Page 62 of Rifted Hearts
Kaveh would make sure of that.
“Enough.” The word boomed out above them, and the sun was blotted out by the massive shape of Xiang Jao’s body as she descended through the air. She landed with enough force to send a vibration through the earth beneath their feet, and two similar impacts came as Raion and Kaida, the monstertown guardians, landed in a cloud of dust.
She must have wind-walked both of the komainu here, no small feat, given their massive weight.
Her scales spiraled in on themselves, and then Xiang Jao stood in her humanoid alter form, eyes blazing.
“This is not the time for us to be fighting amongst ourselves.” Xiang Jao took in the scene, with Kaveh protecting a battered Remi. There was little doubt she understood what Rhys had done, and even less she cared he had done it. “The control object is in use by someone, and there are vast numbers of humans impacted.”
“The ratkind spy is lying.” Rhys’s voice trembled with repressed fury as he gestured toward Remi. “He has to know where it is, and I had no intention of letting him walk free after what he’s done.”
“Kaveh gave his word that Arimanius’s son wouldn’t come to harm.” Xiang Jao gave Remi an unfriendly look. “As I recall, Remigio Gatti, you also agreed to leave our lands by morning, a minimal request given how you have wronged us.”
“Well, Iwasstaked to a cactus and tortured when I triedto leave,” Remi drawled out with unnecessary sarcasm. He wasn’t backing down.
Kaveh wished he would. He still seethed about Rhys’s brutal abuse of Remi, but now that anger was tinged with anxiety. He couldn’t fight the matriarch and two guardians and win, but he would if they threatened Remi’s safety.
He moved a few steps forward, keeping the bulk of his body between Remi and his ex, and handed Xiang Jao the gold watch piece. Her scaled brows drew in, and her face hardened even more.
She turned to the guardians. “May I ask you to examine our holy artifact? It seems all too convenient that Arimanius’s son has turned out to be the Matchmaker’s choice for Kaveh.”
“Let me assure you, there’s been nothing convenient about it as far as I’m concerned.” Remi added in that last bit like he didn’t care if he made the situation worse.
“There’s no need for us to inspect it.” Raion spoke with the same infuriating calmness he always exuded.
Kaveh stared at the watch then tried to catch Remi’s gaze, but the man refused to look at him. Remi had come here with the intention of seducing him so he could steal the power that allowed Kaveh’s clan to control the rift. He had arrived with a hellhound bodyguard, living leathers, and a cyberbug capable of interaction with both human and Riftworld technology. Could he have also brought something that would create an illusion that the Matchmaker amulet had transformed? It would be a brilliant way to entrap a drakone resistant to his psychic abilities. The guardians, however, would be able to see through any such trick. That would mean Remi had faked his shock and fear when the transformed amulet appeared on his wrist.
Kaveh didn’t believe that had been an act. He would stake his life on it.
If the guardians told the matriarch Remi wasn’t chosen by the Matchmaker, Kaveh would still die to protect him.
Silence hung in the air, and then Kaida spoke. “We knew Remigio Gatti was Kaveh’s intended match when we first made his acquaintance. The amulet is not necessary for us to perceive this, but it has utility for younger species such as yourselves.”
Relief flooded through Kaveh until Remi chimed in again.
“I’m not anyone’s match, soulmate, or one true love.” Remi spat the words out. “The Matchmaker can go fuck itself.”
Xiang Jao ignored Remi’s sacrilegious comment and turned to Rhys. “I share your distress over this development, but your actions were unacceptable. The Matchmaker’s choices are not to be interfered with. The consequences can be dire.”
“I was trying to do what has to be done.” Rhys gestured toward Kaveh and Remi. “Matchmaker or not, we can’t tolerate this ratkind creature in our home. Given Kaveh’s unnatural tendencies, I’m not surprised this occurred.”
“Shut up.” Remi tried to push by Kaveh in an ill-advised attempt to confront Rhys. “You treated him like shit when the two of you were together, and there’s nothing unnatural about him being ace. You were a total asshole about his orientation then, and you’re doing the same thing to him now.”
Rhys lunged forward, and Kaveh felt the poisonous flames inside of him ready to leap out.
The gray-scaled drakone jerked to a halt as if he had walked into an invisible wall. Rhys might have impressivewind powers, but the matriarch had hundreds of years and abilities no other drakone in the clan could match. She dropped her hands and paid no attention to the betrayed look her second husband gave her as he retreated.
Instead, she focused on Kaveh.
“I will not allow dissension and conflict to distract us from the current crisis.” The matriarch inclined her head in the direction of Raion and Kaida. “The guardians have confirmed that Arimanius’s son is your match. I understand your anger. Remi is yours, and Rhys should not have taken matters into his own hands. But we cannot allow Remi’s father to use this aberration of the Matchmaker against you and our clan. Take him to the keep, and we will keep him safe there.”
“No.” Remi shook his head, his voice frantic. “I won’t go. There’s no way in hell I’ll let you trap me inside that place.”
He met Kaveh’s eyes, a mix of pleading and defiance in his gaze.
Kaveh remembered Remi’s panic when he learned the Matchmaker had chosen him, and as painful as the rejection was, he couldn’t allow this to happen. Remi didn’t deserve to be locked away like some pretty bauble. No, the matriarch didn’t want Remi killed outright, but she was fine with imprisoning him and imposing that form of psychological torture.
“I’m not forcing Remi to be with me.” Kaveh could hear his voice crack with emotion and strove to keep his tone calm and reasonable. “Matriarch, with all due respect, this is wrong. I don’t know why the Matchmaker brought the two of us together, but I do know I’m not supposed to kidnap and lock up the person I’m supposed to love.”
