Savage

Chapter 25

Xev stood in the shadows, watching Jared play with a wooden sword. At six, he was incredible. Every bit the warrior his mother was.

Maybe even more so.

He’d been Kri’s tutor when he’d been that age. Had taught the Malachai everything he knew.

It pained him that he couldn’t give the same lessons to his own child. That he had to stand in the shadows and watch him grow up without his real father by his side.

Why did the universe hate him so much that this was his fate? He’d never understand it. All he wanted was to be a part of his child’s life.

Instead, he was banned from it.

Relegated to the shadows he’d learned to hate as much as he hated his father and mother. They had made the choice to ignore him. To cast him out of their lives.

He’d had no choice with his son. This decision had been forced on him. It wasn’t right.

“Jared?”

Xev smiled at the loving tone Myone always used with their child, and that flooded him with warmth. It reminded him so much of Michi and her kindness toward him. How he missed her even after all these years. He could still feel the warmth of her fur underneath his cheek when he would lie on her to sleep. The tenderness in her hugs when she’d hold him and promise him that everything would be all right.

How he wished that she’d been able to keep those promises to him. And he prayed that he could keep the same ones he’d made to Jared.

His son ran out of the room and then back again.

Waiting until he was sure no one else was coming into the room with them, Xev stepped out of the shadows.

Jared looked up and smiled. “Uncle!” He ran to him.

Kneeling, he caught him in his arms and held him close to his heart. How he wanted to correct him and tell him that he wasn’t his uncle. But he didn’t dare.

For now, this was enough.

“Keep your voice down, little bit. We don’t want to draw attention.”

“Sorry,” Jared whispered. “I was just excited to see you.”

Those words made Xev’s heart soar. “Me too. I think you’ve grown at least a foot. Maybe more.” He ruffled the head full of bright red curls, amazed by them. Neither he nor Myone had any idea where the boy had inherited those. But it didn’t matter. He was otherwise an exact copy of his mother, and for that, Xev was grateful.

It wouldn’t have done them any good had his son favored him, even if Xev did look like his father. Better not to have anyone question the child’s paternity.

“Do you know where your mother is?”

Jared nodded eagerly. “She’s talking to a group of her soldiers in the other room. Do you want me to go get her?”

“No. Stay with me until she’s finished.”

“Okay.” Jared took his hand and showed him the mock battlefield he’d created on the floor with his hand-carved wooden soldiers.

Xev wanted to be happy for his son, but the sight broke his heart. At this young age, his boy was already preparing for war. “Battle isn’t so glorious, Jared.”

His son ignored him as he continued to fight his mock battle. “Do you fight in the war, Uncle?”

“I do.”

“Do you win?”

Xev sighed heavily. “No one wins in a fight, kiddo. The best option is to avoid it whenever you can. Even if it means looking like a coward. Better they think you’re craven than you take a life needlessly.”

That was what he envied Caleb for the most. The fact that his brother had been able to actually refrain from any violence. That his sword was now encased in stone, where Caleb vowed it would remain.

It said a lot about Caleb’s love for Lilliana.

Jared screwed his little face up. “That’s not what my father says.”

That’s because your grandfather’s a moron. “He doesn’t participate directly in them. He sends soldiers like your mother out to fight and die in them instead.”

Jared frowned as he considered that. Xev didn’t want to disillusion his son, but he wanted to make Jared aware of the reality they faced every day.

More than that, he wanted to keep his son out of war entirely.

A sharp gasp caused him to look up and see Myone in the doorway. She quickly closed the door and moved to join them.

“Is everything all right?” she whispered.

He nodded. “I wanted to bring Jared a gift.”

Jared stopped to look at him. “What?” he asked, flashing a set of dimples.

Xev pulled out a small bag of fried treats. “They’re called friggles. They’re quite delicious, and your mother loves them. So you might have to fight her for them.” He handed the bag over to his son and watched as Jared took one and sampled it.

His eyes flared. “Yum!”

Laughing, he grabbed the whole bag from Xev’s hand.

Xev smiled as he watched his son eagerly shove an entire handful into his mouth.

Myone laughed. “You spoil him.”

“It’s my job.”

She tsked at Xev. “Jared? Would you mind going outside to play for a few minutes so that I can speak to your uncle in private?”

“Sure, Mama.” Jared pushed himself up. “Thank you for the friggles, Uncle.” He kissed Xev on the cheek then started for the door.

“And Jared?”

He turned toward his mother with a heavy sigh. “I know, Mama. Don’t tell anyone he’s here.”

“Thank you, baby.”

Nodding, he ran from the room and quickly shut the door.

She saw the sadness in Xev’s eyes as he watched him leave. “You want me to call him back?”

“Yes and no.” He let out a tired sigh before he pulled her into his arms and kissed her cheek. “It would scar him for life if he ever saw me holding his mother like this.”

Myone closed her eyes and savored the sensation of Xev holding her. It’d been too long. The kiss he gave her set fire to every part of her.

If only it could always be like this.

Laughing, she pulled back. “It would definitely make him wonder why his uncle was molesting his mother so.”

“Indeed.” He nuzzled her neck. “I miss our time alone.”

“I do too.” Now that they had Jared, it was almost impossible to be together. She didn’t dare leave this realm or even venture into the shadows for fear that Jared might need her. He was a wonderful boy, but he was too inquisitive, and too quick to get into things he shouldn’t.

If she so much as blinked, he found things best left alone. She loved her boy, but he kept her on her toes.

“Why is this so complicated?” she asked.

“Because my family sucks.”

