Savage

Chapter 16

Xev watched as the Malachai army trained. There were so many of them now. And all because of him. Because of the bargain he’d made with Apollymi to save her son.

He didn’t know which secret was the one most likely to end his life.

The fact that he was the donor for the Malachai race or his love for the Sephirii leader.

He was torn between the two. It didn’t make sense, but he felt a paternal love for all the Malachai. Even Apollymi’s son, who’d been born without any help from him. Kri was like a son to him. The more time he spent with him, the more he treasured the boy.

Maybe that was why Apollymi had chosen him to be Kri’s tutor. She’d known that, by making him responsible for her son’s learning, he’d become attached to Kri. And he was.

Kri fascinated him.

At times, it was like staring into a mirror. A child torn between light and dark. One who wanted to do good and one who wanted to please his mother and do whatever she asked of him.

Only in Kri’s case, his mother actually cared for her son. Would kill to protect him.

Something Xev had learned his first day of tutoring the boy, when another demon accidentally caused Kri to stumble and skin his knee.

The boy had cried out, and an instant later, the demon had literally been reformed so that his innards were outtards. The demon had died screaming in agony.

It wasn’t something someone easily forgotten. Xev was sure it would give him nightmares for a lifetime.

And since that day, he had made sure to protect Kri with everything he had, lest his own innards decided to take a hike outside his body.

It was why Kri, fully grown now, wore full battle armor at all times. No need to risk any injury, no matter how small, lest his mother retaliate against an innocent party.

Kri scowled at Xev. “Why can’t I go out with you and your brothers?”

Xev laughed…until he realized it wasn’t a joke. “Wait. You’re serious?”

“Of course. I thought you liked me.”

“I do, Kri. But your mother terrifies me. I don’t even want to know what she’d do to me if I let you out of here.”

Kri sighed heavily. “Not fair.”

Xev clapped him on the back in an effort to cheer him. “I know, little buddy. Be glad you have a mother who loves you. I’ll trade any day you want to.”

Kri screwed his face up at that. “No, thank you. Met your mom. Wasn’t impressed.”

“Exactly. But I can bring you back some snacks.”

Kri laughed. “Human?”

“Sure.”

“No. I mean can you bring me back a human to snack on?”

Xev laughed nervously. “Joke?”

“Only if you want it to be.” Kri winked.

Shaking his head at his wayward pupil, Xev groaned. “I’m too old for your humor.”

“I know, Gramps.” Kri hesitated.

“Something wrong?”

Scratching at his ear, he shifted uneasily. “I wanted to ask you about something, but it’s kind of personal.”

Xev wasn’t sure he liked the sound of that. Personal things with the offspring of Apollymi could easily get him gutted.

Or worse.

“Why do I dread those words?” he asked Kri.

“Not about you.”

There was something very serious in Kri’s tone, and that wasn’t normal. He was usually a playful boy. So much so that it’d often been a struggle for Xev to get him to focus on his studies.

Now…

This matter weighed heavily on his shoulders. “What is it?”

With his mottled red and black skin, Kri was actually adorable in his sudden shyness. “I met someone.”

“I imagine you meet a lot of someones.”

Kri rolled his red eyes. “A female someone.”

“Oooooh.” Xev drew the word out as he suddenly understood.

“It’s more than an ooh,” Kri said testily. “She’s…” His cheeks turned bright red.

“Special?”

Kri nodded. “I’ve never known anyone like her.”

Xev knew that feeling a lot better than he wanted to. “Is she a demon?”

“A Malachai.”

Now that was more surprising than it should be. It wasn’t as if Kri didn’t interact with other Malachai. Still…Xev hadn’t given much thought to his being attracted to others of any species. The boy normally kept to himself.

But Xev should have known that, sooner or later, Kri would grow up and be attracted to someone.

“Really?” he asked.

Kri nodded. “She came to the city to join my mother’s army.” A smile brought out his dimples. “She’s incredible, Xev. She actually flipped me onto my back the first day I met her.”

Xev laughed. He’d been there, too. “I can tell you’re taken by her.”

“Not yet, but I want to be…I mean…Ugh!”

