Hi All, Here is a chapter for you! Kellan and Jaxon? OH, my! Have fun reading and commenting. In the #wattpadblockparty happening right now, I'll be posting an interview with Jax and Kellan. You WON'T want to miss it. The post is coming out FEB 18th.

Also for the month of February, you can WIN a signed copy of Undeath by Chocolate! ENTER here: https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/27854a79547/

I stared at the open tent flap and backed up a step. "You mean, share a tent? Maybe I'm more old-fashioned than I thought."

"In Acklemar, couples share a room during the last few moons of their promising." He washed his hand down the length of my hair, then lifted my chin. "We're only a few days before our promising day, and you know I love you."

It wasn't staying in the tent that scared me, but his expectations.

"Wren?" Elena called.

What's going on that's making your heart race? Kellan said interrupting my thoughts.

There seems to be a little disagreement about my sleeping arrangements, that's all.

Kellan rubbed his eyes like I might have woken him. I felt his energy caress with mine and access my senses. Come on Wren, show me what has you in a fit.

I lifted my sight to the tent with my belonging and Jaxon's.

The bugger would try something like that. Kellan pitched the bridge of his nose. You're not planning on spending the night alone with him, are you? His voice cracked.

He's the one who put all my stuff in there, not me.

I'm sure his father ensured all the living arrangements were noted in the contract correctly, so he's likely well within his right. Kellan paced back and forth.

"Wren, are you coming?" Elena stuck her head out of the tent.

This late in the contract, I'm sure the cohabitation date has long passed. Kellan stopped pacing and rubbed his chest. If you don't go, then it implies you intend to break the contract.

Great. If I do that, then we're both as good as dead.

Elena shoved the tent flap aside and crawled out. "Please say you're not going to hoard Wren's time all to yourself by insisting on enforcing silly contract details. Her friends are here to celebrate her birthday and promotion to the council. Come on, Jax, pleeease?"

"You make it sound like I'd force her to do something against her will." He crossed his arms. "Wren freely signed the contract and is wearing my spiral ring—which takes two to create by the way. I haven't forced her to do anything."

Amaress stretched, squawked out a yawn, and lumbered to her feet. The silly creature wandered over to me and licked the back of my hand, then sauntered off.

Right, because his father holding your parents to ensure you would follow through with your commitment, isn't forceful at all.

That isn't fair. A cool breeze picked up, and I rubbed my goose-bump covered arms. Jaxon risked everything to help me rescue my mom.

Which he wouldn't have had to do if his father wasn't such a psychopath. Kellan let out a long breath. Just saying...

"I never said you forced her," Elena said with a gasp. "Only that enforcing the contract would interfere with our slumber party. You know girl time."

Cut him some slack, would you? He's helping save your life.

Kellan plucked at the strings connecting us, making my skin tingle. You and I both know the only person he's concerned about is you.

"Right, Wren?" Elena nudged me with her hip.

"Hmm, what?" I pulled from my conversation with Kellan having no idea what the two of them had been discussing.

Jaxon raised a brow and tilted his head.

"Oh, Amaress!" She slapped her hand against her skirt. "You silly creature, get out of there."

Jaxon and I jerked our heads in the direction of our tent. Amaress, curled up inside the space, sprawled over all our belongings. Elena tugged on Amaress' tail, and the beast hissed, without budging an inch.

"I'm so sorry. She doesn't listen to anyone."

Jax walked over to the tent when he reached the door, Amaress growled, showing her teeth. He ignored her reaction to him. "This isn't your bed." He pointed in the direction of the fire, where she slept earlier. "Out!"

Amaress got up, pranced around in a circle until her back faced us and plopped back down, settling in.

"Tessa. She apparently belongs to you." He gestured to Amaress. "How about you getting rid of her?"

My thoughts echoed with Kellan laughing his head off. You're not helping.

Jax reached an arm inside the tent and grabbed hold of his blanket. Amaress' lips curled into a toothy snarl, and he yanked his hand back.

Way to go, Amaress! I take back every curse for tossing me over that cliff. Hell, next time I see you, you're getting an entire bucket of grubs.

I crawled inside and gave her a shove. She purred and rolled over onto her back like she might want her tummy scratched.

"Seriously?" I shoved her harder. "Amaress, you're crushing my stuff."

