in, or what?”

They climbed in the SUV. Before Zanya sat, she threw her arms around Renato from behind and hugged him against his seat. Her cheek pressed against his, and she breathed in the earthy smell of tobacco infused in his hair.

He reached over his shoulder and rested his hand on her forearm before giving it a gentle squeeze. “I can’t tell you how happy I am you’ve returned in one piece.”

“Yeah, me too,” Hawa said. “We’re all
dying
with excitement. Now sit down so we can go.”

Zanya sat back and took Arwan’s hand as the car eased away from the curb and sped onto the highway. “So?” Zanya shifted in her seat, her gaze darting between Renato and Hawa. “How’s Jayden? Is he all right?”

Renato watched her in the rearview mirror. “Yes. He’s awake and at the hotel with Peter as we speak.”

“Where are Marzena and Tara?”

“Tara’s at the hotel,” Hawa said. “Marzena took off back to Belize.”

“There’s quite a bit of work to be done on the house after Sarian’s attack,” Renato added. “I’ve arranged for workers to mend the cracks in the foundation, shattered windows, and also to clean so it’s in livable condition. Someone must be there to manage them.”

Hawa snorted. “I’d pay money to be there when all the workers realize they’re taking orders from a kid.”

Zanya melted into the seat and leaned her head back. Jayden was okay. She’d succeeded, and he came out of the ordeal alive.

“So.” Hawa turned in her seat and faced Zanya. “Are you going to tell us about your great adventure or leave us hanging?”

“What do you want to know?” There was so much to tell. They’d been through hell and back over the last few days—literally.

“Everything.” The curiosity in Hawa’s eyes was endearing.

“I’ll tell you what.” Zanya covered her mouth through a yawn. “I’m tired. Neither of us has slept very much, so just give us a break on the way home and I’ll tell you everything over a cup of coffee tomorrow morning. Deal?”

Well, almost everything. What Arwan had revealed about himself would stay between them.

Hawa parted her lips to say something but then pursed them shut. Her shoulders slumped forward. “Fine.” She turned in her seat and opened a magazine.

“Oh, hey.” Zanya leaned forward between the front seats. “How’s your leg?”

Hawa made the okay sign with her fingers and flipped another page.

Zanya sat back in her seat, grinning. Typical Hawa. Zanya had missed her, tough exterior and all.

“Rest,” Arwan said softly. “Maybe you can get some sleep while we drive.”

Zanya closed her eyes and let her body relax. Her muscles ached, but at least the car was warm and nobody was trying to kill them. She’d almost forgotten what it was like just to breathe.

It would be hours before they reached the hotel in Moscow. Maybe she should check on Jayden when she got there. Even though she was confidant Renato, Peter, and Tara were taking care of him, it couldn’t hurt to put her mind at rest.

She slid her hand into her pocket and glided her fingers over the smooth surface of her stone, calling on her inner powers. Tiny blasts of light flashed behind her lids as her seeking abilities reached out. The image wavered and burred, then slowly cleared.

Jayden laid back in his bed, tapping a pen against his knee. “I told you, I need more pills.” A streak of pain zigzagged through Zanya’s chest, stunting her breath. She curled her fingers into a fist and held the vision.

She was so cold—
Jayden
was so cold.

Peter searched a small duffle bag. “I don’t have any more oxycodone. I took those from the hospital after we left the morgue. You finished the whole bottle in two days. They should have lasted two weeks.”

Sweat collected on Jayden’s brow, and he wiped it away with the back of his hand. He stilled the pen against his knee, then threw it across the room. It smacked the far wall and fell to the floor. “I need more fucking pain meds! What about that don’t you understand?”

Zanya’s arm trembled as a coil of pain strangled her muscles.

Jayden pulled his knee to his chest and leaned into it.

“I’ll do what I can, but we need to do another healing session.”

“Why? It hasn’t done a damn thing.”

“We can’t just give up.” Peter sat on the foot of the bed, examining Jay with narrow eyes. “I can’t explain it. Why aren’t you healing?”

“Hell if I know.” Jayden drew in a breath and pushed away the pain.

“Let’s see how much progress you’ve made.”

Jayden slowly and carefully rested his legs in front of him and pulled up his shirt.

Peter winced. “Not much progress.”

Jayden slowly looked down at the swollen wounds, red and probably infected. The sutures held together tattered pieces of flesh from Sarian’s attack.

“Maybe a little of the swelling has gone down, but other than that, it’s going slow. Maybe it’s because you were—”

“Don’t say it.”

Tara cracked open the door and slipped into the room. Jayden pulled his shirt down, hot bolts of pain rushing through his veins.

“How is he?” Red curls fell around Tara’s face as she stood on the other side of the room, her arms crossed and her brows knitted together.

Peter glanced back at her. “Not great. But okay.”

“What do you think it means?”

“I’m not sure.”

“I’m right here.” Jayden clenched his jaw. “But thanks for talking about me like I’m not.”

Peter stood and met Tara in the center of the room. He whispered something to her. She nodded. “Okay, Jay. I’m going to get out of your hair so you can get some rest.”

Jayden frowned. “Don’t bother.” He slowly forced himself off the bed, grinding his teeth with the effort.

Peter extended his hand. “Whoa. Slow down.”

“Get away from me.” Jayden smacked Peter’s hand out of the way. “I’m fine.”

“We don’t know that.” He pulled a small flashlight from his pocket and shined it in Jayden’s eyes.

