Savage

Chapter 30

“What are you doing?”

Xev cringed as he heard Paimon’s voice in his ear. Furious, he turned on the demon and shoved him back into Skatos. “What are you doing here?”

Paimon spat at his feet to let him know what he thought of him. “I was sent to find you.”

“By?”

“Your mother wants you.”

Xev scoffed at the demon he hated more than anything, especially after everything that had been done to Caleb. He didn’t believe the liar for one second. “She didn’t call me.”

Paimon looked past him to where Jared and Myone trained with her guards. “Why are you watching them?”

Xev forced himself not to show the terror that one question evoked inside him. Last thing he needed was for this weasel to know anyone about him or his family. “None of your business.”

Paimon wouldn’t let it go. He looked from Xev back to his family. “What are you hiding?”

Xev kicked him back into the darkness, away from where Paimon could see Myone or Jared. “I don’t owe you an explanation.”

Without another word, he flew to his mother’s throne room, hoping Paimon followed.

You better be right behind me.

He didn’t stop until he was in front of Azura, inside her throne room. “Why would you send a maggot after me?”

She rolled her eyes before she took a seat on her throne. “You didn’t come when I called.”

He let out a bitter laugh over her lie. “You didn’t call.”

She blasted him. “I called.”

Xev hit the wall so hard that it felt as if he’d broken every bone in his body. That ended any desire he had to argue with her. But he knew that she hadn’t called him. What sick game was she playing now?

And why?

Tasting blood in his mouth, he pushed himself up from the floor. “May I ask what you needed, Mother Dearest?” Other than to knock him around for fun?

When she spoke, her voice was hysterical. “You’ve been seen at your father’s.”

That sucked all the air from his lungs in a rush, as it was the last thing he’d expected her to say. Someone had seen him?

How would she know?

Not that it mattered—her fury was absolute.

Xev felt the pressure on his throat increasing until it cut off his windpipe. He struggled to breathe.

Azura walked slowly toward him. “I knew I had a traitor in my midst.” She kicked him over. “I should have known it was you! You worthless dog! Why didn’t I drown you, like your father said?” She planted her foot on his throat.

Suddenly, Noir was beside her, pulling her off him. “Before you kill the boy, give him a moment to explain.”

“Why?” she demanded furiously.

“Because the news came from an enemy who wants him dead. Why would you believe them? After all, enemies never lie…do they?”

“Oh, shut up.” She backed away.

Wheezing, Xev sat up and rubbed at his throat as he continued to struggle to breathe. He would ask what was wrong with her, but he knew that list was far too long to be tallied.

Noir actually had pity in his dark eyes as he held his hand out to Xev.

Was he serious?

Xev hesitated before he took it and allowed the older god to pull him to his feet. A part of him really did expect Noir to use it to sucker-punch him. He was stunned that the god refrained.

“Have you been with your father, boy?”

“I’ve been spying on them, yes. Have I been around Jaden? No. I hate that bastard.” It was all true. He did spy on his family. Just not for the reasons they thought.

Noir gave Azura a hard stare. “Given everything the boy’s been through, why would he ever be on his father’s side? Think, Azura. What would he have to gain?”

“To get back at me. He hates me!”

“That’s not a reason to side with his father.” Noir shook his head then shoved Xev. “Get out of here, and watch your back. Your friendship with Monakribos has put a target on your forehead. Others have noticed how much Apollymi and her son favor you, and they’re not happy about it.”

That was scary, indeed, but nowhere as scary as Noir being nice. That was the stuff of legends and horror stories. “Why are you being nice to me?”

“I’m not stupid. As I said, you have Apollymi’s favor, and more importantly, her son’s. I do not want to cross my sister.” He glanced over to Azura. “And neither does your mother. You should go see if they need something from you.”

Xev saluted him then left, but he didn’t go far. Only to the shadows so that he could watch them.

Azura was livid. “I can’t believe you! How do you know he wasn’t lying?”

“He has no reason to side with his father, especially after what happened with Malphas.”

“Why would Paimon and Kuru lie?”

Kuru? Xev went cold at the mention of Myone’s second-in-command.

