Myriad

Kalin held a leaf between his fingers, twirling it back and forth as evening came, as Theodore packed their things, getting ready for them to leave. Kalin’s mind drifted, floating over all the things that had happened.

Myriad was his father. His real father. And his real mother—she had died giving birth to him. A woman who Myriad had become good for. A mother who might have wanted him.

He sighed deeply. Theodore had explained to him how it all happened, how he had been saved as a baby and given away. He couldn’t help but wonder what his life would have been like if he’d been raised by Myriad. Would his father have done all those evil things if he’d had his son? Or would he have still sought revenge and dragged Kalin along with him? He didn’t know. He didn’t think Myriad would have forgiven the king for what happened with his wife. He really didn’t think the years of bloodshed would have been avoided. Maybe whoever saved him did know what would have happened. Maybe they knew Myriad better than anyone.

Kalin leaned back against a tree and sighed again.

Theodore came and sat beside him. “How are you feeling?” he asked.

Kalin shrugged. “Fine, I guess.”

Theodore chuckled softly. “How are you really feeling?”

Kalin met his gaze. “I don’t know. I… I don’t know how to feel. Or what to feel. I just feel… strange.” He moved a hand to the necklace, which he was still wearing. “Do you think….” he began, then stopped. He took a deep breath. “Do you think my mother—my real mother—would have…. I mean, if she’d lived—would have….”

Theodore squeezed his shoulder. “I’m sure she would have been very proud of you. I’m sure she would have loved you very much.”

Kalin looked at him. “She must have been special to have changed Myriad. To make him good, even for a while.”

Theodore smiled. “I imagine she was. I imagine it’s who she was that makes you who you are. Strong, brave. You should be proud that she’s your mother, Kalin. Proud of who you are.”

Kalin bit his lip. But my father was evil, he thought. He cringed a little. Everything had happened so quickly, he could barely understand it. He’d killed his own father. A horrible, uncomfortable feeling overcame him, disturbing him. He knew he’d had to do it; he’d had to try to save the princess. But still. He frowned.

“Do you think I saved Princess Carmel? Do you think the royal family is alright?”

Theodore shrugged. “I don’t know, Kalin. Even if you didn’t save her, you’re still a savior. You gave up your life for them. If they lived, they owe you everything.”

Kalin looked down, embarrassed. He didn’t know what to think, so he stood. “I want to get moving. I want to go home.”

Theodore rose also. “Alright. Give yourself time. It’ll take time to get through this. Time to get over it. Don’t expect yourself to feel alright straight away.”

Kalin nodded, his mind already drifting. Time. He walked to the horses and hoped it wouldn’t be too long.

***

They arrived back at Theodore’s home in the very early hours of the morning. Theodore took care of the horses, while Kalin carried their things inside. He dropped the satchels in the main room, then went up to his room to clean up. He was quiet, not wanting to wake everyone. Right now he only wanted to talk to Regina.

When he had changed his clothes, he knocked on the door to her room but didn’t hear anything. He knocked again, then quietly opened the door. Her bed was empty. He frowned, wondering where she was, then walked down the stairs and searched the house. He couldn’t find her anywhere. He started to become worried, then thought to check the back garden.

He opened the door and saw someone sitting on the bench under the tree, wrapped in a blanket. He slowly walked up to her, knowing it was Regina.

She looked up in surprise. “Kalin?” she said, standing. “Kalin, is that—oh!” She flew into his arms, hugging him tightly, taking his breath away.

He smiled, holding her close. Suddenly he felt warm and safe. He led her to sit again.

“I don’t understand!” she exclaimed. “What happened? How can you be here? You were dead.”

He laughed, wrapping his arms around her. He put her head to his chest. “Oh, Regina. I should have realized you’d know. It’s a long story, darling. I promise I’ll tell you everything.”

She nestled close to him, her head against his heart, but then she suddenly threw her arms around his neck, kissing him and kissing him. She kissed his face, his neck, his ears.

Kalin chuckled, gently pushing her back. “You have to calm down, Regina. I’ve been dead all day.”

She looked at him with a bewildered expression on her face, and then they both started laughing. He held her close again, and she cuddled him once more. “Are you alright?” she asked.

He hesitated. “I will be,” he said softly.

They sat in silence for a long time. She finally lifted her head. “What about the royal family and Myriad? What happened?”

Kalin paused. “I don’t know about the royal family. But as for Myriad—he’s dead. I know, I… I killed him.”

She reached up and touched his face. “You had to, Kalin.”

He looked down at his hands. “There’s a lot more to it,” he admitted. He absently brought his hand to the necklace.

Regina’s eyes widened. “Tell me everything. That’s why I’m here.”