“It’s fine, Kri. I get it. We all have that someone we hold in our heart.”

“Yeah, but my mother will have a fit if she finds out. She doesn’t want to share me with anyone.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure. Apollymi loves you. She knows you’re not a child anymore. I’m sure she’d want you to be happy with your Malachai.”

Kri snorted rudely. “She doesn’t treat me that way. I swear, she still cuts my steaks for me.”

That was true. Xev had actually seen Apollymi do that a time or two for her son. “Because you’re her baby.”

“I’m grown, Xev.”

“I know.” He leaned in and nudged Kri. “I still want to cut your steaks, too.”

Kri shoved playfully at him. “Please don’t. My ego’s frail enough.”

“Right.”

“It is. Especially after the way Rubati threw me on my arse. It was completely humiliating.”

And he’d obviously loved every minute of it. “I have a feeling you’ll get over it.”

Kri considered those words. “You really think my mother would be all right with this?”

“I do. Given how much she loves you, I’m sure she’d love grandkids even more.”

That made the boy smile again. “Thank you…and don’t forget my human snack.”

Xev laughed as Kri bounded off, no doubt in search of his female Malachai. How he wished he had the same freedom to go after the woman who held his heart.

Even after all these years, he didn’t dare. He and Myone still had to meet in secret for fear of what the gods would do to them if they ever learned of their relationship.

And he hated that most of all. But at least he finally had a place where he belonged. For better or worse, Apollymi accepted him. She didn’t resent his blood. Didn’t question his loyalty or insult him for a mother he detested.

She didn’t look at him as if she despised him.

Grateful for that, he teleported to his room to change clothes before he met up with his brothers.

Xev had just entered his room when he heard Apollymi and his mother shouting at each other. While it was nothing unusual to hear his mother’s strident tone, it was rare for Apollymi to resort to raising her voice. As powerful as she was, she didn’t need to. She could make most crap their pants by doing nothing more than arching a single brow.

This fight was exceptional.

And very loud.

“You have to side with us!”

Apollymi laughed. “I don’t have to do anything. You had your chance to side with me against the others when they demanded Kissare’s life, and you didn’t. Instead, you helped them kill what I loved. So why should I do anything for you now? Other than beat you where you stand?”

“They are going to bind us. Is that what you want? To be imprisoned for eternity?” Azura asked.

“They can’t bind me.”

“Of course they can.”

Apollymi scoffed. “I have an army. Two of them, if you count the Charonte demons.”

“Do you really think they’ll fight for you?”

“Xiamara?” Apollymi asked the Charonte who was never far from her side.

“We will fight for Apollymi, if she asks.”

Azura was still furious. “Well, bully for you. But what if they’ve found a way to bind the Charonte, too?”

“Impossible.”

“Is it?” Azura asked.

Neither Apollymi nor her Charonte friend responded.

Xev wasn’t sure what to think about the argument. Heading into the shadows, he went to spy on them.

Apollymi and Xiamara were on the opposite side of the room from Azura. He’d never seen Apollymi uncertain before.

Xiamara stood next to Apollymi. With her red and white mottled skin, the demon was strangely beautiful even with her horns, tail, and wings. There was something innately graceful and deadly about their species.

More than that, Xiamara was fiercely loyal to Apollymi. He knew she would die to protect her goddess friend.

Azura glanced to Apollymi then Xiamara. “Our demons are attacking the Sephirii at dawn. There will be war. You will have to pick a side, sister. I suggest you pick the only side that will back you, as you know what Cam, Jaden, and Rezar will do if you try to join forces with them.”

Xev’s heart stopped as he heard those words. Unable to breathe, he stepped back and flew through the shadows with only one destination in mind.

Myone.

He had to warn her.

This time of night, she might be at dinner. But he hoped and prayed she was in her room at Cam’s temple.

Alone.

He would teleport there, but if she wasn’t by herself, he’d do more harm than good. There would be too many questions as to why he was there, given that everyone knew he served Apollymi. And Apollymi and Cam never spoke and never had anything to do with one another.

Thankfully, Myone was in her room, changing clothes.

