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Along with his squadron. Decimated, unidentifiable, that’s what they told my mother. I remember hearing the words as though it had happened months ago. That’s what I get for being a curious child with silent and stealthy footsteps that allowed me to go unheard so I could eavesdrop and observe anything and everything I wanted.
Seeing him yesterday was like an arrow to the heart; one of complete awe for five whole seconds. I’d recognize his presence anywhere. The way he dominated a room by simply breathing. It was like he had never left at all.
But he had. And with the enemy, no less.
Now, he’s standing a few steps before me, demanding I follow him alone, and as much as I want to cause a scene, demand this man explain everything to me in front of anyone willing to watch, the other part of me is that same eight-year-old boy that followed this man around like his shadow.
Glancing over my shoulder, my gaze falls to Raven first, watching as anger taints her cheeks pink and her fists clench ather sides. Fuck. She’s everything. It was clear last night that I don’t deserve her and what she did for me; how she willingly exposed herself to keep me out of harm’s way.
I’ll never deserve her. Ever. But that won’t stop me from keeping her anyway. I’m just going to have to give her every piece of me and more in return.
“I’ll be okay, Raven. I’ll meet you guys in class.”
Her eyebrows pinch at my words and she moves to take a step toward me, but Eldon swings an arm around her shoulders before she can get too far and guides her toward the double doors. I don’t move an inch until she’s in the academy building along with my brothers. Only then do I turn back to my father to find he’s continued moving.
I don’t rush to catch up with him. I’ve been unknowingly waiting for over ten years. He can wait an extra ten seconds.
He doesn’t choose to slip inside anywhere. Instead, he stays out in the open, coming to a stop under a large oak tree.
My heart starts to race as I get closer, my chest tightening like a vice as I stand head-on with him. The awe I have cherished in my soul over the memory of this man is tainted by the realization of who and what he is now as I look up at him. I know I’m struggling to see the difference in him. Looking into deep onyx eyes that match my own, he’s the man I loved deeply for as long as I can remember, but when my gaze travels down the length of him, taking in his crimson-stained gold armor, I know he’s not the man who left.
He’s always been a soldier of the Realm, a well-respected man among The Monarchy for the efforts he put into protecting Elevin. Yet he’s here with the enemy, ready to take down the academy that proudly stands on the lands he once fought for. I don’t understand. I don’t think I ever will. But that could likely be because I’m still locked on to the fact that he’s here. Breathing. Alive. Real.
When my eyes reach his once again, he grinds his jaw and the wrinkles around his eyes deepen for a brief moment. “Creed.” My name is raspy on his tongue.
“So you do know who I am then,” I state, a glimmer of Raven’s sass rubbing off on me as I cock a brow at him.
“My loyalties may have changed but my knowledge of my family has not.”
What the fuck is that supposed to mean? His loyalties changed? When? Why? How? Questions spin in my mind but I can’t piece my thoughts and feelings into any semblance of a question that might help me understand.
“We were told you were dead,” I grind out instead, still hearing my mother’s sobs in my thoughts. From that fateful day ten years ago, and last night too. Her hurt and pain at this man’s actions reverberate inside of me.
“I assumed as much.”
I scoff. “You assumed, huh? Andthatmakes it all okay?” Irritation claws at my insides, fury trickling down my spine as my magic zings through my veins.
“Unfortunately, Creed, there is more to this world than just our feelings.”
“Have you always spoken so cryptically? Or is this a new thing you’ve picked up in the Basilica Realm?” I snap, desperate to reach out and shake some damn sense into this man.
“I didn’t bring you aside to discuss emotions, Creed.”
My nostrils flare as I try to take a calming breath, but it’s futile. “I don’t know what else you would expect from me. If you don’t care about how you made everyone feel when you played dead for the past ten years, then please, enlighten me as to what it is you would like to say.”
His arm creaks as he adjusts his stance, hands flexing at his sides as he looks off into the distance for a second before settling back on me. “My loyalty lies with Erikel and the Basilica Realm.Your presence here doesn’t change any of that. You need to stay in line, follow orders, and not get in the way of what it is we’re here to do.”
“Whatareyou here to do?” I ask, still desperately wanting something… more from him.
“That’s irrelevant. Do as I say. Otherwise, your death could be demanded. At my hands.”
His pupils shrink just a fraction, it’s barely noticeable, but I see it. Despite all his big talk, he fucking cares. He must. Otherwise, why would we be having this conversation right now?
“Would that not hurt you at all? Killing your only child?” I want to spell it out to him, make him feel something,anything, more than this. I’m burning on the inside, he deserves to feel that too.
“Let’s hope we don’t have to find out,” he retorts before taking a step away from me, dismissing the conversation before it can go any further. I don’t move, watching as he leaves, but after he takes a few steps, he glances back to look at me. “You would be safer away from the necromancer too.” He doesn’t wait for my response. He continues to walk away just as easily as he seemed to last time.
Safer away from the necromancer? From Raven? Never. That’s exactly where my loyalties lie. Fuck Basilica. Fuck Elevin. Fuck Silvercrest. My loyalty, my everything, it all rests with her and my brothers.
