The Future King and the Commander's Daughter

Ripples Pt. 3

I huffed, “Yeah, I know. We were all so excited though.” He cupped my face, “You don’t need to feel guilty about their death. Sometimes our time is just up.” I whispered, “But hers was supposed to be just beginning.” He held me in his arms swaying us back and forth. He agreed, “I know it was. I would give anything to give her back to you.” I pressed my face into his chest letting his strength surround me.

Eventually, I pushed back. I said, “We should go deliver the letters.” He replied, “They are together so it will be easy.” I shouldn't be surprised Lief came to console his brother. We walked hand in hand through the hallways instead of portaling.

We found Titus, Veronica, Ragor, Zader, Rashe, Lief, and his mate Myla together. Myla was wiping her tears with everyone else. They all had whiskey. Bjourn greeted, “Hello, we have some news.” Veronica smiled, “Are you expecting again? Because I feel like that was an oops or my son has had some personal growth.” Bjourn shot her an annoyed look while I chuckled.

Veronica teased, “I thought not. What’s going on?” Bjourn sent me his feelings in the bond. He wanted to know if I wanted to tell them or not. He’d do it, but I was the one who found them. I stepped forward with the letters and handed them to Lief, Titus, and Ragor. Lief whispered, “Benny. This is Benny’s handwriting.”

I admitted, “He’s helped me a time or two on a mission.” Titus said, “Which means Bjourn knows him. He would have tracked down someone who helped you.” Bjourn admitted, “He has helped me too.” Ragor chided, “I think your mission files didn’t mention that.” Bjourn shrugged, “A lot of things seem to not be mentioned about that side of the family.” His tone and feelings had a bitterness to them.

I grabbed his hand. I said, “I’d seen him in an area a few times and took a hunch he’d be around. I’m sure you have a drop there, but I thought I could convince him to come home.” Ragor’s eyes dropped, “He feels as resolute as he always has. He’s not coming home.”

I comforted, “He seems to believe he has something he has to get done before he comes home. It sounds like he plans to come back one day.” Ragor clapped Lief on the back, “Maybe you’ll see our nephew again, brother.” We all winced. Bjourn said, “I’m working on cures, Grandpa. You’re in remission.”

He shrugged, “The sun doesn’t shine without Ramilda. I don’t know what I’ll do tomorrow when she’s not needling me to go take a walk and get some sunshine because I’m starting to look like a vampire. Or ask me to wheel her around the gardens. Her voice and presence are ingrained into my very being. We had centuries together, we walked through the flames of this life and came out on the other side. She’s my partner in life. She got me through Magnus and his family’s death. She encouraged me to let Benny forge his path.”

He started to cry, “I wanted to wrap that boy up tight and never let another thing in this realm touch him. He had to go and find his way in this world to figure out how to live with the bonds leaving him like they did.”

Bjourn argued, “You both felt it too. All of you did, but especially you two.” He was looking at Ragor and Lief. Lief agreed, “We did. Feeling them leave all like that was devastating, but he was there. Your dad saved him. Magnus’ body was on top of him. Our brother shielded his child to give him a chance, but Benny saw it. He witnessed what happened. I don’t know what he remembers of that day. I know he lied about what he knew. We all knew he did. I just never figured out if he needed to lie to himself or if he wasn’t ready to live it again.”

Veronica took Titus’ hand. Bjourn argued, “He should be with us. We could help him.” Titus sighed, “He’s well past the age of an adult. We all tell him that at our drops. I’m certain you’ve angrily told him the same if you’ve seen him around.” Bjourn’s jaw ticked. Lief laughed, “I’d just bet if I checked your missions I’d understand the jolt of amusement he gets sometimes. You amuse him and he likes you. He’s happy, we know that. He has bad days, but…”

Titus said, “He has someone who makes him happy. I don’t know if she’s his fated or chosen. Though I guess his gender preference could've changed.” Lief and Ragor howled with laughter. Ragor said, “Benny was firmly in the camp of adoring women. I very much doubt his mate is male.” Titus shrugged, “Was it…?”

Lief laughed, “He used the fact he was the youngest in the family a lot around women. He was a fierce warrior and they loved that about him. He was quite smooth, he just got a little stubborn around you boys because you saw him as a cute little brother. He was suave though.” Titus sighed, “I wish I’d have seen that side of him.”

