“But I want that life. I hate always being here. I’d like to go other places sometimes.”
“And you will. There may be some plans in the making that will start to change things?”
“Really? Can you tell me?”
I laughed to my son’s eagerness. “Not quite yet. It’s still a while off. I wouldn’t want you to get your hopes too high then find out that I failed.”
“But you never fail, father.”
“Is this you already admitting your defeat to our day’s plans of training?”
“No! I meant in things that don’t have to do with me.”
“Oh, I see! So I’m a failure when it comes to you? Is that what you’re saying?”
“Well, I don’t want to brag but I am getting better and I didn’t mean every aspect that has to do with me. Just when it comes to winning. You taught me well and I intend to one day surpass you in the ring.”
“You have my determination but let’s really see how well you’ve gotten.”
Dirk looked ahead as we came around a turn and the mountain palace was in view. “You’re on.”
We both smiled and started running towards it. We slowed down just long enough to get through the door and Adele and Ruby were the only ones on the first floor.
“Whoa there!” Adele said as Dirk was first to race pass them.
He kept going but I stopped for a brief word. “Hey, sorry about that. We’re just going out to the balcony for some fun. He’s a little excited.”
“So, how’d it go?” Ruby asked before I could turn away. “You told him right?”
“Everything like you asked and it went well but don’t seem surprised if he starts looking at you differently.”
“Why? What did you do?”
“Nothing! He may have just been a bit surprised that you could actually kill that way. It was probably what he couldn’t understand most so that says he took everything else rather well.”
“He’s not freaking out, is he?” Adele wondered.
“No. He just hasn’t quite found a way to link the anger with sex and I don’t think he will until he can actually experience it.”
“Think he will?”
Ruby huffed and stopped us from going any further. “Please. That’s enough. I really don’t want to be thinking of him that way, ever!”
“Okay.” I laughed as I leaned down and kissed her head. “I know you still see him as your baby.”
“Father!” I looked up and Dirk was leaned over the railing of the third floor, looking down at us. “You coming? I thought you were right behind me.”
“I’ll be right up. Why don’t you warm up till I get there? You’re going to need it if you plan to beat me.”
Dirk just smiled and quickly moved away from the railing as if he ran off.
“Well, I better get up there. Zayden and Seth seen each other yet?”
“No.” Adele answered. “Zayden’s still asleep. He was really tired so I let him.”
“Well, I hope they get to bond today. They could both use it. Seth is all Zayden’s been talking about.”
“Good. I hope so too.”
“I’ll check in later, I guess. There’s something else I have to do.”
Adele nodded and I kissed Ruby one more time before I went up the stairs to the back balcony.
Chapter 8
Adele
Seth and Zayden were still going about their silence and awkwardness between each other throughout the following weeks. Everyone was gathered in the lounge one afternoon and I forced Seth to sit with his father. He did it without a word through the conversations going on around him until we saw a company of ten men riding towards the palace bearing Senian flags of the great white horse. Everyone rose to their feet, ready to approach the door.
“No, Seth.” Zayden said as he held his hand out in front of him. “Stay inside.”
I took Seth’s shoulders while I watched the men walk outside towards the company.
“Mother, what’s happening?” Bryce asked. “They can’t be leaving. They’ve never sent so many before.”
“I don’t know, Bryce.” Jaylyn muttered as she looked over at me for a moment. “I don’t know.”
None of us knew but I knew it was bad.
We watched one of the men get off his horse and bowed before them before speaking in words we couldn’t hear. I watch closely from inside when Zayden received some news that made him collapse down to his knees. I gasped and stepped closer to the window. Darius and Troy were kneeling down to him as the company of men started riding away.
They stayed out there for several minutes talking, only making us more eager to know what was going on. We still couldn’t hear anything but Zayden seemed emotionally effected while he remained on the ground. He couldn’t move enough to walk back inside to us but nor could he hold still. It was as if his body wouldn’t stop shaking and it began to worry me to think of what had happened.
I turned from the window and tried to herd everyone away. “All right. Come on. Everyone into the kitchen. Let’s go. Away from here.”
The boys turned away without arguing it and Ruby and Jaylyn turned away just as worried.
I just wanted to get everyone away so we wouldn’t have to watch and allow Zayden to collect himself and come in on his own time.
We waited in the kitchen for just over an hour. Boredom clear on the boys’ faces as they were leaned against the counter, twirling a spoon or even finding the smallest thing to play with.
The silence remained. We said nothing to each other and only waited out this time.
The kitchen door opened and all heads looked up. Darius and Troy came in slowly and I took abrupt notice to Zayden’s absence. “Where is he?”
Troy took a quiet shuttering breath like he was trying to collect himself too but it only worried us. “Gone. Izin and Kathryn are dead.”
I instantly came to tears. “What?! No.”
“Boys, upstairs and pack.” Ruby said. “We’ll be right up.”