Seriously? Kuru? Were they aware that Xev was here, and they wanted to screw with him?

Noir stared at her. “You’re not really asking me that, are you? Paimon has hated him since the moment he was born. He’s always been jealous of the fact that Daraxerxes is your son. Kuru wants to lead the Sephirii. He’d say or do anything to take that position, including working with you in order to sell out his own people so that he can kill his commander and replace her. He’s giving you something he thinks you want to hear so that he can gain your trust. Daraxerxes is an easy target that Kuru knows because Daraxerxes used to live with his father, and he leads the largest contingency of Apollymi’s forces outside of her son. Hell, the boy probably pissed on Kuru’s leg when he was a kid, for all we know. Whatever Kuru’s reasoning, I’d trust your son long before I’d trust a Sephiroth.”

“I trust neither.”

“Yet you were willing to kill your son over the word of the other. Maybe the boy’s right to hate you.”

That made her eyes flare as she glared up at Noir. “I can’t believe you’re defending him.”

“Neither can I. And given that I am defending someone I can’t stand the sight of, you might want to take a moment and think about what that says about you.” With those words spoken, Noir left her.

Xev stepped back further into the shadows as he digested what he’d overheard. He’d never known Noir to show that kind of empathy before.

Honestly, it shocked him.

Weird, especially given how much Noir hated him.

But that wasn’t what was important.

He had to warn Myone about Kuru. No wonder they hadn’t been able to find him. He was right there, beside her.

A traitor.

Always the one least expected. But that made sense. Kuru was privy to everything the Kalosum planned or did. Who better to have as a spy?

His heart pounding, he quickly returned to Cam’s temple where Myone made her home. This time, he made sure that no one knew he was there and that no demon followed him. He’d deal with Paimon later.

Right now, he had to make sure his wife and son were taken care of.

Xev wasted no time rushing to Myone’s private wing. Thankfully, she and Jared were alone in her war room, going over notes about their battle plans, when he arrived.

He took a moment to make sure no other demon, including Paimon, was anywhere around him before he stepped out of the shadows, into her room with them.

Myone looked up with a gasp. Rushing forward, she smiled at him. “What are you doing here? You said we wouldn’t see you for a while.”

“I learned something you need to know.” He glanced to Jared. “Can we speak in private?”

While they trusted their son, Xev wasn’t sure if Jared needed to know this quite yet, which was why he was guarding his thoughts carefully on the matter. Kuru had been a lifelong friend and mentor to the boy. Last thing Xev wanted to do was hurt him.

Granted, Jared had gotten better about intruding into people’s thoughts as he’d aged, but he still had a nasty habit of overhearing said thoughts, usually at the worst times.

Myone kissed Jared’s head. “Why don’t you go find Kuru?—”

“No!” Xev snapped louder than he meant to. Then he quickly dropped his voice. “Is there anyone else for him to go to?”

“Lyla?”

He nodded.

With an arched brow, Myone turned back toward their son. “Can you confer with Lyla about our plans?”

“Sure.” Jared picked up his notes and quill before he left them to their conversation.

After Myone let him out and made sure the door was locked, she returned to Xev’s side. “What’s going on?”

He tried to think of some easy way to tell her, but before he could stop himself, he simply blurted out, “Kuru’s your traitor.”

The color faded from her cheeks as she gaped at him. “Is this a joke?”

“I would never joke about something like this.”

She sat down slowly as if she couldn’t quite believe him. “Are you sure?”

“I heard it directly from Azura’s lips. He’s working with Paimon to take command from you.”

A light curse left her lips. “I knew it. I mean, I didn’t, but…something hasn’t been right. I’ve suspected him at times. I just didn’t trust myself. I thought I was imagining things. Being foolish. I should have listened.” She stopped babbling to stare up at him. Her face paled even more. “There’s only one way for him to take command, Dary.”

“Kill you.” Though those words came out emotionless, he wasn’t calm inside. He was seething on a level that was terrifying.

What Kuru didn’t understand was that Myone was the only reason their side still stood. If anything happened to her, Xev would rip down their army so fast, Kuru wouldn’t even be able to say stop before Xev tore his head off and pinned it to a wall.

