AllFreeNovel
Share Us
They’d been spreading propaganda about the Elders who created these worlds on the little blue rock for centuries. They had to have been, or the plan would’ve failed. It only worked because their goal had always been to overthrow their father.
“It’s ironic, isn’t it?” Lux asked. “How it’s always the ones closest to me trying to unseat me?”
Nix shot him a look over his shoulder, somewhere between annoyed and pissed. “I did what I did out of love for my wife and my world. It’s not the same—”
“No, I know.” And he did. Lux acknowledged how much better Nix was in power than Lux had been. He’d acknowledged that for millenniums. “It just shows how foolish I am.”
Nix’s annoyance softened at that. As did his tight jaw and stiff shoulders.
“I never had the mind of a leader. You would’ve seen the signs if you were here. Rafael had mentioned a time or two how the people viewed me, and I thought little of it. I was used to the people hating their rulers on Matriaza. I thought it’d be no different here. I thought it was just… how people think. They always dislike their leaders.
“But Véa’s didn’t. After enough of the bastards on Matriaza died out, yours didn’t either. Rafael acknowledged what I wouldn’t. He’d warned me about his brothers ages ago, and maybe I saw what he meant. But my love for them clouded my judgement. My stupid fucking feelings get in the way of everything.
“That was why I fucked up on Matriaza and Morduaine. I was so hurt and so angry that they made that deal with the maalaichte cnihme, that they planned to assist in harming my children, that I exploded. It was childish, and petty, and… Maybe a thousand years imprisoned will help me control my temper.”
There it was. It only lasted for half a second, but there was pride in Nix’s eyes. He didn’t smile and say so, but it was there. Even if it didn’t last long. He was proud of Lux.
“I hope so too, esiasch,” Nix said.
Lux managed a dry smile, dropping his eyes to the tabletop. Silence sat between them for a while.
“I’m still angry with you,” Nix said. “I don’t know if I’ll ever forgive you completely for ruining Morduaine and Matriaza. The lives, they can be reborn, but that land…”
Culpability rose and dropped through Lux’s body, pushing so heavy on his shoulders that he all but crawled within himself. “I know.”
“But the boys—” Nix’s voice cracked. He cleared his throat before he went on. “It’s not all your fault. I, Véa, Stella, Cere: we all played a part in raising them. We loved them, so we ignored the worst parts of them.”
“Except for Véa,” Lux murmured.
A careful, billowing sigh. “Except for Véa.”
“I should’ve listened to her from the beginning.”
“Hm.” Nix turned out the window, nibbling his lower lip. “I almost always do. It was only with the boys that I disagreed with her. But like you, my emotions clouded my better judgement.”
“Think we get that from Pa?”
“Certainly didn’t get it from my mum. She did very well at separating analysis from emotion.”
“Common among those Fae queens,” Lux murmured. “When I think about it, I can almost understand why they made the deal with them.”
Nix was silent again. His posture stiffened once more. “If I didn’t know Taeral, if I didn’tknowhe was toying with them, I’m not sure that I would’ve done different in their position either. My people come first. They saw it the same way. They were fools. Taeral would’ve turned on them eventually. But yes, I understand why they made the deal.”
“And they didn’t view the souls we created as theirs, yes,” Lux said. “Part of me wonders if killing them wasn’t so bad.”
“Killing the royals wasn’t.” Nix crossed his arms, facing Lux. There wasn’t anger in his expression but understanding. “It was killing the civilians and the land that was so awful.”
Lux didn’t feel the need to respond. He agreed. He killed innocents, and he made it so returning there was all but impossible. They had no clue when or if Matriaza and Morduaine would ever be habitable again. That was his fault, and he was ready to take accountability for that.
“But thank you,” Nix said. “Thank you for stepping forward and acknowledging why a punishment is needed.”
That shouldn’t have made Lux’s belly feel as warm as it did. It certainly shouldn’t have made his eyes burn with happy tears. Nix hadn’t said he was proud of him, but it was close enough. “Thank you for understanding.”
Nix dipped his head in a slight nod.
“Will you visit me?” Lux asked. “Just… once in a while. A thousand years is a long time, and I’ll miss you.”
Lux couldn’t be sure, but it almost looked like Nix had tears in his eyes as well.
