Chapter Twenty-Seven
Rallorival
Rallorival Tremarri's blood burned. He wouldn’t have been surprised to see steam rising from his skin.
Lena Drask was his destra. He was certain of it.
And he'd been just as certain that Thaxvarien would understand.
But he hadn't. His leader had ordered him to stay away from his destined love.
How could he do that? Thaxvarien knew the ache and draw of destiny.
He knew it could make men act rashly. Why didn't he understand?
If the Nethren had taken his destra, Thaxvarien would have used his newfound power to destroy anything keeping them apart.
Considering that, Rallorival had behaved admirably.
But Thaxvarien didn't believe him.
“Rall.”
Rallorival turned to see a group of five Aethari walking over to him—two women and three men. Instantly, his shoulders eased, and he grinned. They were his closest friends, and when Rallorival had followed Thaxvarien to Middle Ground, they had gone with him.
“You saw that?” Rallorival lifted his wings.
“Yeah, we saw and heard that entire load of shit.” Roddolkith grimaced. “How the fuck can a star-kissed destru not sympathize with a man who is trying to save his destined woman?”
“Precisely what I was thinking.” Rallorival glanced back at the front of the camp where Thaxvarien and his destra were still speaking with the general.
“He was the first to bond with a Medean, and doesn't that mean there will be more to follow?” He swung back to his friends.
“I knew as soon as I saw Lena Drask that she would be mine. Thaxvarien must have felt the same when he met her sister.”
“And yet he ordered you to stay away from her.” Aranhale shook her head. “That's cruel.”
“Maybe we were wrong to follow him,” Cirarlinaven, the other woman, added.
“No, I believe in what he's doing. Our people need to change, and the Sources favor Thaxvarien. You saw what he did to that Nethren.” Rallorival glanced back again.
“He has the power to crumble that fortress, but he holds back because of the lie that Nethren fed him.
He just needs to see that they're monsters. Monsters don't seek peace.”
“Then let's remind him.” Vedanleru grinned, his black wings rustling.
“What have you got in mind?” Rallorival leaned closer.
“Just an idea, but I'm sure we can flesh it out together.”
Rallorival grinned back at his friend. Source was leading him. Not just to save Lena but to put Thaxvarien back on the right path.