Array
(
[text] =>
CHAPTER 25:
Treaties were signed and sealed before the sun went down.
A handful of sun people ambassadors sat before us in the remnants of Noah’s burnt office. I cried quietly to myself as decisions were made. No more attacking homes or innocent people. No more senseless violence at all. Negotiations would come first. I listened, my arms wrapped around myself as if I could somehow hold my breaking heart together.
Noah rubbed my back, placing kisses on my head occasionally. It was at this moment I realized he was always meant to be alpha. I knew it now. Here he was, keeping it together for our pack, as I completely broke apart.
Someone said King in reference to the sun kingdom, but that was all it took to completely destroy me. Nico stood up from beside me, wrapping his arms around me to pull me up and take me from the room.
He didn’t stop guiding me until we were out of the burnt house, sitting on what was left of my porch. I wanted to be strong. I really did. I wanted so badly to just hold it in for just a moment, but everytime the full body sobbing stopped, the tears seemed to flow like rivers down my cheeks. My son, my king…
When I thought of his final moments I couldn’t contain myself. Had he been scared? Had he tried to call out for me? My poor baby… “Is your Luna alright?” I heard someone ask. I looked up into the concerned face of a dragon. He was tall, with eyes the color of liquid silver. He looked from Nico to me again, kneeling down to my level. “Are you alright, your highness?”
Words caught in my throat. Tears flowed faster down my face. Was I alright? No. I would never be alright again. “Unfortunately, our Luna’s son passed recently.” Nico spoke. “Micah, this is Commander Kric. He’s arrived on behalf of the son kings to sign treaties.”
“I’m so sorry.” His voice was earnest. “A parent should never have to live in a world without their child.”
I wanted to hate him, to blame him for the loss of my child. If they hadn’t attacked, King would be home safe in my arms. I would not be an empty husk of a person. But… I knew blame laid on both sides. How many times had I warned our people this would happen? “Dragons have children, right?” I asked, the first words I’d said in what felt like hours. He nodded. “Do you have children?”
“Not yet. My goddess has not yet blessed me with such a gift.” He answered.
“One day she will.” I said, the words coming out more like a warning. “And I pray on that day you can protect that child… I pray you’re stronger than me.”
“I would have hurled myself off the side of a mountain if I lost a child.” Kric confessed. “You are stronger than you give yourself credit for. Your child knew love till it’s very last breath and now he waits in the protection of your goddess.”
“Your goddess, my goddess… I truly never cared about such distinctions.” I spoke, the tears finally seeming to dry up. I stood up, unable to sit near this house for another second. “People are people and children… they’re just children. Remember that, Commander kric. A child’s life is worth ten of ours. They could be anything… do anything… no matter who they are where they came from. Your side or mine… they’re all just children. My son is dead… and let that be the last life ended over such a stupid war. At the very least, let no other child die.”
Nico stood up, helping me down the stairs of the porch. I let him. For the first time in my life, I wasn’t sure I could do it on my own. “I have heard tales of the great Luna of this pack, one who sacrificed his own title for love. Someone who is strong and yet compassionate. That is what your people and my people say about you.” The dragon stood up, watching us walk away. “I vow to you, I will protect every child for the rest of my life… and if the goddess ever blesses me with one of my own… I will tell them of you and your son and how they are alive by the mercy and sacrifice of this pack… and we will live in your sons honor.”
“Mercy and sacrifice… there’s no such thing, Commander.” I admitted. “We’re all just pawns in a war between goddesses. I pray you break away one day. Find some happiness and try your hardest to hide it from them. It’s what I wish I had done.”
—————–
“Lay down. I’ll be right back with some water.” Nico instructed, lying me on the dusty bed of his home with Von. Surprisingly, it was one of the few houses left untouched in the whole pack. So much dirt had settled from over a year of vacancy, but I couldn’t find it in me to care at all. “Is it uncomfortable? I’ll clean a spare room out for you and Noah while you rest.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever feel comfort again.” I whispered. “Is this what Ama always talked about, Nico? Is this the pain she described?”
“I don’t know.” He whispered back, pushing my hair out of my face. “I didn’t know pain like this existed.”
