Defect of Servitude [Book #1]

"Love doesn't just sit there like a stone; it has to be made, like bread, remade all the time, made new."
-Ursula K. Le Guin

Life granted us a few days of normalcy. The plans to welcome the pack leaders with a small ball were underway, just as the Prince had predicted. Despite spending much of our time together since returning home, he hadn't mentioned the question he asked before we were taken. And I didn't dare to bring it up myself. Instead, I threw myself into a routine while I still could.

I woke an hour before the shutters closed, marking me as a night riser. Becca tried her best to join me for breakfast before heading to bed, as most of her work was done during the day. I missed her, but she tried to see me whenever possible. After eating, I'd find myself daydreaming about what my life could have been like if I'd stayed working for Evan.

Then, I'd patrol the grounds. Every guard member had to complete at least an hour of duty unless something urgent arose. I often overachieved, walking the grounds for three hours, focused on every shadow and movement, and determined to contribute as much as possible to the community that had taken me in.

Jaxon found me during those hours. It was never a coincidence, though neither of us acknowledged it. He'd join me for the remainder of my patrol, then invite me to the dojo for training.

Tonight, he found me near the greenhouse, patrolling Becca's workplace. I made it a point to check on her favorite area. Of all the people, I wanted her safe the most. As I peered through the glass, watching over the newly planted mounds of dirt, Jaxon's presence tickled the aura beside me.

"Are you thinking of switching careers?" Jaxon's voice cut through the quiet, and his silent steps startled me. My hand flew to my chest, trying to settle the sudden thumping. His smirk sent a different kind of flutter through my already unsteady heart.

"Why do you always have to sneak up on me?" I asked, half-joking, but the amusement in his eyes gave him away before he answered.

"I like hearing your heartbeat." His voice was soft, genuine. The admission caught me even more off guard than his presence.

For days now, we'd been meeting like this—Jaxon growing bolder with each encounter and me falling for him a little more every time. We continued walking the walls in a comfortable silence, so close our arms brushed now and then, a barely-there touch that kept sending tiny sparks through me. By the time I finished my last round, I was silently thankful. I wasn't sure how much more of his teasing touches my heart could take.

"Are you up for training today?" Jaxon knew the answer but asked anyway.

"Of course. I need all the practice I can get. You're the only one who can actually challenge the whispers," I admitted, trying not to sound smug. I wasn't used to that kind of confidence, and it felt strange on my tongue.

We parted at the entrance to the female changing rooms in the dojo. While the guard uniform kept me warm outside, it was far too stifling indoors, with every fireplace in the manor blazing through winter. I swapped the fur-lined leather and heavy cowl for a form-fitting tank top. Since Becca had introduced me to the magic of leggings, they had become my staple for almost every situation—training included. Leaving my boots in the locker, I padded back out barefoot.