64. Chapter Sixty-Four
Chapter Sixty-Four
Ryker
T hat was not what I had expected.
Kya’s head snapped to the side with the impact of Malina’s hand. No one moved for a moment, too shocked at Malina’s unforeseen reaction.
Pure, blinding rage struck down the bond. Something dark crossed Kya’s face as her eyes slowly trailed back to her sister before Kya’s fist met Malina’s stomach with a speed I had never seen from her.
It was as if something possessed her. Kya lunged for Malina, tackling her to the ground. The two of them kicking and thrashing against each other.
I moved on instinct, driven to protect Kya, but Nikan stepped in front of me and locked my feet in place with his terbis, the rock from the ground coming up over my ankles. I snarled.
“Stay out of it,” he demanded with no room for argument. “This is between the two of them.”
My lip curled in a sneer, but I didn’t advance any farther. Satisfied I wasn’t going to interfere, Nikan released my feet. I was less worried about Kya’s well-being when I noticed Odarum looking relaxed, but I still wasn’t happy about it. So I watched Kya and Malina work out their issues with their fists.
They grunted and rolled, hitting and blocking each other as the frosted ground crunched beneath their bodies. Kya was faster, but Malina was stronger.
“What’s going on?” Mavris asked beside me, staring in abject horror at the skirmish of the two females.
I worried how distressed he would be when Kya and I told him about our mother. But, like me, he had also grieved her long ago so I held hope it wouldn’t hurt him as badly.
“I have no idea.” I shook my head.
“You bitch !” Malina screamed in Kya’s face, rolling on top of her and throwing a punch.
Kya blocked Malina with her arm. “What the fuck is wrong with you?!”
“You!” Malina rammed her head into Kya’s, and I flinched but remained still. “ You’re what’s wrong with me.”
Kya elbowed her in the nose, making Malina’s head recoil back and giving Kya the opportunity to flip over her.
“I didn’t do shit to you!”
“You died!” Malina screamed, and Kya paused with her fist raised in the air. “You made me kill you. Did you think that wouldn’t fuck me up? Make me drown myself in alcohol and demid? Make me wish I had died instead?”
“I saved your life,” Kya said, clipping each word. “I saved both of your lives.” She jutted her chin toward Nikan. “And I thought I was saving everyone .”
Kya shoved herself off of Malina and rose to stand. Malina jumped up to her feet.
“Well, you didn’t,” Malina spat. “Daegel is still alive.”
“I’m aware,” Kya said darkly. “I fucked up, Mal. I know that. You think I don’t? I did what I thought was best at the time. It was either me or all of us. Now, I’ve suffered enough. I’m not taking the blame for your choices just like I don’t expect anyone to take the blame for mine. You made the decisions that led you there. That’s not on me.”
Kya shoved Malina, who looked struck by her words, then Kya spun around and glared at each one of us individually, going down the line of males watching. From Hakoa, to Mavris, to Nikan, then me.
“You let her get on demid?” she asked us collectively.
“Kya, you know what demid does to someone,” Nikan said calmly. “We didn’t even know about it at first. What did you expect us to do?”
“Tie her up? Beat some sense into her?” she suggested pointedly as if it were obvious.
Nikan took a step forward. “We tried to stop her on more than one occasion. She had to make the decision to stop on her own. You know that.”
I couldn’t stand to see the hurt in her eyes. I ran a soothing caress down the bond, and she visibly relaxed then turned to look at me, unshed tears coating her eyes.
“You were right, little gem. Her actions do not fall on you. It was her choice. That’s not your fault.”
“I know. But it feels like it is.” Kya closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths then slowly turned to face Malina.
“I’m glad you didn’t kill yourself,” Kya said, a truce offering of sorts.
Malina roughly swiped a tear off her cheek then crossed her arms. “I’m glad I didn’t kill you .”
Kya huffed a laugh. “It was a good shot. With your archery skills, I half expected you to hit me in the stomach,” she jested.
The side of Malina’s mouth lifted. “Well, I was aiming for your face.”
We all snickered at that, relieved that the tension between them lessened.
“Mother above…is this normal for them?” Mavris asked under his breath.
“Unfortunately,” Nikan grumbled.
I couldn’t help but notice Mavris stiffen slightly, and my eyes flicked down to see Nikan brush the back of his hand against Mavris’. I returned my attention to Kya and Malina who hugged.
“Oh,” Malina started. “Uh, welcome to Atara, by the way.”
“Definitely wasn’t the welcome I anticipated.” Kya nudged Malina playfully.
