20. The Womb of the Realm #2
Malec’s gaze flew to his father, hunting for the smallest fracture. A whisper of denial. The faintest tremor of deceit. Surin did not offer him even that mercy. His face had gone still and immovable, the gravity of his stillness pressed every potential argument flat before it could rise.
Malec looked back down at his mother, who was fighting back tears she refused to let fall. "Explain yourself."
Leira's hand trembled as she rubbed her throat. She stared into the fire, her voice barely above a whisper.
“After Surian’s birth, Vash’telor found me.
” The confession emerged slowly, each word dragged from somewhere tender and long sealed.
“Another Awyan with no fortune to his name, no years beyond mine to lend him stature. Yet his spirit answered mine without hesitation. We bound our souls to one another.”
Leira’s lungs worked hard to pull in much needed air through the sputtering and coughing but she continued anyways.
"Surin found out and had his Canariae poison him.
" Her voice cracked. "Killed him when I wasn't even there to be with him in his last moments.
He died alone. His end was full of torture and all for the crime of loving me. "
She gasped, her hand clutching at her chest as though the bond still tore at her even now, centuries later.
Surin's hand moved toward her shoulder again, hovering. She slapped it away viciously.
"I know what you felt before you even knew what you felt, Malec." She turned to look at him, her eyes glassy but burning. "I have felt it times a thousand. There is no greater pain than your soul ripping apart while you can do nothing to soothe it."
Her voice dropped, hollow and terrible.
"The only reason I did not join my love in death was because of the pure need to see Surin suffer.
And yes, even if it meant bringing you into it, I did it.
" She straightened, defiant despite the bruises blooming on her throat.
"I am not sorry. I can't be. It's all I want—to see him and that THING live as long as they can with the pain they cursed me with. Perhaps one day the fury will loosen its grip and I will be ready to return to the earth, to lie beside the only soul who ever matched mine. Until that hour arrives…”
She looked at Surin with pure hatred.
"This is my only purpose."
And with that, she turned and walked from the room, her steps unsteady but determined.
The pressure from her admittance crushed the air flat.
Surin looked up slowly at his son.
Malec's eyes were wide, shaken, horrified.
Surin could not bear his son looking at him like that, but he knew he owed him the truth.
"What she has said is true," Surin said quietly. "And I will live with that for the rest of my life. But dragging you into it..." His voice faltered. "That is unforgivable."
He rose to his feet and turned, following the Awyan woman he had destroyed, hoping to at least be there when she finally crashed.
Malec stood alone in the parlor, surrounded by the wreckage of his family, and wondered how many more secrets would come to light before this was over.
The White Room lived up to its name. Cream walls met off-white trim, stark and clean, broken only by the black iron chandelier overhead and the large windows that framed the fading sunset. The space felt peaceful, almost sterile, a place designed for healing.
Allora lay propped against pillows, her son cradled in her arms for the first time. He was fighting sleep, his tiny eyelids drooping before fluttering open again, determined to stay awake. His pale sand eyes caught the light each time.
Luko and Surian sat on either side of the bed, leaning in close, utterly captivated.
"Look at his little fingers," Surian whispered, her voice soft with wonder.
"They are so chubby," Luko agreed smiling.
Surian’s expression shifted, her smile fading into uncertainty. She clasped her hands together, her pale blue eyes troubled.
"Allora, I..." She hesitated, then forced the words out. "I want to know if you're angry with me. Do you hate?—"
"Hush," Allora interrupted, looking up with a smile only she could pull off, warm and entirely too perceptive. "I get it. I understand your world." And to tell you the truth, mine isn't really that much different. Especially now that everything's gone to shit."
She shifted the baby slightly, adjusting his weight against her sore chest. "There's no way I could actually hate you. Was I mad? Sure. I'm not exactly known for my patience. But I still see you as my big sister." Her gaze slid to Luko. "And you as my punching bag."
Relief washed over them both like a wave. Surian's eyes filled with tears, and Luko let out a breathless laugh.
They moved in together, wrapping their arms around Allora in a careful embrace.
"GENTLE," Allora bellowed. "My boobs are sore as hell and I have an open wound between my legs!"
They both pulled back immediately, laughing through their tears.
Allora grinned at Luko. "Besides, Luko let me go in one of those waystation towns, so we're even."
Luko's smile turned proud, conspiratorial. "That better stay a secret, or Malec will skin me alive."
