Deciding Skies (Fate's Intent Book 2) (5 page)

“Fine.” Ruby smiled. “I guess we’ll just have to enjoy the sight for now.”

Adele sighed and rolled her eyes from her behavior. She was ready to end it or I would have. “Can you please—”

“Boys!” My father’s deep voice echoed around us and sounds of his footsteps got louder as they walked onto the wet bathhouse floor.

I stood up in surprise, not completely sure what he would do if he saw us with them like this. “Father!”

“Having a bit of fun, are we?” His voice sounded stern with disapproval just like I feared.

“We were just—”

“It’s all right, son.” He smiled, losing his voice of command but I didn’t know if it was a sign to relax yet. “I don’t blame any of you for wanting to be around these three beautiful women. It only adds to a grand homecoming. Does it not?”

It was quiet for a couple of seconds and the Kalu Assassins smiled while waiting for a response from us.

“It sure does.” Darius held up his fist to him and smiled to keep the mood light.

My father returned the smile and held out his fist to Darius. “That’s my boys! So full of dedication.”

“As always!” Troy smiled.

He immediately cleared his throat to become more serious and I knew this is where he would say something to show his true disapproval. “Boys, can you gather your thoughts together, please? We need to talk. In private.”

I knew it. He wanted it in private so the girls couldn’t hear what he had to say about us being with female soldiers.

He turned to start walking out and we started to get up at his request. “One at a time!”

My eyes got wide and we froze where we were, looking at each other. His voice sounded not just demanding but angry and we didn’t know what to think of it.

“Oh, shit.” Troy muttered. “That’s not good.”

“We just got back.” Darius said. “We couldn’t have possibly had time to get into trouble already.”

“Is this a regular thing?” Adele asked.

“It sometimes can be.” I said.

“Well, who wants to walk into the fire first?” Darius asked.

“Me.” Troy jumped out of the pool quickly before either of us could think to move. “He’s probably going to be madder the more of us he talks to.”

Darius sighed. “Oh, great. Then I’m going after you!”

That would mean I was last and I already didn’t like where this was going.

Chapter 7

Troy

I looked back with a laugh at Darius’s eagerness to go next but kept going to meet Izin outside of the bathhouse. My smile faded when I saw him and nerves started to set in. I didn’t know what this was about. “You wanted to see me, father?”

“Troy. Yes. I apologize for doing this separately but I just wanted to let you know that I saw your mother earlier.” Why did Fate suddenly turn against me and make him mention that creature now of all times? I looked down at the floor with the thought; my mother. My mood would always change this way with talk of her and I wasn’t interested in hearing it but he continued despite how I felt. “She saw you today with the black beauty riding on the back of your horse. She asked if you were involved by her behavior towards you but I did not know the answer.”

I don’t know what came over me but my head snatched up and my words with it. “She’s keeping tabs on who I sleep with?!”

“You’ve slept with her already?”

I tightened. “No, father but—I’d like to.”

It got a smile out of him if only for a moment. “And I’ve seen why. She has lovely curls.”

I smiled back but kept my stance solid with respect. “It’s not just that. She’s got a witty personality and a sense of humor unlike I’ve ever seen.”

“Yes, well, just be careful with her. You just got back you know?”

He was right and I started to lower my head. “I know, father and I will.”

“Good. So, what shall I tell your mother?”

Just the word made me tighten up even more and I became angry again that we were still talking about it. “To back off will suffice.” I cupped my left hand over my right fist and bowed before turning away.

I only made it a few steps before Izin bellowed out my name, nearly shaking the very stone under my feet. “Troy!”

I stopped before I got too far away and let Izin come to me.

He spoke more quietly but still with anger. “I didn’t take you in because I approved of you turning your back on your mother. I took you in because your father was my friend. I wanted to see his son turn into something that would make him proud. This country still misses their General and you can’t forget about that; about who you are or where you came from.”

How could I ever forget? I never would but that didn’t change how things are.

“I haven’t.” I slowly turned around and met his eyes with confidence. “But that life has long been over. You’re my father now.”

Izin pulled me closer and embraced me like the true father he’s always been to me. “And you’re my son. You’ve already made me proud.”

“Thank you.”

“Now go. Be with her. I’ll be very vague if she happens to ask again.”

I bowed to him and walked back into the bathhouse.

“Is everything all right?” I looked up and Jaylyn was watching me, trying to hide her worry.

She must have heard when he yelled my name but I put a smile on my face and got back in the pool next to her. “Yes. Fine. The yelling had nothing to do with you or any of this so don’t worry.”

“Okay.”

I kissed her forehead just to seal out her worry for sure but everyone was still looking at me. “What? Aren’t you going next?”

Darius nodded and started to get up. “Yeah, I guess.”

I felt for him. I knew Izin wasn’t talking to us about this but other things of other natures that may seem worse, especially for Darius.

Chapter 8

Darius

I didn’t know what they talked about but by the yelling, I knew it must have involved his mother and I was almost fearing what he would bring up with me. Yes, I do fear and it’s only ever been with Izin that I’ve truly felt it. I wasn’t quite sure why but my demeanor changed when I heard his lightened tone address me.

“Of course. Darius.”

“Did you want something in particular, father?”

