Son of No One (17 page)

A family that wanted nothing to do with him.

Aching for the boy, Thorn narrowed his eyes as a new thought came to him with this new nugget. “Simi? Can you relay that to Acheron? Tell him to bring Talon?”

“Okies, sure, akri-Thorn.”

He handed her the key he'd used to bring them in. “You'll need this.”

She took it and flew off toward the portal.

Thorn turned back toward Cadegan. “I don't understand. If they can't drain your powers, what happened to your mother when she came here? I always assumed she became a midling.”

Cadegan rolled his eyes. “Morgen turned her to stone. She still lives … as a permeant resident in Morgen's garden of people who pissed her off.”

“What?”

He passed an agitated stare to Thorn. “She came to reclaim me shield, and leave me here defenseless against them all. Only she couldn't take it from me, as she'd given it to Brother Eurig on me birth, and he'd given it to me when I was forced to war. Only the true owner can transfer it. It must be given, never stolen or taken.”

“She came to free you. She told me as much.”

“Nay. Only as a matter of negotiation. She came for the shield first, and she told me as much. She didn't trust me to keep me word that I wouldn't give it over to them.” He let out a short, bitter laugh. “I learned her good on that, didn't I? She wasn't the first to make that offer to me. And she wasn't the last. And still I have me shield. 'Tis the only thing ever given to me I didn't bleed for.”

“I don't understand. Why didn't you give it to her when she came for it? You could have been free.”

“Free?” He raked a sneer over Thorn's body and shook his head. “It's all what ever protected me without fail. Why would I let it go, and be with nothing?”

Thorn didn't want to think about that. “Where's the shield now?”

“As if I'd
ever
tell
you
? I'll go to me grave with it. Then the rest of you can fight for it, for all I care.”

Thorn sighed as Cadegan moved at almost a run to get to Jo. He would use his powers to teleport them, but since he didn't know the castle, he could do them more harm than good. It wasn't worth the risk.

And as they hurried, in the back of his mind, he saw the boy as Cadegan had been on the day they first met.

Barely a man, Cadegan had been captured by a group of demons Thorn had been chasing. He'd finally caught up to them and thought it was a mere mortal they held.

As he'd entered their camp, he found Cadegan chained and bleeding from where the demons had tried to torture him for information on his grandfather's shield. Because he'd been unaware of his true birth in those days, Cadegan had no idea of the powers within him. No idea how to fight the demons who'd been sent for him and Dagda's Shield.

With a courage that baffled Thorn to this day, Cadegan had been defiantly trying to break free. And when those hate-filled, furious blue eyes had looked into his, he'd seen Cadegan's father in the boy.

Had felt the untapped powers Cadegan would one day wield.

For either good or evil. Cadegan's choice alone.

Thorn had killed the demons with ease and freed the lad, even though his common sense had told him to cut Cadegan's throat before he learned the truth of his birthright and used it against humanity. It was what he'd promised Cadegan's mother he'd do should the boy ever escape his monastery.

It was something that needed to be done now that Cadegan had taken human life.

Yet no matter how much he tried, how much he knew it'd be for the best to kill the lad there and then, he'd decided to recruit Cadegan instead.

Rubbing his wrists, Cadegan had eyed him with suspicion.

“Who are you?”

“I'm called Leucious of the Brakadians.”

“I don't know your people.”

“You should know them.”

“Why?”

“Because I'm your older brother.”

Cadegan had stood and moved away. “You lie. I have no family.”

“Aye, you do. Our mothers are different, but we have the same father.”

Scoffing, Cadegan had reclaimed his sword and dagger from the remains of the demons. “I have no father. I'm bastard-born.”

“Everyone has a father, otherwise you wouldn't exist.”

Cadegan had moved to saddle his horse. “I appreciate your aid, but I needs find me lord and report in afore they mark me off as a deserter.”

“What if I gave you another army to fight for? A far nobler cause?”

Cadegan had completely disregarded his offer. “I can think of nothing nobler than driving the Mercian
cythral
from good Cymru lands.”

