85 What lies below

The warm breeze rustled through the thick foliage of the hidden oasis of the spring casting shadows over Jos's closed eyelids as she laid peacefully under the hot summer sun. The soft chirp of birds and gentle flow of the water around the ledge she lay on was enough to lull her into a half-sleep. She let out a content sigh as she heard the bearly audible break in the water surface. Without opening her eyes she whispered. "I'm glad we came here. I've missed this... a quiet relaxing place without tons of people around constantly. It reminds me of home."

Arei glided seamlessly through the water to where she was laying. He rested his arms on the ledge closest to her head and smiled down at her still closed eyes. He let his gaze trail down her nearly dried body. {So much has changed... but she's still the same somehow... and I can't help but still care...} "It's beautiful here, that's for sure." He didn't take his eyes off her, "It's the place that most reminds me of you." He tried to keep his voice flat as he said it but couldn't help the slight break in his words as emotions filled him. "I'm not sure why I didn't just come here first." He said reaching into his still submerged pocket.

Jos's eyes shot open as something cold and heavy was placed against her upper chest. Her hands flew there instinctively, and she slowly slid her fingers over the cold smooth surface of a large gem. She tried to maneuver her neck to see it but found the task difficult only allowing view of the very bottom of a large silver necklace. "What is this?" She asked taking it carefully into her hands as she sat up. Her eyes moved back and forth from the necklace covering both her palms to Arei.

He hoisted himself up out of the water and sat behind her. "What's it look like?" He asked a somehow sweet sarcasm coloring his words.

Jos examined the intricate etchings within the metal. there were two dark stallions on opposite sides of the radiant stone that reflected the full spectrum of the rainbow within its dark depths. Their heads each rested against the stone on either side and connected to the chain my what looked to be wings and their necks curved and twisted until it merged into what seemed to be waves. Above and below the stone were detailed patterns and several much smaller stones. She looked up at him in question. "I don't understand..."

He huffed out a small laugh as he leaned over her running a long finger over the horses and then the stone. "In the center, that is a black opal, they are very rare and precious." His eyes sparkled and his lips turned up in a sentimental smile as he continued studying the necklace. "I would think the black stallions are obvious... they are protecting that which they hold so dear." He stoked the horses again before taking the necklace from her hands. He placed it against her chest and brushed her hair over one shoulder. As he clasped the latch of the necklace, he let his fingers graze the back of her neck teasingly.

Her hands came up to it as she quickly turned her head to meet his eyes, "Arei, it's beautiful... but I can't take this... it..."

He interrupted her by pressing a finger lightly against her lips. Once she'd finally stopped trying to argue around his finger he used the same finger to brush away a tiny stray hair from her face. He let his hand linger against the ear he'd brushed the hair behind. "There's no point in arguing. It's yours... It's always been yours. I had it made for you... I was going to give it to you once the creator had finished and tell you the truth, but you came to me... to Ry first. The day I was packing to leave, a delivery boy brought it by. I was so upset..." His voice trailed away and his hand dropped from her face. He looked out over the waters thinking back to the day he'd tossed it into the dark bottomless void of the spring. He shook his head and let out a heavy sigh. "Anyway... It's yours. Keep it, it may bring you luck or something one day." His eyes came back to where her tiny hand now rested against his arm, knowing it would be a mistake he still met her gaze. His chest constricted as he took in the hurt in her eyes and the faint tears that built in the corners of her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Arei... I really am. I know now I messed up and I should have..." Her face scrunched. "Well there's a ton of things I should have done differently back then, but I shouldn't have hurt you. I was so young and my emotions so... overwhelming..."

He sent her a sad smile, "I understand, kitten. You weren't the only one to blame in how things between us worked out. I take a large part of that on myself. If I'd been honest with you from the start..." He sighed. "What do you say we go grab dinner and find a place to rest for the night?"

She nodded. "Alright." She watched as he pushed himself up to a standing position and took his hand when he offered it down to her. "Do you have a place in mind?" She asked as she walked over to retrieve their clothes.

He smiled brightly as he took his shirt from her hands. "I haven't shown you Saint Augustine yet, It's a must before you leave the state!"

She laughed, "Always the considerate teacher."

He walked over and helped her tug down the back of her shirt letting his hands skim her back. "Hands-on education is always best, in my opinion." He said in a rich, husky voice close to her ear.

A shiver ran down her body, "We-we should get going then before it gets too late."

The corner of his lips turned up as he let his hands fall away from her body. "You're probably right." He took the bank in three large steps and turned to offer her a hand. "I'd hate to delay your lessons." He winked down at her.

***

"Where the hell have the two of you been?!" Orion stomped out of the kitchen, an apron covered in cutely decorative pink cupcakes all over it.

