we're all stories in the end...

She was speaking animatedly with his sister Selewyne and didn't notice him. But he waited till they turned the corner before he looked to Kaden.

His attention directed over to Sebastian, to the look the younger male gave him. Kaden shrugged, a darkness descending over his gaze, his eyes clouding like he wasn't really here, in the present, his mind hundreds of years away.

She didn't think she'd ever seen him take anything seriously. But it wasn't in the way Cameron or Isaiah used humor. It seemed like he truly found everything a game, that he didn't care if he lived or died.

Or he'd killed enough to not care for life.

"Good luck Kaden."

Even she could hear the humor in Kertayan's voice as he turned to follow the soldiers.

She unlocked her cuffs, feeling them fall away as she pulled away from him. Her mind finally finally catching up with the situation.

"You let them bind me and kneel in the grass like some common petty thief."

❝ It was the simplest way, ❞ he started, almost no emotion in his voice this time as Kaden gave a shrug of his shoulders. As if to emphasize how much the whole thing shouldn't matter. Was she really wanting to make such a scene over this?

"You'll let us go?"

"Camilla he's bluffing or at least distracting us -"

Elianna again ignored all of it. She shouldn't, Vincent was right. He probably had come here with soldiers, she could probably sense them if she wanted to.

She hadn't gotten this far on simply her mind. But she stepped into the space anyway. The soldiers's blades glinted in the gloom of the forest as they rushed Vincent and Camilla, cutting off whatever he was gonna say.

She should say something else do something else but she drank him in. He - he looked beautiful as always but haggard as if something was -

She felt a pain in her arms, in her wrists as she was shoved to her knees and handcuffed. The world rushed back but it was the sudden quiet of the forest that made her blood chill, that made her turn to the person who had stepped toward Kaden's side. He winked at her before going stoic and flashing Vincent a chilling smile.

"So you're the male that has gotten my baby sister's head all twisted up huh? I didn't believe it when my son told you ran Camilla, but apparently there's a first time for everything."

Camilla struggled, her magic rising only for her grit her teeth as it was siphoned into her handcuffs to restabalize them.

"Leave her alone Bloodhound. She can't go back there to die! You -"

"Oh she isn't. Our father wishes to speak about her...transgressions. You on the other hand don't really matter General."

He whistled and turned to Kaden.

❝ I'll take this one. ❞ Kaden nodded towards Elianna, his sharp eyes betraying nothing but coldness. Steel. ❝ Just get everyone else there within the hour. This has taken too long already. ❞

A few months ago, a co-worker’s daughter came across this little abandoned kitten. Poor thing was so near death, and my co-worker was all “we CANNOT keep it” (to her daughter) so she asked if I could, knowing how much of a cat lover I am. She offered to pay for all its care, etc. if I took it, but as much as I’d take every kitty in the world, I couldn’t either. So I brought the little guy to the shelter, hoping he’d make it, get a good home, etc. Today, I’m in PetSmart getting food for little Xaden & Sasha & what do you know— there’s the little guy from those months ago, looking so much healthier, ready to find his forever home! So proud of him (and the ones at the local shelter who helped get him back to health). You go, little guy! I hope you find that loving family that will give you all the cuddles and treats forever! (You definitely deserve it!)

Seriously, though -- this MADE MY DAY today! I had (in all truth) figured the precious baby had succumbed to his sicknesses, or just realistically had no idea that I'd ever see him again. Why would I? I gave him to the shelter and "Hoped for the best".

"Watch me."

He shoved the door open, eyes landing first on Imogen. He exhaled, fingers running down her arm and tugging her away from Vincent and Kertayan.

He bit back the words, to whisper in awe she'd stayed. That she'd waited for him.

Kertayan snorted and looked past Isaiah to Kaden.

"So no one died. That's -"

"Call them."

The bubble vanish, Isaiah's grip on her tightened and he dragged his eyes to Kertayan. Those eyes gold flecked watching him.

"Call them, the entire Council. We nearly lost our loremaster and warmaster, Elianna hasn't woken yet has she?"

He turned to Kaden, his magic pushing up against his skin, demanding to snap and break his heart.

"You've become a liability. I'm letting Mera deal with you. But I'm telling them, Mama hasn't survived this long to have you cost us the war."

------

Einar stopped pacing by the door, briefly looking his sister over. Ember only rose an eyebrow at him, hair pulled back in a war braid. She didn't show the turmoil, the hours she'd probably spent in panic as the news swept through the ranks.