She laughed at Xev’s standard answer. “I need to give you a heads-up. We’re marching tomorrow.”

“I actually knew that. We were given that information two days ago.”

She arched a brow. “Really? How?”

Xev rubbed at his eyes. “That’s why I’m here. I have bad news for you. Apparently, you have a traitor in your ranks.”

Her heart sank. Although it made sense. She still couldn’t stand the thought of one of her soldiers turning against them. “What?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know who yet. But one of your team is definitely leaking information to my side. We know every move the Sephirii and Na?āru plan to make, in great detail.”

“Who are they telling it to?”

“Azura.”

She cursed as she realized just how dangerous that was. “And you’ve no idea who it’s coming from?”

“If I knew, I’d tell you.”

That he would. He wouldn’t risk her getting hurt. “What should I do?”

“Keep your eyes open. Given what Azura knows, it has to be someone high-ranking. Maybe Na?āru or one of your Mimoroux, but I don’t know yet. As soon as I find out, I will tell you.”

A knock on her door startled them.

She saw the sadness in his eyes and felt it all the way to her soul. Why did someone have to disturb them right now?

Tapping his heart twice as their silent signal to let her know he loved her, he vanished.

Myone cursed that she couldn’t have had more time with him. It wasn’t fair.

After making sure there was no trace of him, she went to the door to find Cam standing in the hallway, a stern glower on her face. So tiny that she barely reached Myone’s shoulder, the goddess had dark skin and beautiful golden eyes. Her black hair was wrapped in a white scarf, trimmed with gold that matched her elegant gown.

“Is something wrong, my lady?” Myone asked.

The goddess of justice stared at her in awe. “Are you aware of the powers your son holds?”

Of course she was. Unless…“Are there new ones he’s learned?”

Cam crooked her finger for Myone to follow her.

Confused, she left her room to trail after the tiny goddess, down the sterile hallway to the temple courtyard, where Jared was surrounded by four members of the Sephirii Mimoroux. She had no idea why she’d been summoned until she realized her child was talking to the swords.

All of them.

Her jaw went slack. No one had ever been able to talk to more than one sword, and then only rarely. Even her own didn’t speak to her much. Mostly Kasumi telegraphed her emotions to make Myone know what she was feeling. Actual words…

Those were few and far between.

Yet as she moved closer, she saw the ethereal fey spirits gathered around her child as if they were playmates. Even though they belonged to her elite Sephirii commanders, they were out of their swords and actually frolicking. This was unheard of. Like shimmering ghosts, they surrounded him, humming and playing.

They were soldiers…playing? It didn’t make sense, yet there was no denying what she saw.

How she wished Xev was here to see this. She’d love to know what he thought.

“Is this possible?” she asked Cam.

Cam shrugged. “I’ve never seen anything like this. Maybe it’s from Jaden’s powers?”

Or Xev’s. Could there be something in his blood that made the Seraphs reach out to their son?

“Takara summoned me.”

Myone turned to her right to find her father standing over them with the last of the Seraph swords in his hand. “What?”

“Takara called out to me,” he repeated. He held the legendary sword out to her.

For the last two thousand years, the Mimoroux had only consisted of nine members instead of ten because Takara had refused to allow anyone to wield her. She’d just been completely stubborn in her refusal to accept any warrior.

All these centuries, she’d lain so silent that they assumed her spirit had died. As such, the Sephirii had created a place of honor for her in their gathering hall where everyone could see her.

But again, they’d assumed she was dead.

Now…

Myone scowled as she took the vibrating sword from her father’s hand.

Takara refused to allow her to even touch her. She scalded Myone, who quickly let go. The sword clattered against the marble floor, then it stood upright and began to spin by itself. Faster and faster.

A bright light emanated from the hilt, blinding them.

That light began to bend until it formed a tiny, beautiful woman who stood no more than three feet tall. Her skin and eyes shimmered gold, while black hair cascaded over her shoulders to her hips.

Dressed in a flowing black gown, she had long, pointed ears and eyes like a cat. A small gold crown held her hair off her face in an intricate twining of hair and gold. Diamonds and rubies dangled from the crown around the delicate shape of her face.

She was absolutely beautiful as she headed toward Jared, who watched her curiously.

Inclining her head to him, she curtsied. In return, he gave her a formal bow.

Takara laughed at him. “My shiori. It will be my honor to help you in war.”

Myone started to deny it, but her father stopped her. “She’s chosen him, and there’s nothing you can do.”

Every maternal instinct inside her rebelled at those words. Even though she’d been a girl when Kasumi chose her, she’d already begun her training. Jared was barely more than a toddler. “He’s too young.”

“To battle, yes. But she’s made her choice, and we have to honor it. We will train him for command.”

This was unheard of. No sword had ever chosen a child so young, especially not Takara. She was the oldest and strongest of the swords.

Whoever wielded her was their leader.

Their undisputed leader.

Myone gasped as she realized that she wouldn’t mind relinquishing command to her child in the future. But not until he was ready. And not for many, many years to come. Like Xev, she didn’t want to see him in battle. Didn’t want to watch him kill or be wounded. “His father will demand the strongest, most enchanted armor ever created.”

“I know Jaden will.”

She had to stop herself from correcting Cam. It wasn’t Jaden who would be screaming out in protest over this. Xev would have much to say about their son being a Sephiroth. Especially if this war didn’t end.

Because if it didn’t end, there was a very real possibility that Jared could face his father in battle.

That was the last thing she wanted.

No. They had to find an end to this. She refused to lose either of them.