Chapter 263 263

Chapter 263 263
Evren lets out a giggle, and then I see how tightly she clings to her father’s little finger. My eyes widen, wondering if it’s possible. But I don’t need to ask the question out loud. Azeroth appears beside the mess on the floor, those gray eyes full of amusement.

“I warned you she was special.” He gives my partner a sarcastic smile. “I’m afraid you’re no longer the only Draven who knows how to break things.”

Cassian

Two years later

Sometimes I admire my parents because during all the time they were by my side, I can’t say that I ever felt their absence, not even once. I still don’t understand how they managed to be politicians, look out for the good of everyone, and at the same time be such incredible parents. Perhaps the key is that I wasn’t Evren, who, at her young age, not even three years old yet, is capable of causing more trouble than a teenager.

Without a doubt, just as Azeroth predicted, she is a special child. It took us time to understand the magnitude and reality of her gift. She’s not only able to break things by thinking about it, as I can too, but she can also do things as astonishing as her mother. As long as some part of her body is in contact with ours. Or at least in the beginning. As she grows, her gift grows stronger and the time she can replicate our powers becomes longer. For now she can adopt our powers for just a few minutes, which in a small child is destructive enough.

“I see you’re in a hurry,” says Zerion, running beside me, trying to keep up with my pace.

“That’s what happens when I know your troublemaking son is near my daughter.”

“Tharion is just a boy who likes to play.”

“I don’t even understand why your son spends so much time with us.”

“Because your wife and mother of your daughters adores my little one, and Evren has fun playing with him. If I took him away for too long, I’m sure the two women in your life would beg me.”

“In your dreams. No Draven begs.”

“That’s not what I’ve heard,” he retorts, casting me a sidelong look.

I clench my teeth and hold back from responding to his comment.

I don’t need to ask the staff where my daughter is, I can hear her squeals of happiness from here. I find her with Tharion, both playing tag under Azeroth’s supervision, who alternates their games with small training sessions. How do you train the powers of a child? Well, that’s something I leave to him. Despite our differences and our more than frequent clashes that grate on Elara’s nerves, the god is a support and, above all, a good grandfather. He seems to be compensating greatly for all those years of absence. Only twice, in secret, have I dared to ask about Bryelle, and both times the answers have been vague.

She’s fine.

He doesn’t know what happened to her, but she’s happy.

I cannot see her and likely never will, since my soul will be destined for the Underworld or the Coming Lands, not that kind of limbo. Unless it is taken from me in some way. Only Elara or Azeroth could do something like that, and I know that no matter how much I ask when my time comes, when living becomes too exhausting, she will never do it.

“Evren.”

She turns immediately, dropping the toy she was holding and completely forgetting her playmate. Though he doesn’t take long to imitate her and run toward his father. I open my arms to receive the little girl with black hair and eyes identical to mine. I grab her and spin her in the air, earning her laughter.

“Have you behaved with your grandfather?”

“I’m always good.”

“We both know that’s a lie, my little liar.”

I bury my face in her neck to tickle her. By the time I’m satisfied, Evren is a mess with tears in her eyes and red cheeks from laughing so much. Azeroth approaches us with a proud expression. He hands me a pair of small gloves, and I crouch down to be at her level and put them on her.

“How did it go?” I ask this time, addressing him.

“Good, it seems she’s finally understanding how dangerous her gift can be if she takes the gloves off and touches either of you.”

“I don’t want her to be afraid.”

It seems our appearance is not the only thing that makes us similar. We both have to cover our hands, though for very different reasons.

“Everyone has to fear their powers if they don’t want to end up insane.”

“I’m not afraid.”

“That explains a lot,” he mutters.

“I think what Azeroth means is that Evren has to understand the risk in order to perfectly master what she is,” Zerion intervenes.

Beyond the fear that she might hurt herself because of our powers, I fear that someone with some unknown gift might discover her abilities and use them against her. I had never understood the fear of something happening to another person until her mother appeared, and that feeling doubled when she came along.

“Shall we go find Mommy?”

“Yes!” she says enthusiastically, but then seems to think better of it and adds, “But only if she comes with me.”

“Tharion? I’m sure he wants to be with his dad, little one.”

“No, not Tharion.”

My lips turn downward. For some time now, she seems to have an imaginary friend. Every time she mentions her, something twists in my gut. Maybe I’m just paranoid or an overprotective father, but I don’t like things I can’t see.

I still remember the first time she mentioned her. She was with me.

Elara had gone to Nerathis to visit her brother and, although for others being left alone with their two-year-old daughter might be a reason to panic, I think there’s nothing that brings me more satisfaction, aside from her mother’s love and company, than spending time with this little version of us both.

Evren has a rebellious spirit, which she undoubtedly inherited from her mother, but she also seems made to be a leader, to command, judging by the way she seems to have Tharion wrapped around her little finger, even though he’s several years older.

“Where are you, Evren? I hear your heart,” I say in a cheerful tone.

I play dumb, as if I can’t hear the little laugh she’s trying to stifle. I wander around the room, pretending to look for her, ignoring the curtain where she’s hiding. I decide to end the game, grab her small body when she least expects it, and smother her with kisses on her belly that make it impossible for her to stop laughing.