“Don’t be afraid, Mata. I’m the very thing you raised me to be.”
She sank her hand into his white-blond hair and forced him to meet her gaze. “Never lose sight of what I taught you, Urian. Honor. Integrity. Loyalty.Mercy.”
Aye, but only for his own family.
No one else.
After all, he was his father’s son, too. And like Stryker, his mercy had a finite limitation.If I don’t feed on it or fuck it, I don’t give a shit.His father’s code was a simple one to grasp.
This world was brutal to its core and it cared nothing for them. Therefore, they cared nothing for it. Their only goal was to survive. Whatever it took.
Over, under, around, or through. Those who stood behind you, you protected. Those who stood at your side were worthy allies, and anyone who stood in front of you was a target to be destroyed.
It was a simple code. And it was one that kept them alive.
From this night forward, he would be Urian Kleopas, and they would all rue the night they’d facetiously given him that epithet.
June 30, 9511 BC
“Damn, what’s in that woman’s blood that it fuels you so?”
Urian laughed at Archie’s question as he kicked his brother back and almost beheaded him. “What’s the matter,adelphos?Can’t you keep up?”
“Theo!” Archie cried out for reinforcement.
Urian turned to take both of his brothers on at once. They weren’t supposed to use their powers while practicing on the field. It was something their father insisted on, just in case they were ever in some kind of trap or device where their powers were locked or stripped, and they were forced to use nothing except their battle skills.
Tonight, Archie and Theo decided to cheat. Without warning, both unleashed a god-bolt on him that knocked him flat on his ass. Groaning in pain, he rolled and came to his feet. He felt the fury rush through his veins.
Before he could stop himself, he lashed out with his own powers. His blast rolled out and sent them flying.
“Urian!”
At first, he didn’t recognize his father’s stern voice. Not until Stryker grabbed him and shook him hard.
Slowly, Urian came to and saw what his family did.
Peculiar symbols glowed all over his body, iridescent and beautiful. He’d never seen anything like it.
Blinking, he swallowed. “Solren? What happened?” He had no memory of anything from the last few minutes as he turned a slow circle, trying to get his bearings.
His father let out a deep, sinister growl. “Do you remember anything?”
Shaken by what he saw, he slowly scowled. “Nay.”
His father turned to glare at Archie and Theo. “What did you do?”
They gaped.
Then Archie sputtered, “Why’s itourfault?”
Releasing Urian, his father stalked them like a fierce predator ready to tear them apart. “Because you’re the ones who assaulted your brother.”
Theo used his sword to gesture at Urian. “That doesn’t make us responsible for the fact that he’s a freak!”
Paris draped himself against Urian’s back. “Hear that, Uri. You’re a freak.”
“Shut up.” Urian shrugged him off.