Allora's gaze snagged on the bandage wrapped around his head. Her brows furrowed. "Did Malec already beat you up for something?"
She said it like a joke, but the pause that followed made her stomach drop.
Luko’s expression hardened, a bitter glint rising in his eyes. “He threw me into a wall when I tried to stop him from hurting the baby.”
Allora's mouth fell open.
"I'm not shocked he'd do that," she said slowly. "Just shocked he'd turn on you, the one person that was there with him when he was falling apart. You're his best and only friend."
Luko shrugged, but the hurt was visible beneath the casual gesture. "Apparently that didn't matter in the moment."
"Did he apologize?"
Luko's laugh sounded almost offended, humorless. "Does he ever?"
Allora's eyes flashed. "I'm gonna have a chat with High Lord Asshat next time I see him. How dare he do that when you literally saved his son's life from himself?"
Luko rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling despite himself. "It's not worth it. I'm resigning from the Talandros house anyway."
Allora tilted her head, her tone shifting. "Would you mind helping me and Kalemon figure out how to raise a hybrid baby that apparently has demon powers and could grow up to kill us all?"
Luko's face broke into a genuine laugh, the bitterness melting away. "I was hoping you'd ask."
Surian wiped tears of joy from her face, smiling through them. "I've missed your weird Canariae mischief."
Allora looked between them both, her expression softening. "I was thinking about you two while I was away. Let's make it a habit not to leave each other from now on."
"Agreed," Luko said.
"Agreed," Surian echoed, reaching out to find Allora's hand and squeezing it gently.
Surian's eyes lit up as she looked at Allora. "Have you thought of a name for the baby?"
Allora blinked. "Oh, right. I have to do that, don't I?"
Luko chimed in, grinning. "If you don't name him soon, Surin will give him some variation of his own name."
"Oh hell no." Allora grimaced. "Uhh... maybe I should talk to Malec about it first?"
Then she looked at Luko, then at Surian, both of whom had been through hell during this whole drama between her and Malec. A wicked smile spread across her face.
Surian and Luko exchanged glances. Uh oh. What's brewing in that Canariae brain of hers?
"I might know of a way to get justice for Luko," Allora said sweetly.
"Please don't get me involved," Luko said quickly. "I've had enough beatings."
"Nonsense. Justice must prevail!"
Surian giggled despite herself.
The door creaked open cautiously. A tall but thinner, visibly worn Awyan commander slipped into the room. His pale tan eyes swept the scene before resting on Allora holding their son.
He approached slowly, his voice soft. "My dove, how are you feeling?—"
"You better be apologizing to Luko, you big ape."
Luko's head snapped toward Allora. Surian's mouth fell open.
But Allora held her ground, staring Malec down.
Malec shifted, his gaze moving to Luko's bandaged head. Guilt flitted across his face as he took in the blood-stained linen, the crack in Luko's left lens.
"Luko... I..." He hesitated. "I was enraged and?—"
"WRONG! That's not an apology. Try again."
Surian tried to gently swat Allora's arm, terrified her brother would lash out. But to her shock, Malec stood there riddled with what looked like genuine remorse.
He tried again. "Luko, I was wrong to harm you?—"
"I think you should apologize on your knees!"
Luko turned to Allora. "Allora, that's a bit petty."
Allora lifted herself higher, baby still in her arms, her Canariae defiance rising several notches.
"Like, no the fuck it's not." She paused.
"Actually, you know what? You're right. It is petty.
But I'm tired of all of you giving him a special pass every time he hurts someone. It's why he is the way he is."
Malec, without speaking, walked up to Luko.
And knelt.
"Luko." He bowed his head. "My brother, you have always been by my side, and Allora is right. I don't deserve your absolute loyalty. I know that I am... difficult?—"
"You mean an entitled over-grown bitch," Allora interrupted, rubbing it in.
Luko pressed his hand to his mouth, trying desperately not to laugh while Malec was attempting his first real apology.
Malec's lips twitched upward in a strained smile. "Yes, my love. You are correct. I was a…exactly that, an Awyan with far too many emotions and no idea how to deal with them, and I hurt those around me. All of you." His gaze moved to Surian. "Even you, Surian."
Surian's hand flew to her chest, tears filling her eyes.
Malec looked at his sister, who sat next to his glaring, beautiful wife holding him with daggers in her eyes. And despite everything, he was happy. Finally, she was back in his world, and he would willingly choose to burn in her gaze for the rest of his life.