Page 72 of The Heart of Nym (The Twisted Roots Duology #1)

The Journal of Lilith Haze

The herbal tonic that Dorid's Healer gave me did not take and while this does mean that I have subjected myself to him for the rest of my life, I cannot help but to feel some sort of relief in knowing that the baby is alright.

It would be a tragedy, anyway, seeing as this child I am about to bring forth into this world will be far more important than his father could ever imagine being.

Dorid was not always this way.

He was once just a lost boy searching for his own identity outside of what his father expected him to be.

He loved me deeply—had even dared to try and run away with me in our younger years before Camalia came into our lives.

I do not hate her, either. We are all just a product of the circumstances we had been dealt.

Camalia is one of those that takes things in stride but remains true to who she is, much like myself. But Dorid…

I will miss him. I have mourned the man that he once was. I will love him in memory.

But I do hope that his sons are everything that he has grown to hate. I hope they become the men that he despises—both of his sons will be Mystics. And knowing that he will die at their hands will be the justice he deserves.

I believe it is poetic justice. A man becomes what he hates, and grows to hate what he once loved. It will be his ruin. His death.

When they first came to me, I was in complete disbelief.

I believed that they were assassins coming to steal me away into the night, riding this earth of my body once and for all.

I did not want to believe them. They said that my son would live a hard life, but that he would come out stronger for it.

It didn't matter to me very much how strong my boy became, I did not love him as a strong god. I loved him as my son.

But this is my truth.

When my son is born, I will have but a few short years to spend at his side.

I will die. I do not know how or when, but it will be before his seventh year.

And while it seems to be such little time to teach him the wondrous ways of the old world, I will do so with great fervor.

I will teach him to be a just man—a good man that is not tainted by the ways of his father and I am leaving this journal for him as a reminder of my teachings.

My son, Ciaran Aziel Haze, is to be the next god of death, the ruler of the Otherworld.

I believed it was an omen, at first, but Teigh and Greia assured me that this title does not mean that Aziel will be evil. He will be good. And he will deliver justice unto those who have met their end.

"Retribution doth come from the branch with twisted root," Teigh told me. "The corrupt will know no mercy at the hands of death’s son. They will not be rewarded by the hands of life’s daughter. Destined to hate, but fated to twine, the son of death and the daughter of life will cleanse the world of the traitorous swine.”

With trembling hands, I asked him what this meant.

He informed me that only a child from both Seelie and Unseelie lines could become gods, that the blending of their blood would make them impartial and unbiased in respect to their followers.

The branch with twisted roots. He told me that my boy will save the world with his mate by his side and that they will know one another by their likeness, and they will be able to sense the power that resides within their corporeal forms, being both repelled and attracted to one another.

It was a cycle, an endless one, that each generation of God and goddess had been cursed to endure.

It is a comfort knowing that even though I will die, my son will not go through life without knowing love. I only hope that he will be as receptive to love as I once was. Because while my love has caused me the greatest pain of my life, I would never regret it.

Ciaran Aziel Haze came into the world early this morning, the same day as his brother.

Camalia came to find me not long after leaving her birthing bed, her eyes wild with desperation.

She clutched little Oran to her chest and it amazed me just how much our sons looked alike.

While Aziel was born with hair as white as snow, Oran's hair was as dark as a crow's wing, but their features shared an uncanny resemblance.

I'm rambling. I must get to the point.

The boy was born with a guard mark.

I had only heard of them in the past—had even met a few fae that carried them, the ones who guarded the temples.

They were of the most ancient beings in The Beyond, blessed with marks upon their brows that would allow the gods to know who was protecting them and that their aim was true.

They were the true followers of the gods.

Bound to them for as long as the gods chose to live.

Camalia was terrified, obviously. If Dorid knew of Oran's birthmark and the history behind it, he would surely shun him as he has done to Aziel and I.

"We have to do something." Camalia whispered to me. "There has to be something that we can do."

I didn't want to tell her about Aziel's future, but it seemed to be the only option at the time. It was an assurance, I believe, because when she looked at the mark on her babe's brow, she no longer looked as if she wanted to cry out of fear.

"They have to stay together." Camalia said. "We can keep them apart for Dorid's sake, but we cannot allow him to take them from each other."

I couldn't have agreed more. Though I knew their relationship would often be strained and filled with jealousy, I also knew that if Camalia and I taught them love, they would grow to love one another. Protect one another.

It is the way things must be.

I have fallen in love.

It was not something that I strived to do, but the man worked his way under my skin and made me see parts of myself that I had forgotten existed. Like my ability to laugh, my ability to smile, and to feel the fluttering of wings in my belly by a single stolen glance.

It won't be much longer now. I will die soon, I can feel it.

Aziel has become a bright young boy. He is joyous and lively—a trickster with a smart mouth and mind. He has not shown a drop of his Grace yet, but I know it will probably be beautiful when he finally does.

I love you.

I will always love you.

No matter where I am or how long we have gone without seeing one another, I will carry you in my heart.

Please remember to allow love into your heart, my son. Remember that home is where your heart resides. If you do remember that, you will never be lost.

I have heard talks of a girl that has shown signs of Greia's power. She is said to be a princess of some sort, but I do not know for sure which one she may be or where she is, but Dieve believes she is not far from here. She is your mate, Aziel.

Find her.