Chapter 33: Strawberries And Moon Flowers
Koda;
"You’re late again. Tardiness isn’t a good look on a King." Father says, as soon as I sit, and I fold my hands on the table as I look at him.
"There’s an uprising in the West. I had to handle it before coming." I reply, and his usually calm expression falters.
This is the reason. The reason he’s been pushing so hard for an heir.
He wants to ensure that Beast Heaven has a strong front. He wants two kings ready for after he leaves...
He’s growing old. He’s sick.
He hasn’t told the others yet... But Rhydian and I know.
He wants to make sure everything is in place before his death.
The beast clans outside beast heaven know that Father is sick. That’s why they’ve been pushing harder than ever. They want to infiltrate the kingdom and tear the clans apart.
Being the strongest Kingdom with so many clans under our power, other Kingdoms feel threatened.
Father wanted peace. He married partners from the most powerful clan at the time.
My mother is from Gravemaw, the Bear clan,
Rhydian’s mother is from Howleroot, the Wolf clan
Zephan and Zethar’s mother from Nagari, the serpent tribe,
And Lioran’s father is from Emberhide. The Fox clan.
He used his marriage to these four royal heirs to pull their kingdoms and respective slave clans under his wings. Creating Beast Heaven. The strongest kingdom to ever exist.
Father was no king or royal before this. He used strategy to build all we have today, and the kingdoms outside Beast Heaven are still not pleased with this.
One mistake, and all we’ve struggled to build and maintain for years would be gone.
"How did you handle it?" He questions, and I take a deep breath.
"I sent more manpower to help with the defence," I reply, and Father nods.
"Good." He replies, and Zephan’s voice comes next.
"Have you forgotten the rules? No business talk at the table."
I look at him, and he’s wearing a white coat. That’s odd. Zephan never wears anything other than pants... except he’s trying to hide something.
He looks up at me, and that’s when I see the claw mark on his neck. It’s mostly healed, but not completely.
He got that from his fight with Rhydian, didn’t he??
I’m surprised he actually fought with his older brother for Elian. Usually, he’s tough to rile up.
Jumping into a fight and throwing fists before thinking is something I’d expect from Zethar. Not him...
"Make a sketch. It’ll last longer!" He snaps at me, and I realise that he’s still in a sour mood.
Hmm...
I look away from him, and just then, Rhydian walks down the stairs. He stares at the table, and under his see-through white robe, I can see red bruises and scratch marks.
How badly did these two go at each other??
He walks to the other side and sits opposite me. Two seats away from Zephan, and one seat away from Lioran.
Why isn’t he sitting where he usually does?
He looks up at me, and then away...
He looks up at Lioran and raises a brow.
"You have your hair down tonight?? Didn’t you stop doing that months ago?" He questions, and I look over at our youngest brother who’s unbotheredly eating his salad.
"Don’t ignore me, you little..." Rhydian begins, but Lioran cuts him off.
"Your noise is unappreciated." He says in a flat tone before turning back to his food, and I know the words struck a nerve because veins pop up on Rhyidan’s neck.
"What did you..." He begins, but Father’s voice rings out.
"Rhydian!"
Rhydian sits begrudgingly, and Father sighs before clapping.
"You boys will send me to my grave before my time." He grumbles, and just then, maids pour in, arranging dinner before us.
As I stare at the assortment of dishes, my mind wanders to Elian.
Alana told me he likes to eat a lot. I wonder if he’s eaten. I hope the pain isn’t stopping him from...
My thoughts come to a halt as the sweet, now familiar scent hits me. That minty... honey-toned scent that’s even so lightly mixed with the undercurrent of Moon flowers. The scent that has overtaken this estate for the past few days.
"Well colour me surprised..." Father mumbles, looking up at something.
I follow his gaze, and my eyes land on Elian, who’s coming down the stairs with Alana.
He came to dinner??
He’s hurt. He ought to be resting. Why did he come all the way down here?
"Well, the boy is stronger than I thought. I’d give him that. I was afraid we’d have to swap him." Father says, but I can’t take my eyes off Elian.
He gets to the bottom of the stairs and finally looks up.
His scent shifts from its usual mintiness to a soft, strawberry-like scent. The scent he cluelessly emits each time he’s scared...
A scent that has no business being as inviting as it is...
He gulps as he looks over the table.
He bows to Father, and Father chuckles.
"You’re full of surprises, aren’t you, little one. I wasn’t expecting you to join us tonight." Father exclaims, and Elian looks up with a visibly forced smile.
"Come join us," Father instructs, and I freeze when Elian’s eyes suddenly lock onto me.
Why is he looking at me?
What’s going on in that hyperactive mind of his?
He suddenly starts walking, and I watch dazed as he limps over to the chair right beside me and sits in it.
I blink at his small form beside me, and then up around to be sure I’m not the only one seeing this.
He usually tries to create space between us and him... but tonight he came to sit beside me willingly? What’s going on?
I look up at Alana and find her awkwardly staring at one of the flower pots in the corner.
Alright.
Something is definitely going on.
Elian suddenly looks up at me with a massive smile and so much light in his one, still open eye.
"It’s okay if I sit with you, right?"