She’d just pulled her dress on when he came out of the shadows behind her. “Dary!” she gasped. “You startled me.”

“Sorry, love. I just learned that Azura plans to attack the Sephirii at dawn.”

She stopped lacing her gown to gape at him. Her face went pale. “What?” she breathed.

“They’re starting a whole new war, and it begins at dawn.”

“You’re sure?”

He nodded. “Heard it straight from Azura’s lips. Prepare your troops. Whatever you do, don’t get hurt.”

She pulled him into her arms and held him. “You need to stay out of this.”

Those words meant everything to him as he buried his face against her neck. “I will do my best. You stay to the rear of the fighting.”

She sank her hand in his hair. “You know I can’t. I’m their leader.”

He pulled back to stare down at her. “Lead from behind.”

Myone scoffed. “You know better.”

“Then I will meet you at dawn and I will make sure no one hurts you in the fighting.”

“Dary…”

He cupped her face in his hands. “I will protect you, Myone. I don’t care what they do to me. You fight and I will guard you.”

Myone wanted to argue, but she knew it was useless. And she couldn’t blame him for that. She felt the same way about him. Theirs was an impossible relationship. Yet they couldn’t stop what they felt. No amount of time had ever dulled their feelings.

No amount of distance.

If anything, their love grew stronger.

“I’ll see you in the morning.”

Nodding, he kissed her again. “Warn the others.”

“I will. Wear your green armor so that I can find you in the crowd.” That would make it easier for her to protect him as well. His green armor stood out from the normal gold and silver of the others.

“I’ll see you at dawn.”

* * *

The sun was just climbingover the mountainous horizon as Myone waited with her army at the edge of Hurrian City.

There was no sight of a demon anywhere. Nothing other than a calm morning dawning in a beautiful city.

With an irritated smirk, Kuru turned toward her. “Where are these demons you spoke of?”

Biting her lip, she scanned the horizon. “I was told they’d be here.”

He and the others looked skeptical. “I don’t see anything.”

Neither did she.

In fact, it was so quiet, she heard her own heartbeat in her ears. Where were they?

Maybe Xev had been wrong.

Had they changed their mind and decided not to attack after all?

This was so embarrassing. She’d brought her entire army out and there was nothing for them to fight.

Where was a hole to swallow her when she needed it?

Kuru sheathed his sword. “Really, kyra? Where did you get your information?”

She ground her teeth at the way he used her title kyra, as if to insult her because he couldn’t stand the fact that she was their commander. “It was reliable.”

He gave her a smirk that she really wanted to knock off his arrogant face. “Then why are we here alone?”

Myone glared at him. “Don’t you dare question me.”

Sadly, she could see that they were all questioning her now.

The worst part?

They didn’t trust her. It was painfully apparent. She wasn’t sure if they’d ever really trusted her, and that hurt most of all. No matter how hard she tried, they never saw her as the same caliber of commander that Kissare had been.

And Kuru thought himself her superior. He wanted her position and made no effort to hide his ambition.

He looked at the others. “Let’s go back to bed.”

“You’re not the commander,” she reminded him.

“No, but I should be.”

Those words stung as her army followed him away from where she hovered. A part of her wanted to throw her dagger into his fleeing back.

Xev wouldn’t have hesitated to do it. Maybe she’d been with him too long, because right now, that temptation was so strong that she wasn’t sure how she resisted.

This is useless.

Just as she started to turn away, she heard something. A faint whisper that caught her attention.

Then she saw the flash. No, not a single flash…a bunch of them.

“They’re coming!” She’d barely uttered those words before a thousand demons manifested around them.

Because they’d turned around to go home, her army wasn’t prepared for the onslaught.

Screams and shouts rang out, lost to the clanging of steel against steel.

With a battle cry, she went after a group of demons on her right. They scattered at her approach. But she gave them no quarter as she flew after them, intent on regaining her honor.

She banked to the left and lifted her sword to slice at another. Right as she would have decapitated the demon, she recognized the green articulated armor.

Xevikan.

Myone barely pulled back her stroke that would have wounded him. He feinted right, then took a position behind her.

