Page 98 of Crown of Iron
“That's why she kept you chained. You could have come home intending to return to her.”
He gives a curt nod. “That and she enjoyed putting me on display and attempting to strip me of my dignity. It didn't work. I knew my cause was noble and protecting Kyron was worth it.”
I swallow past the emotion building in my throat and move into my next topic. “I have some questions about Kyron, if you don't mind.”
“Of course not. Go ahead.”
“He said you raised him. That you were the only father he ever knew.”
Papa fidgets in his chair before focusing on a spot across the room. After the trauma he has been through, I don't want to push more than I already have. I trust him to tell me what I need to know when he’s ready. I just hope it’s enough to leave me satisfied.
He clears his throat and says, “When I found Kyron, I knew who he was. A Stigian child who had siphoned could only belong to one person. Not only that, but he looked so much like Micah at that age. I could have sworn I'd traveled back to our youth. Micah and I knew he would be our upper hand. As long as we kept him here, Esmeray would never truly attack and risk her heir. Micah felt it was best to give Kyron a new start, so while he writhed in pain from withdraws, a Cognus bound all his memories from before the moment I found him.”
I lean forward and say, “You wanted him to always associate Stigianwith the pain and never want to go back, making it impossible for her to get her hands on him because of the treaty.”
“Yes. And as an extra measure of protection, he stayed with me at Basecamp. He thrived in the environment. Battle tactics, physical endurance, the comradery, he loved it all.” He stands, moves around his desk, and crosses his arms before leaning on the edge in front of me. “I never believed suppressing Kyron's memories changed who he was. In fact, it gave him the opportunity to flourish into the man he was meant to be without unnatural cravings. The man you spent time with—the one who led his soldiers without fear, who would lay down his life for them, and was loyal to our king—that was the real Kyron.”
I jump from my seat and throw up my hands. “If all that is true, then how could he turn his back on us? We could have fought and escaped together.” I shove my fingers in my hair and massage my aching head. “How did he even find out who he is?”
“I don't know, Raelle. I wasn't privy to the conversations he had with Esmeray, and she never left us unattended. I'd estimate that the first time he visited Stigian was a month and a half ago. He stormed into the sanctuary demanding to know if it was true. Was he her son?”
“A month and a half ago,” I whisper.
Kyron would have left straight from Lucent to Stigian. I wrack my brain for every moment we spent together and any change in his behavior. I remember my homecoming party where Borin first voiced his concerns about me and Kyron. Running my fingers over my lips, I recall when I took him to the Omnis. There was the night he found me sneaking into Micah's study to find the journals. We learned I possess the Eporri, and he is the only known Stigian to overcome the addictive power of the Posseda. The Generals Summit, the armor, and our night in the town square—none of those events fall in line with his betrayal. He was the one who planned the attack on Stigian the night in the tavern.
The tavern.
That was the place he gave Leif the key to Micah's study days after he should have.
“His dishonesty started before going to Esmeray. We had the key to Micah’s office, and he was supposed to give it back right away, but he didn’t because…” It hits me then like a smack to the face. “We read Micah’s journals, and in them, he spoke about the only one who was known to overcome the addiction of the Sacred Stones. He must have gone back to see if Micah was really writing about him. That has to be how he learned about Esmeray,” I hiss, my resentment toward him blazing with new life.
“I know Kyron like I know you and your siblings. Whatever he did was part of his ultimate plan. I believe just as I chose to stay in Stigian to keep him safe, he chose to stay in exchange for my life and the promise that his parah would leave unharmed.”
I scoff, just hearing the word parah makes me sick.
Kyron and I supposedly share the strongest bond two beings can have. According to others who have found their parah, they knew from the first moment they met that the Statera gifted them to each other. He knew we shared an extraordinary bond, and I would have too if the Eporri didn't cause me to react to everyone's gift. I would have known we were meant for one another, and I would have fought for us. But he has no excuse. He knew and threw us away for a crown.
“I don't know if I believe that, Papa. If he wanted to save us by offering himself to Esmeray, then why did she not just let you and me walk out with no fuss?” I ask, not bothering to hide the disgust in my tone.
He purses his lips and shakes his head. “She’s a vain creature who never wants to appear weak to her people and enjoys turning everything into a spectacle.”
I run my hand over my face and bite my lip to stop it from trembling. “I understand you love Kyron, but he made his choice. He took a side. I can't fix what he has done.”
“I don't believe that's what he wants. He would wish for you to fight for your kingdom and for his. No matter what it costs him.”
A humorless chuckle leaves me. “Even if he couldn't see it at the moment, there was another way. He should have let us fight Stigian and let me in on what was going on.”
My father releases an exhausted breath and says, “Honor isn't found in the fight, but in the sacrifice.”
My entire body goes rigid, and I lift my gaze to his. Not only does my father recognize the pain I feel, but I see his too. What happens from here will leave both of us broken. If Kyron’s choice plays out like Papa says, the outcome will be the Stigian prince’s death. Whether on the battlefield or by trial for the crimes his kingdom commits against the Cyffreds, he will die.
I will lose my parah, and my father will lose a son. It’s so fuckingunfair.
I run the back of my hand over my eyes and my voice cracks as I say, “I hope you’re wrong about Kyron because I can't do what is best for Lucent and protect him at the same time. The only way to defeat my enemy is to hate him, Papa.”
My father steps closer and brushes his thumb over my cheek. “I could be wrong, but I know your sacrifice in all of this will be as great as his. If I could carry this burden for you, I would, Raelle.”
“I know,” I say, stepping into his open arms.