He looked at her fondly, his heart swelling. He gently touched her face with his fingertips, brushing her cheek, her jaw, her lips, making her blush. He moved his mouth close to hers, then kissed her, softly, sweetly. She held on to him, deepening their kiss, leaning into him. He held her tightly, one hand in her hair, and she quivered in his arms. He wanted to kiss her forever.

He finally pulled away, gently kissing her neck, her mouth, her forehead. He held her to him. “I love you, Regina,” he whispered.

She sighed. “I love you too, Kalin. I always will.”

***

Kalin sat on the settee in Theodore’s house, holding Regina in his arms. They’d barely left each other’s side the previous few days, spending almost every moment together. He didn’t want it any other way. He held her close to him, kissing her hair every so often.

He and Theodore had told the group what happened—everything about Myriad’s death and Kalin’s connection to him. Kalin had already told Regina privately. Everyone was shocked to discover Myriad was Kalin’s father. Kalin was briefly worried the group might not want him there anymore, but he realized his fears were irrational. No one thought any less of him.

Regina had clung to him desperately after he’d told her what he’d done to save the princess. She’d kissed him a thousand times and told him never to do anything like that again. He still smiled at the memory.

Two questions were still left unanswered: was the princess alright, and who brought Theodore the necklace? Was it the same person who had saved Kalin as a baby? They all wanted to know, but they weren’t sure if they would ever find out.

Theodore was putting out some food for lunch when the front door opened and closed. Mark and Sasha walked into the room a moment later, and Sasha rushed to Kalin’s side, taking hold of his hands.

“You did it, Kalin, you did it. The princess survived. The royal family is all okay.”

She hugged him, and he sat there, stunned. They all moved to sit around the table.

Mark spoke first. “A message was proclaimed from the palace this morning that Myriad had attacked the princess, but he was killed and she survived. They didn’t reveal details about the king and queen also being hurt, but said the royal family would need time together to heal. The king sent his soldiers to Myriad’s home, and they found him dead. They burned his body. Word is a warlock brought the princess to a village near Myriad’s home shortly after she’d been attacked, but he’s disappeared and no one knows where he is. The rumors are that he killed Myriad. The king has asked him to come forward. He wants anyone with information to come forward, even if they’re a warlock or witch. There’s a promise of talking to them in peace.”

Everyone stopped and looked at Kalin.

He looked at his hands. “I can’t.”

“You have to go forward, Kalin. You have to tell them what you did,” Sasha said.

He fidgeted in his chair. “I don’t want to.”

“Why?”

Kalin started to squirm. “Because they’ll know. They’ll find out I’m Myriad’s son. Do you really think the king will go from punishing anyone with magic, to accepting the son of his enemy? I’ll be locked up. It’s too risky.”

Everyone went silent.

Regina put a hand on his arm. “They owe you their lives.”

He looked at her. “It doesn’t matter, not to them. I can’t go forward. I won’t.” He wasn’t going to change his mind. He just wanted to be safe.

Regina reached forward and hugged him.

It’s up to you, Kalin. It’s your choice,” Theodore said.

He shut his eyes and held on to his love, then nodded, sitting back.

They all began to eat, Sasha and Mark talking more about the King’s message. Kalin’s mind drifted. He was safe. They were safe. The threat was over. He told himself that was all that mattered. He told himself he didn’t need to be thanked.

He told himself a lot of things.

***

Kalin lay next to Regina in his room, gently kissing her neck. He held her to him, touching her, tasting her. He kissed her mouth, then moved his lips to her ear. She sighed in his arms, and he held her closer.

“Kalin,” she said breathlessly.

He murmured her name against her neck.

“Kalin, wait.”

He pulled back, gazing at her closely.

She put her hands on either side of his face, and bit her lip. “You’re amazing,” she said softly. “You need to know that. I can’t stand the thought of you thinking you don’t deserve to be thanked for what you’ve done. You don’t have to go forward, but you need to know in your heart you’re amazing. There’s no one like you. Don’t walk away from this thinking you could ever be any more than you are. You’re perfect just as you are.”

Kalin looked at her, his heart swelling, beating louder. He brushed her lips with his fingertips, then moved his hand down her neck, over her collarbone, onto the soft skin below. He could barely breathe. “I love you,” he whispered. “I always will. I could never love anyone more.” He kissed her, as if to punctuate his emotion. He kissed her because she was part of him. He kissed her because, even if he had nothing else, he had her. None of the rest mattered. Just her. Just her and him, together.

He ran his hands down her body, touching the soft skin at her side, hot beneath his hands. He began to undress her, slowly, carefully, kissing her all the while. She moaned in his arms, and he moved over her, his skin melting onto hers. He made love to her, the sensation exquisite, amazing. They moved together, sensually, passionately. He didn’t want it to end. He never wanted it to stop. Every part of him belonged to every part of her. They were one. And they always would be, forever.