Chapter 55 Claeg
We found Thana in her chambers, leisurely dressed in a silk robe. A pair of servants attended to her, but she dismissed them upon our arrival. My grandmother smiled at me in a way that sent shivers down my spine. Not because the smile was hostile, but because it wasn’t. Rather, she looked pleased to see me.
“Welcome, Ruptor, Prince De Vita. Sit.” She waved to a round table with ornate chairs around it. The same table Clotho and I had eaten many meals with her. The same table she had pushed me to select a mate at time and time again. Did she know I had chosen now? That I was Chosen?
Anastasius hesitated, waiting for me to sit before claiming the chair beside me. He sucked on his lip in the way he did when he was nervous. I grasped his hand beneath the table and gave it a reassuring squeeze. His lips twitched slightly, but that was the only reaction I got.
Thana cleared her throat. “It seems you've been busy these last few moon turns, Ruptor. So tell me: what have you learned about De Vita? Tell me everything.” She sat back in her chair and folded her hands. I winced, feeling Stas’ eyes on me. I had confessed to him my true purpose in his clan, but seeing the truth of it . . . would he hate me now?
I swallowed but began the story with how Anastasius and I met. “After Clotho left me, I spent days wandering the Sand Eye. I found a draconis dying. Suffering. The Ruptor couldn’t resist the call, and I was there when their Circle came to its completion. That’s where Stas found me.” I paused, reflecting on that moment, which was only a few moon turns ago and yet felt like forever had come and gone and changed everything in the meantime. The Janardan nodded occasionally as I told her about the Selection, the trials, and Odon’s death. I didn't hold anything back, telling her about all the good and the bad I had seen. Anastasius watched me intently as I bared all the secrets of his clan, discussing numbers, defenses, and weaknesses. I half expected him to protest, but he didn't say a word throughout the discussion. At the end, Thana hummed and pursed her lips. She closed her dark eyes, folding her hands and leaning on her knuckles as she thought.
“Do you think there can be peace yet?” she asked, making me startle. I blinked at her dumbly. Was this a trick? Thana had never mentioned seeking peace before. What had changed? Clotho wasn’t so slow to react. She vaulted from her spot leaning against the wall.
“Grandmother!” she protested, her eyes alight with astonishment.
“Quiet, heir,” the Janardan commanded in a tone that made even Clotho pause. It showed her strength, who she was. I could hardly believe the words, but Anastasius perked up at them and opened his mouth as if to talk before slamming it shut.
“Perhaps,” I shrugged. Thana turned to address Stas.
“Your father always refused any talk of peace…” She shook her head. I gaped at my grandmother. When had she spoken to Odon? “What shall you do, De Vita?” Thana asked plainly as if we were discussing the weather and not hinting at a history between the two I had no knowledge of.
Anastasius shifted in his chair before giving a stout nod. “I am De Vita. With Claeg at my side, I believe it is possible.”
Clotho’s face twisted in rage, her limbs shaking in hardly contained anger. I could see the words she wanted to shout, but a raised hand from Thana stowed her.
My grandmother nodded. She looked at Anastasius and me, her eyes filled with an emotion like pride. “I have long believed it would be in both of our best interests to strengthen ourselves by uniting the clans.”
My eyes widened in surprise. Now, Clotho was quivering with unrestrained rage. She unsheathed her dagger and slammed it into the wooden table.
“Grandmother, you cannot do this!” Clotho shrieked.
At first, the Janardan didn’t react, a cool calmness radiating from her. When she did speak, it instilled fear into me, drenching the room with her power. The light even seemed to go dull. “That is enough, Clotho. You are dismissed. Do not make me have Sivert drag you from this room.” She spoke plainly, no growl or snarl. There was no need. Clotho straightened, her jaw dropping. Anastasius and I watched her as she bared her teeth. She fisted her hands, her knuckles straining with whiteness. My eyebrows raised. Was the heir actually considering disobeying? To do so would be the act of a traitor. It would earn her a broken Circle.
“Sivert . . ." our grandmother called, and moments later the open door revealed the man who was once my lover. “This is your final warning,” Thana warned Clotho, and I stiffened, half expecting my sister to snap. But she didn’t, instead whipping around and striding out of the room with a huff. Sivert went to follow her, but my grandmother signaled for him to stay. He hesitated, too, glancing back at my sister’s retreating form. Almost reluctantly, he remained. Interesting.
The Janardan faced us again. She gave a smile so sweet to Anastasius. “Apologies, De Vita. My heir does not see things the same as I do in this matter.” I gawked at her, desperately wanting to ask why she was pursuing peace, but I held my tongue. It would do me no good to question my Janardan's generosity. “Do you accept my proposal?” The prince looked between Thana and me, gnawing on his lip. He swallowed and turned toward me, a question in his eyes: what do you want?
“The final trial . . . I cannot do it. I will not Save another draconis. I cannot take their strength. If a Circulus must be Saved, let it be me.” I bowed my head in submission, to let him know that if that was the cost—I would pay it. To unite our clans, to Entwine our Circles, I would pay whatever he demanded.
“Oh, Eleos, don’t you see? None of that matters anymore. Odon is dead. I am the leader of De Vita now. If I say you are my Chosen then it is so.” He cupped my chin, gently guiding it up so that our eyes met. “Even if Odon were alive, nobody could keep me from claiming you. You have always been my Chosen. I see now that the trials wouldn’t have changed that.” He bent to one knee, lowering himself before me as he took my hands in his. “Come back with me. Be my Chosen. Entwine yourself with me. I want all of you. Together, we will unite the clans.” A tear fell from his eyes. The Ruptor cried for me to wipe it away, but Eleos kept my hand at my side. I let my tears join his.
“It would be my honor,” I whispered before bringing my lips to his. I kissed him softly, our bodies exploring each other. He tasted like spiced citrus. I threaded my fingers through his hair, letting their soft silk filter through my grasp. I savored the feeling of his scars, the marks of his strength.
When I pulled away for air, I remembered my grandmother’s presence and mumbled an apology. She dismissed it with a wave of her hand. “We shall perform your Entwining ceremony before you leave.” Anastasius nodded, a hint of a smile forming.
“And the completion of the Choosing bond. If you are willing, I wish to do that here, too,” Anastasius requested. Thana smiled, nodding. I pulled Anastasius out of the room and back toward our bed where I could give him the pleasure he had awarded me. We were only halfway down the hall when a hand stopped me. I inhaled sharply. Anastasius studied me, sensing that something was wrong.
It was time to face my past.