The boys didn’t know what to say or how to even react but obeyed and left the kitchen.
“How?” Jaylyn asked.
“No one knows.” Darius said. “Zayden will be there long before us. He’ll take care of it.”
I tried keeping in my tears so I could speak. “We should be with him. He shouldn’t have to do it alone.”
“He’s taking this hard as it is. Father planned to Crown him on his birthday.”
Wet eyes widened. “What?!”
“He was trying to get himself to prepare for it but now he doesn’t have a choice and the circumstances are far worse.”
“Then we have to go.” I said, rushing passed them to get to the door. “Nonstop. Whatever it takes. He needs us.” Everyone followed and went upstairs to pack. I finished quickly and went into Seth’s room to see him sitting on his bed with Rift next to him. “Seth, are you packed?”
He lifted up a bag but didn’t say anything.
“It’s all right to be sad. Crying sometimes helps.”
“Men don’t cry.”
“Please don’t make this hard. This is a very emotional time for your father. He needs you now.” Seth still didn’t say anything. “We have to go.”
Seth got up and followed downstairs and outside where everyone was waiting. Our horses were already readied for us and we had begun our journey east for the city.
Chapter 9
Zayden
My anxiousness to get there brought me into Randal within hours of receiving the news. All of the people remained saddened by the loss of the King and Queen and the walk felt long and quiet. People that were on the streets as I passed, bowed while I kept my head held high but I never responded. My mind was on one thing. The loss of my parents consumed me. I was still lost in devastation by the news but never even showed it. My exterior was completely expressionless.
Mourners greeted me at the palace gates and I was led to the burial chamber where I saw their bodies. They were laying together
and just looked so peaceful like the way they were found in their bed. Everyone surrounded them and stood still and quiet while I was the last to approach.
I tried my best to keep in my emotion as I stood at the head of the stone slab and kissed each of their heads. I grazed my mother’s face with my fingertips as I backed away and the fire was brought in. I was handed the torch and slowly skimmed the wood around my parent’s bodies and left it there to finish the job. Everyone hung their heads as the fire consumed them but I did not. I kept my stare right into the fire.
After a while, everyone started to slowly leave until I was the only one left. I was still looking forward. The bodies have become unrecognizable and my eyes turned black. I wanted answers, explanations but there weren’t any. It only made things worse and I locked myself further away from everyone or wanted to.
When I left the burial chamber, there was a gathering in the main hall. I knew what it was for and said nothing as I walked through them to the throne.
“Our condolences in this dark time.” Said my father’s Royal Advisor. “Your father’s will has been reviewed and his entire estate is being transferred to you and yours, along with this.” The King crown was brought to me on a pillow. “You are now our King.”
The crown was placed on my head and I felt the burden of its weight. Everyone around me got down on their knees and bowed. I turned to see it and sat in the throne, keeping my expression blank and that’s where I stayed.
Days were passing and I was only seeming more lost from myself.
Chapter 10
Adele
We had finally made it and I was just eager to get to Zayden.
“Don’t worry about all our stuff. We have to find him.”
We walked out of the stables without taking anything with us and headed to the palace doors.
“Found him.” Darius muttered the moment we stepped inside.
Zayden was in the throne. He was wearing the King crown but his eyes were empty and alone. He looked like stone. His breaths were barely visible from his chest and it didn’t take me a second look to be worried. I felt the pain he ceased from showing and took cautious steps towards him. “Zayden?”
His eyes darted towards us and blackened with the deepness of his displeased voice. “How dare you address your King with such disrespect?!” Hearts began to fluster, feeling the floor beneath our feet rumble with his words and everyone’s instant reaction was to bow.
“I’m sorry.” I said with my head down. “Please forgive us. We’re just—”
“Trying my patience yet again! You are dismissed from my presence until you have learned where to focus your loyalties!”
I lifted my head and looked at the others around me. They were all worried. Darius and Troy tried to get me to continue but I knew it wasn’t a good idea. Something was indeed wrong with Zayden and in order for us to figure out what, we had to do it privately away from him.
“As you wish.” I signaled for everyone to follow me after another bow and we walked through the Great Hall to take the back stairs. “Something’s wrong.”
“You think?” Darius grumbled. “He’s completely not himself.”
“Not another word.” I snatched. “Boys, why don’t you go out the back and get your stuff from the stables.”
“We can’t be in on this?” Seth asked.
“Just do it and don’t come back through the main doors. I don’t want you going near your father until we can find a way to get through to him. He’s taking this loss the complete wrong way.”
“You mean by not feeling anything at all.” Seth muttered. “Surprise.”
“Seth, stay away from him. We’ll be the ones to fix this.”
Seth sighed and turned away to do what he was told.
“We’ll try to at least.” Troy said.
My eyes rolled and I gently pushed him towards the stairs. “Come on.”
We went up them and I slowly stepped inside the familiar corner room.
