Chapter 48 Truth Be Told
Chapter Forty-Eight
Truth Be Told
Caius
Alex and Althea moved quickly down the tunnel, Althea cradling the bundled babe in her arms. A few feet in front of them, Caius led the way, his stride purposeful and confident. He didn’t look back once, trusting them to keep up and not fall behind.
They took several turns in rapid succession, trying to put as much distance between them and Luther as possible. Abruptly, Caius stopped and turned to them, assessing their appearances. His eyes landed on the now sleeping babe and the dried blood coating Althea’s clothing.
“Are you injured?” The gruffness of his tone seemed to startle them both.
“None of the blood is mine,” she said sadly, grief coating her voice.
Reluctantly, he pulled his eyes away and took in the sight of his daughter. She looked ready to crumple. He saw the steel form in her gaze, and when she spoke next, it was with strength that he admired.
“What now? Where are we going?”
“Someplace safe.” He let out a regretful sigh. “Much has happened in Varon that you need to know. Everything else can wait.” He took her face in his warm, rough hands, bracing her for the impact his words would have.
“Sophiana is queen once more. The Tribunal proved their innocence, but not before Evanar suffered at the hands of Luther.”
Althea gasped at the mention of her brother's name. Sensing her alarm, Caius quickly reassured her. “His injuries were harsh but none that he will not heal from, with time. He’s resting comfortably with his queen.”
Althea’s shoulders slumped forward as the tension drained from her.
“Queen Vivian has returned to Rune.” Caius continued. “Queen Galen and Queen Anika spoke in favor of Varon. They will be our trusted allies in the upcoming conflicts.”
“Well, of course, Galen spoke against Vivian,” Althea stated, raising her chin. “Family means everything, and Vivan is a leech on Diathan.”
Caius chanced a glance back at her, watching her fuss over the baby.
He had observed her from afar for many years.
His duty didn’t allow him many friends, but Evanar had always been just that.
They had never dared make their friendship widely known, as there were too many secrets between them, but he loved him like a brother and that love extended to his family.
He had always felt protective of Evanar’s youngest sister, and he’d made it his business to watch out for her in her brother’s absence. Though she knew nothing of it. Of him.
A happy sob sprang from Alex’s clenched lips, drawing his gaze to her.
“I would not celebrate too quickly, daughter. While Evanar is recovering, Vivian is spreading lies, feeding the growing unrest in Diathan. Your absence has given her the opportunity to exploit the raids and falsify reports of attacks on the Rune heirs.”
“What attacks? Tristan seems just fine and those idiot twins of hers were too busy attacking me to…” Her voice trailed off.
Caius simply waited for her to realize what he was getting at. That the injuries that she and Davin had inflicted on the twins were what had been used to concoct the story to begin with. She had unintentionally fed right into Vivian’s games.
“Gods damn it!” Alex’s rage erupted. Caius watched his daughter struggle to reign in her emotions as she stalked ahead of him, before pacing back again. Althea shifted the babe in her arms, her eyes tracking Alex’s movements.
“A hot head, that one,” she muttered, bouncing the fussing babe. “Alexandria, dear. Please calm down. We need to hear the rest of what your father has to say before we go on a killing spree.”
Caius was shocked to see his daughter actually stop and mutter a petulant “I’m sorry” to Althea. She wasn’t one to take orders, not even from him. She had always been one to push back, especially against any kind of injustice. To see her not only stop but to apologize to Althea was mind blowing.
“Fine. What else has happened?” Alex spread her hands wide. “Besides the obvious, that is.”
Caius couldn’t help but grin. She was still the same ole Alex.
“Many things, actually. Things that will be difficult for you to comprehend. Things have been put into motion that cannot be stopped. Things that you will learn in time.”
He could see that his words didn’t make any sense to Alex, driving her frustration further, but if she had learned anything from him, it was that he never said anything without purpose. He only hoped that she would hold that lesson closely in the coming future.
