Page 66 of Captured
Chapter Thirty-One
Rakir
Juliet lies in my arms, limp. My heart contracts at the sight of her listless body and I hurry down the hallway to our private quarters. I’m worried despite the Healer’s assurance that she merely suffers from exhaustion brought on by the intense emotions of the Binding.
Juliet is my Amara. My heart, my soul. A light in my starless sky.
I finally reach what is going to be our new home until we reach Draka and lay Juliet on top of the cover in the large bed. Her body is graceful, the blush from the Binding still coloring her flesh.
Her Binding marks are still faintly red on her wrist, but as I look upon them, my heart swells. This is the pride and tenderness others have spoken of, but that I never suspected were real.
Now I feel them with a depth that seems so deep, I wonder how I lived my life before. My heart feels so full, I can’t believe I lived without this before.
“Juliet, wake up.” I coax her and am rewarded by a fluttering of her eyelids. As she stirs in the bed, I hurry to the dining table where a large feast waits for her. It takes a few seconds before I locate what I seek. I’m not used to serving food or drinks, but it’s a peculiar reward in itself to take care of my Amara.
As I come back, I find myself facing the most perfect pair of dark brown eyes.
Juliet sits in the bed, her beautiful breasts hidden by a fold of the sheets she has wrapped around her body. I think about scolding her, telling her she is never to cover her body when we are alone together, but seeing her pale cheeks and hollow eyes, I decide against it. She needs to drink and eat. The last few days have been much too hard on her.
As I hand her the glass of liquid, she drinks with greed, emptying it fast. My heart pinches as I think of how long I left her thirsty.
I vow never to see her wanting for anything, ever again.
“Are you hungry?” I look at her with a critical eye. Her eyes are still hollow, underlined with dark circles, but the color is returning to her flesh. The drink I gave her seems to help.
“Ravenous.” A wide smile stretches her lips and her eyes glitter. “It seems I’ve worked up quite an appetite.”
“I wonder why?” I bend, bracing my forehead on hers. We stay this way for a while, just touching, accepting each other’s presence like the gift it is.
Finally, she chuckles, then moves to stand. I stop her with a gesture.
“No.” I shake my head. “You stay here.”
I go to the table, then proceed to pile a plate high with the best delicacies made by Drakian hands. Roasted meats, delicate salad, eggs, fruits, all go on the plate until there’s no space left.
When I come back and place it on her lap, she laughs. The sound is music to my ears, filling me with pride. I want her to be merry, to laugh and smile. I want to cherish her, spoil her in every way.
She is my treasure, my most precious heart. Never in my life did I expect to feel such intense feeling for anyone.
She eats, grunting with approval after each morsel and I can see how much she needed it. When she finally pushes the plate away with a satisfied moan, the eyes that look up to me are clear and sharp.
“What’s going to happen now? We’re safe from the Black Star, but there’s still a traitor in the Rebellion. The List is too important, they won’t give it up. General Jarrahdal and his enemies will both come for it.”
I inhale sharply. I should have known Juliet would bounce back to reality in record time. She’s focused and driven.
“The Freedom is on its way and aboard it the Rebellion leaders. They’re coming to get what they were promised.” I start as Juliet gathers herself into a sitting position, the sheet neatly tucked around her body. “They have no idea what happened to me the last few days.”
She nods as I explain the rest of our plan, then inhales deeply when I’m done.
“And you’re sure they won’t know it’s a decoy?”
“Harko is that good.” I smile. “Until they try to read it using the key, they won’t know a thing.”
Juliet doesn’t speak, but I can see the nervousness in her eyes, the doubt.
“It’s a good plan.” I reassure her. “Once we find the traitor, we can use the List to destroy the Senators.”
“What if the traitor attacks? Are you going to be in danger?”
