Savage

Chapter 23

Xev hid in the shadows of his father’s temple as he watched his wife marry his father. It was a bitter pill to swallow. Never had he hated his life or father more than he did right then.

Truly, the sight sickened him. There were flowers and sheer material draped everywhere. It was disgustingly sappy.

The kind of wedding he’d wanted to have with Myone.

Instead, they’d been forced to marry in secret.

His aunt and uncle stood to the side as witnesses to the event. Cam wore gold in honor of Myone, while Rezar was dressed in the same dark gray Jaden wore.

A gray that was definitely fitting for Xev’s ill mood.

While it galled Xev to see them there, at least their approval meant that they would make sure no harm came to Myone or Jared.

It’s for the best.

Didn’t feel that way, but he kept lying to his emotions, hoping they’d give in and stop making it hurt so deep inside his soul that it felt as if he were on fire. As if a part of him was being flayed with acid. It burned on a level unimaginable.

He wanted to charge in and separate them, to scream out that they should have had a wedding like this, surrounded by family instead of doing it in secret for fear of being killed because they dared to love each other.

It wasn’t fair or right.

Who should have to stand by and see this?

“How are you standing here and not screaming?”

Xev didn’t respond to Shadow’s sudden question in his ear. Although it had startled him so badly, he was amazed he wasn’t hanging from the ceiling by his fingernails. He turned his head to give his brother a droll, irritated smirk. “Where have you been?”

“Staying out of everyone’s hair while y’all do your best to end each other.”

“Then why are you here now?”

“Heard about this and didn’t believe it. Had to come see for myself. Lend you some support. Either to comfort or kill someone. Your choice.”

Xev glanced over his shoulder to see his brother eyeing them all with the same level of disgust he was sure was etched on his own face. “Yeah, well, here we are. Still haven’t decided if I should go into a killing frenzy or not.”

“Grisly.” Shadow handed him a flask. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m sure I’ll live.” Mostly because the gods didn’t love Xev enough to kill him. They only wanted to torture and punish him for the stupidity of being born.

“I’m sure you won’t want to,” Shadow said.

He had no idea. The temptation for Xev to fall on his own sword had never been greater. He handed the flask back to his brother.

Shadow took a deep drink, then sighed. “I assume the kid she carries is yours?”

Xev didn’t reply.

“You know I’d never betray you.”

But why chance it? Especially with his luck. Last thing Xev wanted to do was strangle Shadow with his intestines.

Better to say nothing and just…

He didn’t know. Words, like all rational thought, had fled him.

Shadow patted him lightly on the shoulder. Weird. Comforting someone wasn’t really Shadow’s style, but Xev appreciated the gesture.

“I understand. I doubt I’d say anything either. She is beautiful, though. Even with that little bump. I vote we tie Jaden up and beat the shit out of him later.”

That succeeded in making Xev smile. “Hide his body in the desert?”

“Now you’re talking. Maybe make a gift of him to your mother?”

“Nah. I did that. It didn’t work out well for me, if you remember.”

Shadow sucked his breath in through his teeth. “Yeah, sorry. I forgot. Bad choice of words.” He shuffled his feet, then changed the subject. “Did you hear about Malphas?”

That did the trick and took Xev’s mind far away from the moment. He still couldn’t believe what had become of his half-demon brother.

A farmer.

When Myone had said people changed, Xev had never expected that.

He smiled at Shadow. “Caleb now.” After Myone stabbed him in battle, Malphas had fallen to the human realm, where a woman had found him and taken him in. Not only had she given him a soul, she’d renamed him, too.

Now, Caleb wanted nothing to do with them, and he was lucky enough that he was able to get away with his wife.

Instead of returning to their ranks, Caleb had sealed away his sword and was now living with Lilliana on her farm, happy as he could be, with no plans to ever return to their war.

Xev was happy for him and wished them all the happiness in the world.

“Yeah. I can’t believe you two. Women…” Shadow shuddered. “Source save me from love and feminine wiles.”

Xev turned away from the wedding to shake his head at his brother. “There was a time I would have agreed with you. But it’s not what you think. Although this”—he gestured toward his father and Myone—“is all kinds of screwed up. It’s not normally like this. Usually, we’re very happy.”

Sighing, he folded his arms over his chest, wishing he’d been as lucky as Caleb had been. How he wished he could lay his sword down forever and live in peace. “You can’t imagine how Myone makes me feel.”

“Stupid?”

He shoved at Shadow. Leave it to him to be an ass in any given situation. “No. She heals me.”

Shadow snorted. “You don’t look healed. You look like you’re about to puke. You’re standing here while she makes a vow to your dad. Buddy, this is all kinds of messed up.”

It’s not a real wedding. It’s just to protect her. But Xev knew they could never say that out loud. To anyone. Everyone needed to think this was real.

