Chapter 31 Kaden
KADEN
My eyes fluttered open, the smell of burning wood making me turn my head.
I immediately regretted it. My entire body was pure agonizing pain.
I blinked, the room slowly coming into focus.
Green leaves, thick, full, and healthy, grew through the open cracks in the ceiling.
The vibrant color broke up the deep browns of the cramped space.
All the windows were broken, and the wall along one side was just gone.
The surrounding forest had taken the opportunity to reclaim its space, vines twisting through every crack and gnawing at the rotting wood.
“Shh,” a small voice said, and it wasn’t until then that I realized a cross between a growl and a whine had been rumbling from my broken chest. I carefully turned my head again to see a small woman sitting at my side.
She looked familiar, but in the haze of pain, I couldn’t remember where I’d seen her.
She held the remains of what appeared to be a bowl.
The mixture of crushed leaves and water inside swished as she leaned in closer.
The room blurred. I blinked again, and the ceiling rose, turning to a shiny stone.
The floors expanded as the woman grew, her soft pink hair morphing to rich, long brown waves.
Swirling bands of gold wrapped around her upper arms, and the soft robe she wore had been made by the most powerful god in existence.
I could feel his power clinging to it. My father’s power.
“Zasyn,” I whispered. “Mom.” Her soft hand slid gently over my forehead, soothing me as I twisted in pain. The tight bandages around my midsection and arms pulled as darkness pressed in around the edges of my vision, the world fading.
“Do not slam my doors, Kaden.”
Her feet slapped against the floor as she followed in pursuit. For a celestial surrounded by gods, she showed no fear. Zasyn never had, and I wondered if that was why Unir loved her so.
I spun. “You will let him do that?”
“Do not be cold. I did not raise you as such.”
I couldn’t help the venom that filled my voice, the words that spilled from my lips like acid. “You didn’t raise me. He created me, us. You’re just a false mom.”
The slap was verbal, but a slap nonetheless. Her head reared back, and I hated it so much. But Nismera had told us of their plans, how the being Zasyn now cradled in her womb would surpass us all. She had explained that we had not been born, but engineered to be weapons.
“She told me everything!” I practically screamed. “And what will he tell his precious council of his children who crave blood?”
“Hush,” she whispered, her trusted guards closing the thick doors behind us.
“I do not know what was discussed in your father’s council, but I do know one thing. He loves you and your brother. We both do.”
“How can you love a weapon?”
Her brows furrowed as she stepped close, her hands reaching up and cupping my face. No matter my anger or power, I’d never push her away, never lift a finger towards her. Regardless of the words that had bruised and broken my heart, I loved her.
“Is that how you think I see you? See any of you?”
I turned my eyes away, but she refused to allow it. She gripped my chin and forced me to look at her again before dropping her hands.
“You are not a weapon. Not to me. You are my child, just as Isaiah is, just as Nismera is. You may rage and react in anger, but I know you. I know where your anger comes from and why it burns so hot. You love aggressively and angrily sometimes, but you still love. Don’t let jealousy twist it into something ugly.
” Her hands cradled the small, growing bump of her belly.
“I will love him, just as I do you. Nothing changes regardless of title or reason. Please know that whatever your father is doing, it is to protect you, to protect all of us.”
“Even if he wishes to hide us?”
Her eyes softened. “Protect your family, Kaden, because in this world, they are your actual strength.” She grabbed my hand and squeezed. “Love is power. It will make us stronger than any godly counsel, but we have to stick together. That is what is important.”
I only nodded, and she leaned in to press a kiss to my cheek. The doors closed behind her, and I stared at the intricate carvings on the thick slabs of wood. Deep in thought, I stood there until I heard armored boots come up behind me.
“She’s a liar,” Nismera all but hissed as she joined me, her eyes burning holes into the door.
“She spews the same things he does, but you see it, don’t you, Brother?
” Nismera looked at me, but I kept my gaze forward.
“How they act, how they have changed. They will finally birth their perfect child and toss us to the side.”
“But—” The word had barely left my lips before Nismera’s hands were on my shoulders, turning me to face her.
“Don’t let her trick you,” she said, her eyes seeming to glow for a second.
“She wouldn’t have even told you. You only know about this because I told you what I heard in the chamber.
I told you first. She is a liar, spinning the truth to suit her needs, just like him.
Their new baby will be born, and we will be forgotten unless we take care of ourselves.
You and Isaiah are their worst fears. Why do you think they have not told the council what you truly are?
Why do you think they hide it so carefully?
They force you and Isaiah to mimic the forms of celestials instead of gods because they are ashamed of you.
Unir only wants you for your power, and Zasyn is Unir’s puppet.
She will support him and their new brat.
They aren’t like me. I love you and Isaiah.
I’ll protect you both like I always have. ”
I heard what she was saying, and there was truth in it, but I wasn’t sure if I agreed with her belief that they didn’t care about us, especially Zasyn. I remained silent, watching Nismera as she went on.
“You, me, and Isaiah. That’s how it has been, how it will always be. We have to take care of each other,” she said, resting a hand on my shoulder.
Her touch and words soothed me, all my doubts receding.
I glanced over her head, back to that damn door.
How foolish did Zaysn think I was that all she had to do was sprinkle pretty words of family, and I’d listen like a whipped hound?
Nismera was right. They wouldn’t have told us.
They would have kept us in the dark until we were needed for battle or war.
My jaw clenched. How dare she think she could manipulate me so easily?
“We will.”
My eyes fluttered open again. Day had turned to night, and cold crept into the broken structure where we sheltered.
A fire danced and sparked near the open wall, a small figure wrapped in a blanket hunched over it, warming her hands.
My vision was much clearer this time, and I could see Isaiah lying on the floor across the room.
His eyes were closed, a single hand reaching out as if seeking something.
Bandages covered his shoulders and midsection, and I worried about his wounds.
I stretched my arm out toward him, too, wanting to get up and check on him, but not having the strength.
My eyes stayed open long enough to see his chest rise and fall before sleep took me once again.