Savage

Chapter 18

Xev caught Myone’s hand as she entered her room from the doorway.

She gasped.

“Sorry,” he whispered, gently pulling her against him. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

She leaned against his chest and held him close. “I’ve been so worried. Where have you been? It’s been so long since I last saw you that I was afraid you’d been harmed.”

He nuzzled his face against her hair, inhaling the warm floral scent that never failed to brighten his mood. “I’ve had to keep a low profile after our last battle.” Which had only frustrated him even more. “Come with me?”

She nodded, trusting him completely.

He pulled her into the shadows, through the labyrinth of worlds until they were in his favorite one. His neon home that had become his second refuge after Myone.

“Where are we?” she asked.

“Trisa.”

That only seemed to confuse her more. “What’s that?”

He pulled her out of the shadows into the distant world in the Ichidian Universe. “Shadow and I used to spend a lot of time on this world. They’re a peaceful race. Unlike any other I’ve come across. They don’t lash out to hurt others. They strive to be better than that.” He led her toward a small home at the edge of a walled city.

“Where are you taking me?”

“To a house I bought.”

She paused with a furrowed brow. “What?”

Xev turned to face her. There were so many things inside him that he wanted to say and didn’t know how. He loved her more than anything. She was his heartbeat. His soul.

The only light he’d ever known.

And every day he lived without her wore him down more. He didn’t know how many more he could last. He needed her by his side.

Not just little stolen moments here and there. It was time to forget everything else.

Just be them.

“Marry me, Myone. I’m tired of war. Of the gods. Of chaos. I just want to live in peace…with you.”

Myone froze at those words. She couldn’t agree with him more—it was exactly what she wanted, too—but it wasn’t that easy. They had enemies who would never leave them in peace. Obligations that they both owed.

“Dary…”

He silenced her with a kiss. “I know I’m springing this on you. You don’t have to answer me right now. Spend the night with me, and then think about it. We don’t have to go back. Ever.”

It sounded so wonderful. Like him, she was tired of the war that seemed to be without end. Tired of the gore and bloodshed. Of being ordered to kill for reasons only the gods knew.

But it just wasn’t that simple.

Taking her hand, he led her to a small home that was absolutely perfect for starting a family. The front door opened into a living space with…Well, she didn’t know what kind of furniture that was, but it appeared comfortable. Soft and pale blue, it looked like a cloud in the middle of the floor.

“What is that?”

He picked her up and placed her on something that was even softer than her bed. “It’s a sofa.” He jerked his chin toward the gleaming room behind her. “That’s the kitchen. Down the hall are two bedrooms with private bathrooms attached to them.”

She frowned at the words she barely understood. “Rooms for bathing?”

“And for other things. You’ll like the plumbing here most of all. Shadow and I have tried to introduce it many times in our world. It hasn’t caught on yet. Very frustrating.”

For the sofa alone, she was even more tempted to stay here with him. Goodness, this was amazing. It was so comfortable here. There was a breeze even though the windows were closed. Truly magical. How could he keep the temperature so mild?

Best of all…no war. She could live here with him, and no one would pull them apart.

Closing her eyes, she smiled at the very thought. At the images of them happily living their lives free of the gods and others who would tear them apart. What could be better?

“Could they find us here?” she asked.

“In theory, but it wouldn’t be easy for them. They’d have to search all worlds, and with the war, I don’t think they’d bother.”

That would be incredible. Not to have to see that look come over his face every time his mother summoned him. Or to hear Cam’s call in her own head.

But she did have one concern. “What would happen to my army?”

“Kuru would take over, I imagine.”

Myone winced. He was the worst commander she could imagine. His thoughts were only on his own glory and honor, not on what needed to be done to protect his soldiers. “He’d get them killed.”

Xev ground his teeth, tempted to lie. But he wouldn’t do that to her. They’d never be happy if they built their life on lies, and he knew that. Plus, she wasn’t stupid. She knew exactly how incompetent Kuru was and what he’d do to her army without her. “Probably.”

Tears filled her eyes. “I can’t sacrifice those who depend on me for my happiness, Dary. They finally trust me, and listen to me when I speak…thanks to you.”

“You earned their respect without me.”

She tsked at him. “I’ve won battles without you, that much is true, but it’s your information and support that lifted me to where I am. I wouldn’t be here without you, and I know it.”

Xev only knew one thing—she was his life. Without her, he had nothing at all.

Sinking to his knees, he placed his head in her lap, wishing for a future he knew they’d never have. A perfect home with just the two of them, and no one else.

She brushed her hands through his hair. “Do you hate me?”

“I could never hate you. You’re my heart and soul.”

Myone swallowed hard at the heartfelt words that tore through her. That made this all the harder. Damn the gods. Because all she wanted was to stay with him.

But even if they couldn’t live together, she wanted to give him a part of her that she gave to no one else.

