Page 11 of Havik: Warlord Brides
The temptation to take the clan from the older male enticed him. To show Kaos that he was wrong about his son, had always been wrong not to love him, tempted him with bittersweet promises. The satisfaction of standing over his old male’s body would be fleeting, Havik knew. Revenge never satisfied for long. It was a sugary, air-spun dream and dissolved the moment of consumption.
“A warrior may gain the power of a warlord through violence, but he must be capable and cunning to hold onto that responsibility. A clan will not follow an unworthy male,” Havik said. He would remain unworthy until he found his mate and made amends.
“Find a suitable mate. Make strong sons for the clan. Surely some female will have you,” Kaos said.
“No,” Havik said. “I have always known you were never a father to me. Now it is clear that you were never my warlord, either. There is no place for me here. I will be gone by morning.”
The knowing smirk vanished from Kaos’ face, replaced by fury. “If you leave, you can never return. Never! I will strike your name from the clan’s history and forbid anyone from ever mentioning you again!” Spit flew from his mouth as he shouted.
Havik paused in the door and turned to face the older male. He wanted to warn him that one day Kaos would learn that he could not control the hearts of his clan and Havik would regret not seeing him learn that lesson, but there was little point. Kaos only ever listened to himself.
“By morning’s light,” he said.
* * *
“I cannot remain here,”Havik said, certain what steps he needed to take next for the first time in ages.
“I’m coming with you,” Ren said.
“No.”
“Afraid I’ll ruin your self-loathing?”
“This is not your battle,” Havik said.
Ren placed a hand on Havik’s shoulder and held his gaze. “You are my brother. If not by blood, then in my heart. You failed your mate, as did I.”
“You did not—”
“Listen. I failed your mate. I saw how the warlord treated her with contempt and how the clan refused to accept her, but I did nothing. I could have made myself her friend. If she knew she had an ally, she would not have so readily believed the warlord’s lies.”
Havik nodded, accepting his friend’s truth but knowing that the blame rested on his shoulders. He failed his mate. He had been selfish and did not notice her isolation or loneliness. His thoughtless actions cost him his honor.
“I will regain my honor,” he said. “I will find my mate and beg for forgiveness. Reclaim her. Bring her home.” The scope of what he needed to accomplish unfurled before him.
He had many miles to travel.
“I’m leaving the clan,” Havik repeated, so Ren understood the implications.
“Agreed. I cannot remain with the warlord. Not now.”
“That means leaving your father.”
Ren skimmed his hand along the surface of the water in the fountain. “A male must wander the sands on his own eventually. He will understand. There are other clans.”
“We have to go to Earth. I cannot guarantee that we will return to Rolusdreus.”
“I know the risks.”
His heart swelled with affection for his friend. Ren owed him nothing but offered to leave his family, the clan, everything he knew, to assist Havik in correcting this injustice. “Thank you,” he said. “You’d give a thirsty male your last drop of water.”
Ren flicked water from the fountain at him. “Yes, I am remarkable. All the warriors envy me. We need a plan.”
“Leave at dawn. Steal a ship. Head to Earth.” Simple. Plan finalized.
“That is a terrible plan.”
“The lies my father spun, the way the clan looks at me since my return—I cannot stay.” Havik rubbed the back of his neck. He itched to leave immediately, but he could not walk to Earth. Their journey required resources and time to prepare, neither of which he had in abundance. “I do not want to use the warlord’s resources, but we need a ship.”