That she was Jaden’s wife.

Even Shadow. They just didn’t dare risk anyone saying something by accident. No one could ever know.

Whatever happened, Xev had to make sure his wife and child were always protected.

He met Shadow’s sympathetic gaze. “Can I ask a favor?”

“Knock you unconscious until it’s over?”

Actually, he hadn’t thought of that.

Not a bad idea, really. It had a lot of merit.

But sadly, it wasn’t the favor he’d had in mind. “No. Can you be serious for a minute?”

Shadow scoffed. “Have you met me?” He shook his head. “Serious doesn’t look good on me. Besides, I don’t need you to insult me. I have creatures lining up all over to tear me down.”

“Would you stop? I need my big brother right now.”

“I knew better than to come.”

Xev smirked. “And yet you did.”

Shadow looked away and cursed. “I did, didn’t I?” He shoved at Xev. “I know what you want. You want me to promise that I’ll help keep them safe, too.”

“Exactly.”

He glared at Xev. “You know how I feel about all this, right?”

“I do. I also know if you promise me, you’ll do it.”

All the humor died on Shadow’s face as he sobered. “What if I can’t?”

Xev’s stomach shrank. Did Shadow know something he didn’t? “How do you mean?”

Shadow let out a tired breath. “This is a brutal war, Xev. We don’t know who’s going to win, if anyone wins, or when. It could go on for centuries more. I can promise I’ll do everything I can for all of you. That’s the best I can do.”

“That’s all I can ask. Thank you.”

Nodding, Shadow clapped him on the back.

They fell silent for a few minutes, until Xev noticed the weird clothes Shadow was wearing. Solid black breeches and a tunic that appeared to be one piece, with a color that fastened tightly around his neck. “Where have you been?” It was a rhetorical question, given that he already knew from the type of clothing.

“Mostly hiding on Trisa.” Shadow gave a wicked grin. “They think I’m a god there. It’s kind of nice. I find being worshiped suits me.”

Of course it would. Personally, Xev couldn’t stand it. Fawning of any kind had never been something he could stomach. He’d rather fight than be worshiped.

Unless it involved Myone. Then neither of those options appealed to him.

He just wanted to sit quietly with her and enjoy her company.

But the more he thought about Shadow spending time on Trisa unsupervised, a bad feeling went through him. “Please tell me you’re not messing with the natives.”

“Define messing with.”

“Their history. Their culture. Their genetics.” Particularly that last bit, as Xev cringed at the thought of a world populated by a bunch of Shadowlings.

Talk about grisly…

Shadow rolled his eyes. “I’m being careful, especially when it comes to the frolicking. Besides, I like being evasive.”

That was true, and it did have its advantages.

Right now, Xev would like nothing better than to vanish into nothing and tell no one other than his wife.

If only he could.

But at least the wedding had finally ended.

Myone stepped away from his father, off to the side with Cam who was congratulating her.

Xev winced as bile rose up in his throat.

Then his gaze went to Shadow. Once again, his brother had been here for him. Even though he hadn’t called for him, Shadow had heard what was happening and came, knowing Xev was in need.

While he felt alone most of the time, he knew he could count on his brother when he really needed him.

And always Myone.

She had never once let him down.

He prayed with everything he had that he would always be here for her. That no matter what, she would be able to rely on him for the rest of eternity.

Don’t ever let me fail her or the baby.

* * *

Myone jerkedat the pins in her hair as she desperately sought to remove the remnants of the wedding she’d despised and had really wanted nothing to do with.

It’d been so incredibly hard to stand there, uttering vows that stuck in her craw. She’d wanted so desperately to scream out that it was a farce, that no, she had no intention of swearing her love and affection to someone she could barely tolerate.

While she was grateful Jaden wanted to protect them, she had wanted to scream at the injustice of it.

He wasn’t the one she wanted to be loyal to. Silently, she’d been saying her vows to Xev the entire time. Telling herself to just get through it. Do nothing. Say nothing.

Protect her baby and real husband.

She felt a presence at her back.

Turning, she moved to attack her intruder.

Until she saw Xev there. Relieved beyond belief, she pulled him into her arms and held him.

“You’re choking me!” he gasped.

“I should. I should beat you, too.”

She felt him smile against her cheek. “If it would make you happy.”

That made her laugh. “You know I could never hurt you. Not intentionally. Even when I want to kill you.” She kissed his cheek. “You were there today, weren’t you?”

“Of course I was.”

Never had she loved him more. “I could feel you there, watching us.” She cupped his cheek. “Are you all right?”

“Not really. You?”

“No.” She laid her head on his chest and held him as tightly as she could. “Tell me again that this was the right thing to do.”

He let out a tired sigh. “I hope so.”

Either way, it was done and over with. She just hoped they hadn’t doomed themselves or their baby with what they’d done today.