Though a war waged on the streets, Lance cracked a shaky smile, blinking away the wetness in his eyes. “We're not dying today. Don't get sentimental on me.”
Miya buried her face against his shoulder and hugged him tight, holding the back of his head like she had when the bullets filled their streets. If anyone ever hurt him, she'd make them pay. “I have things I need to tell you, but just know for now, I'll protect you no matter what happens.”
He held her back, his touch tender like always. “I'll protect you too. I won't let you go.”
CHAPTER 53
Zayne
The Capital
Kallum, Ciondo
833 P.C. [Post-Collapse]
The empire never stopped for death, and neither did Zayne, until the day of Mom's private memorial. He resented the sun rising in the morning, the shops opening their doors, the children leaving for school. Mom's world no longer spun, and it felt wrong for it to continue for everyone else without hesitation.
Only close family knew about Mom. He still didn't believe it was real, and he didn't think that would change when it made headlines. It didn't seem possible for her to just be gone, or for them to spend the rest of their lives never seeing her again.
While waiting for a public funeral, they planned one for immediate family at his parents' home. But the only person Zayne found in the house was his sister, Andi. His shoulders fell when he saw her standing before a picture of the family, her eyes on Mom. She'd cut her hair short since the last time Zayne saw her, the little swoop of her blonde bangs the longest part left.
“Hey, sis.”
When she turned, her eyes looked dry like the desert, like she needed to cry but couldn't. Lips pinched, she slipped beneath Zayne's arm, squeezing him. “I don't understand how this happened.” Andi pulled back with a pained sigh. “Mom knew how aggressively the Phaedra pursued that church.”
Luke's voice came from behind Zayne. “The prisoner proselytized her. It's no coincidence Mom suddenly went to a church after living with Kira.”
“Kira's not even a Follower,” Zayne said.
“Look at who her mother is.” His brother stepped beside him, opening his arms for Andi. Their little sister closed her eyes when she hugged Luke, and he kissed the top of her head. “It's good to have you home, darling.”
Andi looked up, still holding onto him. “Don't argue today.” Then a nod at Zayne. “Mom hated when you two fought.”
Their sister usually ignored their feud. While Zayne remembered how angry she'd been at Luke after the affair, she stayed close with him. Luke was almost twelve years old when she was born. He'd always doted on her like he now did with his daughters.
Even if Andi tried to pick a side, Zayne didn't want her to. Their problems need not involve anyone else, especially on a day meant to honor Mom.
Pumpkin walked between the three of them and circled Andi's ankles. Their sister knelt to scratch behind her ears. “It's been a while, little miss.”
“She's been hiding for days,” Zayne said.
Luke stalked to the other side of the room, placing his hand on the wall.
“We miss her too.” Andi picked up the cat.
Military academy changed a person. When Andi first left home at five for her schooling, Luke neared graduation, and Zayne prepared for his shadowing. They both fretted over her, terrified their baby sister, who loved to sing and play, might disappear forever.
That child grew with Andi, channeled into a strength that Zayne lost during reprogramming and Luke never saw any reason to hold onto.
When Andi spoke, Zayne listened.
Losing Mom could break her unwavering spirit, especially being so young at eighteen. It didn't surprise him to see her keep her composure, but it did make him sad for her. Words would never capture what they lost when Mom died, and none of them accepted their grief. He'd hoped Andi would be whole enough to fall apart, at least for a few hours. But Father forced her to be so resilient.
A woman had never served as High General. By the time Andi was born, the Phaedra and their father had already spent years priming Zayne and Luke to compete for the position. Given that she was a girl, Father wasn't simply apathetic about her future prospects in the family business. He actively opposed any consideration of Andi for High General, continuing to fixate on his sons.
Father only enrolled Andi in the military academy because a better education didn't exist in Ciondo. Even government positions required training there until the early teen years. When it came time for Andi to begin field service, their father tried to transfer her to a different school and force her onto the track of becoming a politician.
So, Andi had to fight even harder than her brothers to break through their father's impressive will and climb ranks that had only been closed to her. She enrolled in all the extra training and classes that Zayne and Luke had, dedicating herself to the rigorous regimen of a future High General. All while father praised the sons for the same behavior and chastised her.
