“I’m a mistake,” he sneered, self-loathing twisting his expression. “I’m an experiment, the unnatural creation of an amoral madman.”
This is what he’d been trying to avoid. These feelings had festered inside him for decades, consuming his soul bit by bit. Pouring affection into his mind, she battled his disdain. But he was so lost in memories and destructive emotions that her efforts had little effect. She scrambled for a way to penetrate his misery, but he was deaf to her words and quickly slipped beyond her psychic reach.
Her mind suddenly swam, her ears ringing. Kage groaned, then went limp, falling heavily onto his side. She screamed, but the sound only echoed in her mind.
EZA RETURNED TO AWARENESS with a groan, disoriented and afraid. What just happened? Where in all of creation was she and how—
A small, warm hand touched her shoulder, and she gasped. She whipped her head to the side and looked up and into the pale purple eyes of Lord Drakkin’s mate, Aria. Kage’s half-sister. Aria’s features looked more mature than in Kage’s memories, but she was still lovely. Distinct mauve strands treaded through her silver hair and a warm smile dominated her delicate features.
“Sorry for the rude intrusion.” Aria paused to help Eza sit up, then added, “We’ve tried everything else to reach Seth, and nothing has worked.” Aria’s accent was even thicker than Drakkin’s, which only added to her exotic beauty.
Eza sat on a padded bench, her surroundings strangely familiar. She was dressed as before in a powder-blue gown. She looked around again and fought back the urge to gasp, realizing the significance of the setting. Though doubtlessly a visualization, this recreated the covered patio on which Aria had nearly died.
“Your foolishness has gone on far too long,” Drakkin snapped, his voice much harsher than it had been when he spoke with her.
“It’s foolish to protect those I love?” Kage, now dressed in loose-fitting pants and a sleeveless shirt, stood in the grassy yard at the center of a walled garden, facing off with his former mentor. Kage’s expression was thunderous, green eyes flashing. “You had no right to interfere! By the ethics you taught me, this is an assault.”
“This is an intervention,” Drakkin insisted, his expression stubborn rather than angry. “You have hidden from us long enough. Your self-recriminations end tonight.”
Kage looked at her, then glared at Drakkin. “Send Eza back. This is between you and me.”
“She’s your mate,” Drakkin argued. “Your stubbornness is just as painful to her as it is to the rest of us. She has every right to be here.”
“But I have no right to make my own decisions, choose my own path?” Slowly Kage balled his hands into fists and his gaze narrowed. “End this now, old man, or I will end it for you.”
“Here we go again.” Aria sighed and sat down beside Eza. “They are both irrationally stubborn. This could go on for hours.”
Kage charged, catching Drakkin in the gut and effortlessly tackling him to the grass. Drakkin landed with a grunt but threw Kage off with surprising strength. He then rolled on top of his much younger companion and ruthlessly pummeled his face. Kage blocked most of the blows as he twisted and heaved, attempting to dislodge Drakkin.
“Shouldn’t we try to stop them?” Eza instinctively pushed to her feet.
“Absolutely not,” Aria stressed, standing as well. “Seth needs the emotional outlet, and Drakkin needs to prove to himself that he can still defend himself.” She shook her head, but her shimmering gaze was filled with love. “However, we don’t have to watch their childishness.” She took Eza by the hand and drew her toward the transparent doors leading into the sprawling house. “There is someone else very anxious to meet you. Let’s go see if she’s ready to join the party.”
Who else had gathered for this “intervention?” Would Kage be pleased by yet another surprise guest or feel even more defensive?
Aria motioned Eza inside with a mysterious smile.
The house was lovely, open and airy, with an understated elegance Eza found appealing. Aria led her through a large living area and into a spacious kitchen. An unfamiliar female stood at the beverage dispenser but turned abruptly when she heard, or sensed, Aria and Eza approaching. The newcomer was about the same height as Eza and slight of build. Her shiny blonde hair had been styled into a simple twist. Her eyes were blue with concentric rings like the females Eza had seen aboard the Wheel. Was this female human? Who was she, and why was she here?
