Destin's Hold (The Alliance #5)(12)
Destin couldn’t help but notice the new markings around Saber’s wrist. He had never seen tattoos created so fast or with so much intricate detail as the ones done at the ceremony. After Razor had read the vows written by Saber and Taylor and pronounced them husband and wife, Taylor and Saber had completed the Trivator ceremony where they each received the markings showing they were Amates.
“Trust me, that was mild compared to what it would have been back home. I’ve been to a few bachelor parties that ended with trips to the emergency room, or worse, jail,” Destin promised with another pat to Saber’s shoulder. “You did good. I swear Trivators are a natural when it comes to learning Parkour. You guys do a great job jumping and climbing buildings, and aren’t half bad at bouncing when you miss.”
“We didn’t bounce. We landed on our feet… most of the time,” Dagger said, coming to stand next to them. “How do you get this thing off? Every time I grab one side to pull it free, it chokes me.”
Destin chuckled and quickly untied the red tie from around Dagger’s thick neck. Dagger immediately unbuttoned the top five buttons on his shirt with one hand. Destin noticed the man was more relaxed now than he had been earlier. He suspected it had a lot to do with the little girl he was holding in his arms and the woman standing near him.
“Oh, I want to learn how to do Parkour,” Taylor exclaimed, her eyes growing wide with excitement. “It’s a lot like gymnastics. I bet I’d be pretty good at it. I sort of did it when I climbed out of the window at that old castle on Dises V.”
Destin grinned and shook his head when Saber cursed under his breath. He half listened to Taylor, Saber, Dagger, and Jordan discuss the pros and cons of learning how to do Parkour, but his mind was on something – or he should say someone – else. A flash of blue out of the corner of his eye caught his attention and his gaze narrowed on the object of his thoughts. Like a magnetic force was pulling them together, his gaze caught and held Jersula’s light blue one.
“Excuse me,” Destin murmured, not caring if the others heard him or not.
A part of him knew he should be running in the opposite direction. The other part of him was determined to keep on walking toward the frustrating woman who had captivated him. He was fascinated with the fire he knew lay hidden beneath the icy composure she presented to the world. He had not only seen that fire in her eyes, but tasted it on her lips.
“Councilor Ikera,” Destin said, stepping in front of her when she started to turn away toward the house.
“Destin,” Jersula murmured, glancing at him before looking away. “I was hoping to see you before I left.”
“You were?” Destin replied.
“Yes,” she began, lifting a hand as if to brush away an invisible strand of hair. “I found something on the beach this morning, a necklace, near the boulder where you had draped your clothing.”
“My medallion,” Destin murmured with relief. “I thought I had lost it along the path when I was returning to the house. Do you have it with you?”
Jersula shook her head. “No, I wasn’t expecting to see you here. I left it in the quarters I was assigned to,” she replied, her voice laced with regret. “I… I could bring it to you later this evening.”
“I would appreciate it,” Destin responded. “The medallion has a lot of sentimental value to me.”
“I thought it might. I saw the images in it.…,” her voice faded and she glanced down. “It was not my intention to pry. I wasn’t sure if it belonged to you, or….”
“Jersula,” Destin murmured, taking a step closer and gently lifting her chin so she would look up at him. “The medallion contains the only photo I have left of my mother and a picture of Kali. I’m glad you cared enough to find out who it belonged to. As I said, it has great sentimental value to me.”
“I could see the resemblance between you and your mother. You have her eyes,” she said softly, gazing up at him.
“Destin, they are about to cut the cake,” Kali called out. “Ami refuses to let me help her. She wants you, if you don’t mind.”
“I’ll be right there,” Destin replied, not turning away from Jersula. “Meet me later tonight.”
She took a deep breath. “Where?” Jersula asked.
“On the beach, near the boulder,” Destin said, brushing the back of his fingers along her cheek. “… When the second moon rises,” he added, unsure of how to explain in Trivator time when to meet, but knowing that the second moon rose about ten thirty pm if he were to equate it to Earth time.
“I will be there,” Jersula murmured before he started to turn away. “Destin….”
“Yes?”
Destin paused, his gaze moving from her face to her hand on his arm and back again. He could feel the muscle in his jaw tighten. A flicker of uncertainty flashed through her eyes and he forced his body to relax.
“I like to be called Sula,” she said in a quiet voice.
“Sula…,” Destin repeated, rolling her name off his tongue like a caress before he gave her a crooked smile. “I’ll see you later.”
..*
* * *
Sula stared after Destin. A bemused smile curved her lips at the strange attraction she felt. She watched Destin as he knelt down and talked to the dark-haired little girl. Blinking, she turned back to her intended destination. She had been in the process of locating Taylor and Saber to congratulate them on their joining before she left. She had spotted them, but she had also seen Destin.