Savage

Chapter 7

Xev came awake to the scent of lavender and roses. Lifting his hand, he gasped at the wave of pain that racked him. Gah, his entire body ached.

Then he remembered the arrows. Most of all, he remembered the agony that had driven him unconscious.

Am I dead?

No. This wasn’t any nether realm that he knew of. It was too pleasant. And if he was dead, he doubted he’d hurt this badly. Death was supposed to bring an end to his misery. Though with his luck, that wouldn’t happen.

Somehow, his mother would find a way to torment him, dead or alive.

Looking around, he frowned. A wall of doors on his left were wide open, letting in a gentle breeze that kept the room cool. That wasn’t the odd part.

He was in a strange bed, in a room he’d never seen before—feminine and dainty, pink had exploded everywhere. And the sheets were made of the softest material he’d ever touched. Never in his life had he seen anything like this.

What had happened?

Where was he?

His last memory was flying out of the shadows…Well, it’d been more like half-controlled falling and tumbling. He hadn’t flown that badly since he’d been a toddler first learning to use his wings.

“You’re awake.”

Rolling over, he turned to see…

Ah crap.

Not her.

Anyone but her.

Yet there was no mistaking the Sephiroth he’d seen practicing with Kissare. Only now, her hair was loose about her shoulders, flowing to the middle of her back. And those blue eyes seared him. More than that, she was so close to him that he could reach out and touch her.

It was tempting…

She was so incredibly beautiful. So dainty. He’d never seen any creature more enticing. Up close, he reminded her more of a tiny fairy sprite than a warrior, especially with that pert little nose.

With a worried frown, she brought a cup of water to him and sat on the edge of his bed. “Here. Drink slowly.”

He took the cup from her hands, trying not to notice how perfectly delicate and manicured they were. “Where am I?”

“The hall of the Sephirii.”

“This doesn’t look like a hall.”

A becoming blush stained her golden cheeks. “It’s our barracks. You’re in my room.”

More to the point, he was in her bed, and that knowledge brought out all kinds of thoughts he didn’t want to have while she was in the room with him. Mostly, because he was sure she’d slap him if she could read his mind.

“Any idea why I’m here?”

Myone blinked at his question in a way that said it confused her. “You’re joking?”

“Sarcasm. It’s my native tongue. Since I’m in your bed, I assume you know how I got in it.” He glanced under the blanket and realized something quite embarrassing. “Naked. I just don’t know why you’d bring me here and disrobe me.”

That caused her to bolt from the bed and put more feet between them than he wanted. “Your clothes were ruined by all the arrows.” She went to a small chest near the window and picked up a small bundle. “I have more for you. Perhaps you should put them on.”

She was completely flummoxed, and that made him want to smile. She was even more exquisite up close.

And without thinking, he set the cup on the table beside the bed and drew back the covers to reach for the clothes in her arms.

With a horrified shriek, she instantly vanished. How weird was that?

Had he frightened her? He hadn’t meant to.

“Uh…Clothes?” he asked. “I need something to wear.”

They appeared in a pile at his feet, and then he understood what had caused her to bolt so unexpectedly.

Xev laughed at the sight, and at her reaction, which told him she was as innocent as she appeared. Just thinking of that also made him glad that she’d vanished when she had. He didn’t need her to know how much he was attracted to her. That knowledge was dangerous to both of them.

* * *

Myone stoodin the hallway outside her room, trying to regain some semblance of decorum.

Her face was so hot, she was amazed her cheeks hadn’t burst into flames. When they first brought Jaden’s son in for treatment, she’d told herself it was because even the evil needed help. It was wrong to leave him for his enemies to find.

But when they’d removed those arrows and his clothes, and she’d seen the multitude of scars that marred his flesh…

When had someone not been trying to kill him? He was just a young man surely no older than she was, yet his body had been marred with scars. Not even their strongest or bravest warriors who’d been in battles for centuries carried the number of scars he did. His body was a road map of anguish.

That had made her hurt for him. No one should be subjected to so much pain.

To her dismay, Kuru had laughed about the scars. “He really must upset his mother a lot.”

His comment had confused her. “What?”

He’d gestured at the young god’s bloody body. “I’ve heard it said that Azura never spares a whip, and I’ve seen these scars on others who serve her. Judging by this amount, he must go out of his way to anger his mother. Probably a few others, too.”

Without thinking, she’d placed her hand against a particularly long, nasty scar that ran from his stomach to his hip and up under his arm.

Poor thing. She couldn’t imagine anyone hurting her like this. Not for any reason. While her mother had perished just hours after her birth, she knew her mother would have never beaten her, especially not like this. Nor could she imagine her father allowing it.

Why would Jaden not stop this or protect his son? She’d always thought of the light gods as being decent and caring.

