Book 3: Chapter 98
A/N: next chapter will be an excerpt from 140 in the High King’s Bride. I figured the conclusion would be best done to start in Eskaal’s pov, but end in new content for context!
Kaiden
/I do not like the sadness in her eyes./ Growled Rakaam.
/Don’t worry. I got it./ I said to soothe him. He was already fired up from thinking she was an intruder, but now that it’d died down, he noticed. Her scent hid her feelings, but not her eyes.
\[I’ll meet up with you guys at the pack.\] I barked, breaking off from the group when we went past Zeke’s shop. Now that their kids were grown, he wasn’t the one who was behind the counter all the time. Now Zeke’s grandkids help, along with Warrior Nathaniel. As a pup his favorite thing was putting his paws all over the glass of window shops, and pranking the adults, but now he helps clean them.
It makes me glad I stuck with it, and didn’t give into Grandfather’s desire. That a *little* time pass. With that time, Izzy grew up, and serves on the council with her eldest son. Tyson rules the shifters with integrity, as does Grace with the dragons. Kaizen may not rule anything, but he takes in orphans and gives Rogues second chances at pack life in MisfitMoon.
I knew all my pups were working hard, and it does make me proud that I kind of retired to let them shine. Not truly retired though, I’ll never outright do that, but I didn’t want to be King. I wanted what I have right now, and if I could do anything to keep this world spinning, I would.
Like now. Tiffany only fooled the others. I know my grandpups. She’s stressed the fuck out about Eskaal, but how could she not be? He’s one of her people’s generals, and there is unrest when high ranks act up, but more importantly, she saw him as family.
Whenever I flew up there, the Beast Prince was never too far away. He makes my gums itch, but it’s because of *what* he is, not who he is. I can tell he’s not a regular elf, that’s for damn sure.
I shifted, putting on the pants she fixed, and when I went inside, my Warriors who were on break, or off waved.
“Alpha!” Beamed Nathaniel, while Zeke was piping cupcakes. “Was that really a dragon?!”
“It was Tiffy playing pranks.” I chuckled.
“That was a Damn Good Prank!” Complained Zeke. “I almost burned these!” He motioned the frosted yellow cupcakes. If I remember right, those are Tiffy’s favorite.
“To be honest, those would do perfect.” I pointed, being tossed my phone by a passing Warrior, running from the packhouse. They’d seen where I was headed and figured I’d need my wallet.
“These are lemon crumble. She loves those. ” Smiled Zeke, putting them in a box. I paid for them.
I bent my head to leave the café, and went up the hill with dinner’s dissert. Oddly enough, a dead bird was in the middle of the road, but we have eagles here. My guess is that it dropped its meal.
I went inside the packhouse, and I saw that sour face again. Tiffany *is* upset, more so than she let on.
/I can tell you see it too./ linked babygirl.
/Yeah, I think we should talk to her together. She’s been out there fixing the fucking sky babygirl. I’m sure she’s seen how bad it’s getting./
“Grandpa Unholy Cow! Those are Fresh!” chirped Tiffany, and I grinned. I gave them to her so she could put them on the table, and she opened the box. “AH! They’re lemon!”
/After dinner./ She linked back with a smile.
The table was set, and my little one chowed down with us on roasted pork shoulder, corn on the cob, green beans, pan fried okra and baked beans from scratch. Those took 7 hours, but it was Hank, Shelly’s son this time who manned the bean station.
And they kick me out the kitchen… because I still burn shit.
I was raised down here… I’ve gotten to eat food from all over the world, but nothing tastes better than being at home with my mate, pups, and littermates.
“Grandpa I saw you breathe fire while you were running!” She beamed.
“It was Epic! We-” I cut Connor off.
“Let ME tell it!” I complained. “So we got Surrounded by Rogues last week, at least 50 of them.”
“They made a whole gang and everything.” Said Shelly butting in!
“Kaiden killed their Alpha right?” Said Beta, being a dick and butting in again! “But instead of break up like they usually do, they got all the surrounding Rogues to unite.”
“It was the three of us tail to tail, fighting off a whole pack of Rogues when something just clicked. I let my wolf take over, and the flaming bite became flaming breath.” I said a little proudly. “I can shoot like 2 fireballs a day.”
“They’re grapefruit sized, but they shoot right through trees.” Added Beta.
/And right through the body of a Rogue too./ growled Rakaam.
I ignored. His ego is already the size of the lake.
“Now THAT’s cool!” She beamed. “Wow I’m stuffed…. I hate to eat and run..”
“Hold on.” I said putting my plate to the side. It’s not like any of my children to leave with unfinished food…
I motioned her to follow me to the backyard, and I could see that the sky was red….
“I notice you see it now.” She said looking down.
