Chains of Paradise

Chapter Nine: A Father's Duty

It had been another long day, and Kal was already feeling the weight of his servitude. He had been working tirelessly since dawn, hauling heavy stones and tending to the repairs on the palace grounds. His muscles burned, his body screamed for rest, but there was no respite for him. As the sun dipped below the horizon, he was ready to return to his chamber for what little rest he could find before the next day's labor began.

But that night, Diana had other plans for him.

She found him in the courtyard as the last rays of sunlight disappeared behind the horizon. Kal was about to head back when he saw her approach. She moved with purpose, her eyes scanning the courtyard before they locked on him. There was a certain intensity in her gaze that made Kal's heart skip a beat.

"Diana?" he asked, a mix of surprise and curiosity in his voice. She rarely approached him openly during the day, especially when others could see them.

"I need your help," Diana said, her voice firm but with a hint of something softer beneath the surface.

Kal frowned, looking around. "Now? What kind of help?"

Diana gave him a small smile, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Just come with me. You'll see."

Kal hesitated for a moment before nodding. He trusted Diana, and her presence was a welcome relief from the endless toil that filled his days. He followed her, his curiosity growing as she led him away from the courtyard and deeper into the gardens of the palace.

When they arrived at a secluded clearing, Kal stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening at what he saw. His daughters were there, their laughter filling the air as they played among the flowers. And they weren't alone. Their mothers—those Amazons who had been chosen to bear his children—were also there, watching over them with gentle smiles.

Kal turned to Diana, his confusion evident. "Diana, what is this?"

Diana smiled, her eyes softening as she looked at him. "Your daughters need you, Kal. They need their father. And I thought you could use a break from all the work. So I told the others that I needed your help with something important."

Kal's heart swelled with emotion as he looked at his daughters, their bright eyes lighting up when they noticed him. One of them ran toward him, her laughter echoing through the garden. He knelt down, opening his arms as she threw herself into his embrace.

"Father!" she cried, her small arms wrapping around his neck.

Kal held her close, his eyes closing as he savored the moment. "I'm here, sweetheart," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. He looked up, his eyes meeting those of the Amazon standing nearby—the mother of the child in his arms.

The Amazon, whose name was Althea, gave him a small nod, her expression softening. "Diana thought it would be good for all of us to spend some time together," she said quietly, her voice gentle. "The children miss you, Kal. And... I think we've all realized how important you are to them."

Kal looked at Althea, his eyes searching hers. He could see the truth in her words, the warmth that had grown between them over the years. Though their relationship had begun as something forced upon them, there was now a sense of understanding, a bond formed through their shared love for their daughter.

"Thank you, Althea," Kal said, his voice filled with sincerity. He looked at the other Amazons, each of them watching him with a similar expression—soft, understanding, perhaps even a hint of affection. It was a far cry from the cold, distant demeanor they had once held toward him.

Diana stepped closer, her eyes glancing between Kal and the Amazons. "You deserve this, Kal," she said softly. "You deserve to be with your children, and they deserve to have their father. Even if it's only for a little while."