Chapter 15 #2
“I jumped into that pit because I knew you would get us out. One thing you’ll discover about me is that I’m cocky but not suicidal.
I trusted you with both our lives, and you came through.
There was no way I could get us all the way up with my daggers.
Although I knew it, I thought we could get a bit higher before they all melted. In that, I failed.”
I shuddered as I remembered how insanely quick the heat wrecked the blades. Even now, I could smell Gavin’s skin burning on top of the acrid scent of his leather suit also melting.
“When my last dagger melted, Zhara’s quick thinking saved us when she whipped out her braid blade.
I never even thought of it. But it allowed me to get us high enough for you to pull us up the rest of the way.
And that’s why we’re a team. When one fails or falls short, someone else steps up, and we get each other out to safety,” Gavin said forcefully.
My heart melted seeing how deeply his words moved Vahl. He stared at my mate, his eyes gleaming with gratitude. None of it erased how overwhelmed my twin still felt about the burden he had to shoulder, but we needed to take each small victory as they came.
“I never looked at it that way,” Vahl said sheepishly.
“I’m not surprised,” Gavin said softly. “You’re too humble for that.”
Vahl snorted. “Hardly. A lot of people would say that I’m an arrogant prick.”
I chuckled and nodded. “You can be when you want to.”
He made a face at me and playfully elbowed me. To our surprise, Gavin didn’t smile or laugh with us but stared at my brother with great intensity.
“I didn’t want to join the Sentinels,” Gavin said, shocking us both.
“The only reason I came here was to be with Zhara. My people wanted me to become the next Magnar. That position held zero interest for me. I wanted to serve Keran, to follow a leader I respected and believed in. The entire time I prepared for my journey here, I hoped you would be at least half the man that he is. But you turned out to be just like him. Except you’re prettier and have funky powers. ”
We both snorted, even as relief washed over us.
For the longest time, I wondered how badly it upset Gavin to leave everything behind to come be with me.
Every time I tried to picture myself separating from my family and loved ones to move halfway across the galaxy, my stomach painfully twisted.
Had our roles been reversed, would I have left to be with him?
Not before the Great War ended. My brother needed me, and I would never abandon him in this most trying time for both sectors of the galaxy.
But after that, as much as it pained me, yes, I would have made that sacrifice to be with him.
“You don’t know me,” Vahl challenged, sobering.
“I do,” Gavin countered with a certainty that took both of us aback.
“I’ve spent the past fifteen years getting to know you through Zhara.
And like I mentioned earlier, I watched the body cams. Not once did you worry about yourself.
Your sole concern was saving us. Your team blindly trusts you and gladly follows you.
That kind of loyalty cannot be bought or coerced.
That tells me all I need to know about you. ”
Vahl scrunched his face and rubbed his nape, a telltale sign of his embarrassment.
“You don’t have to say that,” he mumbled.
Gavin huffed.
“I’m well aware. And you will soon realize that I don’t suck up or flatter anyone.
One thing I can promise is that you will always get the truth from me, no matter how ugly it may be,” Gavin said in a serious tone.
“I came here for Zhara, but now I follow you for you. Keran showed me the kind of man I wanted to serve, and now I know that man is you.”
Tears pricked my eyes, and I blinked rapidly to stem them back.
The way Vahl swallowed hard a few times back-to-back broadcast loudly that he was deeply touched.
I had hoped my mate would see the wonderful male who lurked inside my brother, but this exceeded my wildest dreams. I didn’t know whether he realized what powerful healing his words were enacting on my twin.
Gavin placed his hand on my brother’s right shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“You’re going to lead the greatest army in the galaxy, and we will win,” he said in an imperious tone.
“Do not fret about that burden. It is not yours to shoulder, but ours. Everyone has their role, and we must all play our part. We survived the attack on that base because everyone did what they had to do. And we’ll continue to do the same going forward.
You’re my general by choice, and not out of loyalty to my mate. ”
Vahl quietly stared at Gavin for what felt like an eternity.
They sustained each other’s gazes without tension or competition.
It almost felt like watching my twin and me having one of our silent communications.
Then Vahl extended a hand towards Gavin.
He reciprocated, and they clasped each other’s forearms in the warrior greeting.
“Will you be my First Officer?” Vahl asked.
My heart skipped a beat. I stared at Gavin, who seemed genuinely stunned by the request. Although I knew he wasn’t a suck-up—as he’d so well stated only moments prior—this further proved he hadn’t said such wondrous words to jockey for position. He merely meant them.
It was Gavin’s turn to swallow hard before giving Vahl a stiff nod.
“It would be my honor.”
“Good,” Vahl said in a firm tone. “Never coddle me. Never tell me what I want to hear. And never hesitate to keep me accountable when I fuck up.”
A mischievous glimmer sparked in Gavin’s eyes.
“Me? That’s one thing you’ll never have to worry about. I’m an ass. I’ll take great pleasure in calling you out on your bullshit,” he replied with a shit-eating grin.
I snorted and shook my head at Gavin, making it clear I thought he was silly. But Vahl remained stoic. To my shock, he released my mate’s forearm, took his hand, and placed mine in his. My throat constricted as he held both of our hands together.
“She is my heart,” Vahl said, glancing at me before staring back at Gavin. “I would tell you to take good care of her, but I don’t need to. You look at her the same way Dad looks at Mom… like she’s the Goddess herself.”
“Because to me, she is,” Gavin said in a solemn voice that had a throng of butterflies taking flight in the pit of my stomach.
“I know,” Vahl said with a wistful smile before taking on a stern expression as he dropped our hands. “Now go pack, both of you. We leave right after lunch tomorrow.”
We both snorted.
“Yes, General,” Gavin replied.
Vahl smiled, poked his index finger in my left dimple, and then watched us exit his room.