Einar dragged his eyes to their aunt Nismera, his hands clenched and he pointed down the hall. His voice ice.

"He was going to let her die. He was going to let Ma die because -"

------

Enva rubbed at her temples. Why couldn't Kaden and Elianna do one thing properly? They couldn't be around each other, okay, so don't be around each other! Was it that hard for them? If she and Dacre had to part ways she'd bury her emotions and keep going.

Sotoria desvered that at the bare minimum. She looked up from the maps, not acknowledging Vincent as she met Dacre's eyes.

"Am I asking for a miracle? They can't be around each other so they shouldn't be. Why can't they do one fucking thing correctly."

Dacre shrugged, focusing on whittling the dragon in his palm.

"No you're not. They're clearly unable to follow basic commands. It -"

"Imogen is here."

Enva swallowed the urge to snap at Vincent. Dacre stiffened though, and maybe she did. Enva eyes narrowed at him.

"As a prisoner? Did you kill the guards holding her? I can open the back passages for -"

"She's here because she chose Isaiah."

Vincent looked ill saying the words, his jaw clenching tight. Enva frowned and looked toward her parents.

"Doesn't Isaiah have Malcolm's blood? Should I kill him? Is he manipulating Immi?"

She knew Autumn would crush her for it, but no one manipulated one of her dearest friends. Even an ally.

------

Kertayan sat on the edge of the windowsill watching Imogen flit around the room. He was counting down the minutes before Anaxia burst into the room.

She'd probably found out by now.

But no use sitting in silence.

Isaiah hadn't asked him to watch her, she probably didn't need it. But Vanir instincts died hard for him. Vanir worked on a kin system, Isaiah wasn't his King but in a different world maybe he would have been.

Malcolm had been a King once, gold eyes he'd seen in his mother's portrait hall. Gold eyes that demanded you Knelt and Obeyed. To Vanir everything revolved around blood.

Blood feuds.

Blood honor.

Blood ties.

"He says you liked wisteria and lilies. He lamented there wasn't any flowers in the prison to pick to make you things."

Kertayan eyed the door. Did Kaden understand yet?

Did he understand the axis had turned from he and Elianna?

If this was Vanaheim the colony would have knelt for her already. She'd be deep in royal chambers, bathed and anointed with blood wards.

Like so many of his own sisters, driving his mother's colony forward, giving them endless soldiers and bodies for this neverending fucking war. A path Melinoe hadn't wanted, she'd been too free, too curious. And as much as it has felt like tearing his own heart out, he'd not acknowledged or claimed her, let her fly off.

Kertayan pushed off the windowsill prowling closer. He poured her some water, looking her over.

"You should sit, drink, rest."

Old habits died hard.

He was bred to serve.

His mother wasn't here, he was a Prince with no king yet.

Maybe it would be Isaiah and Imogen, maybe he could finally get away from his parents and have a different colony, a different legacy to forge.

But the way he stood, the aura coming off of him-- It concerned her, even if she knew where the anger truly directed.

~

Kaden nearly vibrated with the intensity of power that he held back. That flooded through every single inch of his veins. A part of him wanted to lash it out against Isaiah as the other passed him, as Isaiah had spoken to Kertayan--

Every single piece of him felt like it was too loud in here, and at the same time, that roaring was too quiet. Contradictory in every way, and he needed out. It was all Kaden could do in that moment not to outright explode, to unleash everything, to lash out and destroy every single one of them--even if he knew it wasn't them that he hated, that he wanted to harm, that he felt any anger towards--

But in that moment, Kaden needed out.

He needed out before he destroyed everything.

~

Nismera closed her eyes as Einar continued. The dull throbbing behind her eyes had increased into a constant ache now. Her brother--as much as she loved him--was going to be her undoing if he kept this up. Or at least make her lose the rest of her sanity and her head explode.

Like it wanted to do. Right now.

The pain of the migraine settling in to be a constant for the day.

Sharp nails scraped along the table as she stood, eyes opening and leveling her glare on Einar when Nismera raised her hand to cut him off.

❝ Your worries have been noted, Einar. ❞

Fuck, Kaden.

Even her thoughts on him were exhausted.

❝ But I'll deal with it. I'll deal with Kaden. With all of it. Do you understand? ❞ The last thing Nismera wanted to have to mess with was Einar running off in vengeance or misguided anger or whatever else he conjured up.

