Chapter Quote:
"We stand and fight. Not for ourselves, but for what we love. Our friends. Our families. Our futures . . . You demon bastards better run."
~Cameron from Deadman's Cross series
_____________________________________

Chapter 33

Sleep didn't come easily to me, and it was plagued by nightmares when it did. By the time everyone else came into the weapons room to start preparing for the night ahead, they found me already there, practicing with a wicked sword.

"I see you found Timoría," Kiara said, grabbing an equally impressive sword. "It's the sister to this one: Níki. They were the first swords I had commissioned after I became an Arean."

"Then you should have this one too," I replied, offering it to her.

She shook her head. "No. That was the one that called to you. Use it for this battle. I trust you with it."

"Thank you." She nodded and then walked over to her brothers, who were tossing each other weapons like they were stuffed animals rather than viciously sharp blades. It made me wonder how many times it took them to nail that trick down without mutilating themselves. Over the next half hour, everyone geared up and armed themselves. Some had their own weapons, some borrowed from Kiara or both. I did both. There were too many weapons that caught my eye, and I wanted to be prepared.

"All right, listen up, everyone," Kiara commanded. We all gathered around her. "Jovan, you're coming on my team. My son and friends are worried about me and would like for me to have extra protection."

"They're smart. I would be honored to join," Jovan said.

"May I be so bold as to offer my services as well?" Alessandro stepped forward, hopefully.

"I appreciate the offer, but I need you on the perimeter. You're protecting me just as much from there as you would be from my team," Kiara told him gently. Zarek, Julian, Killian, and I all shared an amused glance. Kiara caught it and narrowed her eyes at us. However, her lips were tugging at the corners into a ghost of a smile. "Next, Acheron, Jovan, Killian, and I will be driving. I don't care who takes who, but I'm taking Zarek, Julian, and Kyrian. Make sure you have everything because we're leaving once I come back downstairs. Those riding in the car with me and Killian, follow me."

Julian and I glanced sideways at each other, curious to know why we were involved in this. Kiara led us upstairs, and I had to admire the way she'd decorated the space: a classy mixture of modern, cozy, and Greek all at the same time.

We entered the very last room at the end of the hall. White cabinetry with glass viewing panels covered the room from floor to ceiling. Inside of them, the items ranged from books to scrolls to medallions to even some clothes.

"What is this place, mom?" Killian asked, staring longingly at the scrolls.

"Treasures and artifacts I've collected over the years," she said, kneeling down in front of a locked chest. "What I want to show you is something I recently acquired."

The four of us gathered next to her as she stood up. "I managed to sneak a trip to Thrace before all this happened. An anonymous tip by yours truly to some archaeologists uncovered the once-thriving city of Buteridava. They haven't unearthed much except for a sprawling palace."

"Why'd you go to Thrace?" I asked. "Why not your birthplace?"

"Because I met Julian there, and I thought it might give me some insight into the parts of my life I can't remember. When I visited, I convinced the archeologists to let me tour the palace. In the process, I found some things I think you all might appreciate. Julian, I believe this is yours." Kiara handed him a tarnished wooden box. Its color barely remained, but I could see it once had been vibrant and beautiful. Julian seemed to recognize it.

"Is this-" He trailed off, opening the box. Inside lay an ornate dagger. It appeared to be in strangely pristine condition as if it'd never been used. "How did you find this? I left it with Penelope."

"What is it?" Killian inquired, shifting next to my friend to get a closer look.

"It's a dagger Kiara gave me as a present for serving in the military. It's encrusted with turquoise and diamonds, which were immeasurably rare."

Kiara smiled softly. "I found it in my room, hidden in a secret compartment in my wall. I'd told her about it ages ago. She must've hidden it there before we left to see my brother. Maybe she was worried someone would steal it."

"I can't believe it's been there this whole time..."

"It was in good condition when I found it. I just cleaned it to bring it back to life."

"Thank you, Kiara. This... this is incredible." Julian shut the lid, gripping the box tightly as he pulled her into a hug. She closed her eyes at the embrace, seeming relieved he accepted it.

"Zarek. This is yours." She handed him another box. This time, it was silver, polished to bring out its luster. "I gave these to you when you became my guard."

For the first time, I saw him give a genuine smile, one that reminisced of a different time we all came from. When he opened it, ten metal claws lay neatly inside. They were old, and an amateurs design, but deadly enough with the right person.

"I always wondered why I'd chosen silver claws," Zarek remarked, lifting one up. "Now, I remember."

"But why'd you choose claws back then?" Killian countered.

"Because, if for some reason, my weapon got knocked out of my hand, I was still armed and deadly. I got the idea from a cat I saw, attacking a much larger dog and winning."

"I know they're not near as good as the one you have now, and I also know you're not one to be sentimental, but I thought you still might appreciate them."

Zarek put his fist over his heart and kneeled before her. "You have been and always will be mea regina."

"And you have been and always will be my best friend and protector. I don't know what I did to deserve you," Kiara responded. Zarek stood up, his blue eyes surprisingly watery.

"Killian, this is for you. I had to imbue it with some magic, courtesy of some witches I know and ones that owed me a favor because if I didn't, it'd fall apart." Kiara handed him a beautifully woven blanket. "I had made when you were born. It may be too small for you now, but you can use it for your future child."

