New Roots (Fate's Intent Book 8) (23 page)

Chapter 49

Troy

My heart raced. I couldn’t believe I haven’t heard of this before.

“It was a long time ago.” Ryon tried to explain. “And it doesn’t matter. You don’t have to. I know what they did.”

“You mean you know they got rid of it?” Darius asked.

“Wait, what?” Zayden wondered. “What are you talking about?”

“Adele didn’t technically lose the baby—naturally anyway.” Aleksander answered. “After the decision was made, I authorized Kole to destroy it.”

“And she doesn’t know?”

“She never has to.” Ryon said. “It’s just what had to be done.”

“For this future to happen.” Ruby added. “That’s what Trever said.”

“I can’t believe we never knew about this.” Jaylyn said.

“That’s because no one can tell you anything.” Ryon laughed. “You’d make a big deal about it.”

“It kind of was a big deal. How could you hide what they did and not ever tell her?”

“And what do you think that would have done? Made things better? Doubtfully. She’s over it by now especially when she gets to do it again.”

“No.” Zayden cut in. “It just terrifies her. She told me she’s scared of losing this one when she first told me about it because of what happened before.”

“And she’ll get over it when she has him. Not a big deal. You take everything she says way too seriously. She doesn’t mean what she says. She means what she doesn’t. Funny that I know that about her and you don’t.”

“I know her enough. She meant it.”

“The goal has always been not to make Adele angry. If she knew the truth, everyone involved would regret it forever.”

“Doesn’t sound like it would affect me.”

Ryon laughed. “Fine. Go ahead and tell her but know it won’t change anything. She knows this is how it was supposed to be and deep down, even she wouldn’t change it. It would have just—complicated the current situation.”

“I’ll say.” Ruby joked. “Try imagining it from Adele’s point of view. What would people think of her if she had a child with brothers?”

“It no longer matters.” Zayden said. “Even hypothetically speaking of it would be pointless.”

“Yeah, I suppose. It’s much harder to actually undo the past. It may surprise you but even I wouldn’t change it.”

“Ryon?” Everyone lifted their eyes to the entrance where Izin was walking in with Adele. Her eyes were locked on Ryon like she was overly surprised to see him.

“Hey, Sis. How’s it going?”

Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t call me that.”

Izin guided her to the open seat next to Zayden and she lowered herself down with her eyes still on Ryon.

“You all right?” Zayden muttered, leaning close to her.

She looked over with a quiet nod. “Yeah. Fine.”

“What are you doing here?”

“Awe, shit, Izin—” Ryon smiled, scooting himself over so he could sit down. “You didn’t really think I’d be out of your life for good, did you?”

“Apparently not.”

Ryon laughed. “You sound so thrilled.”

“You better not be walking around here. Someone might see you.”

“Is that a rule?”

“Uh oh.” Ruby cut in. “You should have told him he has to walk around here. Ryon purposely breaks rules.”

“Purposely? Red, come on. I don’t purposely do it. People just make it too easy.”

“And you don’t think that’s dangerous, especially now?” Jaylyn asked.

Ryon’s eyes rolled. “Please. Fuck the Elders and their list of rules. They’re seriously overreacting about this whole thing.”

“You think so?” Jaylyn’s voice sounded hopeful.

“I know so. Like they really do much. It’s all about lazing around, being bored. They just need something to do. Creating jobs for the dumbest tasks. Honestly, they’re all going insane. They’ve been dead for too long.”

“Not something you can just undo.” Aleksander said.

“I know. I haven’t been dead that long so it’s not really effecting me.”

“Because you still come here.” Zayden said.

“My choice to.”

“Well, glad to see that everyone is getting comfortable.”

“Hello, mother.” Ryon smiled, seeing her standing stiffly at the entrance.

“Please behave.”

“I am!”

“Adele. Jaylyn. I’d like you to come with me. There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

“You found someone already?” Adele asked. “I figured it would have taken longer.”

“The choice was quite clear.”

“Oh, no.” Ryon muttered, shooting his glance around the room. “You sure that’s a good idea?”

“I would like my decisions to not be questioned. Getting passed the dislike of it, everyone will find it to become quite helpful.”

“How exactly did you foresee that ending?”

Kathryn looked away, setting her sights back on Adele and Jaylyn. “She’s waiting to greet you. Come—alone.”

“For good reason.” Ryon whispered in an obvious loud voice.

“Sustain him then.”

“I’ll try to.”

Adele and Jaylyn were now overly curious about who it was and got up to leave with Kathryn.

Ryon watched them walk all the way down the hall until he knew they were out of hearing distance and got up, sitting himself where Jaylyn once sat next to me. “So, Troy, how are you?”

My eyes narrowed, trying to figure out why he just did that and I found the answer quickly, shooting wider eyes towards Izin. It was my mother!

“Now, son, don’t lose your head over this. She’s more than qualified and someone who knows about the gifts.”

“And no one thought to ask me?!”

Ryon laughed. “I didn’t even have to tell you. That’s pretty good.”

“Think maybe I should get a say in this?!”

“Nope.” Ryon smiled. “Queen’s choice. No one can overrule her authority. You’re great King wouldn’t even do that. Makes you wonder who’s really in charge around here.”

“Your mother makes choices based on things of interest and usually I wouldn’t have to object.” Izin said.

“And now?!” I asked.

“I already told you. After what happened with Dirk, we needed to find someone that wouldn’t see these gifts as something bad.”

