The photographers in Banya would do just about anything for a glimpse of the illustrious Jax Bennett and the dangerous, glamorous life he represented. They had been following him since he was a child. In fact, Jax had been deemed an icon practically from birth. Thanks to his father, his grandfather, and his father before.
Jax was the direct descendant of Robert Bennett, the founder of the Scout program in the very beginning, before they were even called Scouts. Robert Bennett was also a member of the original Council, right alongside William Fairbanks, Jane Carpenter Fairbanks, and the notorious Sir Thomas Hastings.
By both birthright and public obligation, Jax Bennett had been called to carry the family legacy.
Of course, that didn’t mean they could force him to do it their way. If Jax had to be in the spotlight, he would at least have a little fun with it. From an early age he learned he could get away with almost anything. He could dress in wild clothes; he could do wild things. He could paint his face purple, climb to the top of the tallest building in Banya, and BASE jump off the roof to land skillfully in the center of Banya City Park. And they loved him for it.
Banya was his playground.
At least, it started out that way. After a while, the thrill of the show had lost its appeal.
The media crews and intrusive, lurking photographers stalked Jax at his mansion estate on Academy Row incessantly, hoping for just one more juicy story, one more enquiring shot to put on display for all Ambrosia to see.
Jax had pled with his father time and time again to convince the Council to crack down on the intrusions, to enforce some kind of regulations when it came to their privacy, but his father never saw it through. He would give half-hearted assurances that he was taking care of the matter, but nothing ever changed.
The thing was, Councilman Orion Bennett always got his way, even when it came to the Council. If the hounds were still knocking down Jax’s door, it was because his father wanted them to. After all, the Bennett name had to live on in its fame.
As long as his father wanted him in the limelight, that was where Jax would remain.
According to the Council’s regulations, members of the media of all forms were not supposed to cross onto private property at all, not without the owner’s permission. But it didn’t make a difference. They always found a way. Somehow, they always found a way.
Until now.
Jax’s property had been quiet for weeks. A strange peace and aloneness permeated the air like he had never experienced before. It was wonderful and unnerving all at the same time. They still followed him throughout the city as usual, but when he stepped foot on Academy Row or anywhere near the Academy at all, the media pests just disappeared. His father had made them disappear. And Jax had no doubt in his mind that he knew the reason why.
It was because of her. It was all because of her.
***
Sadie thrust her palm up at his chin, but Jax blocked it easily.
“Come on, Sade, that was weak,” Jax teased.
Her arms swung, throwing a jab-cross at his face. He blocked her again.
“Focus,” Jax told her. “Try again.”
She repositioned her stance with more determination, and came back with a combination jab-cross-left hook. The movement was sloppy. Jax grabbed her wrist out of the hook and drove her arm down, forcing it back behind her shoulder and locking her under his hold. When he heard her wince in pain, he released his grip.
Sadie took a step back on the mat, rubbing her shoulder, her eyes staring down at the gym floor.
“We should take a break,” Jax said.
She nodded quietly, trying to catch her breath, and started to walk away.
His eyes followed after her. Something seemed off today. She wasn’t herself.
“Hey, wait up,” Jax called. Sadie stopped and turned.
“Is everything okay?” he asked. “I mean, I know this is probably Rayne’s department, but… is there anything you want to talk about?”
She sighed. “I think I just need a minute to clear my head. I’ll be fine.”
Jax knew he should let her walk away. It wasn’t his place to be her shoulder to cry on. He was there to prepare her for the Academy, not complicate her life with some secret desire to be close to her.
But he just couldn’t help it. There was something about her that constantly drew him in, making him feel this strange desire to be near her whenever possible. He had never felt that with anyone before. It was like she made him feel real, like a person instead of a character in some person’s fantasy.
And she had this quality about her… like a light from within. It always made him feel at ease. The more time he spent with her, the more he felt like he was finding his true self, probably for the first time in his entire life.
She carried some undeniable strength with her that radiated from within, yet he could see that she was struggling too, lately more than ever. She was powerful and fragile at the same time. It was endearing. And inspiring. Something about her made him want to be a better person, to try a little harder, to strive to be something more. He felt it just by being near her, and he couldn’t help it, he wanted to be near her always.
He didn’t know if he wanted to kiss her, or just admire her. Just be close enough to feel the way he did when he was with her.
What was he even thinking? Of course he would never kiss her. He wouldn’t. He couldn’t. He wasn’t even sure he wanted to. She was just too… uncorrupted. It felt like, even so much as a kiss from someone like him would just be wrong, like it would taint her somehow.
He just wanted to feel her light. That was it. It had to be. She was a special girl and a good friend and… Rayne’s girlfriend. And that was it. That had to be it.
