Expecting The Unexpected

Chapter 3

“s**t, and they have to be here to do this, don’t they?” Throg asked.

Nodding, Hron said, “It’s in our laws.”

“So you can introduce Zircon, Emerald, and Turquoise now, and then Jade and Topaz when they return,” Throg suggested.

“I don’t like doing something like this without my brothers here as well,” Turquoise grumbled.

“And if someone decides to demand you as mate? Hron would not be able to stop this if it were to happen, Turquoise. It is best to do this now, and then the second your brothers arrive, Hron can do it again for them.” Krerr stated.

Turquoise looked at Hron, “Fine, but after you do the introductions, then I expect you to tell us where Topaz and Dak are located.”

“No.” Hron simply replied.

“Damn it, Hron, he’s our brother and he needs us to help keep him safe!” Turquoise snapped.

Zircon nodded, saying, “And Jade is our brother as well, and we have a right to be there to help rescue him.”

Hron shook his head, “I gave my word to Topaz and I will not go back on it.”

“And we gave our word to our father that we would keep our brothers safe!” Turquoise snarled.

Emerald held up his hand, quieting his brother, calmly saying, “Explain that comment.” Emerald absently adding, “Please.”

“It’s simple. Topaz would only allow Dak to tell me where they were, if I promised not to allow you three to come and find them. Topaz said that he had to do this without your interference, and if you were brought in, you would force him home and he can help. Then, he told me how he could help. Imagine my surprise to know that we had a Nakaka in this very clutch that could help me understand what the hell might be happening, but instead was hidden away,” Hron stated, not sounding happy.

Turquoise sat forward, saying, “And your comment just now is what my father didn’t want for him. Topaz is a gentle and sweet soul. He doesn’t deserve to be used and then tossed aside when things don’t go the way you want them to.”

“That isn’t what happened, damn it!” Stok shouted.

isn’tHron held up his hand, stopping his father from saying anything else. Throg watched as Hron looked at the gem brothers. It was contemplative, and then he nodded, “You’re right. However, I’m going to say something that maybe will make you see things from our point of view. When Madam Pele and Aumakaua fell in love and created humans and then the Nakaka to protect them, they never thought that one day the humans would turn on the Nakaka. Your father warned

the ancients, and some ignored his predictions. However, some like my fathers did not, and went against everything to try and stop your father’s prediction. To have the humans come together with shifters and attack our clutch, killing so many, and then the Nakaka felt forced to leave, they had no idea how angry the gods would become, nor that they would take from us that which we hold most dear… our ability to find and join with our Viatas and create chickpeas to continue our line.”

“We know the story, Hron. It doesn’t change how you all would want to use our brother, or even take him from us,” Turquoise stated impatiently.

Hron’s lips tightened as his brows drew together, “Do not forget who you are speaking to, Turquoise. I’m giving you leeway only because I understand the stress you’re under right now, but I am Caliph and you may not like me, or this fact, but I don’t give a s**t. You will respect me because not only does my title say so, I have f*****g earned that respect.”

Turquoise eyes dropped, as he quietly said, “I apologize, Caliph. I’m just not understanding where this history lesson is going.”

“If you listen, you will know.” Throg stated firmly, understanding exactly where Hron was heading with this discussion.

“The devastation of so much loss affected the Nakaka in many ways. Some drew into themselves… went into hiding from not just humans, but from their own people as well. Some tried to pretend all was fine with them, when clearly it was not. Some decided to focus on their position in the clutch, and safety to all became their first and only priority.”

Throg did his best not to stiffen at that comment, and even though Throg knew Hron detected his unease, he continued speaking, “However, some became angry. With anger comes blame, and the angry Nakaka blamed your father. My fathers did the only thing they could think to do to keep your parents and you guys safe. You don’t have to like it, but it is what it is. There was too much building from all the loss to guarantee your safety. What none of them understood was that your father did exactly as the gods gifted him to do. It was the ignorance of others that caused our loss and our heartache. Not your father, or any of you,” Hron stated firmly.

“Thank you for that,” Emerald whispered.

Hron nodded, then continued, “When my Viata met with the gods and was given the choice to go into the ever after, or come back to the land of the living, they told him how they had tried many times to fix what they had done in a moment of anger. However, they had rules as well. Those rules demanded a sacrifice. So, my Viata came back to the land of the living, knowing he would be forever without his beautiful butterfly wings. He knew that there would be days he would still feel the pain of what Chantal and his freaks did to him, and he still wakes at night from nightmares. Granted they are getting fewer now, but the fact is, he still has them. Because of his sacrifice, I have my Viata and Khall has his, and Fates willing, you will have yours. We could never say this, if not for Petree’s willing sacrifice.”