Raven arched her brows a snicker covered her already mischievous grin. "Where have we been? What have you been up to?" She glanced past him at the mounds of sweet treats stacked up across the counters of the large kitchen. "Is there a community bake sale I'm unaware of?" She pushed past him for closer inspection of the treats breaking off chunks of cookie here and popping in bites of truffle there. "mot-bab," She mumbled with her mouth full.

He glared at Russ as he answered her. "I was worried. There was no note, text... anything. It just looked like you vanished in the middle of the night!"

Russ shrugged as he too walked past Orion and into the kitchen. "We did vanish in the middle of the night. Rin and his dad dropped in to teleport us to a last-minute wedding." He ran his finger through the fudge icing of a double chocolate tart and sucked it off. "Ummm! Had I known you could bake like this I'd have agreed to bring you along." He snatched the last of a plate of truffles when he noticed Raven eyeing them and quickly popped it in his mouth with another moan of delight. "Too bad there's not more of these!"

Orion's cheeks flushed a faint pink, "Well there were more... but I was stressed and... well they're my favorite..." He made his way over to the oven as the time's dial neared zero. He turned it off and put on pink and teal matching oven mitts also decorated with cupcakes.

Raven and Russ sent each other amused looks. They had only been staying with Orion in his small cottage since their first visit with Shelly and Rin but seeing this side of the gentle giant was still surprising and very amusing to both Russ and Raven. The smell of yet another promising delicious treat felled the air. "Oh, man! What do ya got there?" Raven asked leaning around Orion's large elbow as Russ did the same on his other side.

"Alright, back up already..." Orion said as he set the cake on top of the stove to cool. He pulled off the mitts and turned off the stove. As he worked the ties of the apron he muttered. "Can't help if I like to bake when I'm stressed... What's wrong with a man who likes to bake anyways..." He continued to grumble as he folded the apron and placed it in the small cabinet over the stove hood. When he turned back toward them, they were back to stuffing their faces and paying him no mind. He shook his head. "Next time just leave a message on the fridge or something you two... Especially if crazy shit is going on..."

Russ arched his brows, "What do you mean next time? You say that like we're all going to be together a while."

Orion shrugged, "Well I figured you would need a guard once you return to your homelands and the palace..." He ran his hands through his short hair. "It's already been approved through the council... I guess I could still get it changed if you have some other plans once your back..."

Russ tried to hide his surprise as he turned back to the sweets, "Well I mean I'm definitely not saying 'no' now that I found out you could cook." He hadn't wanted to admit it but the man had begun to grow on him.

"Well if you're done being mad, I say we pack these bad boys into the car and take them down to the bar. I bet I could sell the shit outta these in no time!" She stuffed another cookie into her mouth. "Besides, I need to make sure Liam has everything he'll need to take over things there."

Russ grabbed several different treats and set them on a tray. "Do what you want with the rest, but these are mine!" He paused, his fingers twitched as he moved his hand back and forth over several different pies before he finally picked a chocolate and coconut one. "And this, too!" He said grabbing the pie and placing it with the tray on a tiny empty space on the table in the corner of the kitchen.

Raven laughed, "Not even your metabolism is going to be able to burn off all that!" She pulled open three drawers before finally finding the foil to wrap the foods in.

Russ shrugged, "Don't care... totally worth it!" He grumbled around another mouthful.

Orion shook his head, "Children... the both of you..." The faint vibration of a call caught his attention. He retrieved his phone from his back pocket as he walked out of the room. "Hey, what's up?"

[I thought I'd let you know, it's going to be another day or so before we make it there.] Arei said over the loud noise in the background.

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Orion looked over his should, Russ wasn't paying him a bit of attention. Instead, he and Raven were bickering over another cake. He still lowered his voice and continued walking toward the front door. "Why? What's up? Is something wrong?" He asked worry weighing heavy in his voice. "Is Jos alright?"

[She's fine. She's been a bit worried about confronting the boy so... I've been distracting her with some sightseeing.]

"Oh ok..." Orion sighed as he closed the door behind him. "Are you sure it's a good idea... the two of you spending so much time together, that is." He glanced over at the close window of the tiny house. "Don't get me wrong I wouldn't be opposed to the two of you together... I just think it best to let them talk first..."

[Don't worry, Ry. I want what's best for her too. I'm not trying to sway her either way. I just... I...] His words trailed off.

"Want her to yourself a little longer?" Orion asked.

Arei sighed. [Sometimes being a twin can be quite bothersome, but as always, your... not wrong...] A soft voice sounded near the table. "Please, yes... she'll be back in a few minutes." Arei directed the server before returning to the call. [Don't worry, she's safe with me. I'll not do anything to risk her running out of our lives again. If I can't be more than just a friend with a history then that's fine... for now...]

"If that's what you're telling yourself." Orion huffed. "Stay safe... keep her safe," Orion ordered as he hung up the phone. He flopped down into the hanging swing bench. "What a mess..."