Page 84 of Cheating Fate

“I’m glad to hear it,” Gavin replied in a stern tone. “But this still seems like extreme behavior.”

Taseus snorted and shook his head in a way that expressed sadness. He was difficult to read with half his face hidden.

“Things are rarely what they seem. Approach, I would see you better.”

Still visibly troubled, Gavin complied. I didn’t need to read minds to know he also disliked the High Priestess. But his strong protective instincts couldn’t sit idle while a male harmed a female.

As soon as we reached the foot of the dais, Gavin stiffened, a disbelieving expression settling on his face. His nostrils flared, and he inhaled deeply. His jaw dropped as he stared in complete shock at the Divine.

Taseus smirked.

“Yes, Gavin,” he said almost dauntingly.

“That’s impossible!” Gavin whispered.

More confused than ever, I jerked my head between the two males, trying to understand what was going on.

“Is it, Gavin?” Taseus challenged. “What does your Braxian nose say?”

Gavin shook his head, clearly refusing to accept a reality that clashed with whatever he believed.

“Say it!” the Divine insisted, this time with a harsh tone.

“We’re of the same bloodline,” Gavin blurted out, shaken.

“Yes,” Taseus replied with a hint of triumph. “Tell me, how is Grace? How fares my trueborn daughter?”

Chapter 18

Gavin

Istared in complete shock at the winged male on the throne. How could the Dantorian Divine possibly be my Grappa? His species had bluish-gray skin and wings. My mother was entirely human. And yet, his scent undeniably belonged to my bloodline… to my mother’s bloodline.

Although Zhara pressed her palm to her chest upon hearing his words, she didn’t look half as flabbergasted as she should have been. Had she suspected this possibility? Had her soul whispering ability revealed that unbelievable secret?

“My mother is doing great,” I said at last, finding my voice again. “But why ask now? Why request to see me now after all these years?”

“Because I’m a prisoner in my own palace,” he said, his anger flaring again.

“Your Holiness,” Ralan interjected once more.

Without even looking in his direction, Taseus spoke a word of power. Ralan emitted a blood-curdling scream, and blood trickled down from his eyes, nose, and ears. He dropped to his knees, holding his head with both hands. Only then did the Divine slowly turn his head to look at his Chamberlain.

“Speak again, and it will be the last words formed by your conniving tongue,” Taseus hissed.

The rest of the court seemed on the verge of panicking. Some even seemed to wonder if the Divine had suddenly lost his mind and was having a crisis requiring immediate medical attention. The Hallowed Knights looked even more uncertain as to what to do. Those warriors were sworn to protect the Divine, even though their day-to-day role was more ceremonial than anything else.

Despite the mask covering half her face, I could see the flurry of emotions fleeting over Gotia’s features. The arrogance and confidence with which she had escorted us here hinted at the fact that she had never faced such a situation. She seemed to be debating whether to flee or get him restrained. As far as I knew, none of the people in his court possessed any psionic powers. They were diviners and empaths. In fact, I didn’t even know that the divine himself possessed these types of abilities.

“No!” Taseus exclaimed when Zhara took a step towards his Chamberlain. “Do not waste your compassion on that vermin. I know what a powerful need it is for Veredian healers to tend to the wounded. Ralan wants both of you dead.”

More gasps resonated throughout the room, with people glancing at each other in shock and confusion.

“But why?” Zhara asked, echoing my thoughts.

“Because, like far too many people, he stands on the wrong side of the Great War. Because killing you would hurt me. And his puppet master loves nothing more than hurting me,” he said angrily, glancing at Gotia on that last comment.

She lifted her chin defiantly, her jaw clenched.