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If life has taught me anything in my short years, it is not to hinge your hope or happiness on people or external circumstances. Both are prone to change, which leaves your emotional well-being as stable as the constantly waning and waxing moons.

My words are barely audible. “I’ll stitch you up as best I can. You can leave before he arrives.Ifhe arrives. Go somewhere safe.”

He shakes his head. “I have friends here. Friends who are closer to me than my own blood. I will not abandon them.”

My throat works around a thick knot of emotion. For all intents and purposes, Ishouldn’tcare, but staring in the face of an actual living, breathing person… One so loyal he’s willing to sacrifice his life to protect his comrades and likely, they, him–I can’t help but care.

Powerless to do anything, I feel as if I am drowning in heartbreak, futility, helplessness, and rage with no outlet.

My words are barely a trembling breath as tears carve watery paths over my dirt-stained cheeks, and my fingers press firmly into the length of the needle with which I finish sewing his wound.

“Ifmy uncle arrives, I will ask him to spare you and those with you.”

The expression on his face tells me he doesn’t quite know what to make of me. Whether or not to have hope and believe me, and even if he does, will my uncle even listen?

Even I cannot say, but I will certainly try.

“What is your name?”

He hesitates for a moment. “Killian Driftfyord.”

I nod, wiping away my tears with the back of my hand. Even before this, I never wanted anything to do with political machinations.

However, despite the fact that my father was good to me and my mother, I inevitably recognized the undeniable disparity in our province. Rich and poor. Far too many poor that became far too easy prey for the Nameless King to inspire them to arms and raise an army that rivalled my Uncle’s.

I swear to Akash and all that is holy if ever I come into power of any kind, I will do all that I can to prevent war. To prevent unrest. I will care for my people like I would my own children. My prosperity will be their prosperity, and then surely, there will be peace.

GIDEON | TWENTY YEARS AGO

TERRENEAN REALM

The air heaves from my lungs as I lie splayed out on the floor catching my breath. My conscious mind is so disconnected from everything that just happened, it takes a moment for me to realize that coppery warmth on my tongue isn’t my blood, buthis.And yet, I feel nothing as I shove my stepfather’s larger body off mine and sit up.

My mother is a trembling mess in the corner of the living room. When her swollen eyes lift from his body to my face, they’re wide with shock and fear. “You killed him.”

It isn’t an accusation. It’s merely a statement. A tear-streaked whisper that she doesn’t know what to do with, and neither do I because I’m just a fucking eighteen-year-old kid.

“I promised you both that if he touched you again, I’d kill him.”

“But he wasn’t going to kill me.”

“Maybe not on purpose, and maybe not today.”

Her bruised throat dips, but she remains silent. She knows the statistics. I’ve spent the last seven years, since we had access to the internet, showing her domestic violence statistics. Begging her to leave him.

For us to leave him.

Her eyes return to Ret. Or what’s left of him after our brawl, which ended in him trying to strangle me, and me bludgeoning him with the butt end of his unloaded gun.

“Get the tarp out the garage.” Her eyes snap back to mine, chin trembling. She gives me a silent nod and disappears down the hallway.

At this point in time, I’d never in a million years have thought that would only be the first of many lives I would end. That in just a handful of years, I’d make a living doing it as a Navy SEAL.

GIDEON | 8 YEARS AGO

TERRENEAN REALM

Beau’s comm unit sounds through our headsets. “Brother, if we get out of here in less than twenty-four hours,I’llsuck your dick.” The SOs behind us, Riggs and Mal, chuckle openly, earning my glare.