Rayne was a great guy and a good friend. Maybe Jax’s only real friend. Both of them were—Sadie and Rayne. Jax couldn’t afford to lose that when his list of genuine friendships was already so small.
So far, it had been easy to suppress his feelings for her. He was Jax Bennett after all; one of his greatest skills was hiding his true self behind a mask. All he had to do was keep himself distracted, and for someone like him, distractions were easy to find.
But today was harder for some reason. Seeing her that way, looking so vulnerable instead of wearing her usual radiant smile, Jax just couldn’t help it. He had to find a way to make her smile again.
“Sadie,” he called. She stopped and looked back at him from the doorway. “Actually,” he began, “there was something I wanted to talk to you about, if that’s okay?”
“Oh,” she said with a hint of hesitation. “Um, yeah.” She paused in the doorway. Then she shook her head and took a step toward him. “I mean, of course. Of course we can talk. What is it? Is everything okay?”
The corner of Jax’s mouth curved upward. When he looked at her he couldn’t help it. “Everything’s fine. I just wanted to… uh… to thank you.”
Her head tilted to the side. “Thank me? For what?”
“Just, you know, for being a friend to me these past few weeks. The truth is, you’re the only person I know who doesn’t treat me like a trophy they hope to put up on their shelf, you know what I mean?”
She smiled quietly and placed her hand on his arm. “I know, Jax. You’ve been a good friend to me too. I wish I could make the rest of them see you the way I see you.”
Her touch on his skin was like a surge of energy. Jax stared back at her, frozen, mesmerized. There it was again; that light inside her, shining out through her eyes like heavenly diamonds, like stardust lived within her waiting to break free.
Sadie dropped her hand. “Don’t forget about Rayne,” she said.
Jax tensed.
“He’s been a good a friend to you too,” she added.
“Um, yeah.” Jax pushed down the lump in his throat, forcing himself back to his senses. “Yes,” he said, “Rayne is a great friend. The best actually.”
And then, for a brief moment, Sadie’s radiant smile returned to her face.
“Why don’t you take a five minute break,” Jax said, “but then get ready to work.” He nudged her playfully. “I think there’s a punching bag over there calling your name.”
Her smile vanished. “Actually, I think I’ll just head outside for a run. That always seems to clear my head.”
She turned her back, but Jax reached for her arm with a smirk. “Wait just a minute, my little lizzy fruit. We’re not done here.”
Sadie stopped and folded her arms. “Oh really?”
He reached for a set of gloves and tossed them at her. “Yes. Really. I’m the trainer, and you’re the trainee. Remember? That means you have to do what I say…”
Sadie rolled her eyes and put on the gloves. “I’m really not in the mood to punch things right now.”
“Sorry, but I think you are in the mood.” Jax moved behind the heavy bag where it hung from the ceiling. “Now get over here and show me what you’ve got.”
She exhaled impatiently and stood in front of the bag, staring right at him as if to say, okay, I’m here, so what do you want me to do?
Jax stared back at her without a blink. “You know the drill. Start punching.”
Sadie sent a weak right jab across the surface of the bag.
“Again,” he demanded.
She sent two more punches into the bag. It barely moved beneath his grip.
“Come on,” he challenged. “I know you can do better than that.”
Sadie stared back at him with tired eyes. “I’m just not feeling it today.”
Jax looked at her carefully, trying to hide his concern. “You want to be a Water Keeper, don’t you?” he said.
She sighed. “Yes.”
“And you want people to take you seriously at the Academy?”
She exhaled a long breath. “Yes…”
“And do you think training to be an agent or going out on missions or anything about being a Keeper is going to be some easy walk in the park?”
Sadie’s jaw went tight. “No. Of course not.”
“You’re upset about something,” Jax said firmly. “And if you want to be a successful agent you’re going to have to learn to deal with your stress. Now hit… the bag.” Then he shoved it right into her chest.
Her feet stumbled back. The next two seconds looked like an eternity on her face as she scowled painfully at the punching bag.
Then, she gave into the rage, and her fists started to fly.
The force of her hits threw the bag into Jax’s face. He watched her intently as frustration bled out through her hands, punching and punching and punching again.
“Now get it out,” he demanded. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
With an angry grunt, her foot sprang into the air, kicking the bag with all her strength. Jax staggered back from the force of the blow. When the bag swung back in Sadie’s direction she lifted her hand and jammed the back of it down into the side of the bag. Then her head collapsed into her hands as if she couldn’t take it anymore.
“He’s dead,” she muttered through her gloves.
Jax moved forward cautiously. “Who is, Sade? Who’s dead?”
