My heart dropped to the ground and was quickly swallowed by sand. “He’s gone, Owu. I wish it could have been different.”
I wish I wasn’t the one to kill him.
One day, I’d tell him the truth. But I couldn’t risk him taking any anger out on Adeuto, especially seeing as he was so young and already in possession of power. “I tried to save him.”
“Why couldn’t you?” Owu asked, hanging his head.
“Because I didn’t see the answer until too late,” I replied honestly. “And your father’s parents had already bargained his fate.”
Owu covered his face and cried.
Adeuto glanced back, and I shook my head, wrapping my arm around Owu.
“Why did they always hate us?” he cried out.
I swallowed. “I had a parent who loved me, did you know? I grew up with my mother and grandmother.”
“No father?”
“No, I never met my father. But my mother loved me so much. Just like your mother and father loved you. They moved the entire realm to heal you, Owu. Your father gave his life out of love for you and your mother. What we had… not everyone has. Your own father never had it. Now he is gone, but that love—” I pressed a hand to his head. “—that never fades and it never goes away. The pain will fade, darling. I promise you that.”
He dashed at his tears. “I’m going to kill my grandparents one day.”
I nodded. “I’ll help you. But first you need to be trained, and first, we need to keep you safe. Your grandparents are powerful and have more protection than simply their own smoke. Promise me that you will never go looking for them without me.”
Owu looked at me and nodded. I was not so worried about him sneaking off at this age. But at fourteen or fifteen?
I said, “It is not just you who would be harmed by such a choice.”
“I won’t go looking without you.”
I squeezed him again. “Owu, could you give me a moment with Adeuto?”
He nodded and started to walk away.
“Owu?” I called.
The young crimson glanced back.
“We didn’t have a chance to bring any of your things. I’ll send some clothing and toys with Athira when I get a chance.”
He sniffed and smiled. “Thank you, Syera.”
“Why would you send them with Grandmother?” Adeuto asked.
I turned to find him in front of me. “My little love, things must change for a while after tonight. I wish they didn’t have to, but this is necessary for a time. To keep you safe.”
Fear ebbed into his face. “Where are you going?”
“You know when Grandfather used to talk about his mate?”
“He didn’t like her.”
I chuckled. “No. But usually, mates do. Your father is my mate. Well, he wishes to be.”
“But you don’t want to be his mate.”
“I don’t. However, my plan to… handle your father means that I have to go through another step in the ritual with him. Once I do, he will always feel where I am. That means, if I came here, then he would know, and he might come here and find you.”
