Chapter 10 #2
“It doesn’t change the fact that you took a gamble,” Ghan insisted.
“Of course, I did!” I exclaimed, throwing one hand up with exasperation. “What was I supposed to do? Let her die? I will always go to Zhara’s aid, no matter the cost. Wouldn’t you do the same if it was your mate?”
She squeezed my hand and looked at me with such love that the anger that had started growing inside me instantly deflated.
“This is not about me or what I would have done,” Khel replied in a strangely calm voice. “What you fail to understand, Son, is that this was the first salvo against us in the Great War.”
I recoiled, Zhara echoing my shock.
“I wish we had more time to train all of you, but we don’t,” he continued with a grim expression. “Vahleryon will need you. But he needs to know that he can count on you to make the right decisions and not always wonder if they will be dictated by your emotions.”
“Despite what it might have looked like, I promise you that I wasn’t being emotional when I left the training ground,” I said.
“I just… know what I must do. When I get that feeling, it’s because we can succeed.
To this day, none of my premonitions have been wrong.
Each time I followed my instincts, I succeeded. ”
“I certainly hope so,” Ghan said in a strange tongue. “A First Officer has to be his General’s most reliable partner.”
I snorted with disbelief. “First Officer? I’m a long way away from that role,” I said in an amused tone.
To my shock, neither of the three males smiled. They stared at me with a somber expression that had me almost squirming.
“There is no time, Gavin,” the General said in an oddly solemn fashion. “Contrary to what we allowed the two of you to believe, we didn’t send Zhara on that mission on the day of your arrival out of overly possessive jealousy and abuse of power. We were testing you, Gavin.”
“Me?” I asked, taken aback.
“I cannot deny that the overly protective father in me was glad to have an opportunity to assess you before you got together with my daughter. But I never would have used my position to manipulate the situation like this on a personal matter. It would be abusive and disrespectful towards her,” Khel said.
“Then why did you?” Zhara asked, before flinching for speaking despite her promise not to.
He didn’t seem to take umbrage with it.
“Because we needed to assess your response to loss, disappointment, unfair treatment, abuse of power, grace under fire, and anger management,” Khel said. “What you do not realize is that we have been testing and grooming you for your role by Vahl’s side since you were five years old.”
“WHAT?” Zhara and I exclaimed simultaneously.
“The minute you told Ghan about your connection to our daughter when you both were young, we started looking into you. Whoever Zhara ended up marrying would be in very close proximity to the future Great General. We needed to make sure you would be an asset and not a threat. And the Oracles were unanimous. Should Vahl survive the traps and hurdles set before him before the start of the war, you would stand prominently by his side.”
“But how did you test and groom me?” I asked, baffled.
“You’ve had many mentors who each played their part preparing you.
Your father taught you how to read and interpret people’s reactions, desires, and weaknesses.
He taught you how to negotiate, manage large projects and teams of people.
Krygor taught you how to be a fearsome warrior.
Mercy taught you space combat strategies and advanced battle technologies.
And both Ravik and Keran allowed you to sit on their Council as an observer so that you would be well-versed in the challenges of ruling a people, but also of the intergalactic conflicts that will tip the scale in the war and impact potential alliances,” Khel explained.
With each word, my jaw dropped a bit more. Now that he had mentioned it, I could see how all of these people—and many others like Emperor Zerien and Siona’s brother Tevek—had also involved me in things no one else would expect.
Naturally having an inquisitive personality, I’d loved learning from them all and pushing myself and my abilities to their maximum.
No wonder my father had all but bullied me on the day of my departure to finally get me to complete Ghabrak.
He had needed me to dare to challenge authority when the moment called for it.
And rescuing my mate had definitely called for it.
“So they were all in on it,” I whispered to myself, flabbergasted.
“Yes,” Lhor said. “But their role was not to force you into anything. They just facilitated and nurtured the things you naturally wanted.”
I nodded slowly. Indeed, no one had coerced me into anything. Everything I did sated my curiosity or passions. Still, all this blew me away.
“For what it’s worth, I still hate that you’re taking our daughter from us,” Khel said with a disgruntled expression. “But we couldn’t be happier that she should have found a mate such as you.”
I couldn’t decide who looked more stunned between Zhara and me. Mouth agape, I watched the General approach then give my left shoulder a gentle squeeze.
“I understand all too well the pain you endured. Burning alive is the worst agony one could face,” Khel said, a haunted look flashing through his purple eyes.
“You didn’t hesitate to jump into a deadly pit for our daughter.
You put everyone else’s welfare before yours and saved all our children.
For this, you have our eternal gratitude. Welcome to the family, Son.”
My throat constricted, I opened and closed my mouth a couple of times, words failing me.
“Thank you,” I managed to say at last.
“Yes, thank you, Son. But don’t expect any favored treatment,” Ghan grumbled, making us all laugh.
“Somehow, I suspect you’ll be extra rough and demanding with me,” I replied teasingly.
“You got that right,” he replied with a haughty sniff. “You will not shame me after I vouched for you.”
Lhor gave Ghan an amused smile before also approaching my bed. Like his Gem, he gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze.
“Thank you for saving our daughter. Zhara waited her whole life for you,” he said in a friendly voice. “Don’t let those two bully you. Whenever they act up, bully them right back. Anyway, Amalia will skin them alive for it.”
Khel and Ghan huffed, while Zhara and I snorted.
“Rest well. You will need it,” Ghan said before all three males turned to leave.
“Wait!” I called out. “Who did this? And why?”
A troubled expression flitted over the General’s face. “We’re working on it. Get better fast. Anyway, disciplinary measures await you.”
I groaned inwardly while my mate caressed my hair in a sympathetic fashion as the three males exited my room.