“What kept you?” she asked.

“Demons…They’re never on time. It’s like herding a bunch of hungry cats in a mice factory. None of them listen or do what you want.”

She would have laughed had she not been surrounded.

Xev grabbed her and wrapped his wings around her.

She was aghast at his actions. “You have to stop this. They’ll get suspicious.”

“Slap me.”

She scowled at him. “I can’t.”

He took her hand and made it appear as if she did. “Ow!”

“You’re awful.”

“Then be my prisoner.”

How she wished she could be. “Never!” She playfully pushed him away.

He tumbled through the air.

When a demon went for her, he grabbed him by the throat. “She’s mine!”

Myone shook her head at his angry tone. They had no idea what he really meant. “I need to fight demons.”

“I fight them all the time.” He grabbed her from behind and turned her so that she could see the others. “Besides, they seem to be doing fine on their own.”

“Who’s your leader?” she asked him.

“Why? You thinking of cheating on me?”

She gave him a droll stare. “Who do I kill to end this?”

“They’re demons. They don’t really have a leader. They were told to come kill and create chaos. So that’s why we’re here.”

“Great.”

Xev started choking and making loud noises.

“What are you doing now?” she whispered.

“Evil, evil vixen!” he cried out. “No!” He grabbed her hand, then wrapped her arm around his neck. “Don’t!” Next thing she knew, he’d blasted half of his own troops into oblivion with his powers.

“What did you do?” she whispered.

He continued to strangle himself with her arm. “Run!” he shouted to the demons. “They have a secret weapon!” He twisted out of her hold, kissed her cheek, and vanished before she even knew what he was doing.

To her shock and relief, the demons followed.

What the…?

Scowling, she turned around to see her confused army. While some had been wounded, the majority of them were fine.

But they all stared in awe of her.

Then they raised their swords in salute and shouted.

In that moment, she wanted to kill and kiss Xev for the honor. She was grateful, but inside she knew she hadn’t really earned this.

At least, that was her thought until she saw the jealous sneer on Kuru’s face as he glared at her.

She’d take the victory, if for no other reason than to see him seethe. Sure, it was petty, and she hated the fact that she enjoyed it. Maybe there was more evil in her than she wanted to admit.

Or Xev had more of an impact on her than she’d realized. Either way, she’d take it.

But what bothered her most was that she’d wanted to earn her command honestly, by hard work and merit, once Kissare was tired and wanted to retire. Kuru wanted to take her place by knocking her down and ruining her.

So there was no true evil in her for taking satisfaction in watching Kuru’s malice ruined. What was in his heart…That was sour and needed to be watched, lest it grow and turn more malicious.

She owed Xev for solidifying her command. He’d risked his life by doing this.

And she wouldn’t forget it. Had she not loved him before, she would now. Too few people put others before themselves, risked their lives for the ones they loved. He’d proven himself this morning.

Somehow, she’d pay him back. She had no idea how. But this sacrifice wouldn’t go unanswered. Or unrewarded.

She just wished others could see the decent man he was and not judge him for the blood of his mother. For something he couldn’t help. It wasn’t his fault that his mother had chosen her path.

If only she could make Jaden see the truth of his son.

I will open his eyes.

She had no idea how, but she wouldn’t rest until Jaden realized that Xev wasn’t the villain he believed him to be. He was just an imperfect man who needed his father to be there for him.

And speaking of, her own father hugged her. “I’m proud of you, Myone. I wish your mother was here to see you. I know she’d be every bit as proud as I am.”

She smiled at him. “Thank you.”

He kissed her on her forehead. “You did well. But I am curious about one thing.”

“That is?”

“How did you know they’d attack?”

Myone hesitated. She wasn’t sure what to say. She didn’t want to lie to her father, but the last thing she wanted to do was tell him about her relationship with Xev. He’d never understand. No one would.

He gave her a knowing smile. “You have a spy among their ranks, don’t you?”

“I’d rather not say.”

“I understand. Last thing we want to do is lose a valuable asset.”

He had no idea. And she wasn’t going to give him one, either.

