The Hidden Orphan (The Chronicles of Mistar - Book 2)

Sixteen · · · Jadon

Piccorock Castle, Chapona, Lotna/Journey to Gazar

THE ROOM WAS SILENT when he walked in. Somehow, Donna had gotten there before him, sitting next to Faeden in a tight embrace. She smiled slyly at Jadon when he passed by. He gave her the same smile and walked away without as much as a second glance.

That would change, though.

Ella and Corben sat on the couch, whispering in each other's ears. They straightened and became quiet when Jadon walked up to them, pursing their lips shut.

Jadon sighed before he said, "We have to be the good guys." Referring back to what King Cole had told him, he added, "Fix our attitudes."

Ella looked annoyed. "My attitude is fixed. So is Ben's. When you were talking with the king, we made friends with Fae and your cousins."

Jadon looked to Ben for confirmation. Ben only looked away, probably feeling ashamed for going behind Jadon's back.

"They're quite nice," he said softly. "I know you want to save Tapalla and they can help."

Jadon bent his head, ashamed. He knew he shouldn't have been so harsh, but something about Faeden didn't feel right to him. "I know," he admitted. Just as he was about to walk away, he stopped and added, "Wait, you call him Fae now?"

Ben nodded. "He says only his friends call him that."

Jadon gave a half-smile and walked away, back towards Faeden and his goons. Wendon was smirking and hit West's side, laughing, as Jadon came up to them. Jadon didn't look at the twins, though. He wanted to earn Faeden's trust, not theirs. The twins were annoying and honestly, Jadon didn't really care if his cousins liked him or not, no matter what the king said.

"Deathstrike," Jadon said but then caught himself when Donna glared at him. Jadon could still feel her lips on his knuckles and hear the way she spoke softly to him. He tightened his fist and gently closed his eyes when he corrected himself, "Faeden, I mean."

It took all of Jadon's strength not to stare at Donna and her marvelous silver eye. She was beautiful. Jadon was mystified at how anybody could not love her. The sweet girl was innocent, her story broken and sad. Just looking at her now, Jadon wanted to hold her in his arms and tell her it would be alright.

No, he thought. Not her. Tapalla.

The whole mission was to save Tapalla, but in only a few minutes Jadon met Donna, he could already feel his heart beating ten times faster. Was his whole childhood love just a lie? A story that Jadon created to fill the void of loneliness? Anyway, Jadon couldn't let those thoughts stop him, or thoughts of Donna. He still wanted to save Tapalla so that's what he would do.

Faeden hummed in response. "Nice. You finally got my name right."

Jadon struggled not to roll his eyes as the warrior legend continued.

"Have you met Donna?" he asked. "She is a very sweet girl."

Donna stood up as Jadon nodded. She smiled at him, grabbing Jadon's hand from his side as she curtsied. "We have met," she responded. "In the king's office. He's very sweet too... only if she wants to be."

Wendon chuckled from behind as West only sighed and walked away. West was never one to make fun and watch as others got tortured. Jadon wasn't technically getting tortured, but it was close to it.

Jadon shivered when Donna let go, letting his hand drop. She walked behind him, her gentle hands trailing along his arms and back until she was finally in front of him again. He watched as Donna sat on the other side of Faeden, farther away than she been sitting when Jadon first walked into the room. Donna smiled softly at Jadon, eyeing him mischievously. Jadon kept nervously glancing at her.