Amara (Tales of a Goddess Book 1)

Ch. 17

Well, heads up (excuse the pun), but this is going to be a long one ;)

Content Warning: sexual scenes.

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Jasper's POV:

Maddox has always fallen into deep, restless slumbers anytime I've healed him. Right now, his body lies sprawled across my bed, muscles tense even in unconsciousness. The dark, viscous residue of his curse still pools on the sheets beneath him, and I know I need to clean it up before it becomes solid and harder to scrub off of skin. I've dealt with that once and it was not fun. It required lots of steaming water and melting potions.

Maddox's long, midnight blue hair falls in tangled waves over his shoulders and back, nearly brushing the cursed stain. Gently, I push his hair aside, wiping along the curves of his spine with a cloth soaked in a concoction meant to neutralize any lingering magic.

I whisper soft, soothing spells as I work, tracing my fingertips along his skin. His body jerks with every touch, still sensitive from the extraction of the cursed essence. The beast within him may be subdued for now, but I can feel the tension that remains—an echo of what he battles every day. I murmur the spells a little louder, hoping to ease the soreness that always follows.

When I'm finished, I pull the covers over his naked form, careful not to disturb him. His breath is deep and even, his chest rising and falling rhythmically. For a moment, I pause, just watching him. This version of Maddox—vulnerable, exhausted—contrasts sharply with the fearsome image he projects to everyone else. And I'm one of the few who gets to see it.

I fold his clothes neatly and hang them in my closet, where they join a small collection that's slowly grown over time. Maddox has been staying with me more often since Amara arrived, and honestly, it's nothing unusual for him to sleep here. I pretend not to notice the comfort I feel in having his things scattered among mine.

I turn back to my desk, where my various tonics and elixirs lie in disarray. I start organizing them, placing each bottle in its respective pack. There's a method to this madness; I know where everything is by instinct. But as I reach for the last vial, a prickling sensation creeps up my spine. I freeze.

A pair of eyes glints from behind the curtains—a flash of silver in the darkness. My heart pounds in my chest, and without a second thought, I shift. My limbs elongate, muscles ripple, and fur bursts forth as I morph into my leopard form. In a heartbeat, I pounce on the despicable little creature hiding there, jaws closing around it with a satisfying crunch.

It lets out a high-pitched scream as I squeeze, a sound that would make lesser men shudder. It's a Furtivus, a sneaky little spy often sent by my mother's court to keep tabs on people. They're small, nimble, and almost invisible to the untrained eye. My mother always did love to poke her nose where it didn't belong, and apparently, she's figured out I'm here. The question is how much she knows.

My jaw tightens around the Furtivus, and I feel its bones crack beneath my teeth. It writhes for a moment longer before I spit it to the floor, watching it dissolve into a pile of dust. A flick of my tail sends the remnants scattering. I shift back into my human form, my breath still quick from the adrenaline, and the cold air of my room brushes against my skin. I shut the curtains with a snap of my wrist, ensuring no other prying eyes linger nearby.

I turn back toward Maddox, who still sleeps soundly. Relief washes over me. He knows my relationship with my family is... tumultuous at best. But I don't want him to realize that one of my mother's spies has slipped past his borders. She's been meddling in my affairs ever since I left Lumiria. And while she doesn't much care for me—I'm the youngest of five brothers, after all—her need for control drives her to these pathetic lengths. My loyalty lies with Maddox, however, so I'll find a way to handle this leak in his borders without him knowing.