“Have a little more faith in the girl. She’s as sharp as a tack, and I bet she will comprehend you just fine.” Althea stated, jumping to Alex’s defense.
“Oh I have no doubt, but even you, my lady, will find what I have to say hard to believe.” His voice was laced with a heady undertone.
Alex stood looking even more confused by their interaction.
“Oh, for Keil’s sake. Can we get on with it?” She gritted out, her hands on her hips.
Caius turned his attention back to his daughter, a chuckle rumbling in his chest. “Always so impatient. Do you remember when you were a child, how I would tell you stories of beasts and magic from faraway places?”
Alex narrowed her eyes but nodded her head.
“They were based in truth. There was once magic amongst us. The beasts roamed the realm and the citizens were united under one rule.”
Alex and Althea’s mouths hung open. They obviously thought that he was insane. “Magic is returning. Alex, you have seen those beasts twice now. Do you not trust your own eyes?”
Alex’s mouth snapped shut but he could tell that what he was saying was starting to sink in.
“Ok, that explains the beasts but what of the magic?”
Caius weighed his words carefully. He knew how important Rivka had been to Alex and Althea and he hated having to rip open such a fresh wound.
“My Thorns reported that Vivian was brought a chest, containing a book of spells and a prophecy. The prophecy said a child of the strongest family would reign all of Diathan, so Vivian used the spells to force Tristan and Rivka to produce an heir. She intends to rule through her.” He tipped his head towards the babe in Althea’s arms.
“You mean to tell me that Rivka was forced to have sex against her will?” Alex ground out. Althea stiffened next to her, her eyes widening in shock.
“Tristan, too. Neither were in control of themselves. Both powerless to stop it.”
The baby let out a muffled wail from Althea’s arms. She quickly began rocking her, speaking to the babe in a low, soothing tone.
Alex was vibrating with anger. Caius knew that the emotions warring inside her would eventually burst free, but he could see that she believed the truth he spoke.
“Who knew?” Alex demanded.
Caius huffed out a breath. He had been hoping to avoid this question. It was going to complicate things. “Besides Tristan and Rivka? Ellis, Evanar, and the Thorns who reported back to me.”
Alex closed her eyes, taking deep breaths. He could hear her muttering the cadence he had drilled into her years ago. “Be the calm-the steady hands in the dark.”
A scuffing noise sounded behind them. Caius watched as Bronwynn rounded the corner, with Tristan, Ellis, and a man he couldn’t quite place, in tow.
“Hiya, boss.” Bronwynn’s voice echoed off the walls. She grimaced. She was always louder than she intended to be.
Caius didn’t respond; his gaze was locked on the auburn haired man behind her. What are the odds? “Monroe?”
The man let out a sound closer to the snarl of a cornered dog than a human. Alex turned toward him, looking between them.
“Dad? How do you know Davin?”
Davin stiffened, his eyes whipping to her before settling back on him. “So you are Mr. Monroe then,” Caius stated, sadness flickering in his eyes.
Alex was staring at Davin. Something in her gaze telling him that they were more than just mere acquaintances.
“Did you just call him Dad?” Davin seethed, his eyes never leaving Caius.
“I did. Because he is.” Confusion marred her features. “How do you know each other?”
Neither answered. The rigidity of Davin's posture as he glared gave away his hatred. Caius wasn’t sure why the man was so angry.
He had never met him but knew that Nila had loved him enough to want to leave.
The accident had been tragic, not something that should have happened.
If he had known what he did now, he would never have allowed her to go.
Caius turned his attention back to his daughter as she moved to place her hand on Davin’s arm and tried to reason with him.
“Davin, please. Can we just talk about this later? I will explain everything once we are out of these Gods forsaken tunnels. There isn’t time to discuss whatever this is.”
Davin was livid, there was no doubt, but he moved to the side of the tunnel, shouldering past Caius to stand alone.
