Shadows Whisper | | Azriel

60

Vyn really wasn't expecting the High Lord and the General to show up at his door, but when they did, he knew he had Keir to thank for it. He knew how to handle it already, wearing a grave expression with misery dulling his icy blue eyes.

"I won't pretend to not know why you're here," he said, his tone giving away nothing, "I know about my sister's child. I didn't learn until recently but I understand if you can't believe that."

"What did you do when you found out?" Rhys asked, trying to discern whether or not this was the truth.

"Shortly after my sister...after her death," Vyn replied, surprising both Rhys and Cassian with the tears that pricked at his eyes. The misery there looked so real. "I heard the rumors and I didn't want to believe it but...if you're here, it has to be the truth."

"Your sister hid her pregnancy from you?" Cassian spoke up, his state assessing as he searched for any sign of dishonesty.

"No," Vyn answered, sadness glimmering in his eyes, "I knew she had been pregnant, but she told me the baby didn't survive birth—that something had gone wrong and the child died. And she certainly didn't tell me the High Lord at the time was the baby's father. She wouldn't tell me anything about who the father was."

Rhys, still fresh from the pain of finding out another horror his sister had suffered, couldn't help but believe that devastation and guilt in Vyn's voice and eyes.

"I love my sister," Vyn spoke again, "she did terrible things that I won't ever be able to understand, but I love her. I think...maybe she may have been different if I had done more for her, if I had been a better brother."

"The burden of her crimes isn't yours to bear," Rhys said, trying to ignore the sting of Vyn's words. If I had been a better brother.

Vyn let a few tears slip out, but wiped them away quickly as if he was ashamed at letting them fall.

"I understand if the answer is no," Vyn started, his breathing slightly shaky, "but if she's...if it would be okay with her and you, I'd like to meet my niece."

"What did you mean by if you had been a better brother?" Cassian chimed in again, knowing those words had impacted Rhys. Could that really be a coincidence?

Another all too real flash of guilt went through his eyes.

"Our father arranged a marriage for her," Vyn answered, his voice so heavy with that guilt and sadness, "she begged me to help prevent it but...there was nothing I could do. I tried but it wasn't enough. She was forced into that marriage."

"I wasn't aware she was married," Rhys muttered, now considering the possibility that her husband could be involved.

"Her husband died a long time ago," Vyn responded, "someone poisoned him."

"Your sister killed him?" Cassian concluded, eyebrow raised.

"No," Vyn dismissed, straightening up his posture and holding the General's stare, "I did. He put his hands on my sister after forcing her into a marriage. I couldn't save her from the marriage but I got her out of it."

"The world's better off for it," Cassian muttered, easing up slightly at the confession. It was the truth—Vyn knew to keep truths in his stories, so he gave this one truth. He left out the part where he ended up finding out his sister lied about her husband hitting her to trick him into killing the male.

"I'll speak to my sister and see if she's willing to meet you," Rhys told Vyn, "I don't know when I'll see her next. She's with her mate now but when she comes home, I'll ask her if she would consider it."

"She...my niece has a mate?" Vyn asked, feigning shock so expertly. "Is it...is he a good male? Is he kind to her?"

"He's good," Rhys confirmed with a nod, "he cares for her and he's kind to her."

Vyn nodded, his throat bobbing slightly.

"If she doesn't want to meet me and I can't say it myself...please tell her I'm sorry I failed her," he requested, eyes once again teary. "Tell her I'm sorry I didn't protect her."

"I'll tell her," Rhys promised, "if you ever...if you ever decide you want to leave this place, let me know."

"Is there truly somewhere better?" Vyn asked, sounding fearful of his own hope. "I don't mean to be insulting to your Court but...this place isn't built for anyone with an ounce of love or kindness in them."

"There is better," Rhys assured him, "you're welcome to see it if you choose to."

"I'd be eternally grateful for the opportunity to build a life away from here," he spoke softly, "it would be an honor."

"I'll get some living arrangements worked out for you and get you when it's set," Rhys said, forcing a smile, "I'll see you again soon."

"Thank you," Vyn muttered, tears falling freely now, "thank you so much, High Lord."