“May I present Queen Krystabel of San Adrin? She’s better known as Seth’s grandmother and primary guardian.” Aria motioned toward the blue-eyed female and Eza could barely breathe. Krystabel was more than Kage’s grandmother. She’d hidden and protected him during his childhood and adolescence. She was the only mother Kage had ever known.
“It’s an honor to meet you,” Eza said softly, feeling slightly overwhelmed. Krystabel had given birth to twin daughters while in captivity. She’d named them Krysta and Belle, fearing they would soon be all that was left of her. Belle, Kage’s mother, had not survived his birth, so Krystabel went into hiding posing as his mother rather than his grandmother. When Drakkin told Eza the tale, it sounded farfetched, even unbelievable. Yet looking at the vibrant female standing before her now, Eza understood why the ruse had worked. Like Drakkin, Kage, and so many from their star system, Krystabel appeared much younger than her actual cycles. “Lord Drakkin has told me a lot about you, but Kage wouldn’t allow me to contact you.” She cringed. That made Kage sound so controlling.
“All that nonsense ends right now,” Aria told her emphatically.
“It was horrible of Drakkin to force Seth’s hand like this,” Krystabel insisted. Apparently, she still felt protective of her grandson. “But your stubborn mate left us no choice. We have been more than patient waiting for him to work through his emotional conflicts, but his bitterness continues to grow.”
“He honestly feels he’s protecting you,” Eza pointed out, defensiveness rushing in the wake of their criticism. Kage was the most selfless person she’d ever encountered, yet all of these people seem blind to his accomplishments. “He continually puts the safety and wellbeing of others above his own happiness.”
Krystabel shook her head, looking grim and frustrated. “There is no denying how much Seth cares about his people and his mate, but it’s also a defense. He uses selflessness to distance himself from the pain.”
“And the guilt,” Aria emphasized. “Despite his stubborn focus on everyone else, guilt pulses off him like a giant’s heartbeat. Both his parents traded their lives for his. Seth can’t forgive himself for being alive.”
They were really starting to irritate. Eza squared her shoulders and said, “None of you have even spoken with him in many season cycles. How can you claim to know him so well?”
“Those bonded by blood and tragedy never truly separate,” Krystabel told her. “We’ve been watching, sensing his emotions, and scanning his dreams ever since he left Bilarri. We’re all very proud of the man he’s become, but he can be so much more.”
“We were thrilled when Drakkin told us Seth had located his mate,” Aria interjected. “We hoped you’d be able to reach past his emotional defenses, but he’s still hiding from his past.”
“He deserves more than he’s allowing himself,” Krystabel added.
“We’ve only been together for a few days,” Eza pointed out. “He is opening up to me. We just need more time.”
“There is no more time,” Krystabel said cryptically. “You and Seth are about to face a powerful enemy. Defeating this enemy will require both of you operating at full strength. And for Seth to reach his full potential, he must let go of the past.”
What did Krystabel mean? Isolaund’s powers were greatly reduced without the karrons augmenting her abilities. Tajon was in stasis. Who or what was this powerful enemy? “If there is such imminent danger, why haven’t I sensed it?”
“It might not have surfaced yet, or bonding fever could be distracting you,�
� Krystabel said with a knowing smile. “While soul bonding, the couple is so focused on each other that many things go unnoticed.”
Eza finally nodded. That was certainly true. Ever since Kage touched her, all she could think about was him. She couldn’t meditate because every time she closed her eyes, his image blazed through her mind and ignited her desire. “What can I do to help?”
“Let’s go see if our stubborn mates have finished beating the crap out of each other,” Aria said with a soft chuckle. “If they’ve worn each other out, Seth might be more inclined to listen.”
As they made their way through the living area, Krystabel drew Eza’s attention. “What we’re about to do might seem cruel, but please understand that we all love Seth deeply. He will resist us, might even lash out, but without this breakthrough, he will be unable to love you the way you deserved to be loved.”