“Your mother grew close with mine during the crossings.” Ryon explained. “So she witnessed Izin’s bloodthirsty killing spree and nothing would be more shocking to see but that.”

“Thank you.” Izin sighed. “But he’s right. She even aided Kathryn when I accidentally bit her and the reason she’s alive. She stopped the bleeding and Kathryn survived.”

“You are all aware that means nothing to me.”

“Still.” Izin said with a more commanding voice. “But even a woman in perfect health could still die while giving birth.”

I laughed smugly. “Jaylyn can’t die that way.”

“Then maybe you’re forgetting that there’s still one more that can.”

I turned towards Zayden and Adele instantly came to mind like I had forgotten completely. I didn’t hesitate. I got right up to my feet and started to leave.

“Troy!” Izin bellowed.

“It’s all right, father. I’ll go with him.” Zayden used his speed to catch up to me. “What exactly are you planning to do?”

“Nothing.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Well, I don’t want them to be alone together.”

“Why?”

I paused at the top of the stairs and turned with and obvious displeasure for the conversation. “You know why, Zayden! I didn’t think I’d have to tell you. That woman ruined my life and I’m not going to let her have a second to inflict any of her non-mothering skills on my wife.”

I proceeded to my room while Zayden stayed by the stairs. “She didn’t ruin your life.”

I was stopped in my tracks by my own confusion and turned back. “What? You want to run that by me again.”

“She. Didn’t. Ruin. Your. Life.”

“How can you say that?”

“I’m not trying to convince you of anything, Troy but try thinking about this. If that never happened to you, you’d never find yourself here, we wouldn’t be like brothers and the Great Seni Fighters would not exist. Father created us because he gained two sons that, at the current time, had a reason to hate the world. He wanted to unleash you and who better but to lead than his own son? I know what you went through was rough and I’m sorry for it but I don’t regret it and I don’t hate her for it. We gained you and I would never take that back just to have a happy childhood. Darius as well.”

“You expect me to thank her?”

“I expect you to do what’s right. You can go in there but just think about how your life has changed and ask yourself if you would have wanted something different.”

I turned away with only a little less hate than at the beginning of the conversation and I had my eyes on my door.

Kathryn, Adele and Jaylyn were a little surprised to see me and I saw the fourth. Julianna was standing behind them almost like she was being shielded.

All their faces were as if they were waiting for me to lash out with disapproval and I met Jaylyn’s eyes. Zayden’s words were dancing inside my head and I began to realize one important thing. I wouldn’t have had her. If Zayden’s words were true then it would be. I would never have met Jaylyn and I would have never been standing there with her now, watching as she carried our child. Maybe I was being too harsh on the matter. I didn’t want a different life. I wanted this one where I’d have Jaylyn but I still knew that it would take longer for me to accept it completely. This was just the first step, the only one that I have taken since my move into the palace.

“Since when has my room ever been a place for social gatherings? I don’t think I authorized that.”

“Troy.”

Jaylyn’s voice was nervous as she took a step forward but I just smiled, trying my hand at firstly ignoring Julianna so I wouldn’t become angry. “I’m just kidding. Could be worse—I guess.” I walked passed them towards my closet.

“Are you okay?”

I turned to her, slipping on a jacket over my clothes. “Yeah. Why do you ask?”

“No reason. I just thought you’d have something to say.”

“Not my choice to say anything.”

“Troy, I don’t want you to be mad.”

“I’m not mad.”

“You’re pretending not to be but I know you are.”

I let out a long breath and step towards her with a hand reaching up to her face. “Don’t spend your time worrying about it. This is what needs to be done for you. It’s hard to trust people with the secrets of this family but Kathryn trusts her, that’s enough.”

“You trust her?”

“I trust that she knows what she’s doing. She’s been doing it before she even had me.”

“I know you’re still not okay with this but I like the way you’re handling it.”

“Like many things I do, I’m not doing this for me.”

Jaylyn smiled and put her arms around me. “You give too much.”

“No but I probably do care too much.”

Jaylyn laughed.

“Come on.” I pulled away and started walking out. “We don’t need to hang out in the closet.”

Jaylyn happily came with me and took my hand so I could lead her.

“I don’t even want to know what you just did in there.” Zayden smiled.

I narrowed my eyes and sighed. “Nothing.”

“I was just fooling with you but didn’t really want to interrupt either—just in case.”

“Well, we’re fine. You can leave.”

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

“Love, let’s go. You’re due for a nice relaxing massage before lunch and then I’m sure Julianna will be in to check up on you.”

“Of course, your majesty.”

“Juli—” Zayden smiled.

“Ah, I’m sorry. Zayden.”

“Better. Come on.” Zayden took Adele’s arm and escorted her out.

“Well.” Jaylyn started to break the awkward silence. “A massage does sound nice.”

“If that is what you require I could surely arrange it.” Julianna replied.

“I don’t think it’s required but I could go for one.”

Julianna nodded, ready to turn.

“Wait.” My voice halted her and she met my eyes. “She’ll require her scent of choice. Pear is her favorite. Nothing but the best. Juli.”

“Of course. I’ll be sure to find some. Troy.”

She left and Jaylyn had her eyes up on me while I was still looking towards the door. “Thank you. You’re doing well to keep whatever it is you’re feeling under control.”

“Like I said before, this isn’t for me.”

“I know.” Jaylyn smiled, bouncing up to kiss my cheek. “But I still appreciate it.”

The days were passing.