"I love it," Killian whispered, holding the blanket as if it would disappear if he glanced away for even just a moment.

"Lastly, this is for you, Kyrian. It may not have been as my husband, but our paths did cross. I found this hidden in your bedroom, a secret compartment in a statue. I don't know why I knew about it, but something called me to it." She handed me an object cradled in cloth. Carefully, I unwrapped it. When I saw the glistening golden laurel, my crown, lying before me, my heart nearly stopped. "You always had two crowns. A fake one for when you went to foreign lands while the real one remained hidden in Thrace. That way, if a ruler ever killed you while you were away, they wouldn't have the real crown."

"Only my wife knew about this," I breathed.

"Then you or she must've told me for an 'in case of emergency' moment. You don't like to think about your past, but that crown is a reminder to you of how well you led your people. You were a good king. Besides knowing that myself, a few diaries from some servants corroborated that, saying how nice you were to them and everyone else."

I brushed my fingers over the golden leaves, unable to believe I was holding them once more. Words couldn't suffice because as much as Kiara was right in saying I didn't like thinking about my past, it was still my past, one I'd unwillingly been ripped away from. Up until my death, and a few parts in between, my life had been a wonderful one. I'd had an incredible wife with amazing kids and-

"Kyrian? You okay?" Kiara prodded hesitantly.

"Yeah, yeah, just thinking. Thank you for this. May I leave it in the trunk for safekeeping until I return?"

"Of course, you may." I bent over, placing the item next to a strikingly familiar piece of cloth. Gingerly, I lifted it up and asked, "What's this?"

Kiara furrowed her brow. "The linen used for the hand-fasting at my wedding. Why?"

"I- nothing... it just reminds me of mine. It's practically identical." I ran my fingers over the lace and tiny gems.

"Maybe we got them from the same person," she suggested.

"Or maybe you two were married to each other," Killian said. Kiara sent a warning glare to her son, saying, "Don't. We've been down that road."

"I'm taking my dagger into battle with me," Julian said, interrupting the sudden tension. He twirled his weapon expertly. "Have some old luck behind me."

Kiara smiled and grabbed a dagger from her waist, showing it to him. "I had a matching one made so we could look even fiercer fighting together."

Julian grinned. "Whoever this monster is, he won't see us coming."

"Speaking of which, we should probably head downstairs. The others will be getting antsy." Zarek and Killian placed their gifts inside the trunk along with mine. They left the room with Julian, but I lingered behind while Kiara locked the belongings away.

"If you're wanting to talk-"

"I'm not," I interrupted. "I know you don't want to."

"So, why are you here?" She asked, standing up and facing me. Her hand rested on the hilt of her dagger.

"Because I'm an idiot," I said, eyeing her weapon warily. "I'm pretty sure you want me to stab me right now."

"No, I'm just curious as to why you're staying by my side when you know I don't want to talk about what you want to."

"I don't know either. I just feel that I need to stay by you tonight. I don't know if it's nerves or if it's because I know this monster we're facing is after you, but I can't ignore it, and it's driving me insane. You're right, too. Our lives have crossed before, in Thrace, but I don't know how. I don't understand why everyone but me has regained their memories about you. I don't understand why I'm jealous of a man I've never met."

"What man is that?"

"Your husband. I screwed our relationship up, but that doesn't mean I don't regret it." I ran a hand through my hair in aggravation, more at myself than anything else. "This is turning into the conversation, so I'm going to shut up and go."

I began walking off, but Kiara called out, "Just tell me one thing."

I stopped and faced her. "Anything."

Kiara took a couple of hesitant steps forward. "You say you're jealous of my husband, but yet when I told you I thought you were him, you flipped. What makes that idea to you so impossible? Why is that idea so abhorrent to you?"

Her voice trembled near the end, which revealed just how much her restraint on her emotions was breaking. Whether it was anger or exasperation, I wasn't quite sure. I just had to let her know the truth. "The idea is the complete opposite of abhorrent to me. What makes it impossible is if I was your husband, how could I have absolutely no memory of this unbelievably beautiful and talented and kind woman? How could I not remember someone as incredible as you?"

My shoulders sagged as I confessed what had been on my mind since we had our fight. I waited for her to blow up on me because I deserved it. She didn't want to know my feelings, she just wanted an answer, but I didn't know how to give her one without the other.

"Damn you, Kyrian," she breathed, striding up to me. I prepared to be punched, slapped, stabbed, or all of the above. In fact, I expected it. But she didn't. Kiara did the opposite. Her lips crashed onto mine, and I reacted instantly. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her as close to my body as physically possible. Her hands cupped my face, forcing me to stay where I was. I didn't mind. She could tell me what to do all damn day.

Finally, we broke apart, both catching our breath.

"Gods, I missed you," I said softly, bracing my forehead against hers.

"Don't think I've forgiven you for how you treated me..." she replied, hands sliding down to my chest.

"I wasn't."

"But, I'll say it's a start."

"I'll do whatever you want to earn that forgiveness."

She bunched my shirt up in her fists as she kissed me again. "Just come back to me, okay?"