This wasn’t care. It was horrible, and it made her heart ache that his parents refused to protect him.

Even now, she saw those scars and wanted to know why his father hated him so. What he could possibly do to make a mother beat him until he bled. It just didn’t make sense.

Clearing her throat, Myone knocked on her door. “Daraxerxes? Are you dressed?”

No answer.

She knocked again. “Daraxerxes?”

And again, nothing. Not even the rustle of cloth.

Myone scowled as she debated what to do. Should she go in?

What if he’s still naked?

She covered her face with her hands, unable to believe how bold he’d been when he stood up. She would have died of embarrassment. But apparently, he had no modesty whatsoever.

Or maybe he’d wanted to shock her.

Maybe he was still trying to.

“This is ridiculous.” She drew a trembling breath. “I’m coming back in. Please make sure you’re dressed or covered.”

Myone opened the door to find her room completely empty.

He was gone?

Why? She looked around the room and found no trace of him. Except he’d left something on her bed.

Even more confused, she went to see what it was.

A single red rose lay upon her pillow with a simple, handwritten note.

Thank you.

There was no other sign that he’d ever been here. He’d even changed her sheets so that they were no longer marred with his blood.

Her hand trembling, she reached out for the note that held his strong, masculine script. Two simple words, yet they touched her deeply. It made no sense.

Nor did the sensation of emptiness inside her.

You’re not sentimental. What’s wrong with you?

That was certainly true. Her father had raised her to be a warrior, as he was. Tough. Emotionless.

Just as her mother had been. They had no other purpose than to abide by the will of the gods they served. Her goal had always been to become the Sephirii second-in-command one day.

To stand strong at Kissare’s side in battle and protect their gods.

She wasn’t far from it. There was only one Sephiroth who ranked between her and Kissare. Sadly, that Sephiroth was also Kissare’s brother, Tisahn. But she felt certain that if she worked hard enough, she could rise to Tisahn’s position one day.

So why were her thoughts being wasted on someone she’d most likely never see again?

He was gone.

She had duties to attend.

Forcing herself to put him out of her thoughts, she put his note away and took the rose to her table.

It would be a shame to throw it out.

Wasteful.

That was the lie she told herself as she carefully put it in a vase with water and left it on the table beside her bed.

There was nothing sentimental about this.

She was being practical. Preserving a piece of beauty. Nothing more to it than that.

And she was too busy for such nonsense. He’d left her without so much as a goodbye. Obviously, they were strangers, and it was all they’d ever be.

“Peace to you, Lord Daraxerxes.” And with that, she left the room.

* * *

Xev sighedas he watched her leave from the shadows he’d stepped into when he heard her returning.

You’re such a coward.

He wouldn’t argue that. But what was there to say? She was a tool of the Primals. He was their outcast.

They had no business together. No matter how much he might wish to know her better, he didn’t dare.

Braith was one of the Primals. Her powers were absolute, and the others were already turning on her just for being pregnant. If they ever learned Kissare was the father of her child…

Kissare was dead. They would brutally kill him.

Given that, Myone was off-limits. Xev would never stand by and watch her pay the price for hormones he didn’t even want.

Besides, he had something a lot more important to deal with.

Someone had come at his back. He didn’t know who, but he was going to find out, and when he did, there would be an accounting. And the perpetrator would bleed a lot more than he had.

Turning around, he left and headed back to his own rooms. But as he flew, he wondered more and more about who’d come for him.

And why.

“Shadow?” he called as soon as he was in his bedroom.

“Don’t you have a life?”

He snorted at Shadow’s surly question. “Not really. And someone almost ended what little bit of one I manage.”

Shadow appeared beside him instantly. He pulled his shirt on, then fastened his breeches. “What?”

“I was in Skatos when someone ambushed me.”

Shadow blinked slowly as if digesting those words. “Is that why you’ve been silent over the last four days?”

Those words shocked him. “What?”

“Mal and I have tried to contact you several times. We were getting worried. Is that where you’ve been?”

Xev ignored the question. “Four days?” He was astounded that he’d been out for so long. His best guess had been a couple of hours.

Had Myone really been tending him for days? Why would she have done that?

“Four days,” Shadow repeated. “One more day and we were going to send out hunters for you.” He raked his hand through his unbound hair so that he could pull it back into a tight ponytail. “Ambushed you how?”

Xev opened his tunic to show his brother the healing wounds. “Used me as their arrow catcher.”

The color faded from Shadow’s face. “Shit…Who’d you piss off?”

“No idea. Other than my mother, but she wouldn’t have done this in secret.” She’d have wanted to see the look on his face while she ripped him apart. Her game was pain. She never went after someone in secret. “Who could go to your domain and dare this?”

Anger flickered in Shadow’s eyes. “You don’t think I?—”

“If I thought you’d done this, we wouldn’t be speaking. We’d be fighting. I know better. Who has access to the shadows?”