“What about what he deserves? This all seems very hostile.”
“That’s why you’re here.” Krystabel paused and faced Eza. “You’re his advocate and his motivation. The only way to reach Seth is through you. Your happiness means more to him than anything else in existence. If we have to use that, we will. Seth deserves the sort of love that Aria and I have found. This is the final battle in a long and twisted war.”
“And we intend to win—for him.” Aria made it sound like a vow. “And for you.”
“For all of you,” Krystabel clarified. “You and Seth, Vee, and Belle, you all need this badly.”
With emotion clogging her throat, all Eza could do was nod.
Back on the wide, covered porch, Kage stood at the railing, staring off into the distance. Drakkin stood beside Kage but faced inward. Both males held some sort of bottled beverage, and each was smeared with a combination of blood and sweat.
“Who won?” Krystabel asked with a good-natured smile.
“Round one goes to youth and anger,” Drakkin muttered, clearly unhappy with the outcome. “But we both agreed not to augment our physical abilities, so that’s not surprising.”
“Meaning you could take me if we both use magic?” Kage scoffed. “Maybe once, but not now.”
“That’s right,” Aria stressed. “Not now.”
“Not ever,” Krystabel reinforced. “Driving away those who love you will not ease this pain.”
Kage turned around, facing the females as he leaned back against the railing. Without setting down the bottle, he wiped his brow with his forearm. “I was told that my lord mentor won’t free me from this metaphysical cage until I’ve heard what each of you has to say. I could break free of course, but that would damage my mentor. I’d rather just get this over with.”
Krystabel’s gaze came alive, gleaming with emotion as she marched right up to Kage. “I’m not here as your grandmother. I’m here on behalf of Belle.”
Kage met Krystabel’s gaze unflinchingly, but his expression remained respectful. His emotions smoldered, controlled yet crackling with potential volatility. He loved this female deeply, had spent most of his life trying to protect her because she’d given up so much for him.
“Belle sacrificed her life without hesitation so that you could live yours to the fullest.” Her posture was confrontational, but her voice softened, became almost pleading. “Nothing was, or is, more important to Belle than your happiness. If you spend the rest of your life punishing yourself for what she did, she will have died for nothing.” Tears gathered in her eyes, and her voice broke as she added, “Unless you let this go, Seth, I will have lost both of you.”
Emotion swelled inside Eza, making her chest ache. Kage’s expression didn’t change, but his emotions became even more suppressed. His relatives were right. He was hiding from the pain.
“I try not to dwell on the past.” His voice was mechanical, features tense. “But I am responsible for her death. Nothing can change that fact. I killed them both and nearly killed Aria. If it weren’t for me—”
“Then show a little gratitude!” Aria flared, her eyes flashing like purple crystals. “You weren’t the only one who lost their father. I lost mine too. Krystabel lost her daughter, and Krysta lost her sister, her twin sister. But we all believe that Belle’s spirit, her capacity to love, lives on in you. Why do you squander the gift?”
“I love,” Kage snapped, his emotions beginning to boil. “I love deeply. That’s why I’ve isolated myself and stayed as far away from Ontariese as I could get. I protect those that I love. Anything less is cowardly.” His troubled gaze locked with Eza’s for a moment then he looked at Drakkin. “You taught me that. So did my father.”
Eza wanted to run to Kage. She’d never seen him so uncertain, so conflicted. This was torture for him!
“There is more to love than protection,” Drakkin said, his dark gaze filled with compassion and concern. “Love is about sharing and giving. It’s about hope and celebration.”
“You can’t truly love anyone else unless you love yourself,” Aria added. “Do you love Seth dar Aune?”
“I love who I am, who I worked damn hard to become,” Kage said with more conviction. His shoulders squared, and his chin came up as he retreated within the familiar role, using the alias like a comforting barricade.
“Overlord Kage Razel?” Krystabel said the name with obvious displeasure. “Outlaw king of the savage wilderness?”