“Just a little run through of what’s happening. Planning on getting through all of them tonight or have you already?”

I shuffled for the correct response, trying to wrap my mind around the answers to these unexpected questions. “Ah, no. I actually—”

I didn’t get to finish before Izin started to smile from my hesitation. “There’s a certain one?”

I started to smile back, trying not to have it rush too quickly across my face. “Maybe.”

“She’s simply gorgeous.” Izin moved so he could glance into the bathhouse probably at Ruby. “I’ve never seen anyone that fit you so well then again, I never thought you would want to stick with just one.”

If he only really knew. “She’s different. Maybe it would have been sooner if we looked for foreign to begin with.”

“Yes! Well, I’m proud of you. I grew up close with both your parents and they would have really liked her. They’d want you to be happy in this way.”

I wasn’t ready to hear it but he snuck in a quick remark about my parents and I lowered my head to take it respectfully. “Thank you, father. That means a lot to me.”

Izin put his right hand on the side of my neck, making me meet his eyes again. “I know it does and I knew this day would eventually come for you so go, make us even prouder.”

I smiled and nodded, bowing my head only quickly. “I will.” I walked back into the bathhouse with the smile still on my face. Things turned around nicely and I enjoyed it. “I don’t know what he said to you, Troy but he wasn’t the least bit pissed when he talked to me.”

“What did he say?” Ruby asked, watching me get down into the pool next to her.

“Oh, praising me as usual.”

“For what?” Zayden wondered.

His voice seemed curious but also a little annoyed already and I continued to smile and looked at Ruby. “For this hot, sexy piece of ass next to me. My words, not exactly his but he says we fit.”

“I’m really looking forward to finding out.” Ruby stretched her neck up to me and we kissed, it only made the topic of it all the more sweeter and I couldn’t wait until I could get her alone again.

“Well, that’s great.” Zayden sighed, starting to get up. “He praises you and he’ll condemn me. Just watch.”

“I’ll take you up on that bet. It’ll be the first thing he says to you.”

I laughed to Zayden’s expression while he walked to the edge to get out. It was like he already knew I was right but I only joke about it to make light of the topic. Zayden hasn’t really been happy since we’ve been back with the news of what was to become of him. There were only moments when Adele helped but there were other moments like these, that made the reality of it all the more real and he’d find himself in that place again; a place no one ever wanted to be.

Chapter 9

Zayden

I dreaded it the whole way. This was pointless. I already knew what he was going to say and how he was going to say it. I didn’t let it drag out for a second when I saw him waiting for me.

“Well?”

“I just wanted to make sure that you haven’t forgotten about your engagement.”

I turned the other way and put my hands to my head. I couldn’t believe that he was mentioning this now. I knew he would have but maybe I was hoping for something else and hoping Darius would have been wrong. “No, father. I haven’t forgotten and I knew you were going to do this.”

“I know this isn’t what you want but I can no longer wait until you find love. There won’t be time for that if you continue to leave home for months at a time.”

I looked back into the bathhouse at Adele the moment he said the word love. It’s what I’ve been calling her and what I may have been feeling from the moment I’ve first laid eyes on her.

“I see.”

“What?” My head quickly snatched back and I tried focusing on what he had to say.

“She is beautiful. It’s like I already know her but she’s below you. Fate shows no son of mine wed to a female soldier.”

“How is she below me? She’s just like me. She’s perfect.” I looked back over at Adele and felt it stronger more than ever. I had to have her.

“Zayden, tell me you’re not in love with this girl.”

This was my chance. I looked back at my father, not with full certainty but a vague question. “What if I am?”

“No! She would not make a sensible wife for you! You’re a Prince and as such you must be wed to a Princess!”

“How can you praise them for this but not me?”

“They are not from my blood. Yes, I love them but they don’t have the responsibilities you have. You’ve always known that.”

“But it’s like you don’t even care if I’m happy. How do you expect me to fall in love with someone I don’t know? Where’s the happiness in that?”

“You will grow to be happy and you don’t know this girl. She is not the one for you. One who has seen the things she’s seen and done the things she has done, could not come near to what a wife should be.”

“And what knowledge do you have, knowing about what a wife should be?” My father became silent and turned away. I don’t know where those words came from but I regretted ever saying them and took a step closer. “I’m sorry, father. It wasn’t my place.”

He turned back around with clear anger on his voice. I only made things worse instead of better. “You’re right. It wasn’t. We’re done here. You can go back but remember this, your bride is arriving soon. Don’t get too attached to this one. I saw what happened on the balcony earlier and I will not have this girl get in the way of your future. Am I clear?!”

I lowered my head and sighed lightly, trying not to make it noticeable. “Yes, father.”

“Dinner is in thirty minutes. I’m expecting you to be there and ah—bring the girls. I’d like to get to know more of why my sons are so intrigued. An attendant will be in their rooms waiting to dress them. See that it’s done.”

I watched him leave, sighing to the thought of them having to go to dinner. The timing wasn’t right but what could I do? It was my father’s request and I had to see it through.

I walked back inside and saw Troy laughing about something I didn’t get to hear from being a little occupied myself. “What are we talking about?”

“Nothing.” Darius said firmly.