Smiling, she inclined her head. “If you’ll excuse me?”

“Of course.”

Myone left the field. Making sure that no one followed her, she made her way back to her room and the shadows there. “Dary?” she whispered.

He appeared instantly so that he could pull her into his brother’s domain. “Are you all right?”

“Of course. Are you?”

His grin thrilled her. “Never better.”

“What happened?”

Smiling, he disguised her as a demon, then pulled her through the shadows with him.

She had no idea where they were going until she saw the three dark gods in a large room. Apollymi stood while Noir and Azura sat on their thrones. All of them were agitated.

“How could it have failed?” Azura shot a bolt of fire at a hapless demon servant in the corner. The poor thing yelped then vanished.

Lilit appeared in the doorway. “Now, now, dear sister. Why so distraught?”

“We were defeated.”

Lilit shrugged nonchalantly. “You still have demons aplenty to fight with. It’s not like you value them.”

Apollymi arched a brow. “Speak for yourself. I value mine.”

“Do you?” Lilit asked.

Apollymi floated over to her. “Don’t play your mental tricks with me. I have no time for them, and even less patience for you.”

Lilit turned toward Azura. “Jaden and Cam are terrified of how close you came to winning. Had you possessed a few more demons, the outcome would have been different. And who says you have to go head-to-head with their Sephirii? Prey on their precious humans. Weaken them where it hurts most.”

Noir stroked his beard. “She has a point. War is all about strategy. And they do love their little humans.”

Azura smiled. “War is our daughter. They don’t have that strength.”

Myone placed her hand over her mouth to keep from making a sound to betray her presence. Anat was lethal and the divine spirit of war. She would be hard to defeat.

Apollymi folded her arms over her chest. “Why is this so important to all of you?”

Azura lifted her chin. “We need to put them in their places. Control them lest they control us. Look what they did do you. Aren’t you afraid they’ll take your son?”

“I have their word that they’ll leave Kri in peace.”

“And you trust them?” Noir asked.

“No.”

“Exactly.” Azura glanced to Noir. “The only way to guarantee peace is to hold all the power.”

Apollymi scoffed. “I hold the power.”

Noir cocked an eyebrow at her. “Do you?”

“You want to try me?”

“Then why is Kissare dead?” Azura asked.

That caused Apollymi to send a jolt of power through the room. It was so fierce that it knocked Myone and Xev off their feet and slammed Azura and Noir into the wall, while shattering their thrones. Lilit tumbled across the floor.

“Never challenge me!”

Azura came to her feet with a feral glare. “I was making a point, dear sister.”

“You were pissing me off.” Apollymi swept her gaze around her frazzled siblings. “War is never the answer.”

Noir growled at her. “You’re the goddess of destruction. How can you say that?”

“Destruction is different. War is needless and prolonged. I only torture those who deserve it.” She pinned a menacing glare on Noir. “I don’t torture for pleasure. Destruction serves a purpose. In order for good things to grow, you have to purge the bad. That’s my job. I amputate the poison limb in order to save the body.” She indicated Lilit and Azura. “You’re the poison that infects the limb. Particularly you,” she said to Lilit.

Azura rolled her eyes. “You’re so sanctimonious. It’s not fair that you were given so much power.”

Apollymi raked her with a sneer. “And you can only control water and misery. Poor you.”

“You shouldn’t pick on her,” Noir said.

“Or what? Your darkness will consume me? You control mortal death, not mine. I have no fear of you, brother.”

Azura tsked. “But you fear Rezar.”

“I fear none of you.” Apollymi vanished.

Lilit laughed as she sat on the floor so she could rock back and forth.

Noir snapped his fingers and repaired their thrones. “I’m really tired of her tantrums.”

“We all are.” Azura sighed. “What’s your problem?” she asked Lilit.

“Sorrow. Sorrow. All around. Tomorrow. Tomorrow. Nothing found.”

Azura rolled her eyes. “She gone insane again.”

“Not insane,” Lilit said. “Just thinking. War is here and it’s there. It shall be with us for a long time.”

“Will we win?”

She laughed at Noir’s question. “No one wins a war, silly!”