She couldn't have that--especially when she knew there was always more to Kaden's behavior than he ever let anyone see. Especially these days.

~

Isaiah having once more left her alone to deal with this entire fucked up mess, Imogen's mind whirled. Twisted. Her arms crossed over her chest as she paced, and she barely heard Kertayan at first, could barely seem to focus on the conversation.

Even if a part of her was grateful for the distraction. At least right now.

❝ He remembered that? ❞ It had been a comment once, centuries ago. A throwaway thing, really, that Imogen had said, as they'd walked through one of the wild fields, as the scents caught her attention. The fact that lilies always made her think of home...

An eyebrow rose as she looked back at Kertayan. ❝ Out of all the horrors in that place, and he hated that there weren't flowers for me? ❞ Only Isaiah, her mind seemed to supply the thought with a fondness that Imogen wasn't used to feeling.

And yet, at the same time, it instantly felt right. True.

But she shook her head at the offered drink, the tenseness still set in her shoulders to a certain extent. It was like that all through this place; Imogen sensed it through so many of them. That air of something is wrong.

She couldn't help but wonder if they felt it because of Elianna. Or Kaden. Or if her presence was part of it. Or if it always felt like that here. Maybe she just hadn't realized it at first, lost as she was with Isaiah...

❝ I don't think I can rest until... ❞ Imogen trailed off, but the meaning seemed to be clear.

She needed to know what happened. She needed to know everything worked out.

"I'm never forgiving you for this. I should make you wear fuschia or something like cyan, or sunshine yellow."

She would, probably within the hour. She bit back a smile and looked to the girls, tugging Kaden closer.

"What about Kaden? Does he get a binder?"

Neverra grinned and nodded, she flipped through the very full binder. How long had this taken them? When had they had time to do this between their lessons and court?

Elianna leaned back against Kaden pouting up at him.

"Kiss me?"

"Eli! Eli look!"

She was yanked forward, a hand bracing against the table to not smash her face in. She glared at Neverra who didn't seem to notice. She had shoved the binder at her. The suit was beautiful, probably from one of the magazines Papa got. She huffed and twisted to look at Kaden.

The colors of the flowers. The place settings. The decor. The music. The style and the color of Elianna's dress. Every single detail, no matter how tiny (even things Kaden didn't even realize existed as part of the whole affair) seemed to put into this binder that Sotoria had assembled with every bit of seriousness that she probably should have done with her studies.

"Wait this isn't a happy ditching is it?"

His eyes narrowed and looked back up the hill, lighting flickering around his hands.

"What happened?"

He got to his knees, moving to sit next to her. But even that didn't feel enough, he tugged at her arm, wanting to have her sit in his lap, wanting her close.

Sometimes he wondered if he was too clingy, too tightly wound to her. But she would tell him right?

He pressed his face into her neck, inhaling her.

"I wish we were adults so I could marry you and not have to ever leave you alone."

------

Penelope frowned turning from the hallway to Kaden.

"Where did my son go?"

"Yours too hmm? Natalia flounced off apparently."

Enva sipped at her tea eyeing Deanna with distaste.

Something lighter, something that didn't feel like it was trying to weigh her down or tear her apart.

Sebastian had a way of steadying her, even if she didn't quite know what that power was, or how to explain it. He just did.

Which is why she got so pissed when so many seemed to reduce him to nothing--

❝ You wouldn't get so tired of me that you'd run away, then? Even after centuries? ❞

~

Kaden shrugged, not answering as he downed a glass of liquor. Good thing he didn't have to supply such an answer, as Enva's attention turned to Deanna.

Of course the two of them had run off together, he thought, shaking his head.

But Deanna only continued to flick the dagger between her fingers, pausing to lift dark eyes at Enva, her red lips curled into a smirk as a sharp nail slid down the sharpened edge of the dagger's blade.

"Yeah because she doesn't like it!"

"But she's so pretty! Elli you have to try something in fuschia for your wedding!"

Elianna hid her face in Kaden's shoulder whining softly. Of course the girls ignored her, Sotoria dragged a binder and set it on the table.

"Kade look!! Look we found all the flowers and everything!"

"Yeah! Papa says you marry by the willow trees Eli! Didn't you say you had a dream about -"

Elianna set Kaden a look, gripping his collar.

"Kaden can we leave now? Please?"

