"Because I knew her. I wasn't there by chance that night, Kyera. I was there to try and stop her." Kan replied, his voice was carefully blank of emotion as he refused to meet Kyera's eyes.
"Wait… you knew? You knew and you didn't ring the alarm bell? You didn't send for help? Why?" Kyera asked as her heart was torn once again. It was just too much to take in… her heart beat faster pain radiating in her chest.
"Yes… I knew. I didn't call the guard because I wanted to stop her, but I didn't want her to be killed. She was just misguided… she wasn't a bad person. Not back then." Kan tried to explain, but his tone soon changed to one of sadness and defeat. Kyera felt the tears on her cheeks as she tried to control herself. Several long moments of silence passed and Kyera heard the calming spirit of the forest as it soothed her soul. What was done was done…
"Who was she… who killed my brothers?" Kyera asked "Who were you protecting?" Her voice caught as it raised in intensity. It was clear she was demanding this answer. He knew there was no way to side step her this time. There had been too much damage done already. It was time to come clean, whatever the results may be. He made a silent prayer for forgiveness to the night sky, though he knew she would never hear it.
"My little sister." He replied softly and Kyera raised an eyebrow. There were some things she didn't know about the tiger clans. For example, who was dating who, or what trades were partnering on what projects. However, she knew every face of every villager and who they belonged to. She knew Kan's mother and father. They only had one son. There was not a daughter according to the clan.
"Okay… now that one you will have to explain." Kyera sat back down on the grass. She was too tired to stand any longer. The numbness and cool headed understanding began to sink in. She had to approach this as Princess Kyera, not little Kyzie or she was going to lose control. Her hand gently rubbed her tummy to sooth the baby despite the emotional stress at the moment.
"My father had two mates. A tiger and a panther. My mother, Oni and the Panther Dialyn. My mother had twins, one a strong and healthy Male and a weak and fragile female. My father chose to hide my sister away with Dialyn so she could grow stronger, away from the prying eyes of the villagers." Kan explained with a sigh, sitting down as well. "She flourished. A beautiful tigress, strong, quick witted, and hungry. Greedy may be a better word honestly." There was weight to his words that exhausted him. Kyera took this news in and tried to remind herself she was a sister… would Keenan have done the same for her?
No. Keenan would have held her accountable. Kane however… he would have done anything to protect her, even from herself. She couldn't blame him for being a big brother… could she? It didn't matter. Her brothers had wanted her to move on, she had to try to let this go.
"Why. You didn't deny I was the target, only that I wasn't to blame. What did she want?" Kyera asked standing up. She raised her arms over her head and the shadow cloth rearranged itself into a beautiful green dress that flowed around her form.
"Kyera that isn't an easy question." Kan replied, feeling a little tense now.
"And this entire process has been a pleasure." Kyera replied a bit coldly. It was clear she wasn't letting this go.
"It's not that. I know it's been rough but the truth is it won't help you to know the truth." Kan replied trying to stand his ground even as it crumbled under his feet.
"Kan, that isn't for you to decide." Kyera replied her voice gentle but stung like a viper bite. "You lost that right when you didn't sound the warning bell."
"It was about power. Power she would have had access to if you and your brothers were out of the way." Kan replied shaking his head. It was clear he wanted to be as vague as possible.
"She wanted the clan?" Kyera asked with a dry laugh. "Veron and Talis were next in line. No one could have dethrone both brothers."
"Wrong crown." Kan replied very, very softly. Kyera almost wasn't sure she had heard the word at all.