Page 41 of The Jaguar's Flower

“The facility is new. Not very new but fairly.” Asmodeus helped Thingy eat another fruit bite. “There are more than shifters, fairies, ravens.” He eyed Violet. “I’m a demon, and on Earth, I think there are a lot more species, but I am too lazy to count. The hunters are different. They don’t experiment for research. They experiment to see what kills us slowly or quickly.”

“From what I saw, the facility was only about cruelty. What they could do to break the shifters.” Violet cringed at the memories as she shifted on Mac’s lap and offered him what looked like a sausage link. “I only know about the shifters and the people we’ve met here.” When she met Mac’s eyes again, she sighed. “Humans aren’t a very good species. They’re actually kinda horrible, especially to anyone that’s different.”

“Their mental capacity is limited to their lifespan.”

Asmodeus perked when he heard Sarus. Mac’s eyes met the primordial’s eyes as he entered the room. “So, their teachings in the facility?”

The primordial stood over seven feet in height. His dark blonde curls shimmered as the light highlighted certain strands. The scruff on Sarus’ face gave him a rugged appearance. His shimmering dark eyes scanned from the demon to the couple at the table.

“Wrong.” Sarus walked over to Asmodeus to lift the plump fairy into his arms. As he sat down beside Violet, he sighed. “Unfortunately, even with us being primordial, there is not much we can do when it comes to the humans. There are always rules, even if we like them or not.” Thingy grunted as he tried to reach for the pink gelatin plate.

“How are there rules? Primordial insinuates that you’re close to all-powerful. Can’t you do what you want?” Violet’s brow arched as she watched him hold Thingy. “I’m not sure it’s because of their lifespan. Many animals don’t live nearly as long as humans and are far from cruel.” She glanced at Mac before she kissed him. “If we’re talking biology, humans are also part of the animal kingdom.”

“They’re cruel because they are on limited time.” When Asmodeus nodded, Mac sighed. “It’s the reason for the experiments? To see if they can become like us?”

“To an extent.” Sarus grabbed a spoon and helped Thingy eat. “Some want what we have. Others want to destroy it. Violet, the rules are chaos and order. If we take power into our own hands to write our own fate.” The primordial fed the fairy another spoonful. “Then everyone suffers, including us.”

“Fate contradicts free will, then. It means you don’t have a choice when it comes to your life.” Violet watched Sarus, curious. “If there’s no free will, then what’s the point?” Her heart ached as more questions formed in her mind while she watched Sarus with Thingy. As gentle as he was with the fairy, she wondered why he sent her away.

Asmodeus dropped the plate to the ground. The demon smiled innocently. “So, good question. Very good. Right, Sar?”

“Asmodeus.”

“Right.” The demon cleared his throat. “I’ll start. So, when it comes to Fate-”

Sarus phased the demon out of the room. When he noticed Violet’s eyes, the primordial cradled the fairy in his arms. “We all have a choice. Sometimes those choices cost more than they are worth.” Thingy grunted again. “If I kept you with me when you were born, there would have been a much more devastating result. I have enemies, and I no longer let anyone inside my realm.”

“But you let us in?” Mac asked.

“Yes.” Sarus nodded. “Before, I didn’t have my realm closed. I didn’t need to worry about the darkness that lurked. Because of my carefree attitude, I lost all my children. I needed to save you, and the best way to do that was to send you away so my enemies didn’t take you, too.” He eyed Violet.

“So you chose to close your realm after I was born?” She watched him as she sat up on Mac’s lap. “To protect fairies and a demon, but not your child? You say you have enemies. What would have happened if Mac didn’t find me?” Her hand absently went to her neck. “I would have died, and not because of your enemies. If they found me? Then what? You still would have lost your children.”

Mac wrapped his arms around Violet. He felt her hurt and anger. Even as he rubbed her back, the tension remained. “You abandoned your daughter for them?”

Sarus’ eyes landed on them. “You deserve to be mad. I won’t stop you from being angry. You aren’t the only child who is angry with me because of my actions.” When he helped the fairy eat again, he noticed Violet look away. “Rin.” The purple-haired fairy appeared beside him. “Take Tulip. I’ll see him later.” When she huffed, the primordial shook his head. “Go, Rin.”

“Fine. Come on, Thingy.” Rin lifted the plump fairy in her arms before she flitted away.

As soon as they left, Sarus returned his focus to the couple. “I don’t expect you to understand my motives. Before, I always had eyes on me. Now, I can’t even look at my children to see if they are safe without them finding them. If you had died, your soul would have come to me. And it did.”

“But you won’t protect your children. Violet was attacked, and you could have prevented it.” Mac growled.

“If I remember correctly, so could you or her friends. I may be blind to the situation, but I listen to what is said when people think I am not around.” Sarus’ jaw tightened. “Every child, created by love or myself, has been ripped from me because of them. You are the only child I have left, and until recently, I couldn’t keep you here. If you want to hate me, I will accept it. Eventually, you will forgive me.”

“Eventually, I’ll forgive you?” Violet blinked as pain shot through her at those words. “Really? That’s all you have to say? I’m sorry that your children were ripped away from you, but you chose to give me away.” She held her hand out. “You talk about closing your realm. You care for the fairies, but you’re not worried about them being here. I’m supposed to accept that my soul will come here when I die, and eventually, I’ll forgive you?” Her head shook as she slipped from Mac’s lap. “We need to go back. There are people there that need our help.”

She leveled a stare at Sarus. “As for Mac or others being able to protect me.” She glared at him as she felt a shift within her. “They were tortured and brainwashed, unable to realize they deserved better treatment. You don’t get to pass judgment on them and what they did or didn’t do. Not when you claim to be my father and from where I stand. You simply tossed me away because it was easier.”

When Sarus rose from his chair, Mac stood in front of Violet. “You will leave us alone. That is a threat because if you come near her, I will find a way to kill you.”

Sarus shook his head as he chuckled. “The only reason you live, shifter, is because you are my daughter’s mate.” When his eyes met Violet’s, he frowned. “As I mentioned before, I do not expect you to understand why it happened. It happened, and no other path would have guaranteed a better outcome. I already shifted Fate. I am already paying for it. Hate me, Violet. If it gives you strength, then hate me.”

“We will be leaving,” Mac growled. “We won’t need your help. We’ll be gone, and you can go back to your life without her.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Machiavelli. You both will not be leaving this realm.” When Violet started to shift, Sarus stood his ground. “Eventually, Violet, you will forgive me.”

“Maybe if you explain things!” She growled as she fought the raven that wanted to burst from within her. It was a struggle to keep it back with the threat to Mac. “You speak in vague terms and threaten Mac. You don’t give a shit. Let us leave, and you can return to caring for the fairies as you want.” She spat the words at him.

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