“The Sarronti are not savages,” Eza snapped, offended by her disrespect.
“I didn’t say you were,” Krystabel reminded. “I said your planet is an untamed wilderness, and it is. It’s a secluded hideout where ‘outcasts’ can forget their pasts and escape their enemies.”
Eza had heard enough. This wasn’t a loving intervention, it was a condescending ambush. “Some outlaws deserve a second chance. Few are lucky enough to join with royalty.” She moved to Kage’s side and slipped her arm around his waist.
Drakkin chuckled, but Krystabel did not look amused. “Your defense is making this harder,” she warned. “Do not enable his attitude.”
“Leave her out of this.” Kage tried to push Eza behind him, but she refused to move, so he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Your complaint is with me.”
Krystabel remained focused on Eza, her expression openly hostile. “He’s your mate. You’re nearly ready to let him claim you, and yet he hasn’t even revealed his true appearance. You don’t know him, because he has not shared himself with you. How can you possibly be content when—”
With inescapable strength, Kage moved in front of Eza. His emotions unfurled, anger, resentment, and grief driving her back against the railing.
“What I share with my mate is none of your godsdamn business!” His feet spread and his fists clenched. His voice became an emotion-thickened rumble. “If she is content with our relationship, what difference does it make to you?”
“Is she?” Challenge rang through Aria’s tone. “Is your mate happy knowing only the disguise you hide behind? If Drakkin hadn’t told her your name, she would only know your latest alias.”
As Eza’s shock wore off, she realized what they were doing. Krystabel had even warned her that they might need to use this strategy. Kage’s only weakness was Eza. She was the glitch in his defense matrix. They were accessing his emotions by attacking her.
“Eza loves me,” he said stubbornly. Anger shot through the other emotions, giving him strength and focus.
The protective instinct was familiar. Eza had used it often when dealing with her father and brother. Anger kept her focused outward, it required no self-reflection. They were losing ground because of her reaction. She’d made a huge mistake. Steeling herself against the hurt she was about to inflict on the person she loved most in the universe, she moved back to his side. “Aria’s right. I don’t really know you.” Each word was painful, yet Eza forced them out. “You never even told me your name.”
He spun toward her, eyes wide with disbelief. “I gave you my ring, knowing you could read it. I told you everything.”
His expression was so dev
astated that she nearly lost her nerve. Please gods, let him forgive me once he stops despising me. Forcing herself to meet his gaze, she spoke in a calm, cool tone, but inside her heart bled and her soul groaned. “You knew your memories would be scrambled, and you told me confusing hints of what took place. I had no idea what any of it meant until Drakkin explained it to me. The only one you’re protecting is yourself.”
Kage staggered back, hurt expressed with every feature. “I...why are you doing this?”
“Because she loves you.” Krystabel rushed forward and took his hands. “We all love you, but you have to stop hiding from us.”
His mind was wide open, emotions seething like a storm-tossed sea. “I’m not hiding. I’m—” A harsh sob interrupted the denial. “I failed all of you.” The admission tore from his throat, followed by a shattering sob. “I don’t deserve...”
“None of us gets what we deserve,” Krystabel told him with a trembling smile. “Thank the gods for that. You’re stuck with us, Seth. You might as well accept it. We outnumber you.”
Krystabel wrapped her arms around her son/grandson as he purged a lifetime of shame and regret. His muscular body shook, and long-suppressed emotions poured out of his mind and spirit. The others formed a ring around them, protecting his mind from attack while he was too vulnerable to defend himself. The stream was so forceful and so toxic that Eza had to shield her mind from the worst of it. She felt helpless yet hopeful. Once an impacted wound was lanced, it could heal.
Long moments later, with obvious embarrassment, Kage wiped away his tears and gradually regained his composure. “Thank you,” he said softly, looking at each one. “That was cruel but necessary.”
“You don’t need to live without us,” Aria moved to his side.
Eza pressed against his other side. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her even tighter against him. Then with a bit more hesitation, he draped his other arm around Aria.
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