She rolled back over and put her head in my lap, purring louder with each passing second.

"What am I going to do with you?" I kissed her muzzle. "Good girl." I tugged the pillow from beneath her tail. "Here, catch." I tossed the pillow at Jax.

I pulled a blanket free, and balled it up in my arms, scooting toward the door on my butt. I passed the bundle to Jax. "There's no way I can get anything else. She weighs too much to move."

Amaress flipped her tail, and blocked my exit.

I have a new found love for this stupid lumbering beast. She's getting her own stable.

"Now what?" I nudged her scaly rear with my foot. "She's not moving until morning."

Jaxon held the pillow and blanket under one arm and wrapped his other hand around mine, helping me step over Amaress.

"I'll just sleep next to the fire. Why don't you go with Elena?" He shook out the blanket and laid it on the ground.

I followed Elena, but stopped short when I saw the disappointed look on Jax's face.

Wren? What are you doing? Kellan asked.

I can't. He looks so sad.

Kellan wiped a hand down his face. Oh no, you don't.

I'm not heartless you know. I'm just going to talk to him.

Your kind heart is part of why I love you. Kellan paced around his cell. But that doesn't mean I want him talking to you all night long. Romancing you is my job.

I smiled and touched my lips. Say it again?

That romancing you is my job? It's true. I'll make it my life's ambition when I get out of here. Kellan shook the bars, making them clang.

No, not that. The part about you being in love with me. I'll never get tired of hearing that. I ran a finger back and forth along a tent seem as Elena went inside.

I've always loved you. Even when I was too stupid to admit it. Kellan plunked down on his cot and stretched out. I know it sounds impossible, but I know we'll be together after all of this. You'll see.

You score a hundred points for optimism. Right now, I'd be thrilled if both of us just walk away with our lives.

He yawned and folded his arms under his head. Alive and together.

I like your confidence. One part boldness and another part dreamer.

Sage stuck her head out of the tent door, wrapping the flaps under her chin. "Wren what are you doing mulling about? Are you coming or what?"

Speaking of dreaming, I should go.

Kellan rolled over onto his side and tucked his arm under his pillow. Yeah, I know. I'll see you tomorrow. Sweet dreams, beautiful.

Sleep tight.

Wren?

I lifted my gaze, half expecting he'd be there in front of me. But I knew that was impossible. Yeah?

Don't give up on me.

Never. Night... I rubbed the canvas material in my fingers. "I'm not mulling, just contemplating." I peered over my shoulder at Jaxon, then turned back to Sage. "Give me a few minutes?"

I wandered over to the fire and pointed to the log Jaxon rested against. "Is this seat taken?"

"That's it for me, I'm afraid." Rygar stood, downed rest of his drink, then headed over to the guard's tent. "Hey, any room in here for me?" He disappeared from view.

"Are you mad at me?" I took a seat on the log.

"No." He stared into the fire. "Just disappointed."

"In me?"

Jaxon kicked off his boots and stretched his feet toward the flames. "For someone I'm partnered with, it's sure hard to get some alone time with you—that's all." Jax fidgeted with the zipper-pull on his jacket. "I suppose I'm not excited about tomorrow, hearing all the details of you and Kellan being together. I'm not sure I want to know."

"I don't have anything to hide." I picked up another log and placed it on the fire, then dropped next to him onto the hard ground. "Feel free, ask away."

"Okay. Did he ever spent the night with you in your room?" He lifted his chin and glanced up at me under his lashes.

"Jax, it wasn't like that. We just talked—nothing happened."

"Oh, something happened all right—a certain vow between the two of you." He gestured to the knotted ring on my chest, then picked up a twig and chucked it on the fire. "You and I haven't spent a single night together, and he's spent at least two that I know of."

"Nothing sexual happened. We talked and eventually fell asleep—that's all."

"I hardly call swearing a vow of love nothing." With bright emerald eyes, his lips drew into a lopsided frown.

"Kellan isn't even here, so there's no need to get worked up. It's just you and me, hanging out."

He raised a brow, picked up another stick and ignited it in flame, then flicked it onto the fire. "Maybe he isn't now."

My whole body tensed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

He pointed toward Elena's tent. "When you were over there, he definitely had your attention." Didn't he?

THANKS for READING! Looking forward to reading your comments. :)