Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 791: Left Behind ()

Neveah was quiet for a brief moment, sorting through her own thoughts.

"He would not ask this of me if it wasn’t important to him," Neveah muttered, her voice barely audible.

"My safety has always been his priority and I know it must have been difficult for him to come to this decision...to overcome the urge to leave me protected behind castle walls."

"I know it. I understand... but I can’t help worrying about him, you know?"

"It’s been six hours," she added, eyes narrowing with helpless disbelief. "Literally. Since he froze up a volcano after crashing out of a dimension."

"We can take down the Fae tomorrow, Xenon," she argued, voice catching. "Or the day after that. Or better still... another Dragon Lord can lead the battle, and he stays back in command."

Her eyes shimmered, reflecting the emotions beneath the surface. "He’s hurt... he’s not at his best. He needs rest. He needs family. Not this..." Her voice faltered. "Not this chaos."

Xenon was silent for a moment, before letting out a quiet, rueful hum.

"I know your heart, love." His voice was a gentle and soothing sound. "But you must understand... he is Dragon King."

He met her gaze, voice soft but firm.

"Chaos is literally his second name."

Neveah’s shoulders slumped, her breath releasing slow and measured as she nodded. "I just can’t shake the feeling... that he’s not telling us everything. There is so much...rage in our bond. The Fae have done something worse than we know." Her eyes searched Xenon’s face. "What happened in that dimension?"

Xenon didn’t answer right away. He looked away, eyes narrowing toward the balcony.

"I do not know yet either. But we will find out soon..."

"How?" Neveah’s voice was hushed now. "He’s not saying anything."

"He’s not the only one who returned from the dimension."

Neveah froze.

Her heart missed a beat. Her lips parted in sudden understanding.

"Is he here?" she breathed. "Tell me he’s here..."

Xenon’s smile was slow and warm, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

"Lord Kaideon just arrived in Infernal territory. He should be at the landing platform any moment now."

She didn’t wait for the rest. Her feet were already moving...

Then running.

Down the carved halls of the Infernal castle, through corridors that blurred on either side of her, her breath caught in her throat like a hope that had laid waiting too long. And when the sky opened up at the landing platform and the wind kissed her skin...

She saw him.

Just as Xenon said, he was there.

Lord Kaideon. Her father.

Weathered and worn, but upright and whole, flanked by Rodvan and Coran. He looked battle-wracked, his tunic was recently changed but his arm was bandaged, and fatigue lined the corners of his eyes, but to Neveah, he had never looked more like home.

"Father!" she called, breathless and choked and too full of everything to say more.

Kaideon spun around.

His eager gaze locked onto hers like and the instant recognition in his eyes shattered whatever last piece of restraint she had left.

"Hey, precious."

She didn’t walk.

She dove for him.

And he was already moving, bracing for her just as she collided with him, arms flung around his neck, her breath hitting his shoulder in broken gasps.

Kaideon caught her without a stumble, wrapping her into his arms like he’d been waiting lifetimes for this very moment. His arms tightened around her, strong and certain, one hand cradling the back of her head, the other rubbing soothing circles into her spine.

"Don’t do that to me again," she whispered, trembling. "Don’t you ever... ever disappear like that again..."

He held her closer. His jaw clenched against her shoulder, his voice low and rough, but deeply apologetic.

"I didn’t want to go, sweetheart. I swear it."

She nodded against him, burying her face into the crook of his neck. His scent, burnished steel, pine, a hint of ash, wrapped around her like memory, warm and sharp and safe.

She didn’t care that the others were watching. Didn’t care that she was supposed to be a Queen.

In that moment, she was just a daughter. And the final piece of her world fell into place with a resounding ’click’.

When she finally pulled away, wiping her eyes. She still held Kaideon’s hand, inspecting his injury.

"You’re hurt too." She murmured and then her gaze moved to Rodvan. He looked better than her father did and better than Jian had, but he also had a bandage around his wrist.

Neveah moved towards him, stepping into his awaiting arms. "Rodvan... I’m so glad you’re okay. I’ve missed you." She murmured quietly.

"As I have you, little one." Rodvan replied, ruffling Neveah’s hair fondly.

Neveah nodded to Conrad, he had not traveled with Jian to the dimension and they had been in contact often since she left the Dunes to his care. But there was one person she was yet to see.

One other Dune Lord who had also been on Jian’s elite team. "Rodvan? Where’s Orin?"

"He couldn’t bear to leave Isa and the baby to let me see him for even a brief moment?" Neveah asked with a quiet chuckle. "That’s hurtful, I thought he adored me."

The atmosphere changed then and Neveah sensed it immediately. Her gaze shifted between the three, her father... Rodvan, and Conrad.

"Father..." Neveah asked hesitantly. "Orin is back at the Dunes right?..."

No answer.

"Right?" She pressed, her heart trembling as fear coiled within her veins.

"I’m sorry... little one." Rodvan was the first to break the silence.

"Orin... didn’t make it back." He finished.

Neveah felt like the world screech to a halt.

"Didn’t... make it back...?" she asked, shaking her head doubtfully.

"What does that mean..."

"After securing Fort Blazed’s safety, the dimension collapse hit. We tried to get out before...but the beast from the Black Sea had broken free. Someone had to enter the battle circle and hold it off from following us through..." Rodvan sucked in a sharp, trembling breath.

"And before anyone else could... Orin changed flight path. He...went in..."

"Just before the collapse. The dimension crumbled...with him in it."

"Oh gods! Isalder...oh no..." Neveah felt the strength leave her limbs, the world spun and she lost her balance.