Ash 1917
"Go home, Morgan," I order, continuing down the icy mountain. "You can't go with me."
"I don't understand why you're leaving," My sister demands. "You weren't going until tomorrow."
Morgan was the only person I'd shared my plans with, but I hadn't intended to tell her that I'd moved the timetable.
I'd run from my father's cave. What I'd heard was more than I could handle, and I couldn't stay here anymore.
Between all the lies and whatever secrets they shared, I couldn't breathe.
How could they lie to me?
Halona was a dragon, and I was her son.
What did she mean by my father having children because of her? It was clear both females had bedded my father. There was no mistaking what I saw happen before I ran off.
There was so much I didn't understand, but I didn't want to know anymore. Of course, I was the last to judge them for anything, but that only worsened things.
My father was worse than a hypocrite. How he looked down on others for their way of living, and he was busy rutting a mated pair whenever he pleased?
So much makes sense now. Why Nerva hated humans, the position he held at his age, all the strings he was always able to pull. He was Shakka's son, probably from one of his concubines.
The rumor was that Shakka had over a hundred women of different races in his palace. The Aprita. All of them bore him children who became members of the blood legion.
Did that mean my father was one of them? I bet if I searched hard enough, I would find the white uniform with the dragon king's insignia. If that was true, then Nerva was one of the Divines.
Shakka's favorite children. The ones who'd earned their father's admiration and had incredible influence and power.
I served under one of them for three years. Did that make him my uncle? He must've known I was Nerva's son. Was that why he'd pushed me so hard?
It always felt like I was targeted, forced to push beyond my limits till I fell unconscious.
I'd welcomed the challenge, eager to show I was a worthy warrior. I'd spent every day since opening the box my grandfather left for me studying his manuals. I hadn't wasted that gift, going as far as teaching some of my friend's techniques they refused to teach.
I never opened the letter addressed to me. Nor did I ask what the title meant. I'd wanted to believe it was my grandfather's wishful thinking.
Daliah told me he'd only had daughters, that Ashari was the name he'd wanted to give a son. Maybe he'd hoped one of his daughters would name their sons Ashari and that male would fit the requirements.
Now, I wasn't so sure. Nerva had called Halona princess. Why?
Maybe I was lying to myself. Yes, I wanted to know the answers, but I knew what would happen now. No way my parents, whoever they were, would allow me to leave. It looked like my grandfather wanted me to move to Turkey. The country he'd moved to twenty years ago. What for? I didn't know, and I wasn't willing to find out.
No one was writing my life out for me. Not ever again.
"Where will you go?" Morgan gasps as she tries to keep up with me. "Ashari, please stop."
"Darius will be in Seattle waiting for me," I explain, but I don't tell her the rest of the plan. I can't risk her running to our father and telling him where I've gone.
"You've planned this for a long time, haven't you?" she whispers, her face a painting of sorrow. "You hate us that much?"
"No," I cover my face with my hand. "I love you, but Morgan, I cannot live my life here."
I should tell her the truth. Morgan deserved to know, just like all my siblings did, but something kept me from telling her.
"You're going to go fight, aren't you?" Morgan wraps her arms around her chest. "You're going to become a soldier."
I don't answer her. It was the truth, but it's not the only reason I'm going.
"Why do you have to fight in their war?" Morgan glares at me. "We're not human, so why would you risk your life for them?"
"You're starting to sound like father," I warn my sister, and her face scrunches up. "I might not be human, but I'm a warrior."
"Don't insult me," She growls. "I know that, but why this war? What makes it different?"
"I don't know," I admit slowly. "It's just a feeling I can't explain."
"You aren't coming back, are you?" Morgan accuses, and I look into her eyes. "You'll be like Darius. You'll go and never come back."
"What are you talking about?" I take a step toward her. "Father disowned Darius. He can't come back."
"And what do you think he'll do to you when he finds out?" Morgan declares loudly. "You're disobeying his orders. He told you that you weren't supposed to ever go to the mainland without him, and when he finds out that you're going to fight in a war."
"Are you going to tell him?" I growl angrily, imagining I won't get further than the islands before my father and brothers are on me.
Morgan looks hurt at that accusation.
"Do you honestly think I would do that to you?" She whispers, her eyes filling with tears. "I know how much this means to you, Ashari. I hate it, but I'd never destroy your dreams."
Dropping my bag, I pull her into a hug, feeling guilty for assuming she'd betray me like that. Morgan never laughed when I spoke of being a general someday. She didn't call me delusional or insist I forget about dreams that would never come true.
"I'm sorry," I mumble, feeling her shiver as she holds onto me.
"I wish we were enough for you," She mumbles, and to be honest, so do I.
I wish I could turn around and go home. Forget everything I heard and pretend everything was as it'd been. If I could accept Zayla as my mate and settle down to the life planned for me, things would be easy, but I couldn't bring myself to take it.
Morgan pulls away, wiping her eyes furiously.
"Can I come with you to the town?" She asks quietly. "Someone should see you off."
"I'll be leaving from Juneau."
"I've been there plenty of times," She offers me a smile. "So you don't have to worry so much."
I couldn't help feeling a little jealous. Our father never stopped Morgan from going wherever she wanted inside the territory. She'd been to the mainland, Canada and had lived a few months in New York.
Picking my bag back up, we start walking again. It would be faster to fly, but my father's warriors would spot us quickly if we did.
"I won't go slow," I grin at my little sister. "I hope you can keep up with me."
Sneering, looking just like my father when she does, Morgan starts running.
"Like you could ever keep up with me, polar bear," she calls behind her.