“What the hell, guys?” Jinx says, looking from the tip of Rye’s sword to Aziza’s raised palms.
If he was about to attack, his chance is gone and Rye and Aziza seem to reach that conclusion at the same time. Aziza lowers her palms and Rye reaches down to help Jinx to his feet.
“We thought we’d spring a surprise attack and keep Sailor on her toes,” Rye says.
“Yeah? Well you failed miserably because you went for me instead.” He turns to Aziza. “And since when do you even threaten to use your powers in training? Are you trying to kill Sailor or what?”
“Or what,” Aziza says. She starts to laugh. “I just thought it would be fun to take you down a peg or two. And it worked. God, Jinx, you should have seen your face just then.”
Jinx shakes his head, but he’s laughing, his earlier suspicion gone.
“You’re crazy,” he says.
“Oh you know it,” Aziza agrees.
I keep my eyes firmly on Jinx and Aziza because I can feel the death glare Rye is giving me and I don’t want to face what’s coming. He knows I told Aziza about the Horseman. Why else would she have burst in here when he did?
“Come on then. After you two made the trip down here, we might as well give Sailor a good fight,” Jinx says.
“I’m up for that,” I say quickly.
That will hopefully give Rye time to cool down a bit. We start to spar, and the three of them launch attack after attack on me. I fend them all off, my nerves gone for now.
Rye and Aziza have probably just saved my life. At least for now. And the threat from War has momentarily passed while the four of us are together. With the pressure off, I fight on instinct and none of them can get close to me. I realize why. It’s not that I feared death earlier; I am well aware that could happen to me at any time. My fear, the nerves, they come from a different place. It’s the fear that I get my timing wrong and subject Jinx to an eternity of misery.
When we’re all panting and my muscles are aching like hell, Aziza suggests we call it a night. With their direction, I’m definitely getting better with my sword, and I’m a little disappointed when Rye and Jinx both agree with her, and not just because I know I won’t be able to put off Rye’s lecture any longer.
We head back to the cabin and as we reach the door, Rye grabs my arm, stopping me.
“You two go on in,” he says.
“God, Rye, you have a bedroom inside if you want alone time with Sailor. Seriously, Sails, tell him no. You should be with someone who knows how to treat a girl.” Jinx laughs.
“Just go,” Rye says.
He waits until Aziza and Jinx step into the cabin and the door closes behind them and then he turns to face me.
“You told Aziza, didn’t you?” he says.
I nod my head defiantly.
“Yes,” I say.
“What the hell were you thinking?” he demands.
“I was thinking I could trust her. And she proved me right, didn’t she? She thought the same as you and I did. That Jinx was getting me alone to kill me. And she came to help me, just like you did.”
Some of the anger goes out of Rye and I feel myself relaxing a little.
“You can trust Aziza,” he says after a few moments of silence. “But Sailor, please. You can’t tell any of the others. I know you have your mind set on Jinx being the Horseman, but if you’re wrong and you tell the actual Horseman about this…”
He trails off. He doesn’t need to finish. I know what the consequences of telling the Horseman we are onto him would be.
“I won’t,” I say quickly. “I promise.”
He reaches out and pulls me into his arms. I wrap my arms around him and rest my head on his shoulder. He holds me so tightly it almost hurts but I don’t complain. I get it. His anger wasn’t really at me because I spilled a secret to Aziza. His anger is from fear: the fear of losing me and not being able to do anything to stop it. I know if the situation was reversed, I would feel exactly the same impotent anger inside of me.
Rye kisses the top of my head and then he gently releases me.
“Come on, let’s get inside before Jinx has everyone spying on us.” He smiles.
***
Everyone already went to bed and only Rye and I are still up. We just finished watching a movie. I try and fail to stifle a yawn and Rye grins.
“We should maybe be thinking about going to bed ourselves,” he says.
I open my mouth to say I’m okay, but when I look at Rye, I can see how tired he looks and I nod my head instead. I stand up from the couch and crack my back. Rye leans forward and picks up his mug of hot chocolate. I see mine untouched beside his and I reach for it. Rye drinks half of his and then puts it down, wincing.
“Don’t drink it. It’s cold and it’s awful,” he says, still wincing.
I pull my hand away, laughing at the disgusted look on his face. Rye stands up and takes my hand. He leads me up the stairs. When we reach the top, I pull my hand free. Rye frowns and I laugh softly.
“I need to use the bathroom,” I say quietly.
“Oh. Right, yeah of course,” he says, blushing slightly.
I smile to myself at his sudden discomfort and then I slip into the bathroom. I brush my teeth and wash my face and then I use the toilet. I make my way to my bedroom and push the door open. A figure stands outlined against the window, its back to me, and my hand