“I will marry you, Dary.”

His jaw went slack, and he looked up at her. “What?”

She smiled at his shocked expression. “They can’t take that from us. I won’t let them. I will marry you.”

And still, he didn’t return her smile. His gaze burned her as he held his breath, as if afraid of what she was saying. The fear in his eyes was searing. “You understand what that means, Myone?”

That they’d kill them both if they ever found out, and that death wouldn’t be kind or pleasant. That they could never tell anyone else, even though she’d want to shout it out from the rafters. It wasn’t fair, but at least it was something she could hold on to. A promise for another day that would be between the two of them. “I do. And you’re worth it. I have no life without you.”

His fear melted under a shining wave of happiness that thrilled her. “Then stay here with me.” He crawled up on the sofa so that he could lie beside her. “Let’s never leave here. We’ll forget all about our war and their stupidity and hatred.”

“You know I can’t. Would you really forsake your brothers?”

He laughed bitterly as he wrapped his body around hers. “I would forsake any and everyone for you. Besides, we don’t even know whose side Shadow’s on.”

“I know you better than that, Dary. You don’t believe for one moment he’s betrayed you.”

“No. He’s the smartest one of us to let no one know where he is or what he’s doing. But Malphas is as tired of this as I am. He’s just waiting for his own army to turn on him and either kill him or imprison him. They have no real loyalty to him, and he knows it. It’s just a matter of time before his traitor’s exposed.”

She felt that. Only the gods seemed to be indefatigable when it came to this misery, to the endless bloodshed and strife.

Myone tightened her arms around him, seeking to comfort him and be comforted at the same time. “Whatever comes for us, we will face it together.”

Xev nodded before he buried his face in her hair. “I have no ally on my side. If anyone finds out I’m gathering information for you, I’m already dead.”

Her heart pounded in fear of the thought. It was her worst nightmare. “Don’t say that.”

But they both knew it was true.

The dark Mavromino gods would take pleasure in killing him and making him an example for others. She couldn’t even let herself think about what the gods would do if they ever found out Xev was on her side. While he did protect Kri, he also protected her. His loyalty was split evenly between them.

And she despised the fact that she did that to him, because it was hard to be torn in two. Maybe that was why this war wasn’t progressing. She didn’t want to win it.

Winning meant that he’d be punished.

If his side won, they’d demand her head.

This never-ending stalemate was the best they could hope for. It was the only way for them to remain together.

And it kept them eternally apart.

He kissed her hand. “My worst fear is having to choose between you and Monakribos. I love you more than my life, but he’s like a son to me.”

“I know.”

And she did. They’d grown so close over the decades. More than friends, they were family.

This was so much harder than it needed to be. She didn’t want to come between them. Nor did she want to kill Apollymi’s son.

Honestly, she didn’t want to kill any of them.

But if she didn’t do as the gods commanded, they’d kill her and her soldiers.

She wasn’t even sure what this war was over.

Cam and Jaden claimed the Malachai and demons were as evil as the Mavromino gods they serves and needed to be put down. She knew better. They were no more corrupt than those on her side.

Especially given the fact that the demons had come from Jaden.

None of this made sense.

And here they were. Caught in the middle. Unable to be together. Closing her eyes, she savored this moment of peace where it was just the two of them. Where there was no confusion or war. No one telling her what to do, or what to believe.

Just the strong heartbeat of the one person she knew for a fact would give his life to keep her safe. Myone breathed in his scent and let it soothe her. This was the only person in life that she could depend on.

Xev.

In all the madness that surrounded them, all the chaos that made no sense, she found her serenity with a god who was renowned for causing havoc. The irony of it wasn’t lost on her.

“Don’t ever leave me, Dary.”

“You know I won’t.”

She brushed her hand over his wound as tears gathered in her eyes. But it might not be up to him. Life was so incredibly harsh and uncertain.

Stay with him.It was so tempting to be selfish. But how long would they leave them in peace?

Apollymi was so much stronger now than she was decades ago, and they’d torn Kissare apart. What chance did they stand against her?

“Don’t cry.” Xev lifted himself up so that he could kiss away her tears.

“I can’t help it. I hate that we can’t be together.”

“I’m always with you. Even when I’m not. You know that.”

That made her cry harder.

“Myone, please. You’re killing me.” Xev tightened his arms around her.

All he wanted was to protect her. To give her whatever she wanted.

If only he could give her peace. Instead, he held her and promised to keep her safe. He would do whatever it took to make sure that those who ruled them would never cause her harm. While he might not be as powerful as the older gods, he wasn’t completely at their mercy.

He had enough of his mother in him to do whatever it took to protect those he loved.

That list was small.

No one meant more to him than the woman in his arms. Not even Monakribos, when it came down to it.

I will keep you safe. He just hoped he survived.