Page 238 of Seasons of War
Zayne asked Reinard to find all the information he could and locate Miya immediately. Ashantae would already be searching for her. His friend was also trying to hack into the tracking system to locate Christopher, but he'd never accomplished that before without first having physical access to a person's chip. This was a highly secure system.
The timing of the escalation in Caspador and Miya's letter were not a coincidence. Did the Phaedra also know who Miya really was? Father would say during the meeting if so.
The High General finished replying to messages on his laptop and nodded at his sons. “The United learned about our plan to kill King Moress. One of our sources noticed they tightened security on the team and investigated. Though they weren't able to access all the information about the situation, they heard one of the captain's assets betrayed him. The Phaedra activated our plan for an invasion of Archai and the four cities closest to the palace after learning a discrete regime change wasn't possible.”
Luke seemed to measure his words. “Were you a part of the decision?”
Father closed his laptop. “No. I learned of it after Captain Garrison executed the governor and the first troops reached Archai. I did create this plan, but there'd been no discussion of pursuing it.”
It was unheard of for the Phaedra to initiate war plans without his High General. As was massive military intervention against a territory which had yet to declare their independence.
As Luke said before, their emperor never did anything for only one reason. Zayne's heart hardened. “The Phaedra killed Mom so he could invade Caspador without you stopping him.”
Father locked his lethal stare on Zayne, rose from his chair, and leaned against the table. But he did not speak, not yet, because he must have thought those glares still worked on Zayne.
Luke bowed forward, the heartbreak twisting his face before he caught himself and straightened his expression into a stoic mask.
“I will strip you of your rank, your honors, and your service weapons.” The High General glowered. “And end your military career today if you do not stop this madness.”
That would make it hard to break Kira out of prison, but he wasn't surrendering that easily. Zayne stood to match Father's posture, glaring with all the fury begging to be released. “You need one of us to be High General. Stop treating us like children. We'll speak honestly from now on.”
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” His father whispered the words in a strained voice that verged on breaking into a full roar.
“I'm your fucking son.” He slammed his palm against the table. “I'm the one the Phaedra wants for High General. I'm not a scared boy stuck in a tank. I'm who you built me to be.”
Luke controlled his emotions so well that Zayne couldn't read his feelings when he spoke. “Zayne is right. Stop protecting us. You never could, and it's time to give up on trying.”
“Your mom just died.” Pain gripped Father's voice. “You need more time.”
“No, we don't,” Zayne said. “We need to manage an emperor who is escalating out of your control. You can't do this alone anymore, and there's no time to stop and grieve. That's how we ended up invading Caspador.”
Luke lifted his hand to Father's seat. “Please. You're also heartbroken. Sit and give yourself a few moments to calm down.”
The High General's wrath turned to Luke, but it didn't last long before fading to a solemn frown. “I love you both more than I knew I could love anyone.” He bared his gritted teeth, speaking through pain. “I loved Adelle that way. You may not see it, but I've tried with all that I am to be the best High General and father I could be. This isn't what I want for you.”
“The Phaedra already owns us,” Zayne said. “He took us the day we were born. You were never going to stop this while in Ciondo. I know you're afraid I'll get myself into trouble again, but I know exactly what I'm doing. It's time for you to trust me to build on your work and finish this job.”
He wasn't lying. Father failed to hold the Phaedra in check. He failed as a parent and husband. He failed the entire empire. But Zayne had been following those same failures despite also trying his best. And now, even though he was prepared to do what his father likely feared most, the only choice for a true High General was to betray the Phaedra. To save the empire.
His father watched him in a way he never had, not as a soldier to command, or a son to discipline, or an heir to raise. He was listening.
“From now on, all three of us fight together, even when we don't agree.” Zayne remained standing, looking between the two men. “Even when we're on opposite sides, we put the empire first and use everything we have to save our people.” He looked at Luke. “You know this has become too much of a game for the Phaedra.” And now his eyes shifted to Father. “You know he's destroying his people. We're not pretending any longer.”
When Zayne sat, his father continued standing for several seconds, the weight against his hands no longer domineering but exhausted. “What did the Phaedra say to you?”
“That you gave yourself to him in exchange for me and Mom because I almost got us both killed when I was a boy.”
Luke's forehead tightened, hands curling.
Father fell into his chair. “It wasn't your fault.”
“Fault is a useless word. What does fault matter? Culpability is all we should care about. I may not have been culpable then. I was a child in a war I didn't understand. Things are different now. We're all different, and so is the Phaedra.”
If Zayne survived this, he'd never sit across the table from his father and brother as a part of the family, a member of the Phaedra's inner circle, as one of them. He'd stand across enemy lines. But even when they waged war against each other, they still had to fight together at some level, by transcending sides and allegiances, and doing what the people needed.
Zayne wouldn't convince them to betray the Phaedra, but he could plead with them to better honor this empire.
“I'm sorry I haven't been the man I needed to be,” he said. “I'm sorry Mom won't be here to see who I become.” The words hollowed him out. “If I didn't get so lost, she might be here today. And that's true for you both as well. You're lost too. Especially you, Dad. We failed her.”
