Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 792: So Be It ()

A solid grip around her waist kept her from falling. She did not need to see to know who it was.

"Jian..." She whispered. "Is that why..."

"Why didn’t you tell me?" Her tone was devastated, aching.

Jian tightened his hold on her, pulling her back into his chest so he now held her with both hands.

"Leave us," Jian said quietly, his voice firm but hollow with exhaustion.

The landing platform cleared out and Kaideon lingered for a moment to place a comforting hand on Neveah’s shoulder. "Come find me later."

And then he was also gone, heading into the Infernal castle. Neveah and Jian were alone now. He hugged her closer, nuzzling her neck and breathing in her scent.

"I’m sorry." Jian murmured, his tone muffled against the collar of her riding suit. "I couldn’t bring myself to say it."

"I finally had you in my arms and I... just couldn’t admit that I... failed." His tone was hoarse, heavy with responsibility. "It should have been me. If anyone had to make a sacrifice, it should have been me protecting my people."

Neveah’s heart ran cold. "Don’t... don’t you say that. Orin’s loss breaks me, but I don’t want to lose you either. That would kill me."

"I just want to know how... you could bear through that and not share it with me or Xenon."

Her hands curled against his chest, as if trying to anchor his grief into her bones.

"You must be in so much pain..." Her voice cracked. "All of you..."

"I’m sorry." Jian whispered again. "I just... wanted your smile. I needed it, desperately."

She sighed, slowly turning around in his hold so she now stared up at him.

"I’m not...here to be with you through the good and fancy. After all of this, all we’ve been through, you still don’t know that?" Neveah asked him earnestly. "That I’m with you through everything. Pain, loss, sorrow... everything. That’s what this bond means to me...it has to mean that."

"I know. I know." He muttered, his gaze pained.

"It’s just...hard. I’ve not lost...a dragon in decades. Lodenworth, now Orin..."

"Am I doing something wrong? Because I try Veah. I do... I try to do it all right. I just... fail sometimes." His voice faded.

"You have done everything right, Jian. You went in for Fort Blazed, risked everything to bring them back home and you did. You made the stronghold whole again... that’s not wrong." She reasoned.

"And Orin..." Neveah trailed off, exhaling shakily.

"I am filled with so much rage, I want to burn it all down. All of them... for Orin, for Narx... for my mother..." Jian’s tone trembled with rage.

He knew. He knew everything.

"So be it." Neveah didn’t hesitate anymore. "If it’s you...or them, I choose you Jian. Always."

"If Aloria must burn to appease your wrath. Then burn it shall."

__________

"Father." Neveah walked over to take a seat across the table from where Kaideon sat in a study of the Infernal castle, poring over a map.

He glanced up at her, a small smile on his lips. She could see beyond it, see the grief that rested over him like a shroud.

Orin was a dragon lord, but more than that, he was a Dune Lord. It was more than just grief... the weight of this, of losing family.

"How is he? My Liege?" Kaideon asked,

"Not good." She murmured quietly, "And I wish wiping the Fae from existence would change that...but I know it won’t. It is just something we need to do... and then find a way he can truly heal."

"And you?" Kaideon asked. "How are you feeling?"

"I’m..." Neveah began to say but Kaideon interrupted, reaching across the table to take Neveah’s hand.

"You and Orin were tight. And I know you love him... you love all your uncles. So tell me the truth."

Neveah opened her mouth to speak but she did not have the right words to describe this feeling. The heaviness in her chest that felt like a weight was crushing it.

"I just can’t believe...Orin is gone." She finally whispered, her voice cracking into a sob. "We left a board game unfinished in the library... I just can’t believe..."

"I mean, he has a son..."

"Does Isalder know? And Tara?" Neveah asked hoarsely.

"We parted ways with Jian and flew for the Dunes first. She knows... she’s not doing good. She wants Keila’s head." Kaideon relayed, sighing heavily.

"Having to tell a woman I consider family that her Lord dragon and the father of her child will not be coming home, it is the hardest thing I’ve had to do since losing your mother." Kaideon admitted.

"What happens now?" She asked.

"The Fae will pay. With the dimension collapse, Orin’s energy signature is no longer linked to us. It is difficult to ascertain if he is..." Kaideon trails off.

"If the mages deem the dimension inaccessible...we will have to be ready, to send Orin off." Kaideon muttered.

"I hate this... father, I hate this." Neveah sobbed softly.

After a moment, she exhaled slowly and wiped her eyes.

"I will ride with Jian to Aloria within the hour. But there’s something I need to tell you first." Neveah said, her tone serious.

"I know this is not the best time and I really debated if I should tell you or not. But you are bound to find out soon, and it’s best you hear it from me...as well as the full story that no one else knows."

Kaideon raised a brow. "Did anything happen while I was away? Are you hurt?"

"No, no." Neveah said quickly. "Alpha King Nolan was here."

Kaideon’s eyes narrowed. "Nolan...as in..."

"Yes Father." Neveah confirmed. "Nolan as in mother’s brother. From the Winter Domain. And he wasn’t alone...he had his army with him."

Kaideon shook his head slightly. "How did he even..."

"I think the Fae wanted me to kill him." Neveah muttered. "Some kind of plot to mess with my head. But that’s not what worries me."

"Tell me." Kaideon said when Neveah hesitated.

"I think... and we don’t know anything for sure, but he claims they might have found my mother."