Chapter 9
Raiden
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“Enough.”
I don’t need to raise my voice, or even look up from the folder I’m flipping through, ensuring everything’s in order. My command effortlessly cuts through the rising volume of Stone and Kodiak’s argument, promptly shutting them both up.
There isn’t enough money in the world that could convince either of these men to take on the burden of being the head of our family, so despite being the youngest, I was shoved into the role the minute after we decided to join forces and establish the Garrison legion. Whether they listen to me out of respect, or fear that I’ll step aside and leave them to deal with the stress I deal with day in and day out, I don’t really give a shit. They shut up when I need them to, and I respectthemfor that. I may have resented them for it in the beginning, but dealing with these two for over five centuries has aged me in dog years, bridging the gap to put us on even footing as far as I’m concerned.
“Amara will be here soon, so it’s happening today; deal with it,” I declare, leaving no room for further debate on the topic. “There isn't going to be a better opportunity than with the three of us here to help control the situation.” Stone drops into one of the dining room chairs, scrubbing a hand down his face in defeat. “Kodi and I have laid the groundwork a bit, but the longer you put this off, the worse it will come back to bite you in the ass.”
Stone sighs, the sound carrying a weariness that goes beyond the last few weeks of sleepless nights. “I know. I’ve built this up into more than it needs to be, but both the woman and the circumstances scare the shit out of me. You’re right, though. What’s the worst that could happen? I’ve lived for so long that death’s not a threat, it’s a treat,” he cynically quips before pulling his white hair back from his deceptively young face, mumbling around the leather band he’s holding between his teeth. “At least I won’t have to live with the guilt if I fail her, too.”
A quick glance at Kodiak’s face has me biting back my immediate retort. ‘Pissed off’ is an understatement. We both know the misplaced guilt that Stone carries around for the part he played in his childhood friend’s death is his biggest weakness, always clouding his judgment and conning him into believing he doesn’t deserve to be happy. I’ve heard the tale dozens of times, and firmly believe that Aurelia would have taken on Acheron Wilder with or without Stone’s aid. But where he looks at her death as the beginning of our damnation, I see it as the gift she meant it to be.
She died so we could be spared from that manipulative bastard’s tyranny, and the only way we can honor that sacrifice is by fighting to protect the freedom she so fiercely believed in.
We don’t have nearly enough time before Amara arrives for the two of them to dive downthatrabbit hole yet again, so I attempt to get things back on track before Kodi loses what little patience he has left. “She said someonewas looking for her, so we’re not looking at a legion like we originally thought. This is good news, Stone. As soon as she gives us a name, Kodiak and I will handle putting him down. We just need her to see that you’re not going to try to swoop in and commandeer her life, swapping one evil for another. We have all the time in the world for her to come around to the idea of you being her mate. There’s no rush for anything beyond making her aware of her current predicament, so no reason to panic.”
Stone stares at the wall in front of him without really seeing it, multi-colored, pastel eyes glazing over as he sags in defeat. “You don’t understand. Hell, Kodi was just a kid when the age of dragons was coming to an end. For several centuries prior, most of us survived by building bloodthirsty reputations so that the humans would provide tributes in order to be left alone. But once they discovered that all they had to do was kill a dragon’s mark-mate and they could be rid of not only the current threat, but future ones?”
He releases a singular laugh, the sound dark and humorless. “Dragons began hiding their women away from the world, deep underground in the recesses of their territories, or in mountain caves, the entrances sealed when the men in their legion would depart. Countless dragons that would never be able to feel the wind beneath their wings, that had no contact with anyone besides her mates; even when they weren’t marked, just arranged marriages.” His expression shutters, his voice dropping to a whisper. “And those women died completely alone in the darkness when their mates were slain, after having no sort of life at all in the first place. One would almost consider it a mercy at that point.”
A pained, wild look appears in his eyes as he faces me. “Don’t you get it? Ican’tprotect her, Raiden. Not from the entire world, and still give her everything she deserves. It’s no wonder that women look at being marked as the worst fate that could afflict them; it is.”
“Being marked isn’t anaffliction,” Kodiak spits, looking two seconds away from burying his fist into Stone’s jaw, clenching it at his side. “You talk like it’s some terminal disease to be endured instead of an honor you should be fucking ecstatic about. Gods, man, I know you’re out here thinking you don’t deserve anything, especially a mate, but your ancient-ass is damn well old enough to realize that kind of thinking will turn it into a self-fulfilling prophecy. You’ll push her away and make her hate you so that you can feel like you’re being punished like you’re convinced you deserve, but you know what?She’llbe the one suffering while you feel content you’ve added another few points to your cosmic slate by being miserable.”
Taking a deep breath, I scrape the bottom of the barrel to hold onto my dwindling patience, but Kodiak is fanning the flames of discord like he was born for the role. “No one can do everything alone, and no one expects you to, Stone. I see now why the universe thinks you two are a perfect match. You’ve both been running for so long, you can’t see anything clearly unless it’s behind you.”
A knock at the door has me passing behind him, gripping his shoulder once in sympathetic solidarity. “She’s your missing half, right? So maybe Amara is the key for you to finally see what we always have; there’s never been anything to forgive. It’s time to leave the past where it belongs,bràthair.”
Leaving them behind, I use the brief time alone to compose myself. By the time I’m opening the door, I’ve mentally found my way back to the center of the storm, my home regardless of where we choose to temporarily lay down roots. Life’s one true constant is that it’s a whirlwind of chaos, and only by embracing that fact can you find your peace in the midst of it.
“You’re right on time.”
Shrugging the shoulder Avery’s perched on, her lips twist into a grim line. “After last time, you would have expected me to be early. The whole point is to throw off your plans.”
Huffing an amused breath out of my nose, I step back so that she won’t be forced to squeeze by me in the entryway. “You certainly have.”