Zanya clenched her eyes shut even tighter. Her head spun, and her vision blurred.

“Are you having any other strange effects we should know about? Headaches? Fatigue?”

“Well, now that you mention it, there is this weird side effect I’ve noticed.” He made a crisscross gesture over this chest. “I have a shitload of stitches that are causing a lot of pain. So yeah. Pain. Lots and lots of it.” He grabbed the plastic bottle of meds and rattled the few pills left inside. “And I’m almost out of meds.”

Peter frowned. “We’ve been over this. Anything else?”

Jayden shrugged. “Nope. Where’s Zanya?”

“She’s on her way with Renato. They’ll be here soon.”

Zanya blinked open her eyes, cutting off the vision. She glanced around the car at Renato, focusing on the road, Hawa still reading her magazine, and Arwan, asleep beside her.

She slowly blinked, rubbing her chest. Jayden’s pain still lingered below her skin. He wasn’t healing. Something was wrong, but she’d have to wait to find out what.

When they reach the hotel, Zanya popped open the back door. “What room is he in?”

“Zanya, I think it’s better if you wait for me to examine him first.” Renato shut off the engine. “He could be dangerous.”

“Dangerous? I mean, an asshole, sure. But he’s not dangerous.”

Renato frowned. “Zanya—”

“
What room
?”

Renato exhaled. “One-twenty. First floor.”

She jumped out of the SUV and barged through the hotel doors, past the clerk and down the hall. She turned the corner and stopped short, staring straight ahead.

Peter had his hands on Tara’s shoulders, whispering to her in the hall. Zanya’s chest tightened and she shifted her weight. “Tara?”

Curls bounced against Tara’s shoulders when she turned toward Zanya. Her hazel eyes widened. “Zanya!” Tara ran toward her and plowed into her with a hug, nearly knocking Zanya to the Berber carpet. “You’re okay.” Tara squeezed her tighter, cutting off her breath.

Zanya patted her on the shoulder. “You’re killing me.”

Tara sucked in a breath and took a step back. “Sorry.” She smiled, wiping away tears. “I’m just so happy to see you.” She paused and her smile faded into a scowl. “And I’m so pissed at you!” She punched Zanya in the arm, leaving her with a low throb in her bicep. She deserved way worse. “What the hell is wrong with you, taking off like that? Are you crazy, or are you just stupid?”

“I’m sorry—”

“Sorry isn’t going to cut it!” Tara crossed her arms like a child throwing a temper tantrum. “You could have gotten yourself killed.”

“I had to go back for him. I
had
to.”

Tara’s steel features softened, and she rolled her eyes. “You’re still on my shit list.”

“Fair enough.”

“For, like, a long time.”

Zanya cracked a smile. “Does that mean you forgive me?”

“No.”

Zanya’s smile widened. “It kind of does, doesn’t it?”

Tara lifted her chin, examining her. “Not totally.” She shrugged. “But a little.”

Zanya chuckled. “A little is a start.”

Renato, Hawa, and Arwan filed into the hall, and Tara glanced back at Peter, biting her lip. “Are you going to tell them before they see Jayden?”

Zanya shifted her weight. “Tell us what?”

One of the hotel room doors cracked open, and Jayden stepped out. He gripped on to the doorframe, leaning on the wall while he stepped forward.

Zanya parted her lips, staring at his hunched shoulders and pale skin, and the dark circles under his eyes. He looked even worse than when she’d sought him.

Zanya hurried to his side and hooked her hand around his waist to keep him on his feet. “What is going on? Why isn’t he healing?”

“How do you know he’s not healing?” Peter asked.

“I sought him on our way here.”

Jayden snorted. “I guess you can never yell at me again for seeking you.”

“Oh shut up.” She secured her grip around him. “Let’s get you back to bed.”

“No.” He rested his hand against the floral wallpaper and steadied himself. “I’m fine.”

Tara shook her head, backing away. “You’re so far from being fine, Jay.”

Peter moved to Renato’s side and spoke to him in a low voice.

Renato stepped forward. “He isn’t well. You should go to your room and get some rest, Zanya. You’ve had a long, hard journey.”

“I’m fine.”

“Zanya.” Renato’s tone deepened. “He may not be safe.”

Jayden’s eyes narrowed. “What the hell are you talking about? You’re acting like I’d hurt her or something.”

“Not intentionally.”

Zanya scoffed. “That’s crazy.”

Peter stood in the threshold of Jayden’s hotel room. “We could be bothering the other guests. Let’s pick a room, for the sake of not having anyone see Jayden. They may panic.”

“That’s a good point,” Zanya said. He did look like hell, even if she’d never say it aloud.

Jayden curled his lip. “Whatever.” He limped back to his room.

Zanya rested her hand on Arwan’s chest. “I need some time with him. Alone. He’ll never talk if you’re in the room.”

Arwan’s gaze darted to the open door and then back to her. He nodded. “Sure. No problem. I need to talk to Renato anyway.” He held up the electronic key card. “Renato booked us our own rooms. I’m two doors down if you need anything.”

“Thanks.” Zanya walked through the doorway to see Jayden slouched against the wall. Peter followed her inside.

“Sorry to intrude, but I have to spend a few more minutes with Jayden,” he said. “There’s something I want to check.”

Jayden groaned.

Zanya rolled her eyes. “Oh stop. Be a big boy and I’ll give you a lollipop.”