“There's a much darker threat to your people than just the Mercians and Saxons. One that won't stop until it lays waste to this earth and holds all of humanity in thrall.”

Cadegan shook his head before he swung up into his saddle. “I'm sure you can find others to fight your battles.”

Thorn had grabbed the horse's bridle to keep Cadegan from leaving. “Nay, lad. This enemy requires warriors with very special skills and breeding. We are few and they are legion. And I'm always looking for good, worthy men to join my army.”

“And who do you fight?”

“Our father and those he, and others like him, send out to do their bidding.”

Cadegan had scowled. “I don't understand.”

Thorn had allowed his eyes to turn to their natural demon red.

Cursing, Cadegan had crossed himself and tried to spur his horse.

But Thorn had held him. “I am not your enemy, brother. Like you, I was conceived by our father to wage war upon the world of man. To conquer anyone who got in my way. It's why you're undefeated in battle. Have you never once wondered why you have an unholy skill for war?”

The narrowing of Cadegan's eyes had told him that he was right.

“For a time, I mindlessly served our father. Until I couldn't do it anymore. Humans need our protection, not our ownership. We fight for all the children like us. Those who only want to live in peace and to have family.”

Cadegan had scoffed bitterly at him. “I know nothing of family.”

“Join me and I will change that. I will be the family you have prayed for. And I will stand at your back, and never fail to protect it.” He'd held his hand out toward Cadegan. “Family defends each other. In all things.”

Indecision had darkened his brow. “Everyone has abandoned me. Why should I put faith in
you
?”

“Because I won't throw you away, little brother. Not for anything. I will always be here for you. Come with me, Cadegan. I will show you how to master your powers and use them for good. How to stamp down the darkness that begs for your soul with every breath you take. We do not have to be the monsters we were created to be. No one determines our futures, save us.”

Still, Cadegan had hesitated. Finally, he spoke. “Know that I don't trust lightly or with ease. But I will put my faith in you, Leucious. Do not betray it, for I will not be forgiving if you do.”

“And I am putting mine in you, as well. Know that if you betray me, I will rain down a hell's wrath upon you so severe, you will beg me for death.”

Thorn winced as he realized how justified Cadegan was to hate him. He'd fulfilled the wrong promise. Instead of seeing Cadegan's true heart, he'd let fear and prejudice blind him.

In the bitter end, he'd been no better than the rest. Cadegan was right. He should have killed him, rather than imprison him here in this bleak, hopeless hole. But he'd hoped that he could one day forgive Cadegan.

And so years had passed with him longing for Cadegan at his side again. With him hoping he'd find the strength to put the past behind them and move forward.

Yet every time he'd started to let Cadegan out, he'd reminded himself that the boy had coldly murdered three human beings. Cadegan had to be punished for that. Not just for the sake of his own soul, but to make sure that none of the others Thorn commanded dared to breech their oaths to him. Cadegan had served as a needed example that no one would be immune from punishment. No matter their excuse.

Now that he was with the lad again, he remembered why he'd always sought Cadegan's company while they fought together. What he'd missed most once it was gone.

There was a quiet comfort Cadegan possessed that was contagious. An accepting serenity from within that kept him from complaining or accusing others. Rather, he focused his attention on what needed to be done and what he was doing.

He only hung on to betrayals. And only so that he'd keep from ever trusting his betrayer again.

Fool me once, shame on you.

Fool me twice, shame on me.

Cadegan broke out into a run as they reached the castle grounds, leaving Thorn to keep pace.

As he approached the gate, four sharoc confronted him.

“Out of my way!” Cadegan snarled.

They refused to move.

“Gwyn!” he shouted up at the parapets. “You'd best open this gate, or so help me…”

The king appeared right in front of him. He passed a smug look from Thorn to Cadegan. “You're too late, demon.”

“Meaning?”

“She's gone.”

Thorn watched the horror play across Cadegan's face as he digested those words. “Explain yourself.”

Gwyn gave him an insidious smile. “Morgen could never break you. But once I knew you had a woman you were bonded to, it was an easy thing to switch you out with her while you were here. However, I thought it would be more challenging to get her to Morgen, but once you vanished … easy enough.”