“Hello, Alex.” Bronwynn laughed. “Still causing trouble, I see.”
Alex’s lips tipped into a sad smile. “It’s the only way.” She shrugged.
Bronwynn leaned in to hug her. “That’s the life of a Thorn kiddo.”
A growl sounded from behind Caius. Davin obviously hadn’t known about Alex’s upbringing, nor did he seem all that thrilled to find out.
Tristan stepped forward, his face a mask of bewilderment. “Alexandria? You’re a Thorn?”
Alex rounded on Tristan, her blade suddenly appearing in her hand. “Why are you still here?”
Caius moved quickly, placing himself between her and the prince, his hand held out toward her.
“What the fuck, Dad!” Alex exclaimed.
“You have to trust me that you can trust him, Alex,” Caius said.
“I will never trust him.” She spat.
Caius peered down at his daughter with a look of conviction. “You must.”
Alex closed her eyes. While she was angry, he knew that she would do as he asked. He prayed to Fari that the prince was smart enough to stay out of her way.
Alex
Ellis stepped forward, placing his hand on Alex’s arm. “Alex, your father’s right. Tristan can be trusted.”
Alex shifted her anger directly to Ellis. She had thought they were friends, but he had lied to her. Hidden vital information from her. He had let her believe that Rivka had wanted Tristan, had chosen him.
“How can I trust him when I can’t even trust you?” Her eyes burned holes into his. Ellis took a step back, realizing that he was now in the line of fire.
“Alex, it wasn’t like that,” he began. “I tried to tell you, but you were always gone, and when we finally realized what was happening, it wasn’t safe to tell you.”
“I LOVED HER!” Alex’s raised voice echoed down the long tunnel. “I would have died for her, Ellis, and you stand here and tell me that it wasn’t safe for me?”
She was trembling. The angst in her voice stopped whatever retort Ellis was about to make. “You kept it from me. Let me believe that he had stolen her from me. That she…that she had lied to me. She lied to me, Ellis. You both did!”
“You were never there, Alex. She sought you out in the beginning. She loved you and never wanted to hurt you.” Ellis’ eyes bore into hers, and she couldn’t stand it.
“As queen, she could've ordered me home. To explain. To tell me the truth. But instead she chose to run, to save her child, yes, but still, she ran from me.” Alex’s voice broke on the last word. She dropped her head, letting her grief wash over her.
Ellis moved closer to her. “She loved you, Alex. She cried for you every night. You were her everything. She ran to protect her child. She lied to protect you.”
A sob ripped from Alex’s chest. She knew what Ellis said had to be true.
It was just like Rivka to do something like that.
To put everyone else’s safety above her own.
She had even protected Tristan in the end.
Ellis wrapped his arms around her. She was angry, but she loved him and needed his comfort right now as much as he needed hers.
Riv was gone. They simply held onto each other; each lost in their own grief for the woman they had loved and lost.
No one dared interrupt them, waiting patiently for them to process all of what had just been said. Kaela’s wail broke through their grief. Caius pushed off the wall, clearing his throat. “Why don’t we talk as we walk? We have a ways to go before we reach the safe house.”
He held his arm out to Alex. She moved to his side, allowing him to pull her close. They began walking, but no one dared speak. There were too many emotions floating in the tight confines of the tunnel.
Once they were back above ground, they would have to formulate a plan on where to go from here. Questions burned in the back of Alex’s mind. Her father had a lot to explain. There were holes in the story that didn’t line up.
How did he know Davin? Why did Davin seem so angry with him?
And magic was real? What was she supposed to do with that?
The thoughts swirled. Rivka was dead. The last thought caused grief to crash into her again–a wave that threatened to suck her under.
Kaela. What would she do about her? Alex was never meant to be a mom but there was no way in hell that Tristan was taking the babe, blood or not.
Anger bubbled back in, eating away the grief.
Anger was good. It was easier. It fueled the fire that would keep her going.