Chapter 59 Unsettling Jax
“I know… I’ll talk to you soon.”
My voice is quiet as I say it, and before Tom can respond, I turn and start walking back to the estate.
I don’t look over my shoulder.
The morning fog has begun to spread across the open grounds, drifting slowly over the damp grass like pale smoke. It curls around the edges of the trees and creeps toward the manor in slow, ghostly waves.
Being out here now feels almost eerie.
I pull my coat tighter around myself and keep walking.
All I want is to get back to my room, crawl into my bed, and pretend this morning never happened.
The meeting with Tom, the note, Zion… it’s all too much to think about before sunrise.
Luckily the halls inside the manor are quiet when I slip through the door.
The servants won’t start their morning duties for another hour or so. Most of the residents are still asleep.
My footsteps echo softly as I walk down the corridor toward my room.
Everything seems normal.
Until I reach my door.
“Nova?”
The voice startles me.
I freeze for half a second before turning.
Jax is leaning against the wall beside my door. One shoulder rests against the stone, his arms loosely crossed like he’s been standing there for a while.
My brows pull together in confusion.
It’s still extremely early.
Too early for casual visits.
“Couldn’t sleep,” I say casually, slipping my coat off my shoulders. “So I went for a walk.”
His eyes scan the hallway behind me before returning to my face.
“That’s dangerous,” he says quickly. “Where is your guard?”
Technically, now that I’ve become one of Cassain’s mistresses, I’m supposed to have a personal guard stationed nearby.
But the man responsible for that job has grown used to my quiet routine. Most days nothing exciting happens around me, so he doesn’t always stand outside my door like he probably should.
Some nights he disappears entirely.
If he had actually been here earlier, maybe he would have seen whoever slipped that threatening note onto my vanity.
I shrug.
“He’s probably asleep,” I say lightly. “I’m fine, Jax. I’ve been walking around here alone for years.”
I open my door and step inside, hanging my coat on its hook before kicking off my boots.
The warmth of the room feels wonderful after the cold air outside.
Honestly, I just want to crawl back into bed and sleep for another few hours. Everything that happened this morning has drained me completely.
But Jax follows me inside.
“You should be more careful,” he says, his voice tense.
I sigh and rub my face.
“Jax, I’m fine,” I mumble, my exhaustion starting to catch up with me. “Why are you even here?”
He shifts awkwardly, rolling his shoulders.
“To be honest… I’ve come by your room a few times lately,” he admits.
That makes me pause.
My eyebrows lift slightly.
“You have?”
“I noticed your guard hasn’t been around much,” he explains. “It makes me feel better knowing someone is keeping an eye on you.”
I stare at him.
“That’s… an odd reason,” I say slowly. “You’ve been coming to my room?”
“Sometimes I knock,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck. “You never answer.”
His expression suggests he believes he’s doing something kind. Something protective.
Honestly… it feels a little unsettling.
“I might have just been sleeping,” I point out.
He shrugs slightly.
“You seem to wander around late at night,” he says. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
I press my palm against my forehead.
I’m far too tired for this conversation.
“I’m going to bed,” I say. “I’m exhausted.”
I step sideways, trying to move around him toward the bed.
But Jax shifts suddenly, blocking my path.
He steps directly in front of me.
He looks down at me.
“Can I join you?” he asks.
For a second, I blink at him in disbelief.
“No,” I say quickly. “I mean… I really just need sleep.”
Jax exhales slowly.
“I’ll be honest,” he says. “I’m very attracted to you.”
I blink at him, unsure where this is going.
“It’s getting harder to look at you without thinking about it,” he continues, shifting his weight like he’s the one who has the right to feel awkward.
“Thinking about what?” I ask, frowning.
Before I can react, he suddenly steps forward and cups my face with both hands.
Then he kisses me.
The kiss is sudden and rough enough to surprise me. The force of it pushes me backward a step, and his grip on my face is tighter than I expect.
His fingers dig into my face while he pushes closer, trying to deepen the kiss.
The pressure makes my chest tighten.
I shove against his chest, pushing him away.
“Jax—”
I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand on instincts, startled more than anything.
His expression doesn’t look embarrassed.
If anything, he looks pleased with himself.
“Come to my room instead,” he says, his smile crooked and confident. “I’ll take really good care of you.”
The suggestion makes my stomach twist.
Maybe it’s because I’m exhausted. Maybe it’s because everything else weighing on my mind.
But the idea immediately feels wrong. I’m not ready for that.
Not with Jax.
Honestly… the thought hasn’t really crossed my mind until now.
“Not tonight,” I say quickly, irritation creeping into my voice.
His smile fades slightly.
“Why not?” he presses.
He reaches for my wrist, but I pull my arm away before he can grab it.
“I’m tired.”
He exhales sharply, clearly frustrated.
Then he grabs my waist, trying to pull me close again, but I push him away harder this time.
It’s not like he’s drunk.
So why is he acting like this?
“Jax, stop.”
He freezes.
“I said I’m tired,” I snap.
My voice echoes around the room louder than I intended. I immediately hope it doesn’t wake anyone nearby. The last thing I need is gossip spreading through the manor.
Jax takes a step back.
He runs both hands through his hair, gripping the strands tightly like he’s trying to steady himself.
“For fuck’s sake, Nova,” he mutters under his breath.
The frustration in his voice stings more than I expect.
“What?” I ask quietly.
For a moment he looks like he wants to say something else.
Then he shakes his head.
“Nothing. I’m sorry,” he says quickly, stepping farther away. “I’m out of my mind.”
“I’m just not ready,” I say firmly, even though the uneasy feeling in my chest hasn’t faded.
Did he really think pushing me like that would work? Is it really so difficult for him to wait?
“Of course,” he says. “I understand.”
I study his face carefully.
“Do you?” I ask.
He hesitates.
Then he glances toward the door.
“I should go.”