Vulpecula ✔️

Answers.

Kayden's POV

Clayton stood closer to us both. Ava was lightly pushed beside me. I tried to subtly hide her from Aldrik but Ava had other plans. She straightened up and stared at him square in the eyes. Right then I didn't see the Ava we have known for so long, was not the same girl who was facing Aldrik in that moment. She was different. Strong. Bold. And angry.

"Welcome to the temple, Aldrik. How are you finding India?" She asked him casually, as if questioning a person she has known all her life but doesn't like them and doesn't want them to know that she doesn't like them.

"It's beautiful Vulpecula. Just like someone I used to know. Decades ago. Or was it centuries ago?" He said with a dangerous gleam in his eyes.

"What do you want?" I snapped at him. Having enough of his games. Without my notice my left arm snaked around Ava's waist and pulled her closer to me. I couldn't let her get closer to Aldrik. He is a monster. Not like I am any less, but I would never hurt Ava the way he wants to.

"Came to pay her a visit. Didn't know she was carrying two of her goons with her." Aldrik cooed.

"They are my friends. I hope you would learn to respect. Because life would have been so tough for you without any respect." Ava fired back. Her glare intensified as the smirk was slowly wiped off of his face. His eyes slowly widened in fear as he regarded Ava.

Then with a jerk Ava's back pressed more firmly to my front. I could see that she was trying hard to not show how that affected her. But no matter what, she stood tall and strong. I mean, as tall as she could with her short and petite frame.

"Don't try that ever again, Vulpecula. It won't end well the next time." Aldrik warned and walked away casually, as if nothing happened.

"Dammit!" Ava cursed in my arms. Suddenly our position dawned upon me. She was so close. I could smell the apples, the soft smell of hers. The frustration. The anger. I didn't move. Not an inch. My breathing was slow. Careful. I didn't want her to jerk away from me. I wanted to savour this moment for as long as I could.

I relaxed my body and let Ava closer to me. Her body relaxing unconsciously, her head rolling back to rest on my chest, right under my chin. And I briefly let myself wonder, if I ever had a future with her, if I was ever worthy enough to deserve her, I'd love to hold her like this. Not too far away from me. Never far away from me. Because if I ever get to call Ava mine, I would be like a starving man, who could never get enough of his woman.

"Let's get the journal out and find the answers. Then we rest." Clayton said in a grave voice that made Ava break out of whatever trance she was in. She pulled away and stared me straight in the eyes. She wouldn't say it, but I know that she is grateful for my support. So I subtly nod back and follow her to wherever she is taking us.

_________

After visiting the main temple, which was just as spectacular as the rest of it, we were now seated among some really old men. Ava did most of the talking along with a man who knows English so he could translate things for us. The old man had been at the journal for almost half an hour.

"It's a very complex form of sanskrit. I don't know where you got this from, but even guruji is having problems solving this riddle." The younger one, the translator spoke to Ava. He had been staring at her ever since we arrived.

"Will he be able to do it or do we have to go somewhere else?" She asked politely. Apparently we were sitting among one of the greatest and revered people of the temple. So we all had to pay respect and sit like a disciplined being.

"Yes. Guruji will do that. But he wants to know, where did you get this?"

"Just someplace in England. We think it's important." At Ava's sentence the old man glanced up at her and smiled in a very mysterious way. It was like he knew Ava was lying. And I wonder how he understood what she said.