“It’s okay.” Darius smiled, opening the door a little more. “It is your room.”
“I know. It’s just been awhile.”
They let me have a moment to take in the fact that I was back and staying for an unseen amount of time.
“So, we’re here.” Ruby said. “And Zayden has lost it. What are we going to do?”
I let out a long breath like I’ve already been thinking and turned to them. “He needs to find it, whatever it is. I know it’s not a good time. We haven’t had enough time to deal with this devastating loss ourselves but I don’t think Zayden has at all. It’s like he’s not accepting it.”
“Or accepting it too well.” Jaylyn replied. “He seemed too comfortable in that crown than the Zayden I know.”
“Okay. Come on. Don’t leave this all on me. I could use everyone’s heads here. How are we going to help him before he pushes all of us away?”
The room was quiet while everyone tried coming up with some kind of solution but it seemed no one had one.
This quick rush of a sound outside the door caught my attention. “What was that?”
“It was Seth.” Jaylyn said.
I gasped and headed for the door. “Oh, no! He’s going to Zayden! Seth! Get back here!”
We all rushed out of the room but we could never be as fast as him. I reached the balcony railing and Seth was already in the main hall. His eyes were on his father unafraid and he walked to him, sure and confident.
His steps lifted Zayden’s eyes to him and he became enraged by the style he chose to approach with and it brought him to his feet. “What are you—”
Zayden raise his hand and I screamed. “No!”
I wasn’t quick enough but neither was Zayden. Seth rushed towards him, his arms open and flung around Zayden’s body, halting his very words.
Seth said nothing. All he did was hold his embrace around his father and released the emotions he has yet to show himself. His tears ran down his face and Zayden took immediate reaction. He finally took a breath loud enough for anyone to hear and gripped his arms around his son’s shoulders, only getting tight enough to feel his pain. They lowered to the steps in front of the throne and he finally felt as the King crown fell from his head, hitting the floor with an echoing clang. Zayden let his first tears fall for the loss of his parents and they rained upon Seth. Having him feel his son’s love was just what he needed and he let it show.
I stayed back with the others, not to be seen and succumbed to sadness from the sight. My boys were together but this was the first time I’ve seen true pain expressed by Zayden and I knew he needed me too.
I rushed down the stairs while the others stayed back so we could have our time and I joined them crouching on the stairs. “Zayden!”
My tears began to fall and he freed one of his arms from Seth and wrapped it around me, pulling me close. “I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“I couldn’t do this without you.”
“You won’t have to.”
“I love you both so much.”
We stayed on the steps in a family embrace for what seemed like hours until the sounds of sadness was silenced but no one thought to get up.
I moved first by shifting my eyes to the crown sitting on the steps by my feet and reached a hand to it. “Zayden.”
Zayden moved his heavy eyes and his voice became anxious when he saw. “No. I can’t. I’m—I’m not ready.”
“Of course you are. You’re our King.”
“That doesn’t make me ready. I wasn’t supposed to be yet. Father—” He had to swallow his sadness just from saying it. “He was going to name me on my birthday.”
“I know.”
“We were going to get the chance to be with you at home until then and I was going to prepare myself but now I can’t do that. Now, I don’t have the time.”
“No one thinks you need it but you.” Seth said. “We believe in you. You already are a great King.”
; Zayden showed the first sign of a smile in days and looked down at his son. “Thank you but I hope you realize what this means for us. I have to stay here now.”
“Then I will too.”
“Seth.” I cut in.
“Mother. Why not?”
“We’ll talk about it later, okay? This isn’t the time.”
“But—”
“Your mother is right. You can stay for a while. I’m sure Aleksander will want to visit. The company went to tell him next but after that we’ll have to see, okay?”
Seth sighed but obeyed. “Okay.”
“Time to move on from this.” I placed the King’s crown on Zayden’s head. “You’re needed now.”
“I know moving on is right but that might be harder than you think. No one knows what happened. They just—were gone.”
“No one could have predicted it.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“My father? Remember he doesn’t see everything and he doesn’t choose what he gets shown. He may not have seen any signs of it at all.”
“Because there were none! They were in perfect health when we left! Something just doesn’t seem right and until I find out what, I can’t just move on.” He got up first from the steps and began to walk towards the conference room.
“Seth, no.” I said, stopping him from following. “Let him be. This will take time. You’ve gotten him to accept it and now he needs to be the one to continue his own way.”
“If you say so, mother. I just think we should still watch him.”
I smiled and put my arm around him. “I’m glad you want to. Go ahead. Maybe it would be good for him to be distracted for a time. He may need you after all.”
Seth smiled and hurried off with Rift following.
It took a great death for Seth to look passed the faults of his father and finally come together. For something as fragile as life, it should never be taken for granted. He finally realized that every second he got to spend with his father was a gift and they could both now look to their futures as King and the Crown Prince.
Blooming Life (Fate's Intent Book 10) Page 3