She lifted her head. “The guy… from my test yesterday.”
Jax’s heart immediately dropped when he saw the tears streaming down her cheeks.
Her sobs were full of anger. “I let him die,” she cried. “I could have saved him, but I let him die.”
Her shoulders shook with emotion. She let her body sink down as if ready to fall to the floor. Jax couldn’t let her fall. He pulled her into him, holding her up with his embrace.
“It’s okay,” he whispered. His arms held her tightly. “Just let it out.”
Her voice shook in his ear. “I don’t want to be the one to decide, Jax. I can’t handle that kind of weight on my shoulders. I just can’t.”
“I know…” he soothed. “I know.”
His teeth clenched just thinking about it… all the things they were making her do, that his father was making her do. Sadie had a gift. Her healing ability was nothing short of a miracle. They should be treating her like royalty, not forcing her to be some kind of science experiment.
Jax’s tone went rigid. “Sadie, listen to me. You don’t have to do any of this if you don’t want to; I’ll find a way.”
Her sobs quieted, but her only response was a small nod of her head, causing her cheek to brush across his shoulder. She rested her chin against him, still allowing him to cradle her in his arms.
Jax closed his eyes, wishing that he was meant to be the one, the one to always be there for her.
A moment later, Sadie wiped under her eyes, regaining her composure. “Sorry. I guess I didn’t realize how upset I was about it.”
“Don’t apologize,” Jax said. “It’s always better to let it out.” He sat down at the edge of the gym mat, resting his arms over his knees. “Believe me; I know.”
Sadie gave him a funny look as she sat down beside him. “Really? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you get upset. Not even once. You’re always so cool and collected.”
He shook his head. “I’ve just learned how to hide it well. But believe me, that punching bag has taken plenty of beatings before you came along.”
Sadie laughed weakly, but then they both went quiet.
After a pause she turned to him with imploring eyes. “Jax…?” she began. “Have you ever…?” She looked down. “Have you ever had to decide whether someone should live or die?”
His voice was quiet as he replied. “Yes. I have.” He paused and stared at the floor. “Every time I lead a team out on a mission, I feel the weight of their lives in my hands... But that feels like nothing compared to the things I’ve had to do in the name of the Council, even if it is to protect the people of Ambrosia.”
Sadie looked at him hesitantly. “So, being a Scout can get pretty intense?”
“You could say that,” Jax replied.
“Do you mind me asking what Scouts do?” Sadie asked. “I’m supposed to be training to be an agent, but I feel like I have no idea what really goes on out there. Everyone in Banya just makes it sound so glitzy and glamourous.”
“I wish that’s all it was,” Jax said. “But there’s a lot more to it than that. I don’t know if you know this, but Ambrosia’s entire way of life is dependent on Earth. We’re so small here in comparison that we really don’t have the resources to keep things up on our own. Our entire system is based on borrowing from Earth without them even realizing it. Basically, Scouts go in and take whatever we think we need. One team might be sent in to acquire advanced weaponry, while another might be sent to retrieve everyday technological devices, like cell phones or computers.”
“Wow, I had no idea,” Sadie said.
“Honestly, sometimes it feels like we’re just a bunch of thieves. And that’s not even the worst of it.”
Sadie stared back at him intently.
Jax paused. “Scouts are also required to... tie up loose ends.”
She squinted. “What do you mean?”
Jax’s gaze fell. “We... make sure no one on Earth finds out that Ambrosia or the Healing Water exists, even if we have to take drastic measures to keep people quiet.” He glanced up at her sadly, hoping she wouldn’t make him explain it in detail.
“Drastic measures?” she questioned. “Like what?”
He took in a long breath. “Um, sometimes we simply force people to the border for memory wipes against their will, but other times... let’s just say... things can get a little messy.”
Sadie’s eyes went wide. “Oh... so you guys...” her voice trailed off, as if she needed a moment to let it sink in. “But, do a lot of people on Earth even find out?”
“That depends on what you consider a lot,” Jax said. He shook his head. “One was enough for me.”
Sadie gazed back at him for a long moment, as if she could feel the pains from his past, as if somehow she understood.
She reached out her hand and placed it on his. “I’m sorry, Jax. That couldn’t have been easy.”
Jax gazed back at her, squeezing her hand. “Thanks,” he said. “But, just so you know... you’re handling it way better than me.”
Sadie’s mouth lifted. “Well, maybe aside from the gallon of tears I just exploded all over your boxing gloves.”
He laughed. “I’m sure they’ll survive.” Then he looked at her warmly. “And I know you will too.”
Sadie’s arm wrapped around his side as she leaned into him. “Thanks, Jax. I think I needed that.”