Chapter 14
“Did you hear?”
Myone arched a brow at Cam’s question. At first, she wasn’t sure if her tiny goddess was speaking to her or herself. “Hear what, my lady?”
“Jaden’s son betrayed him.”
Biting her lip, she carefully measured her words, as she didn’t want to refute or upset her mistress. “I think we may be missing some of the story, my lady.”
Cam arched a dark eyebrow. “How so?”
“You’re a goddess of justice. I think it would be remiss of us to judge him before we heard his side of the story.”
The petite goddess considered that as she picked through the fruit pieces on her platter. “Have you ever met Daraxerxes?”
“I have.” Myone continued to stand off to the side of the table where her goddess sat, dining on her snack.
“You know his mother is Azura.”
“I do.”
Cam selected a piece of melon before she looked up and met Myone’s gaze. “Yet you defend him?”
“Is that not what you’ve taught me, my lady? A presumption of innocence?”
She chewed her piece carefully as she considered the question. “What makes you presume innocence for the son of such evil?”
“I’ve never witnessed any malice from him. In truth, I’ve found him rather pleasant whenever we’ve interacted.”
“People often hide their true natures. Even Azura can seem pleasant when you first meet her. Particularly, Braith can be loving at times. Yet both are quite deadly and obnoxious.”
As was Cam when crossed. Xev had never hidden the fact that he had no love of her. “True.”
She wiped at her chin. “You still think he didn’t betray his father?”
No, she didn’t. There was something they didn’t know. Myone believed in Xev, and until she knew more, she wouldn’t doubt him. “I only wonder why he’d do such a thing.” Especially given his hatred of his mother. It didn’t make sense that he would have betrayed Jaden. Myone couldn’t imagine what would have driven Xev to do it. He had to have some reason for it. Something they didn’t know.
In truth, she was worried about him. No one would tell her anything, and she hadn’t been able to get any real word. If only they could communicate.
“I think you should order him released so that you can pass judgment.”
Cam choked on her food. “What?”
Myone carefully kept her composure. “What if he is innocent and being punished for something he didn’t do? Is it not possible Azura set him up?”
Clearing her throat, Cam shook her head. “I trust my brother. If Jaden said he betrayed him, he did so. Why else would he have abandoned his son to Azura?”
Because he’d always abandoned him. Xev had been an innocent babe when Jaden handed him over for his mother’s original cruelty. Who knew his reasons now?
And Myone wanted to weep for Xev. No one would help him. She’d been trying her best, and there was nothing she could do.
That helplessness was incredibly frustrating.
Over and over, she’d seen the scars on his body from the day they met. She could only imagine what was being done to him now. But no one else cared.
Not even his brothers.
Please be okay.
But every day that passed with no word worried her more. Surely, he’d be in touch if he could.
The fact that there was only silence…
Was he even alive?
She had no way of knowing, and she cursed his father for his lack of regard.
I will find you, Xev.
She had no idea how. But she wasn’t going to give up on him.
* * *
Myone wassound asleep in her bed when she felt a sudden surge in her room. At first, she had no idea what it was.
Fully alert, she sat up, seeking the source of her unease. There was nothing there, except shadows.
Until she noticed the shadow at the foot of her bed.
Her scream caught in her throat. “Dary?”
The shadow didn’t move. At least not at first.
Slowly, it turned to face her.
Pulling her feet up to her chest, she debated what to do. Should she run? Scream? Fight?
She decided to try speaking to him again. “Is that you, Dary?”
He nodded.
“Can you say anything?”
Not really.His voice was in her head.
“I don’t understand. What’s wrong?”
I’m not really here. Just a part of me. I wanted to see you, and this was the only way I could.
Tears gathered in her eyes as she let go of her legs and scooted closer to his shadow. “I’m glad you came. I’ve been terribly worried about you.”
Have you?
She nodded. “I’ve asked everyone to get a message out, but no one’s been willing or able to help.”
There was no expression on his shadow’s face, but she thought it might be smiling. Don’t worry about me. So long as I know you’re all right, I’ll be fine.
“But I’m not all right. I wish you were here.”
This is for the better.
It didn’t feel that way. It hurt deep inside not to be able to reach out at touch him. “I miss you.”
Not nearly as much as I miss you.His shadow began to fade.
“Wait!”
It darkened again.
“Will you come to me again?”
I will do my best.
“Then I will wait and count my heartbeats until I see you again.”
Xev nodded and faded away.
* * *
With a ragged breath,he opened his eyes in his cell. Every part of him ached and was ravaged. So much pain.
But there, for a moment, he’d seen Myone. She was well. That little bit had given him peace. A tiny sliver to hold on to.
And she missed him. She hadn’t forgotten him.
It was selfish that he held that close to his heart. But he needed it. Needed to know that he mattered to someone.
He stared at his filthy, broken hand and imagined her touch on his fingers. Her skin was like velvet. Gentle and soft.
He’d never feel it again. But if he conserved his strength, he might be able to find the energy to travel through the aether with his spirit and sit with her again.
If he could manage that much…
Why?
That one word lingered in his mind. Why was he alive? Why couldn’t he die?
Was there any purpose to his life other than to suffer? Had there ever been a purpose for him?
Why hadn’t his father just drowned him?
In that moment, he hated Michi for not letting the demons kill him when he was born. At least then, he would never have known this agony.
A tear fell from the corner of his eye, burning the cuts on his cheek.
You’re not alone.
Myone was with him in thought and spirit.
But was that enough?
He wasn’t safe. He had no real purpose or reason to be here. All he wanted was an end to this.
Closing his eyes, he forced that hopelessness away. I will take one more breath.
And one more.
Though the fight in him was gone, his life wasn’t. Somehow, he would muddle through and live just for those snippets that Myone provided.
It was all he had to look forward to.