“Unfortunately, most demons. Some gods. It’s not like it’s a secret. It’s basically open to anyone who as the powers to access it.”

That was what Xev was afraid of. “So, it could be anyone.”

“Yeah. But why come after you?”

“That’s what I want to know. Azura had just put me on a mission for her when I was run down. So I doubt she was behind it.” Then again, his mother was deranged. Capable of anything, anytime.

She didn’t do this.

Yeah, as much as he’d like to think that, he did know better.

“How’d you survive it?”

Xev gave him a dry smirk. “Flew out of the realm to a place I didn’t think a demon would dare follow me.”

“Good call. But where wouldn’t a demon go?” No sooner had Shadow spoken those words than he cursed. “Oh really? Sephirii? Are you out of your mind? What were you thinking?”

Xev had no idea why his brother was surprised. “Can you think of anyplace better?”

“Well, yeah, but the gods there would have taken your head for daring to fly into their palaces or temples.”

“Exactly. The only chance I had was that the Sephirii would hesitate before they killed me.” He closed his tunic. “Thankfully, my gamble worked.”

Shadow nodded. “What did you tell the Sephirii?”

“Nothing. I don’t really know anything other than I was shot. A lot.”

Shadow sucked his breath in sharply between his teeth. “I don’t envy you, little brother.”

“I don’t envy me either. Is there any way you can help me figure out who did this?”

“There’s someone…” Shadow’s voice drifted off as if he were thinking twice about it.

“Who is it?”

“Lombrey.” No sooner had he spoken the name than the darkest shadow in the corner of Xev’s room took on the form of a tall, muscular man. With hair darker than night, he had caramel skin and eyes as golden as Myone’s wings.

That being said, he was as huge as Jaden. Maybe more so.

Given his own height, Xev didn’t normally look up at anyone. But he had to this time. Lombrey towered over Shadow, who barely reached the middle of his chest.

More than that, there was a darkness in those eyes that rivaled Noir’s. It was palpable, and it ignited every evil gene inside Xev’s body.

When Lombrey started toward Xev, Shadow stopped him. “Xev’s a friend.”

Lombrey didn’t speak. He merely froze then cast a sinister scowl toward Shadow.

“I know. Trust me. He’s friendly. And he was attacked in the shadows four days ago. Did you see anything when it happened?”

Lombrey shook his head, then gestured at Shadow.

“Is he saying something?” Xev asked.

“No. He’s telling me that I should be careful. He felt something the day you were attacked, but he doesn’t know what it was. The one thing it wasn’t was a demon. You have an unknown enemy. Watch your back.”

Lombrey vanished.

“Who was that?” Xev asked Shadow once they were alone again.

“He’s the darkness we all fear. His soul is made up of millions of screaming victims.”

Well, that was terrifyingly ominous and it sent a shiver down Xev’s spine. “What?”

Shadow inclined his head. “He’s the eternal death that was created alongside the Primals.”

Eternal death? That didn’t make sense. “Isn’t all death eternal?”

“No. Not all death. You can actually come back from a number of them. Except for his. Lombrey swallows the soul and devours everything he touches. He is the nightmare that haunts all creatures. That fear we have that if we die, there’s nothing left of us.”

“And he lives in Skatos?”

Shadow nodded.

“Why?”

“For an obvious reason, no one wants him. I stumbled across him long ago and offered him a home in Skatos with me.”

Xev was aghast. Shadow had more guts than anyone he knew. Still…“You have got to stop bringing home strays.”

“Says one of the strays I took in?”

That was different. “I’m your brother.”

“So is Lombrey. Not by blood, but by choice.”

Xev wasn’t sure what to say to that. While he’d known that Shadow kept odd company, this one beat all the others. “Eternal death, huh?”

“Better to make friends with him than become his enemy.”

That was definitely true. He couldn’t fault Shadow for that logic.

Xev nodded. “Just do me a favor and let me know if he ever comes for me.”

Shadow let out a low, evil laugh. “That’s the thing, little brother. He doesn’t tell anyone. I won’t know until he strikes, and you vanish from all realms. No one keeps a secret better than Lombrey.”

Lovely.“Can he kill the Primals?”

“I don’t think so.”

“What do you mean?”

Shadow looked away from him. “He went after Lilit long ago. That’s part of what’s wrong with him now. Not only did he fail to kill her, she cursed him.”

That stunned Xev as it was something he’d never known about. Not so much that Lombrey failed or that she’d cursed him, but that he attacked her to begin with. “Why did he go after her?”

“Noir told him to.”

Of course he had. Leave it to Noir to try to kill his sister, and get an innocent party cursed in the process. Sounded exactly like something he’d do.

