Ashes Of The Throne | Part I

Chapter 74 | Late Evening | Don't Act Like I Didn't Fight For You

Mya clutched Mackenzie's hand tightly as they navigated their way toward Richie in one of the main halls of Allegiant. Disdain flashed in her eyes as she observed that sorry excuse for a human being. Her voice echoed through the deserted evening hallways.

"Does your influence know no bounds?"

Richie pivoted at the snap of that familiar voice. Only one person he had ever encountered could muster such a high level of annoyance.

It was a new reality for both of them. In the past, she would wait for Richie at the docks of her former home base, and he would fly in then fly out with their daughter. However, now that they were both residing back at Allegiant, immediate interactions were unavoidable. With mandated counseling sessions reinstated under Teddy's watchful eye, each meeting left them seething with frustration. 

The two figures exuded vehement fury as they stood together, drawing the attention of a few passing soldiers. It was evident that they could barely conceal their mutual disdain, and even on the best of days, they struggled to tolerate each other's minimal presence.

A carefully structured schedule governed their interactions, and Richie had been eagerly anticipating the arrival of the pair that evening. However, it became apparent that the mother of his child was not in a pleasant mood as she encountered him.

As soon as Mackenzie spotted her father, she released Mya's hand and dashed into his waiting arms. Richie knelt down to greet his daughter, embracing her tightly. He continued to hold her in his arms as he rose from the floor.

"Mac-bear, what's your mother on about?" Richie asked his daughter, unfazed by Mya's appearance.

Mackenzie, despite her young age, was remarkably direct with her words and grasped the intricacies of her parents' relationship. "Ohhh, Mommy's upset," she sing-songed, fully aware of what would unfold next.

Growing up between academies and overhearing discussions among the older soldiers she hung around with, she was acutely aware that she was among the few who still had both of her parents around. However, this didn't promise a happy ending. She knew that her parents harbored a bitter resentment towards each other, and no matter how many times she asked, both stubbornly refused to disclose the details of where it all went wrong. The only name she ever heard was 'Jacob,' and her mother broke down hysterically the first time she said his name.

She never uttered his name again after that, but she knew it was someone that she really loved.

"Then Mommy should go be upset somewhere else," Mackenzie declared.

Mac turned her head toward Mya, a cheeky smile lighting up her face. "Daddy said."

"I heard what he said!" Mya sighed at the parrot-like tendency her daughter had developed.

"Do you think it's fun messing with my life? Just because you found out about Sawyer and me, all of a sudden you're at him like a bulldog, to the point you're changing our schedules for the war games! This is soooo typically you!"

"Perhaps," Richie retorted to his former partner, who had recently been concealing her new relationship from him, aware of the sensitive situation. "You should, however, be directing your questions to our Commander or, better yet, our Headmaster. Did you forget that they set the rosters and schedules?"

Of course, he was pissed off. Why the hell did Sawyer think it was appropriate to date his ex-missus, let alone sleep with her? Who gave him the goddamn right to cross the line like that?

"Stay out of my life!" Mya roared, her rage reaching a boiling point. "Stop thinking you have a say in it! You gave up that right a long time ago!"

"Mommy!" Mackenzie yelled, her tiny heart racing with fear.