Chapter 28
Xev hated being in the village that was near the farm where his brother lived. Ever since Chani had died, he’d done his best to avoid the human world.
Trisa notwithstanding.
Mostly because there he didn’t have visions of a sweet little girl and her mother being burned alive. Everything here reminded him of that awful night.
But he had to warn his brother. Caleb needed to know Azura was looking for him, hellbent on destroying his life.
Besides, he owed Caleb for the last battle his family had been in. His brother had fought with Myone and Jared against Caleb’s former army. Had he not been in that battle, his mother wouldn’t know Caleb was back in play.
The least he could do now was help protect Lilliana and her people.
If he couldn’t have his happily-ever-after with Myone, then he would do whatever he could to help Caleb have his.
Not that he blamed Caleb for losing his heart to the tiny blonde woman. She was adorable and sweet. He well understood how Caleb had lost his heart to one such as she.
Xev watched as said tiny woman ran off into the crowd of people in her town to celebrate the solstice. Their loud shouts and cheers rang out in the night as they partied, unaware of how close death trod next to them.
Or the fact that they had a god in their mix who fought with demons against them.
When Caleb started after his wife, Xev blocked his way.
The minute Caleb saw him, he cursed under his breath, then smirked. “Do you mind?”
Xev grinned. “Never. It’s one of my more irritating qualities.”
“Yes, it is. Out of my way, idiot.”
Why did that amuse him? Really, there was something wrong with him. “She’s fine. Myone’s in the temple, keeping an eye on Lil.”
Caleb sighed. “We have to stop these talks. Every time I see you, my sphincter clenches. Can’t you ever just say nice weather or how are the crops growing?”
“How do you know I wasn’t planning on asking that?”
“Were you?”
Xev gave him a grin he knew would irritate Caleb. “No. But you shouldn’t jump to conclusions.”
“I hate you so much.”
“I know. But you need to put that aside. We have bigger issues.” He sobered. “My mother knows that you have a weakness.”
All the humor fled from Caleb’s face instantly. “What do you mean?”
Xev hated to be the one to tell him this. Caleb was so happy. Why couldn’t he stay that way?
Because life sucked.
The gods were capricious, and they were never meant to be happy.
“It didn’t take much for Azura and the King of All Darkness to figure out why you vanished, and then showed up fighting on the wrong side. Evil as they are, they still know nothing changes someone like love.”
Caleb cursed. “How could I have been so stupid? Do they know who she is?”
Xev shook his head, grateful for that small mercy. “Not as far as I know. But let’s face it, I’m not my mother’s confidant. She thinks you and I are still fighting and not talking. That gives you an advantage.” Because she would have no idea that he’d warn his brother.
He saw the relief in Caleb’s eyes. “You have any other good news to tell me?”
“My boy’s now commanding his own legion. He’s third-in-command.”
“I have no response to that. Though I feel like you’re looking for a congratulations.”
“Little bit.” After all, he was proud of Jared. Terrified of the fact his son was fighting in this useless war, but it didn’t change the fact that he was the youngest Sephiroth in history to attain a command of that magnitude. As his father, Xev couldn’t be prouder. “Could you sound more insincere?”
“Not sure I should be happy he’s helping to kill my kind.”
Xev looked around the crowd that surrounded them, a crowd his brother had been happily blending in with and calling family these last few years. “You sure the demons are still your kind? It looks to me like you’ve upgraded.”
Caleb glanced around and something Xev couldn’t name darkened his eyes. “Xev…may I ask you a favor?”
His jaw went slack. That wasn’t like his brother. Caleb never believed in owing anyone anything. “You’re asking me a favor? There must be sun shining in Azmodea right now.”
“Not funny.”
“Not trying to be. Just amazed by words I never thought to hear from your lips.” Which told him just how important they had to be for Caleb to say them. His brother never asked for help.
Even so, Caleb hesitated before he spoke them. “I need you to help me protect Lil.”
