Page 205 of The Last One
“Kai,” Elyn says, “your original role as Grand Defender was the opposite of Jadon’s. His is death. Yours was life. In balanced realms, the two work together, with the same mission. But no longer.”
Jadon’s eyes flicker with the ever-changing light of his armor. “I wanted a new direction, a new purpose. My own purpose that wasn’t controlled by the emperor or by Danar. That’s why I asked Elyn to help me, to remove this—” He lifts his marked hand. “I’m done with this shit, Kai, and I want to start again. Be someone new. And I want to do that with you.”
“Now?”I shriek.
All of this is inevitable. Unavoidable.He told me that before leaving me alone in that cave.
Thereisno “us,” Kai. There never was.
This isn’t the way it was supposed to go.He said that, too.
“And what about Gileon Wake?” I ask. “He knows you as his brother—”
“Heismy brother,” Jadon says.
“But Elyn just called you… Are you a Wake? Are you Mera?”
“Yes and no,” he says. “Danar and my mother, the queen… They… They…”
“We spent one blissful night together,” Danar says with a shrug and smile. “It was the emperor’s idea. The queen didn’t mind doing her part for the empire. Jadon’s just like these beasts behind you, Kai. My own spectacular creation.”
I gape at Jadon. “You’re otherworldly.”
Jadon Ealdrehrt was born a god.The women in the barn said that.No one else fights like that. A god living among men.
No, a demigod.
Shit.
If they only knew.
IfI’donly known.
My sorrow slowly burns to become rage.
Elyn Fynal, the Adjudicator, wants me dead for her reasons.
Danar Rrivae wants me dead for his.
And then there’s Jadon. He finds my eyes again and takes a step forward, away from his creator. “I won’t do it, Kai. I won’t destroy you.”
“That’s your purpose, son,” Danar Rrivae rumbles. “You do notchoose.You are what I say you are. There is no free will in my realm.”
Elyn’s eyes flash blue. “This isn’t your realm.”
“I won’t destroy her,” Jadon challenges, backing away from his creator.
“Oh, but you will,” Danar snarls. “She is wortheverything.”
This realm will never survive, because you will never be the god you were born to be—the god that Vallendor Realm needs and deserves.
Elyn’s words.
“You failed to live up to our agreement,” Elyn says, pointing at Danar.
“We’re herebecauseof me,” Danar spits back. “I created him. He stopped her.”
“Stopped her?”Elyn shrieks. “She’s standing in front of me, holding my fucking blade! She will destroy us all!”