“As a result of that unpleasant nightmare, Lombrey will never trust anyone again.”

Xev wasn’t so sure about that, as he knew one person Lombrey trusted. “Except you.”

“Yeah. That’s a long, long story for another day.”

“Fine. Keep your secrets.” And I’ll keep mine.

In the meantime, Xev had an assassin to find and a story to make up to tell his mother as to why he hadn’t discovered a name he already knew.

Unlike Lombrey, he wasn’t about to kill an innocent person just because a Primal wanted it that way.

He didn’t care what they did to him. Pain he could take. They were old friends who’d shaken hands early in his childhood when he watched Azura kill Michi.

Honestly, Xev didn’t know why he had any morals. The Source knew Azura had never tried to teach him any, and they made little to no sense to him. Maybe it was because of Michi. She at least had tried to teach him to be kind to others. To respect natural order.

Whatever the reason, he wasn’t going to hurt Braith. She’d never harmed him.

But he had every reason to disappoint Azura.

Even if it cost him his life.

* * *

Xev was changingclothes in his room when he felt a powerful presence appear behind him. An unmistakable one.

“Jaden.” He spat his father’s name. “To what do I owe this displeasure?”

His father let out a long, tired sigh. A tic started in his angular jaw. If Xev didn’t know better, he’d swear he could hear the god counting to ten in his head for patience.

“Your brother told me you were ambushed.”

“Shadow?”

“Malphas.”

That made more sense. As a rule, Shadow avoided all of the Primals. But Malphas had been equally concerned when Xev told him about the attack.

Why couldn’t you keep your mouth shut, little brother?

Because, for reasons unknown, Mal cared about him, and Xev wasn’t going to curse his brother for that. Malphas and Shadow were the only ones in the universe who cared what happened to him, and he was grateful for them. “What else did he say?”

“You were injured.”

“And?”

Jaden shook his head as if Xev’s blasé tone irritated him. “And you haven’t found out who or what was behind the attack.”

What was his point, other than to restate everything Xev knew? “Okay.”

The tic sped up. “Why do you make this so difficult for me?”

“Difficult for you? I’m the one who was used as an arrow cushion.” And he still had no idea why his father was in his room.

Jaden’s mismatched eyes glowed with irritation. “I’m here to ask if you’d like to move into my palace.”

His father couldn’t have shocked him more had he been the one who’d riddled him with arrows. Had he even heard those words correctly? “You want what?”

“I’m offering you protection.”

Since when? His father had never cared about him before. Where was this protection when he was a kid and his mother had wanted him dead?

Or, more to the point, when Jaden had ordered him drowned?

The fact he’d show up now, pretending that he cared, infuriated Xev. How dare he! Where was this asshole when he’d been a boy and Michi was killed because Jaden refused protection to both of them?

He could have saved her. Instead, Jaden had wanted nothing to do with him.

“I don’t want anything from you.”

Xev started to leave, only to learn that he didn’t have the ability to teleport. His father had locked him down the same way his mother did, and that only ignited more fury inside him. “Seriously? Release my powers. Now!”

Jaden refused. “I’m well aware of your feelings toward me, and I don’t blame you for them. But you’re now of an age where I know you don’t allow your mother control over you. I admire that.”

Oh, so that was why. Not that he loved him or was concerned about him. He admired the fact Xev wasn’t stupid enough to do his mother’s bidding or let her control him.

Wow.

This wasn’t about Xev at all. Jaden was solidifying power. What better way than to put the son he’d denied under his roof? For what? So that Xev could help Mal wrangle demons? He’d really rather not.

His first impulse was to tell his father where he could stick that.

Until he realized his own selfish reason for wanting to stay with his father.

If he were with his sperm donor, then he’d have access to the Sephirii.

More to the point, access to one particular Sephiroth. Myone.

He wouldn’t have to hide in the shadows to see her. His father had his own Sephiroth, Kuru, or whatever his name was. If Xev could befriend that Sephiroth…

Maybe, just maybe, he might be able to befriend Myone, too. Maybe they could practice together or share a meal?

Don’t even go there.

It was an impossible dream. A stupid dream. And still it was there. Taunting him.

Pushing him over the edge of sanity.

Even now, he could see the kindness in her blue eyes. That gentle, unassuming touch.

Don’t! his mind screamed again.

He didn’t listen. Not when something so tempting was there to lure him. “Sure. I’ll move in.”

The look of shock on Jaden’s face should have been memorialized. Xev was sure it was a look his father didn’t get very often. It was comical, really, and was probably similar to the look he’d had when his father proposed this to him.

A few weeks ago, he’d have never agreed to it.

Things were different now. He had a new purpose. And someone he actually wanted to see. If living with his father was the price to pay for access to Myone, it was worth it.

She was worth it.

He only prayed that he didn’t live to regret this.