“We have a lot to catch up on,” Malina said with a smile and put her arm around Kya’s shoulders. Nikan came up next to them. “Come on. There are some people I want you to meet, and you can tell me what you’ve been up to for the last few months.”
Kya whipped her head around to look for me, but I was already following, and she smiled when she saw me right behind her.
“Don’t worry. I’m not letting you out of my sight.” I winked.
“Good.”
Odarum stepped up beside me while Theron stayed behind. It seemed Odarum wasn’t letting Kya out of his sight either.
We followed the Roav to the base, heading to where the Atarans were gathered. Just as we were passing through the tents, Kya stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes fixed on the approaching male as dread flooded down the bond.
Oh no.
I jumped up to Kya’s side, the hair on the back of my neck standing, unsure how my father was going to react. My eyes snapped over to Mavris who was already rushing forward to stand with me. I took a subtle step in front of Kya. But she moved around me and met my father with her shoulders squared.
“Mav, I’m sorry. We were going to talk to you about this privately later,” I said to him but I had a feeling he already knew what it was going to be about.
“Cadoc—” Kya started to say but cut herself off when my father’s hands came up to cradle her face.
I stiffened, worried about his reaction at seeing my mate having returned while his mate died.
Everyone else walked away, leaving me, Mavris, and Odarum watching the interaction between Kya and Cadoc.
He didn’t say anything for a moment, only gazing deep into her eyes. Kya trembled slightly, and I wanted to reach for her.
“Did you get to meet her? Leysa?” my father asked with a heartbreaking softness.
Kya nodded. “I did.”
Cadoc sucked in a sharp breath. “Were you there when…”
I came up next to Kya and wrapped an arm around her waist.
“Yes.” A tear streamed down her face, and she swallowed. “I was there.”
“How did it happen? Did she suffer?” my father’s voice broke.
Mavris came up behind me and tapped my back. I listened to his mind.
“He’s tapped into her blood, reading her pulse. I’ve got a hold around her heart, but be careful. Remain calm.”
A wave of fear washed through me, but I didn’t move, keeping my features and breathing under control.
“Don’t say anything, Kya,” I said firmly. She didn’t listen.
“No. No, I promise she didn’t suffer,” Kya whispered. “It was quick.”
“He deserves to know,” she responded. “I would want to know. You would want to know.”
“She cannot lie. He’ll be able to tell,” Mavris warned.
Cadoc relaxed a little. “How did it happen? ”
Kya opened her mouth, but I spoke before she could. “She was cursed,” I said quickly.
Cadoc didn’t take his eyes off Kya. “Cursed how?”
“She made a deal with a dark wielder—Daegel. She was trying to get back to you. I’m sorry, Cadoc. I’m so sorry,” Kya’s broken voice strained.
My father nodded slowly, taking in the information as his eyes went distant. He took a deep, shaky breath.
“You cared about her.” He removed his hands from her face.
“I did. We spent a lot of time together and grew close,” Kya confirmed.
“At least she had you there before she went into the After.” My father gave a brief, sad smile. “At least she wasn’t alone,” he whispered so quietly I almost didn’t hear.
“He let go,” Mavris said, and I instantly felt relieved.
“Thank you for being there for her, Kya,” Cadoc added with fresh tears.
He pushed past us and walked out into the field over the hills.
Mavris let out the breath he had been holding. “That could have gone a lot worse.”
“I’m sorry you had to hear about it this way.” My lips pulled tight. I glanced back at Odarum who looked bored. “I’m surprised you didn’t step in, Guardian.”
His tail swished gently.
“He said he wasn’t worried about him, that he held no ill-intent and wasn’t a threat to me,” Kya’s quiet voice had me looking back at her. Her red eyes reflected the exhaustion she felt.
“Are you okay?” I rubbed the back of my knuckles down the sleeve of her coat.
“I’m fine. I just… That was hard.”
“I know.”
Kya leaned against me, and I wrapped my other arm around her, resting my head on top of hers. Mavris walked away while we stayed there for a moment, allowing Kya to gather herself.
“Do you want to rest somewhere? Or go back to Voara? We can come back tomorrow,” I offered.
I didn’t know what she needed, but I needed her to be okay. We both needed to be okay, and a lot had happened in the past few days. Months, really.
“No. I’ve been gone for too long. I want to be here. I want to meet my people.” She stood straight and took a deep breath.
She grabbed my hand and looked up at me with those eyes I would cross the realms for.
“Then let’s go meet your people, Worthy Kya.”