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She didn’t smile at his weak attempt at humor, a grim expression marring her lovely face.
“Then we will have dinner tonight, and I’ll explain my trip and why I’ve made the decision to—”
“No!” she yelled, anger taking the place of her sorrow. “You’re not even trying. You’re giving up! And it’s disgraceful for a titan not to fight until the end… until the death. No surrender, no retreat. Is that not what you taught us?”
Kallos didn’t wait for him to respond, and Boraleashe didn’t try to say anything more when she stormed off. She had a right to her reaction, her rage justified. But he didn’t believe he’d given up. No one understood that he wanted to die with dignity, not groveling at another man’s feet to save him. Okay, Theodor hadn’t requested Boraleashe stoop that low, but he’d wanted him to put blind faith in him.
He climbed the last few stairs and met Enosabe’s steely glare, tears welling on the surface that she would never allow to fall down her pale cheeks. She was a titaness, and so was her twin, but Enosabe was far too fierce to show such weakness. She departed with her small court behind her, leaving Boraleashe alone. His viceroy and court were still traveling, so he had no one, no counsel, no advice or anyone to give him a few words of encouragement.
It was just him and his failures.
Boraleashe’s foyer was not as grand as Notalus’, but the crystal-and-diamond chandelier was grand enough to take any visitor’s breath away, but he had a hard time seeing its beauty at that moment.
He dragged his tired body up the curved stairs toward his private quarters. Servants lined the walls, bowing when he passed. Regardless, he kept his head high with a confidence he no longer possessed.
Boraleashe had kept his word to his brother, Boules, to raise his daughters upon his death and to love and honor them. Boraleashe had been devastated for years at the loss of his brother, but he’d left behind his precious daughters, and Boraleashe had been proud to raise them. A blessing he never took for granted.
Enosabe and Kallos were the only children Boraleashe would have.
The girl’s mother, Alisha of the Ephoraa Titaness, died after an excruciatingly long labor. And now with Boraleashe’s death, the girls would have no family left.
He hated to leave them, and he’d miss them more than anything in all the worlds, but Boraleashe had no control over fate.
Two of the guards posted outside his chambers opened the double doors and closed them behind him with a deep bow of acknowledgment. When inside, he waved away the other servants’ advance when they tried to assist Boraleashe in removing his robe. He preferred not to be catered to, and much to his aide’s disappointment, he often took care of his own personal needs. Boraleashe didn’t believe he deserved their servitude or their loyalty. Not after his selfishness.
Boraleashe’s bath aide stood shyly off to the side with his eyes cast downward, shaking with nerves while he wrung his long, slim fingers behind his back. “My lord. Your bath is ready.”
“Thank you, Royale, that will be all for the evening. You can retire to your rooms. I won’t be needing anything,” Boraleashe grunted, struggling to reach behind his back and unclasp the chest plate of his armor.
“I don’t mind, my lord. It would be a great pleasure to serve you,” he whispered. Royale’s smoldering incubus eyes were all over Boraleashe’s form. “After such a long ride, perhaps I may aid with your bath, lord.”
Royale’s loyalty triggered a bittersweet knot of pain in Boraleashe’s chest. He rejected him as politely as he could. “You have done more than enough, Royale. I will be fine from here. I think I just need some time alone before dinner.”
“Of course, my lord.” His bath servant still appeared upset, but Boraleashe couldn’t help that. With his plump bottom lip tucked behind his front teeth, he answered, “I’ll be just outside your chambers if you need me, lord.”
Boraleashe accepted the graceful bow and waited for Royale to leave before he continued undressing. He hated upsetting anyone in his home, even his servants. And while Royale seemed more than eager and willing to help Boraleashe unwind in the best way after his tumultuous journey, he knew it’d be downright despicable of him to take advantage of a man he didn’t desire. Boraleashe refused to settle for another. He knew the man that he wanted… he’d always wanted, and if he couldn’t have him, then he’d have no one.
Boraleashe released a long, relieved sigh, shedding his heavy blue robe, letting the frigid air seep into his skin. His bath chambers were one of his favorite rooms in his home, designed especially for him with its natural, arctic air flowing through the open floor-to-ceiling windows.