Myone was the single greatest fighter they had. But as great as she was, she was no match for Xev, Malphas, or Monakribos—or even Rubati, Kri’s wife. Any more than Cam or Jaden could stand before Apollymi. Rezar might be strong enough against Cam, but not with Noir and Azura combined.

They had no one on their side who was really capable of keeping the Mavromino from victory.

All these years, Xev had been the only thing that had kept them from winning.

At times, he had guilt over it. But the one thing he knew for a fact was that if the Kalosum lost, Myone’s head would be the first one the Mavromino would claim as a war prize. She was their commander.

And there would be nothing he could do to save her. As much as Kri and Apollymi valued his service, it wouldn’t matter. Myone was the greatest prize, and he’d be powerless to stop them. She’d be the example they’d make to the others to show how merciless they were.

That, he could never allow.

He would do whatever he had to, to keep her safe. Even if it meant losing his life and defying all the others.

“Do they know about you?” she asked.

He started to lie to her, but he couldn’t bring himself to do that. “Not exactly.”

“What do you mean?”

“Paimon told them I was a traitor.”

She sucked her breath in sharply. “And you live?”

Well, obviously, as he wasn’t dead. But he held back the sarcasm he would pour all over his brothers. “Only because Noir didn’t believe him. He knows how much Paimon hates me, so he told Azura they couldn’t trust him to tell the truth where I’m concerned.”

“Thank the Source.” She pulled him into her arms and held him close. “You need to stay here. You can’t go back.”

“You know I can’t do that.” They’d never accept him here. His command position was too high. They’d never believe the fact that he’d been helping them the whole time.

And if they thought he had swapped sides, that would make it worse. Traitors could never be trusted.

Just as they’d never trust Jared if they had any idea who his real father was. As Jaden’s son, they respected him and followed him without question. Xev would never take that away from his child. Not for anything.

No, this was for the best.

For everyone.

Myone shook her head. “We have never found out who tried to kill you.”

He snorted. “Does it matter? I have many enemies, and I’m always careful. It’s you who needs to be on guard. I have no evidence that you can use against Kuru. Only the conversation I overheard.” Which gave her nothing she could use to remove Kuru from his position. She was stuck with a traitor by her side.

Nodding, she rubbed his arm. “I’ll be careful.”

Those words rang hollow to him. He didn’t want to see her hurt for anything. “Don’t let him at your back, Myone. I mean it.”

“I won’t. Don’t worry.”

He cupped her chin and forced her to meet his gaze. “If I lose you, I will tear down your entire army. My wrath will be immeasurable and unquenchable. I will leave nothing of the Kalosum standing…other than Jared.”

Myone wanted to chastise him for that threat, but how could she? The love in those blue eyes seared her soul.

Lifting herself up on her tiptoes, she pressed her cheek to his whiskered jaw and savored the sensation of his arms. “I won’t break your heart, Xev. Don’t you dare break mine. I expect to spend eternity punishing you for leading your army against me.”

“I’m going to hold you to that.” He took her hand and kissed her palm.

Aching, Myone watched him leave her yet again. It was so unfair.

And now she had an enemy to contend with. One that left her furious. What angered her most was the fact that Jaden expected treachery from his son and trusted Kuru without question. Yet it was Kuru who was betraying him, while Xev was the only thing standing between Jaden and the defeat he feared most.

Unlike the others, Myone wasn’t stupid. Even with the assistance of the Chthonians and others, she knew that they were no match for the Malachai that Apollymi had created or the Charonte who fought with her. As strong as the Sephirii were, there was something in the Malachai that was infinitely stronger.

It took everything they had in battle to hold them off. They were terrifying in their bloodlust and skill. Terrifying in their beauty.

The Sephirii were going to lose this war. And she had no idea how to stop it.

* * *

“You’re troubled.”

Myone jumped at the sound of her son’s quiet voice behind her. For a man so large, Jared, like his father, moved with incredible stealth. She would never understand their ability to do that. Although Xev made more sense, given that he’d spent most of his life trying to avoid his mother and her minions.