Sotoria leaned closer and tapped the binder.

Kertayan looks to the doors and back to Imogen. Slowly the meaning of the words sink in.

Did she mean like Melinoe had wanted to chose him?

Like Elianna had chosen Kaden?

Like -

He growled stepping toward Xander.

"Step back."

"She's my friend Kerta. I -"

"Step. Back."

Gold flashed in this eyes and Xander finally stepped back. Whatever else they were, Vanir ranks trumped all of it when they were together. Xander didn't have the violet of Damien's eyes, he was a soldier, he was no one among the Ranked Vanir here.

Even if he was a honor guard of Vincent, that didn't matter here. Kertayan dragged his eyes to Imogen and rubbing at his temples.

"You're Vincent and Anaxia's sister right? You're that Imogen?"

Vincent bristled stepping toward Imogen, at her side.

"Anaxia is a shit representative as my sister Kerta -"

"So she's not - you're not certifiably insane?"

He looked past her to the door, tisking under his breath. He gave her nod, crossing his arms.

"In Kertayan I assume you know that give your standing among Samkiel's side, Isaiah's second. I'd offer my hand but if he finally pursuing you enough that you're here....I don't want my arm ripped off."

Vincent stiffened and looked to Imogen, a hand on her elbow. His voice softening.

"Is that it. Is there....is there a bond Imi?"

Xander flinched stepping backward, looking at his feet. Damien rolled his eyes and turned to the hallway. Maybe if he left now Amalie would be awake from her duties in the gardens.

Kertayan snorted leaning against the wall to rub at his neck.

"If there isn't one there will be. He talked about her enough in the prison even if he never gave me a damn name."

------

"I don't give a fuck what you do or don't want to hear. What the fuck is wrong with you?! She could have died! And you were have what - simply stood there like a statue?!"

Isaiah rolled his shoulders back, brushing off Kaden's rage.

"Az says he's going to call them. That Eli needs to be taken out of active duty. I half a mind to tell our parents and Nismera the same thing about you. You're starting to become a fucking liability Kaden -"

------

Neverra curled into her side, gripping her hand. She sniffed, pressing closer.

"It - it's okay, sleep now Eli I won't let them disturb you okay? Go to sleep."

Before this?

She sighs, but her eyes are hard once more as Imogen stares back at Kertayan. She is every bit as much of a warrior as the rest of them, even if she doesn't always look like it. A part of her can only think of all the things she's heard about Kertayan, all that he's done. All that he's responsible for--

But at the same time...

Imogen shrugs at her brother's question. She doesn't want to answer it, to confirm anything. If she says it aloud like that, what if it breaks? What if it shatters?

Even if, deep inside, Imogen knows it won't. That there is nothing in any realm that will make her not want Isaiah.

❝ Oh I know well who you are, Kertayan. ❞ Her eyes find their way back towards the door, though. That closed door that has Isaiah on the other side. Like she can feel him, like she just wants to step beyond it...

❝ I know that I chose him. That-- I am here because I want to be here, Vincent. ❞ And while she believes that bond exists, while she feels it, the pull--

What if she's wrong?

❝ Wait. What do you mean, he talked about me? ❞

~

If anything, Isaiah's threat only angers Kaden more. Only makes the inferno inside of him blaze hotter, stronger. A raging fire he can't silence, can't still--and it has nowhere to go, nowhere to truly escape without burning down and destroying everything.

❝ You wouldn't dare. ❞

The words are quiet, more of a growl undercutting them. Every muscle coiled too tight, Kaden's nails dig deep into his palms as his fists form. As he holds to whatever fragments of shattered control he might still possess.

Because the thought of being stuck, without any outlet at all... stuck with only thoughts and silence and nothing more...

Kaden can't do it. Can't do that utter silence--

The rage will eat him up, destroy him.

Even more than it already has.

❝ Nismera wouldn't let you anyway, ❞ Kaden scoffs, ignoring the entire idea that he's a liability in any way. It's bullshit and he's not going to acknowledge that.

Kaden shakes his head, already moving back to the door. ❝ I told you that I'm not listening to this shit again-- ❞

~

Go to sleep.

Elianna doesn't need to be given that permission twice. The exhaustion--mental, emotional, physical--it all pulls her under as she curls back under the blankets, her eyes shut. It takes nothing at all for her breathing to even out as she drifts off to sleep...

To sleep and dream...