Small Lyra birds made from clay and hand-painted, tulips, roses, irises, and other flowers decorated the foyer while loud voices and laughter came from the kitchen. Andres was playing his harmonica without anyone telling him to stop. Even Jayden seemed happy as he and Mina entered the house.
Jayden put their traveling bags next to the entrance while Mina tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she looked at the table in the middle of the foyer—boxes of all shapes and sizes sat on it. A few bigger ones were placed under the table. She wondered if it was someone's birthday and felt bad for not bringing a gift. Perhaps she still had time to buy something, but she would have to ask Jayden to make a small stop before they reached the port. They still had to catch the boat that would take them to Isyleon Island. Her stomach turned into knots. By the next morning, Jayden would have mated and marked her. He would become Uzgaia, and she... Sadness, like she had never felt before, flooded her heart.
She was not fit to be Andarra. She was nothing like the ocxoa women—brave and tall and fair. Nor could she take the shape of a wolf. Or do any of the things the ocxoa did. She was just a half-gypsy woman with no talents or wealth. Her uncle still refused to return her money to her.
Everyone would mock Jayden because of her—an orphaned duchess with no dowry.
In time, he would come to resent her.
And then there was his father. He was someone important—at least, that's what Jayden said. What if he did not approve of her once he saw her? What if he decided not to recognize Jayden as his son because he married her?
Rosalyn would have been a better mate to Jayden. She knew how to talk and dress and dance. And Jayden loved Rosalyn so much he had no more love to give to Mina.
She needed to get out of the house. Her hands shook, and she took a step back.
"Mina!" Jayden looked at her with worried eyes.
Her heart was racing in her chest, and she could not breathe. Jayden tried to reach for her, but she kept walking backward until she hit her back on the wall. He appeared to be shocked by her reaction. Not even she understood her reactions. "I can't!" she croaked. "Don't make me go to Isyleon Island!" She fisted her palms. "I want an annulment!"
Anger flashed in Jayden's eyes. "What the darkness are you talking about?" he snapped. A moment later, he was standing in front of her, his fingers wrapped around her neck. "You think you can do this to me now? I will drag you to the island if I have to!" he shouted.
The voices and the laughter from the kitchen died. The house was so silent Mina could hear the pounding of her heart.
Jayden waited for her to say something. To explain herself.
When she was more in control of her feelings, she spoke. "You will hate me!" Her voice was barely a whisper.
Jayden's anger turned into confusion. "Why would I hate you?"
"You love her! I know you do!" Jayden tried to say something, but Mina kept talking. "You dream of her! Most nights!" Jayden's eyebrows went up. "You would hug me in your sleep and call me Lyn and tell me how beautiful I am and how much you love me." Horror appeared on Jayden's face. "If you mark me—" she shook her head and blinked back her tears.
Jayden cupped her cheek, and she flinched. "Why didn't you tell me of this before?" He stared into her eyes, and she felt him looking at the pain in her heart. Her soul. "Gods, Mina! I had no idea! How often did I do this?"
Mina licked her lips. "Almost all the nights we have spent in the Stone Tribe." Jayden rubbed his face and muttered something under his breath. "Sometimes you would say how much you miss her."
Jayden cursed between gritted teeth. "Listen to me! I do not love her! Nor do I miss her! I didn't even think of her while we were gone. All I could think of was taking you to Isyleon Island. And let me make one thing clear to you. The only woman I would ever mark is you! Not only my dark side wants you, but I also want you."
"You do?"
"Why else would I endure you rubbing your cheeky ass on my cock night after night to the point of going crazy with lust for you?" A phantom smile appeared on Mina's face. "There is so much beauty and strength inside you, Mina, and not even if I were a complete moron would I let you walk away from me. You are my mate, little lamb, and if you don't want me to take you to Isyleon Island, so be it! Instead, I will take you to our room and mark you there!"
"You can't! You will lose your title!"
Something dark flashed in Jayden's eyes. "I don't give a fuck about my title! If you don't want to go to the Crystal Cave, that's ok. But either way, I will mark you, Mina! You are my wife. My mate. I am done waiting! Choose—our room or the Trials of the Land!"
Mina could not understand her irrational fear. Like Jayden, she had been eager for when he would take her to Isyleon Island and mate with her. And yet there was that 'what if' at the back of her mind that kept nagging her. If Jayden came to regret his decision to mark her, it would crush her soul. "Jayden," she pleaded.
"Choose, Mina! Because I have reached my limit, and I might fuck and mark you right here, where everyone can see us!"
Mina gasped. She would rather have him regret marrying her than him losing his title and rebuke her because of that. "Isyleon Island!" she replied quickly.
Jayden cupped both her cheeks and stared into her eyes. After what seemed a long time, he kissed her forehead. "The moment we step onto the island, I will talk to the Lady about me talking in my sleep because I never want to see the hurt in your eyes." His thumbs stroked her skin. "We leave for the port after we eat something."
Food was the last thing on Mina's mind. Despite Jayden reassuring her he was no longer in love with Rosalyn, she was still nervous about going to the Crystal Cave. But she had to do it. For him. "I need at least two hours to get ready! I want to bathe and—"
Jayden put a finger against her lips. "All is being taken care of. Ocxoa females are waiting for you to help you purify your body before they paint you and dress you. And when you are ready, I will be waiting for you in the forest." When Mina finally nodded her approval, Jayden let out a sigh of relief. "Aksel! If you are done staring and listening to my mate and me, make sure everything is ready for when we leave!"
Mina had been worried sick for Aksel and the others, but she wished Aksel would not have witnessed her discussion with Jayden. When she got kidnapped, Aksel was the one to receive the worst punishment from Jayden. For weeks, Jayden kept muttering unpleasant things about Aksel and the others.
Mina looked over Jayden's shoulder. Aksel appeared to be in good health. She was glad because the last time she saw him, he walked with a limp, and his face was covered in bruises.
"Just making sure Andarra is well, Commander." Jayden turned to face Aksel. "Before we leave, there are some things you need to know," said Aksel and shoved his hands in his pockets.
"We will talk in the Drawing Room. I will be there in a minute," said Jayden, and Aksel excused himself and left. To Mina, Jayden said, "Are you going to eavesdrop this time, too?"