That was what Xev had expected. It was all their fears—losing what they loved. “You know I will, especially after everything you’ve done for me and Myone…and Jared. I owe you.”
“Don’t forget it.” And with that, Caleb left to go after his wife.
Xev followed after him.
Inside the great hall, Lilliana was in a group of humans, drinking mead and laughing. Caleb paused as if to savor the moment.
Then he moved to the left.
Scowling, Xev followed.
But there was nothing there.
What is he doing?
“Here, kitty, kitty, kitty,” Caleb said.
What was going on? Why would his brother chase a cat?
Caleb turned around, searching the crowd around them. “Where are you?”
Xev was about to ask what was wrong when Caleb ran back to Lil.
“Lil?” he called out. “Lil!”
“She’s right here,” Myone said as he joined them.
Caleb pulled his wife against his chest and held her the way Xev held Myone every time he went to see her in her room.
It was really odd.
“Caleb?” Lilliana asked.
“There’s something here. Something from the Mavromino. I saw it.”
Myone began looking around. “Dary!”
That explained the cat. It must have been a demon stalking his brother.
Xev was by her side instantly. “I’m here.”
“We have an enemy in our midst. Help me find them.”
Xev inclined his head to her before he stepped back and vanished so that he could search for the culprit.
Myone sighed as she looked at Caleb and Lil. “I assume Xev told you the news?”
“That our enemies know how to break me? Yes.”
Myone winced at the way he stated that. She hadn’t quite thought of that yet. “Then we need to secure you both.”
Caleb started laughing. “You want to take me to Katoteros? Are you out of your mind?”
“You have a better idea?” she asked.
“Start pulling off my body parts and feeding them to me. That at least would be entertaining.”
Lil scowled at them. “What are you talking about? What’s Katoteros?”
“The realm where my kind lives. We’ll be able to protect you there.”
Lil blinked twice. “Leave my home?” The pain in her voice made Myone’s heart ache.
“You have no choice, sweetie.” Myone jerked her chin toward Caleb. “Neither of you can stay here after this. They’ll come for you now that they know you exist and where to find you.”
Lilliana let out a tired sigh as she faced Caleb. “I’m so sorry.”
“For what?” he asked.
“Telling you to take out your sword. This is all my fault. I should never have asked you to protect my people or my village.”
He pulled her against him. “No, precious. It’s not your fault. They would have found me eventually. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
Myone patted her on the back. “Caleb’s right. They would have come here sooner or later. They’re relentless.”
With a ragged breath, Lilliana nodded. “I shall miss our cottage. But as long as I’m with you, everything’s fine.”
Caleb tightened his arms around her. “We’ll be back here again to pick those vegetables I hate. I promise.”
She smiled. “I plan to hold you to that.”
Myone hoped for their sakes that happened, but the one thing she’d learned was to plan for the unexpected. Nothing ever worked out the way anyone planned.
Finally, Xev made his way back to them.
“Did you find anything?” she asked.
“No. Whatever it was, it’s gone. Demons have a bad habit of doing that.”
“Then let’s take them to Jaden’s temple.”
Xev hesitated. “You sure he’ll welcome Caleb back?” After all, his brother had turned on them and led legions against the Kalosum. Given his father’s record, Xev had a hard time believing Jaden would just let that go.
“He has a human wife. I’m sure Jaden will allow them to stay for her protection.”
That rather stung. His wife led their army, and his son was their third-in-command. Yet they’d stone him if he dared show up there. His father would most likely cast the first one.
But this wasn’t the time to worry about that. Caleb and Lil were under fire.
They were all that mattered right now. Not Xev’s petty feelings where his father was concerned.
He inclined his head to his wife. “Get them to safety. Let me know if you need anything.”
Myone kissed him, then took Caleb and Lilliana with her and vanished into the darkness.
Xev stood in the village, surrounded by humans. Something wasn’t right. Whatever Caleb had felt, he felt it too. It slithered over his skin like a living, breathing creature.
Something was coming for all of them.
The end was near. He could feel it.
He just prayed that they all survived.