Jared…

No one had ever made Jared feel threatened or unwanted. It was just a peculiar trait he’d inherited.

She smiled at her son. “I’m all right.”

He gave her the same look Xev did whenever she lied about her feelings. They both knew whenever something bothered her. No matter how hard she tried to hide her feelings from them, she couldn’t.

Sighing, she laughed. “Yes, my dearest love, I’m troubled by something.”

He moved to sit beside her. “You know you can talk to me about it. I already know Kuru’s a traitor. You can tell Xev not to worry or panic next time his name is mentioned. I’ve known for a while now that we couldn’t trust him.”

She gaped at his nonchalant disclosure, though why she was surprised, she had no idea. Jared’s powers seemed to grow stronger every day. “How did you know?”

“Suri told me the first time he betrayed us.”

That was even more shocking as she’d never heard of anyone’s sword betraying them before. “His sword told you?”

Jared nodded.

“Do all our swords speak to you?” He hadn’t talked about that since he was a boy. For some reason, she hadn’t considered the fact that their Seraphs would still be speaking to him now.

“You told me not to talk about it to anyone, as it made everyone, even you, uncomfortable.”

“Yes, it does.” As did the mind reading. It was very disconcerting to have someone traipsing inside your head without your permission. She loved her boy, but she didn’t want to be on guard all the time. Plus, she knew how harshly others would treat him over those powers.

Rubbing his arms uncomfortably, he refused to meet her gaze. “I try hard not to read minds or speak to the swords. But sometimes it’s impossible. No matter what I do, it’s just there.”

She held her arms out to him. “I’m so sorry. I never meant to make you feel uncomfortable about something you can’t help, baby.” Baby…he was twice her size. Even so, she still saw him as that tiny little boy who used to crawl into her lap for comfort and kisses.

If only she could still scoop him up in her arms and hold him that way. All she could do now was wrap her arms around him and hug him close.

Which she did. Brushing her hand through his hair, she wished she could keep him safe from all threats.

He gave her a squeeze before he pulled back. “Suri will testify against him, if you wish her to. She doesn’t want to serve a traitor any longer.”

“How long have you known this?”

“Since he first aligned himself with the demon, Paimon, while he was carrying Suri. But don’t worry, I’ve been watching him for you. Suri’s been keeping me informed every time he’s met with the other side. He’s not done anything more than plot or give them information about us so far, which is why I hadn’t mentioned it. But since Xev told you, I didn’t want you to worry unnecessarily about what he’d been doing and how much harm he’s caused us. I’ve mitigated most of it by making sure Xev had counter information.”

She chuckled, grateful for how lucky they were to have Jared on their side. “You are such a good son. You should have told me about Kuru as soon as you knew.”

“You have enough concerns with command. Besides, he isn’t a direct threat. At least, not yet. My job is to watch after you and protect you. I’m not about to let Kuru or anyone else do you harm.”

Sometimes she forgot just how young he was. He had ways about him that made him seem ancient. And then other times, she looked at him and saw nothing other than her tiny baby she’d once held in her arms. It was so hard to reconcile those two images in her mind. “I’d give anything if you didn’t battle beside me.”

“I know, Mom. But Takara isn’t going to let me get hurt…and neither are my parents. I’m well aware of how much the two of you go out of your way to keep me safe.”

She smiled at his impudence. But he was right. She’d seen Xev protect him in ways that left her husband vulnerable and exposed. She was often amazed that he hadn’t outed himself in battle as Jared’s protector.

Or her own. It was one of the main reasons she did her best to keep them both out of any fight where they faced Xev directly. As much as she hated for her son to fight, she had twice the risk with Xev. One, that he’d be wounded or die. Two, that he’d do something profoundly stupid to keep them safe.

As for Jared, she always kept him close in battle. As had Caleb before his wife died. They had made sure that no one cornered him.

Now…

This was getting worse and worse.

Biting her lip, she tried to think what she needed to do. “We can’t leave a traitor in our midst.”

“Don’t worry, Mom. The thing about traitors—they always expose themselves.”

True, but not always before they did irreparable harm.

Or got someone killed.