“You’re doing your best.” I said putting my hands on her shoulders.
“Grandpa… my best is killing the wildlife.” She pointed up, and I could see birds fall. It wasn’t every bird, but it was enough…
“Then it’s what you *can* do.” Said babygirl, hugging our grandpup. She petted her hair, while I offered a bit of encouragement.
“You got this. Your individual effort might feel lacking, but it all adds up together.” I pointed at the birds. A few were just passed out, but they got up, and fluttered off. “Focus on the good until this ends.”
Heidi called earlier today about it. She helped Hellinia. I wasn’t kept completely in the dark, but I didn’t fully understand at first either. I’m not a magical supernatural. The stuff Peppercorn and Tiffy talk about leave me, John, *and* Harry confused at times.
“This isn’t going to stop until he’s found…” She said still discouraged. “What if I am tasked with hunting down the Beast Prince?” She asked.
“That won’t happen.” I said firmly. “And be hopeful. We know Eskaal. He isn’t a man who craves more power, or to destroy just for the sake of it. And on top of it, from how Harmony told me, is that their generals swore oaths of loyalty that bound them to Xaxas. I’m sure if he betrayed, he wouldn’t have been able to escape.”
“I didn’t think of that….” She mumbled.
“I don’t think anyone is.” I said honestly. “Focus on what you can, and don’t worry about what you can’t control. Nothing good comes from obsessing.”
I know they wouldn’t send her to collect a man she sees as her uncle. There are plenty of much stronger magic users for that anyway. Tiffany’s stressing so badly because I know she wants this to be resolved without him dying, nor being a traitor.
“But what if it isn’t enough?” She asked.
“It’s enough.” We both told her.
“I knew I needed to come here.” She mumbled. “I need to get back though…. They made a portal for me, and it’ll close soon.”
We both could tell that was a bit of a lie, but we left her alone about it.
“Go on ahead Tiffy.” I said letting her go but she gave us hugs before flying off.
“Thanks grandma and grandpa.” She said before she went inside a portal. She’s a good kid. Her compassion is wolflike, but she’s in a dark world…. One I cannot fully understand, but I would never shun, nor degrade.
“Kaiden, we should probably talk to Harmony.” Said babygirl.
“I think we should talk to Xaxas.” I said not wanting to, but someone should.
I already had my phone, and when I called him, he answered.
“Unless you know where that little shit is, I don’t want to hear it Charred One.” He growled.
“I know what it feels like to hunt a potential traitor, but I’m here to tell you to ease up.” I said calmly.
“It isn’t the same thing.” He hissed.
“No, but it is similar.” I countered. “The difference is that my anger can’t destroy the world.” I added.
He growled at me proper.
“I would not do that.”
“I got birds dropping from the sky like popped balloons.”
He appeared, about 11 feet tall in black robes.
“Don’t push me Kaiden.” He pointed a clawed finger at me.
“I’m not pushing, you’re pulling.” I countered, pointing a clawed finger back. “What will you do if you hurt your pups?” I growled.
He growled back.
“You Push.” He snarled. “You poke when I cannot poke back.”
“Because you need it.” Said babygirl firmly, looking him in the eyes. She was my tiny backup; she always is. “You can’t have your cake and eat it too on this one.”
“I do not understand that phrase.” Xaxas said this calmly, but his eyes became darker. A universal warning of a poor mood, but it didn’t scare, nor stop either of us from speaking up.
After all, he was our pup too. It’s times like this he appears to hear an opinion besides one of another godkin.
“You can’t be The Big Bad Wrathful God, AND the Good Justly Realm King.” Babygirl said that gently, but firm and clear.
He said nothing, looking at the little woodland animals become worse with his mood.
“You can’t protect the planet while *being* the one hurting it too.” I added.
I could tell our words got to him. For a moment, he dropped his shoulders, and let out a sigh.
“It is not something so easily undone.” He said much calmer… Babygirl… If she had a special ability… it would be that making her mad makes you feel bad. “This is passive. It’s why we agreed to send the Pit, and the witches… My eyes are on this planet, as it is his homeworld…It taxes life that I live here, that has always been, but I cannot contain the rage I feel being betrayed. He used *my* magic to disobey the entire pantheon… He has injured Time…His actions make it *my* fault, since his is my general.” He pointed a clawed thumb at himself. “And on top of it, one mistake, one true outburst, and I may do as you say by accident.”
He showed us his hands. They crackled with scarlet red fire…. The scent of magic hurt my head.
“In the meantime, is there any other place you can put that?” Eclipse asked.
“I can try sending it to hell, then only a third of it would make it up here.” He said vanishing.
“At least we got through to him.” Said babygirl.
“Yeah, hopefully this resolves too.” I said opening the door for my princess.
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