Bjourn was filled with bitterness and anger. Titus looked at him. Eventually everyone did. Veronica stood, “Bjourn…” He yelled, “He’s running from our family and his life! From who he is. He’s a damn coward!” I reached for him. Zader argued, “No, he’s not.”

Bjourn scoffed, “From what’s been said, yes he is. Unless he’s on some secret mission you haven’t filled me in on then he is. He knows you long to see him. He knows you’d meet him outside this realm. He knows grandpa is dying and he doesn’t f*****g care. I understand he’s grieving and that will never truly go away. He saw horrible things, but instead of leaning into family he went off on his own. Great. Fine. Run from your problems. It’s a natural response, but for this long? To refuse to even see any of you? No, he’s a coward. Or he’s on a long running mission. Which is it?”

Ragor frowned, “It’s not quite that cut and dry.” Bjourn argued, “It actually is. As the one who didn’t grow up with him I have the perspective you don’t. Dad and Uncle Zader still see him as a younger brother. Grandpa and Great Uncle Lief want to give him a pass because he went through a trauma and he’s your nephew. I’ve seen our people go through traumatic things. Maybe not like he has, I wasn’t born when it happened. This is just too long to run from our name and who we are as people.”

Lief said, “I trust Benny. If he’s staying away he has a good reason.” Bjourn shot back, “Unless it’s a mission it’s not good enough.” Ragor admitted, “I didn’t send him out.” Titus acknowledged, “I didn’t either, but there is something you don’t know about him.” Bjourn asked, “What’s that?” Titus said, “He fiercely loves this family. If he thinks there’s something out there he needs to get done then he will. Then he will come home and bring who has been making him happy.”

Bjourn shrugged, “Then I hope he comes while you are King, because I don’t think I have anything nice to say to him anymore.” I rubbed his back. Titus said, “It’s a little raw to discuss when we just lost your grandma.” I asked, “Are there other bonds with his? Does he have kids?” They glanced at each other, which told me the answer was yes. If Bjourn tried hard enough he could feel them.

He scoffed, “He sounds great.” I tried, “He could be scared to have them here. He lost everything where he should’ve been safe.” Bjourn reiterated, “We could and would go to him if he asked. Not even those of us he doesn’t know. He feels some sort of tie and he has a way to know where we are. Me, he can feel if he wants to. You though, how does he know where you are?” He glanced at his dad who looked perplexed.

Ragor said, “He had a sign on to the system just like everyone else.” Bjourn said, “That kind of proves my point, he's using our resources.” Veronica said, “Which suggests he’s working on something.” Bjourn ground his teeth, “Sure, but we’d help.”

She stood and cupped his face, “He hurt you. You feel his refusal to come home is a rejection of your request.” Bjourn replied, “He hurt this family by refusing our help and refusing to answer a simple question. He’s out there helping like he thinks he’s Robin Hood or something. Grandma would’ve loved to see him and he knows it. He’s selfish.” I said, “We should all get some sleep and discuss this another time.” I grabbed him and left them there.

I opened a portal to the gym. He laughed, “I don’t think this is where we get sleep.” I tossed him a bamboo stick and grabbed my own. We got into the ring. I taunted, “Videamus quid habes, mi rex (Let's see what you've got, my King).”

He chuckled, “Stella mea significat me avocare pugnando et stupri. Ambitiosus adhuc est, sed ego hanc provocationem deiecisti. Ego te in hac mat (My star means to distract me by fighting and f*****g. He's still selfish but I accept this challenge you've thrown down. I'll take you on this mat).” I teased, “Promissa, Promissa (Promises, Promises).” I’d get him to calm down then we’d sleep a little before breaking the news to the rest of our boys. I just had to be my King’s soul first. Just as his Grandma asked me to be.

Sad knowing what we know about Hetti. Easy to see how even in solid relationships you can keep your pain back. Love that Bjourn can pick it up and let her know he has her back, always. What do you think of Ramilda's last words to Astrid? Did Alania have anything to do with Gunner and Harper's first mission going bad? Or do the Hackura just LOATHE her at this point? LUCIFER HAS ARRIVED ;) Were you expecting his story? I love him and Iblis' friendship along with Bjourn. Do you agree with Lucifer's thoughts and why he left? Benny is out there still and Bjorn is PISSED. What do you think about Benny and Bjourn's sides of it all?