The Song of Teardrops (Van Doren Series #3)

Chapter Forty-one

Brothers

"What is the meaning of this?!" King Lavislous repeated.

I jumped because of his voice. Mariin akong napapikit bago inabot ang braso ni Naeil na nakaharang sa akin bilang proteksyon at taas-noong hinarap si Haring Lavislous. Naeil reached for my hand, but I just shake my head at him, telling him that I'm now ready to handle this. To at least... try to discover whatever we have in our eyes, even if it means taking down a King.

"King Lavislous... it may sound impossible—for this may be the first time it has happened..." Napalunok ako. "B-But..."

"Naeil," King Lavislous hissed, not allowing me to finish my words. Nakatuon lang ang atensyon niya kay Naeil at mukhang walang interes na marinig ang sasabihin ko.

I glanced at Naeil. He wouldn't listen to me... He would only listen to his son.

"We could be bonded." Naeil spoke, tamed and without hesitation. Direktang nakatuon lang rin ang nanlalamig niyang mga mata sa ama niya.

King Lavislous let out a mischievous chuckle. He shook his head to Naeil. "Son, this goddess is deceiving you." Dinuro niya ako. "Whatever lie she made you believe—"

"Between the two of us, I was the first one who believed it. She didn't even know that her kind could also have bonds. Now, we can prove that to be true..." Naeil said calmly. I can tell he's trying to convince his father. As I would.

"Look at the stars and tell me what you see," the king pointed at the stars. "Did you see them turned red? Did you see them lit up for the both of you? Nakatayo na kayo mismo sa harapan ng mga ito, pero may nangyari ba? Wala... No, they did not glow, so do not fool yourself, Naeil."

"You do not know realms," Naeil answered. "Have you forgotten that only our consciousness travelled here? The stars do not affect us... But still, their power can flow—"

"Enough, Naeil..." King Lavislous snarled. "You are not bonded. How could a ravensiel have a goddess as his mate? This is a lie! We're here to protect the five kingdoms, not to serve those who oppose us!" He pointed at me.

"Forgive me..." Naeil whispered. I felt his hand slowly intertwined with mine. "But I cannot let you destroy those stars."

King Lavislous stared at him with such disappointment. Ilang sandali pa ay nag-alab ang katawan ng Hari, unti-unting lumabas muli ang kanyang kapangyarihan at ang kanyang mga pakpak. Nagbabadya siyang umangat sa hangin.

I would've stare at him. How his wings formed and how golden they are, but before I could see him on his true form, Naeil placed his arms around me.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang maanig ang pagbukas ng isa pang uri ng liwanag sa kanyang likuran. A portal... slowly building until it reached us. I felt a sudden force slowly pulling me to touch it. Kusang umangat ang kamay ko.

"Get them." Naeil whispered on my ear.

I shivered and breathed in before I let my hand shrink into the light.

It was only seconds when I felt another hand on the inside. Slowly, grasping mine. Hindi ako nakahinga dala ng gulat. Napaangat ang tingin ko kay Naeil. Binigyan niya lang ako ng tango at ginabayan ang isa kong kamay sa paghila. Mariin akong napapikit bago tinipon ang buong lakas at hinigit papalabas muli ang braso ko mula sa loob.

The light of the portal flickered. My hand slowly emerges out of it, along with another hand holding mine as if reaching for me. I recognized it was a man's hand. Begging me to pull him out.

Tinulungan ako ni Naeil sa paghila. Hanggang sa tuluyang niluwa ng liwanag ang dalawang pares ng mga pakpak. Bumitaw ang kamay sa akin at mistulang mga bituin rin silang umangat sa kadiliman ng kweba.