Page 58 of Immortal Origins
Why was everyone in the kingdom so ready to lay down without a fight and accept whatever came as the will of the gods? They were long gone with only their effigies scattered around the kingdoms to remind anyone of their existence. The only thing Ambrose could see was the will of hate and cowards preying on the weaker.
“I think that’s probably enough for tonight. We’ve got a long journey ahead of us tomorrow and we should get some sleep.” Danthan rose from his seat and shot a warning look at Ambrose that said not to speak another word. “Thank you again for your hospitality.”
“Well damn, just when it was getting good,” Podara yawned.
“Thank you Podara for your input.” Danthan shot her the same look he gave Ambrose. “Come on, I’m sure they have a busy day tomorrow as well. Let’s not bother them any longer.”
They bade the family a goodnight and retreated to the barn where they found ample blankets and pillows for each of them. Podara threw herself on a pile of hay and was asleep before her head fully hit her pillow. The rest of them found areas to sleep and grabbed bedding for themselves, none of them speaking about what Artie and his wife had told them. Each member of the team too deep in their own thoughts as they prepared themselves for sleep. A few of them glanced at Akadian as though maybe he might offer more information, but Ambrose knew he wouldn’t. Instead, he excused himself from the barn to get some fresh air and left them all alone with their thoughts.
Coward.
She couldn’t stop herself. Ambrose slipped out of the barn behind him as everyone laid down to rest.
“I don’t believe you,” she accused.
“What?” Akadian spun around to meet her.
“I don’t believe you didn’t know,” she repeated.
“I don’t really care what you believe,” he said. But she knew it was a lie.
“How could you not know?” she demanded and poked his chest.
He sighed, “I’m just the prince.”
“You’re notjustanything,” she folded her arms across her chest and stared up at him, his face only inches from hers but this time, the fire that roared inside of her was fierce, not yearning.
“Thank you, Little Rose,” he smirked, eyes flaring as he looked down into hers.
“It wasn’t a compliment,” she scoffed.
Akadian held her gaze as he stepped towards her, his frame shadowing her as she walked backwards. He pressed further, stalking towards her until the wooden wall of the barn pressed into her back and his face was only inches from hers. His eyes scanned her face as she forced her breathing to calm. Leaning in close he whispered, “I wasn’t created to rule.” His voice had gone somber with each word. “Not every royal is created with the intent to rule. There are many of us who serve different purposes, the gods had… other plans for me.”
“Like what?” She watched his chest rise and fall with broken breaths and before she could stop herself she placed a hand on it. His skin burned her fingers but she didn’t pull away as he placed a hand on top of hers.
He paused for a long time before he answered, the two of them locked in the heat that flared between them. “Each of the royals were created for a specific purpose. Some, like my brother are created to rule the kingdoms in the place of the gods, while others are given different orders. As you know, we can die—”
“The queen,” she stated, remembering the empty throne in the Capital.
“The queen.” He nodded. “But we live for a very long time to act out the gods will in their place. Everyone has to contribute to the empire, there are no exceptions. Ours just lasts for many of your lifetimes.”
“So, what’s yours then?” she whispered.
He looked as though he wouldn’t answer her at all. “Death.”
Ambrose didn’t know what she expected but it wasn’t that. “What?”
“I wasn’t created when most of the royals were, before the kingdoms split and the gods vanished. When I came to be, the rest of the kingdoms andempire were thriving at their fullest, aside from the sixth kingdom. When I woke up, it was already gone. It was a time when the gods were afraid and they needed something to quell that fear inside them,” he answered, his forehead so close to hers they were almost touching.
“Why would they do that?” Her breath caught in her throat and her heart picked up a few beats. “I don’t understand. What could make the gods afraid?”
“I don’t know.” His fingers laced lightly in hers and she didn’t pull either hand away.
She tried to remind herself this was wrong. He was a royal, not her friend. But no matter how hard her brain tried to tell her, her heart wasn’t listening. Something inside her felt as if she already knew him. Maybe it was the look in his eye that reflected the same internal battle she felt right back at her. Maybe it was the heat that flared between them. When he looked at her… it was like he understood. And the longer she looked back, the more she felt she understood. “Then, why did they make you?”
“To be a weapon. One strong enough to fight their battles for them. To be the empire’s executioner when they call.” He turned his face away from her but she pulled it back so their eyes met. She wouldn’t let him hide from her. “I am the wrath of the gods given physical form. I can feel their fear inside me every day, and the rage that comes from it. It burns inside me. And it takes every ounce of self-control to keep it at bay.”
Her palm burning where she touched him, Ambrose looked into his eyes for signs of deceit but couldn’t find any. He was telling the truth. “Why are you telling me this?”