“I’ll never have another child for as long as I live.” I confessed. “I don’t think i could survive this kind of pain… and fear…”
“Just rest, Micah.” He soothed me into closing my eyes, rubbing circles in my back. “I’m sorry… for the distance I put between us.”
“You had to.” I excused him. “I’m glad I could fix it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Mm.” I hummed, exhaustion slowly taking over me. Nico didn’t say anything else. He got up from the bed, walking out of the bedroom. I could hear him, in the back of my consciousness, rustling around in the kitchen. I was letting the background noise slowly lull me to sleep when a sound of a glass breaking startled me back awake.
“What?” the single world left Nico’s mouth like a gasp, a strangled cry.
“Can you feel it?” Von. My broken heart swelled for a second, happiness for my brother giving me a moment of peace within myself.
“What- how… Did this happen?” Nico still sounded confused.
“Luna … he fixed it all.” Von tried to explain. “My brother and I… our wolves were switched somehow, but now… it’s like for the first time, i’m whole.”
“I don’t understand.” Nico almost whispered, the sound low enough to make me strain my ears.
“I knew you were meant to be mine.” Von finally said, the sound of his footsteps letting me know he was finally back in my brother’s arms. “And now I am your, fully, truly.”
“Is this some kind of dream?”
“No… this is the way things were always meant to be. I love you, Nico. Won’t you accept me?”
“Are you crazy?” Nico’s voice was a choked out sob. “I’ve always accepted you. I’ve always been yours.”
I closed my eyes again, the warm feeling in my chest momentarily overtaking my utter heartbreak. Nico could finally have peace. It was everything he deserved.
And then, as the ache returned to my heart, I knew King would never have that. King was gone and my heart had gone with him.
I was nearly dead inside.
——————–
~5 years later~
“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Lord-y! Happy birthday to you!” Everyone sang.
Lord wriggled in my lap, beaming down at his cake with six candles. Finally, as the singing died down, he took a deep breath and blew all the candles out, giggling in triumph that he got them all on the first try. “Happy birthday, baby. I love you so much.” I placed a kiss to his temple, the dull ache in my chest becoming more of a soft throbbing.
“Apa!” Lord whined, embarrassed at my affection. He was getting bigger and everyday seemed harder. He didn’t want kisses and cuddles as much anymore. He wanted to be a big boy. He wanted to be-
“Future alpha, may i present your first present?” My father spoke up, dropping to his knee beside us and holding up a tiny little box. Lord squealed in delight, looking at me quickly for permission. When I nodded my go ahead he snatched it quickly, ripping the gift paper.
‘Future Alpha’. What a title. What an unnecessary responsibility for a six year old. Lord jumped down from my lap, throwing himself into my dad’s arms, thanking him. “Apa! Apa look!” Lord demanded eagerly, showing me a tiny, shiny little key. The sparring quarters key.
“Apa,” I snapped at my own dad, “He’s six.”
“You were six when we started training.” My father waved off my comment. “He’ll be getting challengers in just four years. It’s important he’s ready.”
“He’s a baby.” I countered.
“I’m not!” Lord interjected. “I’m gonna be Alpha one day!”
“And a fine Alpha you’ll be.” My dad assured him, hugging him again. My heart broke just a little bit more. I stood up as the presents continued, excusing myself to the kitchen.
I knew I should be happy. Today was a joyous day. When I first received my key to begin training for alpha, I was overjoyed. Be happy, I told myself, frustrated as my smile completely fell. The truth was, I wasn’t happy. I was miserable.
Everyday, Lord got bigger. He never stopped growing. One day I looked at him and realized he didn’t look like King anymore. He was too big. Then I began to wonder what King might look like. Would they still be identical or would they each have their own look? Would they get along? Would their personalities clash?
Time kept passing and Lord got bigger and bigger. He didn’t want his Apa’s help anymore. He wanted to be a big boy… an Alpha. “Are you alright, my love?”
Noah’s arms wrapped around me from behind, pulling me against his chest. “Yes, yes… it’s just… he keeps growing doesn’t he?”
“I don’t think he plans on stopping anytime soon.” Noah chuckled, kissing my cheek. “Did I tell you he tried to call me Noah the other day?”
“If he ever called me Micah-“
“You’d cut his tongue out. He knows that.” Noah laughed, resting his chin on my head. “Are you really alright?”
