Emerge: The Captive: (Book 3)(58)

“He likes you,” Sasha said.

“Does he, now?”

“He likes me better, though.”

“You are a rare girl, Sasha El Sadawii. A lot like your mother. And your sister. But you have your own mind.”

“So what’s the deal with you and the women of my family? If you don’t mind sharing.”

“I met your sister here when we both trained as you are doing now. We did not get along at first, but we grew to become friends.”

“Perhaps history repeats itself?” Sasha said softly.

“Perhaps. Perhaps I struggle to relate to such terrifyingly strong women. In my experience, the strongest women are the ones who routinely try to put a knife in my back.”

“The women of my family are not like that, Jayesh.”

“A lesson I’ve had to learn three times now.” His warm breath brushed against her shoulder as he laughed. “I am nearly three hundred years old, Sasha, and I’ve had precious little time at peace. Doing what I do … makes it difficult for me to trust people. But I am trying.”

“And I am trying not to make it too difficult for you. My position is frightening, Jayesh. I’m only trying to protect myself and at the same time, accomplish this impossible training at an impossible age.”

“I know. And I understand. I really do.”

“So you knew my mother, how?” She glanced over her shoulder.

“You will have to ask Naeemah about that someday.”

“Ew.” Sasha shuddered. She couldn’t picture her mom with Jayesh—not in a million years, but that had to be why no one wanted to tell her how he knew her mother.

“Get your head out of the gutter, Sasha. She was significantly older than me when we met. I knew her when I was even younger than you are now. She was my mentor … for a time. That is all.”

“Then what’s the secret?”

“Maybe I knew her during a time of her life she might not be very proud of, and if she wants to tell you about that, it’s her right as your mother to do that if and when she chooses.”

“Ooooh, you knew Mom during her dark century?”

“Is that what she calls it?” Jay laughed. “I can’t imagine she would tell you much about those days.”

“Nope, not even a little bit. My brothers and I only know that she’s never told us a single detail about her life after she left the Shaolin temple in 1635 and before she arrived in Europe in 1735. It’s like she didn’t exist for one hundred years. When did you say you met her?”

“I didn’t.” She caught the white of his smile over her shoulder.

“Well, if you’re about three hundred and you knew her at my age….”

“I met your mother in 1729 when I was fourteen years old.”

“Tail end of the dark years? I’m intrigued.”

“And you will continue to be intrigued because it is not my story to tell.”

“You’re no fun.”

“Says the girl riding through the Indian wildlands on my elephant.”

“Kandula begs to differ,” she said. “He is his own elephant and belongs to no one. It is his choice to take the pretty lady on this journey.”

“Touché, Kandula.” Jay laughed. “But it was my idea to take the pretty lady on an adventure today.” He leaned over and patted Kandula’s head. “The way the wildlife flocks to you is simply astounding.” Jay gazed around, taking in the hesitant animals in the trees.

“You noticed? They usually don’t come close enough for most people to realize.” It was never in an obvious way, but wherever Sasha went, the animals came out to see her.

“They trust you. And they’re insanely curious about you. I think if you were alone here, they would come right up to you.”

“Some would, but the larger predators would keep their distance.”

“I bet a visit to the zoo with you would cause a ruckus.”

“I hate the zoo. The animals are so sad. It breaks my heart.”

“It breaks my heart to be doing this to you, Sasha,” he said after a long pause. “You’re a sweet girl with a bright future. You don’t need to get mixed up in … politics.”

“With my gift I knew it was coming, Jay,” she said softly. The concern in his voice cracked a little bit of that hardness in her heart toward him. He did care. “I thought I had a few more decades to prepare for it, but I knew it was coming.”

“You know they’re … they’re not going to lose your number after this. No matter how much you try to hold back what you can really do.”

“Maybe…. And maybe they’ll hear I’m not very good at this. That I’m a nature-loving, non-violent person who isn’t cut out for the work they have planned for me. And maybe they’ll be inspired to wait until I’m Proven to continue this kind of training.”

“It is likely the Senate will receive a report suggesting just that when we are done here.”

It was a shame it had taken them this long to have a real conversation. Maybe that’s what today is supposed to be about.

“Look.” He pointed. “We’re almost there.”

Sasha gazed along the horizon—green as far as she could see. The hint of salt in the air told her they were near the coast.