Emerge: The Captive: (Book 3)(59)

“The mangrove forests?”

“I thought you might like to explore the canals with me. We can’t go far, but I came here before. It was an escape from the monotony of the training grounds.”

“Do we have a boat?”

“We do. And a feast.” He thumped the picnic basket behind him.

The mangrove trees seemed to grow straight out of the water, their gnarled root systems spreading like a spider’s web in every direction. Clusters of trees stood like islands in the blue-green water, creating a maze of canals as far as she could see. Sasha was eager to go exploring with Jayesh and make some memories about her time here in the Chola Valley that didn’t involve her training.

“Here we are,” Jayesh said.

“Kandula, my friend, will you be all right without us?” Sasha asked. She laughed at his response a moment later. “He plans to play in the canals while we eat. He wishes to wash off this silly paint the monks insist on decorating him with.”

“We will go exploring after we eat. And then Kandula can take his bath.” Jayesh slipped to the ground, taking Sasha’s hand to help her down.

Her breath caught when his hands wrapped around her waist and he sat her down beside him. She looked up at him and he reached to brush the loose curls from her face. She smiled, feeling at ease with him in a way she never had before.

“You are a beautiful girl.” He seemed startled that he’d spoken out loud.

Sasha flushed, dropping her gaze. There was no doubt Jayesh was handsome. I could get the biggest mad-crush on this jackass of a man. But he was substantially older, even though he looked no more than twenty-five.

“I know I don’t look much older than you, but this is not a good idea, Sasha,” he said softly, echoing her thoughts exactly.

“I didn’t say anything,” she whispered.

“You said it with your eyes.” He smiled. “They are very expressive. You’ve managed to cut me with them on multiple occasions.”

“Then don’t look at me the way you’re looking at me.” She grabbed the basket he handed to her.

“Like what?”

“Like I’m not your student and you aren’t a million years too old for me.”

“I am not that old. But I am too old for you.”

“Then we agree on something at last.” She laughed. “You are very handsome and it’s not out of the realm of possibility in another time or place. But here, today, I want nothing more than to be your friend, Jayesh. That is all.” She reached for his hand.

“You are still looking at me like you do not think I am too old for you.” His hand wrapped around hers with a squeeze.

“A girl can look, can’t she?” Together they turned to the path leading down to the canals.

“I’m guessing you’re starving. I’ve rarely seen you stop eating since we arrived.” Jay walked beside her.

“Funny guy. I guess you’re too old to remember the gnawing hunger that never goes away at this age.”

“It is a rather distant memory, but I’m hardly old, Sasha.”

“I have brothers about your age.”

“Tell me about your family?” Jayesh asked as he spread a rolled carpet on the ground beside the canals.

“I have three older brothers, two brothers-in-law and one younger brother who’s worse than all the others combined about pulling the overprotective bullshit. And two uncles too. And then there’s Quinn. He’s not like a brother, but we grew up together. His little brother is like a brother, though.”

“That’s a lot of brotherly types you’ve got surrounding you.” Jayesh laughed. “Makes dating hard, I bet.”

“Oh, I can handle the McBrien boys.” Sasha sighed. She missed them all so much. Especially Aidan and Darius.

It was nice, sitting in the warm afternoon sunshine, talking about normal life stuff with Jayesh.

“So Quinn’s the boyfriend?”

“No, not for a long time. These days we’re just friends.” She reached for the picnic basket to distract herself from thoughts of Quinn and the overwhelming guilt she felt for flirting with Jayesh.

“But you think he is your Complement?”

“I do. Or … I did. I don’t know, honestly. There’s a big history there. When we’re together, we make each other miserable and we fight constantly. When we’re not together, we can’t stand to be apart. It’s frustrating and confusing.”

“He’s a big part of your life.”

“There’s this overwhelming pull I feel for him. A fire in my veins that’s always there. I used to think that meant we were Complements, but I don’t really know anymore.” She thought about that last kiss before he was ripped away from her, still not sure what it meant or if she even wanted to go down that road with him again. It only ever led to heartbreak. “I just know I have to help him, and being stuck here with my hands tied is making me crazy.”

“You have to promise me, Sasha. When we leave this valley, you cannot go looking for him.” Jayesh frowned. “It will do him no good.”

“I can’t face a future without Quinn in it.” She shrugged. “No matter what he is or isn’t to me. I’ll do whatever I have to do to help him.”