“She's with Morgen?”

“That she is.”

 

11

Cadegan turned on Leucious with a furious growl. “You'd best be glad, you goat dick, that I'm too much of a lady to slap you.”

The bastard had the nerve to laugh.

Shoving him out of his way, Cadegan started to leave, then turned back. “I want two of your Adar Llwch Gwin
,
” he demanded of the king.

Gwyn laughed at him, too. “You're in no position to make
any
demands on me. You've nothing to barter or threaten with now.”

Before Cadegan could punch the impudent louse, Leucious stepped forward. “That's completely untrue.”

“How so?”

Leucious threw his arm out and used his powers to bring Gwyn into his massive paw of a hand. “He has a perpetually pissed older brother who has no compunctions about ripping off body parts you will miss … and often. Now give him whatever it is he wants, or I'm going to ruin the rest of your life. Might even shorten it to three minutes. Maybe less.”

Cadegan snorted. “Trust me, he's good at ruining lives and shedding no tears for it. At all.”

Leucious scowled at him over his shoulder.

“Well, you are. Just agreeing with you.”

Leucious slung the sharoc away. “Fetch the blah-blah-blue-bluch whatever for him.”

“Adar Llwch Gwin,” Cadegan repeated.

Thorn rolled his eyes. “Easy for you to say.”

“I never understood your reluctance to learn Cymraeg given that shite you speak, that
no
one else knows.”

“Not true. Acheron, Simi, and Savitar all speak it. As does our grandfather.”

“Talk to him much, do you?”

“Avoid it like leaking crotch-pox.” Leucious frowned even more as he watched Gwyn slam his hand against the stone wall of his castle. Instantly, two of the muscled gryphons broke away from their perches on the parapets and took corporeal form.

“Happy?” Gwyn asked Leucious.

“Delirious. An emotion I usually celebrate by sautéing the entrails of any paranormal annoyance around me.” Leucious raked a meaningful glare over Gwyn, but spoke to Cadegan. “And behold, little brother, the gods have gifted me with dinner.”

Cadegan had never seen the king beat a hastier retreat.

Trying not to be amused or impressed, Cadegan approached the Adar Llwch Gwin nearest him, and held his hand out so that the beast could catch his scent. “We'll be needing saddles to ride.”

The Adar Llwch Gwin he chose raked a most salacious smile over him as the saddle instantly appeared on his back. “Hello, beautiful. Just wrap those long, sexy legs around me and I'll ride you anywhere, any time you want.”

Cadegan grimaced at a double entendre that disgusted him. “I'll be using the other one.” He slapped Leucious on the arm. “This one's all yours. Go ahead, brother, wrap your long, sexy legs right around his waist and ride him all night long.”

Leucious screwed his face up in repugnance.

The Adar Llwch Gwin Cadegan had spurned followed after him. “Wait! Bring that sassy walk back over here. I'm the stronger of the two of us. I can protect you a lot better, baby. C'mon, don't be that way. I can carry you in my arms, on my back. Take me any way you want me, sexy. I am
all
yours.”

“Oh, shut it, Talfryn,” the other Adar Llwch Gwin grumbled. “Can't you see she has no use for you.” He bowed low. “I'm Ioan, my lady.”

Leucious burst out laughing.

Cadegan had never wanted to commit murder so badly in all his long existence. “I swear, Leucious, when I have me body back, I'm going to kick your ass until me boots are oiled with your blood.”

And still the bastard laughed.

Ioan scowled. “What's this?”

Cadegan took the reins before he mounted the winged beast. “I'm not really female. This is me lady's body. We're off to save her.” He glared at Talfryn. “And you should be saying a prayer of thanks that it's me you're speaking to. Had you taken that tone to her, I'd be strangling the sharoc king over your bleeding corpse for a new Adar Llwch Gwin.”

Talfryn sobered instantly.

Until Leucious took the saddle, then he acted as if he were dying. “Och! What are you made of, stone? One word for you, man … diet. Lay off the brisket and brewskis. Have you missed the e-mail? Steroids are really bad for your equipment.”