Page 6 of Cheating Fate

We clinked our glasses and took a sip.

Chuckling, my father squeezed my left shoulder. “You little shit, you keep outperforming me at every turn. You discovered your berserker power at age ten, when I didn’t figure out mine before being twenty-nine. You completed Ghabrak eight years faster than I did. I fought and failed for nearly thirty years to be accepted by Braxia. But you are so loved by our people that they wanted you as their Magnar when you were eighteen. You found your true love, and unlike my dumbass, you didn’t wait for a tragedy to make you nearly lose her before you stopped letting people get in the way of that relationship.”

I frowned. “I got Ghabrak for that?!”

He snorted. “No, silly. You are too obedient of hierarchy, Gavin. You play too much by the rules,” he explained in a gentle voice. “By our laws, at sixteen, and in light of your personal wealth, you could have emancipated and left five years ago. When we asked you to wait, you complied. Once again at eighteen, after rescuing Keran, you could have left. Again, we asked you to wait, and you complied. You have powerful—not to say infallible—instincts about things. And yet, countless times, you have allowed yourself to suffer a loss because you submitted to the decisions of people who were wrong but in a role of authority over you.”

“Hierarchy exists for a reason!” I exclaimed, taken aback. “Without order, there’s nothing but chaos. I’m about to join the Sentinels. Discipline will be essential. And you’re my father.”

“I’m your father, but not your owner. There’s discipline, there’s order, and then there’s the right thing to do,” my father countered in a calm voice. “When you sensed that Keran was in danger, had Ravik refused to send a rescue party, you wouldn’t have defied his order.”

“I would have hired someone to go instead!” I argued weakly.

“And Keran would have died,” he retorted firmly. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

I couldn’t. Even though I wasn’t a Seer like the Korletheans, I could sense things. And that instinct told me that without my personal involvement in that rescue, Keran wouldn’t have made it.

“When you wanted to invest in that new holographic extreme sports venture, I told you not to do it because it would be wasted money. You did your research. You knew at a visceral level that it was a sound and beneficial investment. But you caved to my authority when I told you not to do it. And sure enough, you lost an insane amount of credits by not participating in what had in fact been a great venture.”

“You’re a brilliant businessman. Of course I followed your advice,” I said defensively.

“Because you didn’t trust yourself enough. I wanted you to call me out on it, because you were right. It was your first Ghabrak test, Gavin,” he countered gently.

“You deliberately misled me?!” I exclaimed, stunned.

He nodded. “I wanted you to stand your ground when you knew you were right. For the record, I made that investment for you, regardless. It has been generating a lot of profit since then. The funds will be transferred back to you by the end of the day. I always meant for it to be your present once you achieved Ghabrak.”

I stared at him, my mind reeling. Then his words further poked my curiosity. “You said it was my first test?”

His smile broadened as he nodded. He took another sip of his drink, pulled my mother against his side, and kissed her temple before returning his attention to me. She leaned against him, the love that radiated from them warming me from the inside out. I prayed Zhara and I would share the same type of deep connection.

“There were quite a few over the years. The main ones were pretty much the same as today. Five times before, you tried to go to the Western Quadrant to see Zhara. Each time, I came up with one excuse or another to prevent you from going on that journey, whether for a short visit or for a permanent relocation. Mercy went there so many times, she could have been your guardian. And as per the Eastern Quadrant laws, you no longer needed our blessing or permission from the day you turned sixteen. And still, you caved to any pressure from us, and especially from me.”

“It’s because I respect you, Father,” I argued.

“I know, and I truly appreciate it. But you’re an adult now. The future that lies ahead of you is going to be fraught with danger. You’re a natural leader. People love and respect you. The way all Braxia wanted you as their new Magnar speaks volumes about the man you’ve become. In every way, you are the man I wish I would have been. And I’m so fucking proud of you.”

My throat constricted as he cupped my nape with his hand, his obsidian eyes locked with mine. Although he’d never been stingy with his affection, today, his words rang different, deeper, and more powerful.

“You’re just too sweet, son. Observing the rules, respecting hierarchy, and maintaining order are all important. But following your instincts when you know you’re right can be even more important, especially if it can avert a serious wrong or disaster. Don’t be shy to tell people to fuck off, no matter who they are, no matter what their rank is. People need to be able to rely on you making the right choices, even if that means defying authority, expectations, or rules. Believe in yourself like we all believe in you.”

“I love you, Father,” I said before pulling him into my embrace.

“I love you, too, son.”

Although he was big and muscular—almost a giant by human standards—he was smaller than me. Not by a huge amount, but noticeably. Still, he had a way of making me feel safe and sheltered. It was all the stranger that most people on our homeworld believed me to be the strongest Braxian alive—except maybe for former Magnar Ravik. I personally thought that Keran could potentially defeat me as well, but it would be a close call.

My father released me before taking on a teasing expression.

“It hurts my heart to let you go, but I rejoice at the happiness that awaits you. I’ve heard nothing but wonderful things about your Zhara. She, her brothers, and the galaxy need you. Just remember to be kind to your mate. No matter how angry you get, whatever the reason, always treat her with kindness and respect,” he added softly.

“I will. I’ve had a great role model,” I replied affectionately.

To my shock, his face closed off. He cast a sideways glance at my mother, a sliver of guilt and shame fleeting over his rough features. She smiled at him in a way that meant ‘It’s okay’ but that didn’t seem to fully appease him.

“You’re a better man than I’ll ever be, Gavin,” my father said in a subdued voice. “Before I got my head screwed back on right, I did terrible things to your mother, and—”

“Stop, Father,” I said in a tone that brooked no argument, stunning both my parents. “I heard some of the rumors. The rough past you both had is no secret for anyone. But all that matters to me is what awesome parents raised me and my siblings. I see how you treat Mom, how she looks at you, and how you look at her. You say that I’m the man you wished you could have been, but you already are. My whole life, I strived to be just like you. I’m a good man because you are. Whatever you see in me is just a reflection of you.”