He held me tighter, attempting to make me feel even more safe. I sighed. “I miss him.” I admitted.
“I do too.” he agreed, knowing exactly what I meant. “It never gets any easier.”
“It doesn’t.” I agreed, sinking into his hold.
“I bought a second cake.” Noah admitted. “When everyone leaves, why don’t we sing King happy birthday? We can show Lord pictures and… and celebrate both of them.”
“I would like that.” I agreed, turning around to hug him. “Thank you.”
“I love you, Micah.” He kissed my cheek again. “You, Lord, and King are my whole world. I’ll always take care of you.”
“I know.” I assured him. “I love you too.”
And I meant it.
————————
~5 more years~
Kric’s P.O.V.
“Da, who’s that?” Kieran asked, pointing to a picture on my study wall.
“Oh, that is the head Alpha and Luna of the Moon People. Kind of like the kings, you could say.” I explained, coming up to look at the old picture. “This is the day, ten years ago, that our people signed treaties with them to end all the unnecessary bloodshed.”
“Why does he look so sad?” Kieran pointed to the Luna, whose tear stained face was evident even in the old picture.
“He had a son who died very recently.” I answered, looking down at Kieran who continued to stare at the picture with a mixture of fascination and confusion. “We are alive because of their mercy and sacrifice so we have to live our lives in honor of the Luna, and of his son’s memory.”
“Have I ever met these people? They look really familiar.” Kieran touched the picture, clearly confused.
“Maybe? They could’ve stopped by the castle on business. You might have met them once or twice.” I tried to think back, wondering if their paths could have ever crossed. “You know, it was the luna who first put the thought in my head.”
“What thought?”
“To take my happiness and to run.” I put my arm over his shoulder, pulling him closer. “If he had never said that to me, who knows where i’d be now. That’s why i’m so grateful to them because now I have Incendio and you and I couldn’t ask for anything else.”
“Not even your own son?”
“You are my own.” I insisted, turning him to face me. His eleven year old face looked unbelievably sad as it looked up at me. “Dragon’s make their own family. Biology means nothing. You’re mine in all the ways that count. I love you. Incendio and I brought you to live with us because we couldn’t bear to live apart from you. Do you know how much King Cyan cried and begged for us not to? But you were meant to be a part of our family.”
“I know… I just… it’s hard… not to know where I come from. Why didn’t my parents want me? What did I do wrong?” His voice broke on the last word. I pulled him into my arms again, hugging him so tight I hoped he could feel the love.
“I can’t begin to know what happened that led you to be in King cyan’s care. He said he found you in the forest one day, abandoned. Humans… they aren’t supposed to be around here… but I know for sure that whoever your parents were, they wanted you. I’m certain. You were healthy, well socialized, advanced even. It was obvious you were loved from the moment you were born. And you’ll be loved for the rest of your life.”
He sobbed against my chest, his sniffling eventually catching the attention of a nearby fairy. Incendio fluttered through the office door, looking at me with concern. “Are you sad, precious son?” Incendio spoke softly, coming to rub Kieran’s back.
“Huh? N-no.” He sniffled, pulling away from me and wiping his face. “I’m fine, Indy, honest.”
“Special child, you are not.” Incendio chided, grabbing him by his cheeks. Kieran was getting taller everyday, almost taller than Incendio now. “You must never hide your pain. Feel it, so it can heal and you will not scar.”
“I’m really…” Kieran trailed off, refusing to make eye contact with the little fairy. “Do you know where I come from, Indy?”
“From love.” Incendio said simply. “You are the embodiment of it. You are…” Incendio paused, holding his cheeks tightly as his eyes seemed to drift far away. “So many people will judge you, they will take one look at you and decide what you are capable of. That is why you must never forget who you are… a king.”
The end…
Thank you for finishing Aphelion. I truly appreciate everyone taking this journey with me and I hope you fell in love with these characters just as I did.
I would love any final thoughts on this book. In the next few days I will be posting a summary for the final book in the series. That will be posted at the same day/time I post the first chapter of the book. Please keep an eye out!
For everyone on this journey with me, we are approaching the end. Questions can finally be answered. Buckle up. <3
-MADAME
[text_hash] => 992e4b04
)