AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What? What is it?” Fadon asked impatiently.
Lucius sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “She did marry the Heir. The true Heir, in fact. Me. Fadon, you and I are half-brothers.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Sierra
Fadon only blinked, lips pressed tightly together.
“It’s true,” I said as gently as I could. “That was why I ran from him in Ghypsom City. I—I saw it. In a vision.”
“In a vision.” Fadon turned his head slowly my way, looking blankly at me.
“I went through the rite with the Sapera in Ordelpho and saw your father. The resemblance…”
“My father?” I’d heard Fadon scoff before, but the sound he’d just made was full of vinegar. “My father loved my mother with his every breath. Trust me, there is no way you are my father’s bastard, Lucius. Unless you’re suggesting we share a mother? That my mother was a whore and it was some tryst she’d had, and what, got pregnant, had you and hid you all this time? Please. This is absurd.”
Wincing, I reached over and touched Fadon’s bent knee. “In my vision, I saw your parents, Fadon. King Gregoras looked at me in the banquet hall of Goth Mor Helle. He was mighty handsome, just like his sons.” I smiled at him, but he didn’t return it. “In his face I saw you, your siblings, and Lucius.” I looked at Demos and he nodded. “If you don’t believe me, ask Phobius. He was there. In fact, he married them.”
“What?” Lucius asked. “What do you mean Phobius was there? He’s too—”
“Not too young,” Demos answered. “He’s over five centuries old. And not only that, he’s my brother.”
Fadon swept a hand in the air. “Not that that’s not interesting news, but let’s go back, shall we? You believe that my father, Alpha King Gregoras, was unfaithful to his wife, my mother, and had a love affair where you were the result?”
Lucius nodded. “He was my father, yes. As to a love affair—”
“That’s ludicrous. How fucking dare you?” Fadon stood, his face a mask of fury. “I’m sorry, Sierra… I—I don’t think I can do what you’ve asked. I’m willing to be honest, to listen. Ongar, I can even accept the fact that men can turn into birds and that elementals exist, but…” He pointed at my husband. “To believe his lies? He has no respect for anyone or anything but himself.”
“Fadon, why would he—” I started but he cut me off.
He laughed. “Why would he lie? Sierra, he’s saying he is the heir to House Trajan, which would make…” His eyes widened. “Ongar, that makes him king! My king! He’s younger than Mari. Of course he’d lie about something like that.” He leaned forward and got in Lucius’ face. “There is no length you’ll go to, is there? First you steal Sierra from my brother, then try to sell her to those fucking Owl Serva…”
He didn’t get to finish before Lucius was on his feet. In a rush, he threw his fist into Fadon’s jaw. I stood up and got right between them, putting my hands on their chests in a futile attempt at separating them.
“Enough! Demos, go get Phobius.”
I didn’t take my eyes off the two hot-blooded men long enough to see if he had left to do that very thing or not.
“I knew you were nothing but a piece of shit, Lucius. But this? I almost believed you loved Sierra.”
“Which you obviously don’t because you are still trying to use her as a pawn. Forcing her to marry you!”
“Excuse me?” Fadon practically spat.
“Gentlemen. Please,” Phobius drawled, coming into the tent. I looked at him in desperation, hoping he’d clear all this up and fast. “Sit down and listen. Both of you.” He spoke so sternly that even I obeyed.
“This is ridiculous,” Fadon said, shaking his head. But at least he was sitting again, this time as far away from Lucius as was possible.
Phobius didn’t speak for a moment or two, instead watched his brother intently. I could have sworn they were communicating without words. Knowing all kinds of mysterious things were possible, I wouldn’t find it the least bit shocking if they had some kind of mental link.
“Several times in my life I’ve been a Servant with the Owl. So has Demos.” Phobius nodded respectively at his brother. “One of those times was during your father’s reign. He had come to our Supreme at the time and had requested the Fealty for his brother, Philios. I was that intermediary. When Gregoras Trajan set eyes on your mother, Fadon, he reneged his promise to his brother, and instead, married the Omega himself.”
“She was a Fealty Bride?” he asked.
“She was. But only I and the king knew that. I found your uncle another bride to replace the real one, then changed the scroll to show the appropriate names.” He waved a hand. “None of that matters. I married them and stayed in touch through the following years. At some point your father asked me to join his court as an advisor, not remembering me. I had a new name then. It was a temporary position, serving by his side. Such things were common among the royal courts, both Ongahri and non, in those days. A Servant in every House, even for the Constants.” Phobius inclined his head to me, being that I was daughter to one myself.
I shuddered. Thank the gods that tradition had been obsolete by the time I was born, I thought. Knowing my innate fear of the Owl, I couldn’t imagine sitting down to dinner with a Servant every night.
