Page 225 of Savage Throne
He watched me. “Did your mother tell you to change swords?”
“Yes.” My throat went tight.
More tears left his eyes. “I don’t deserveherlove either.”
For the first time tonight, I saw my father—not as the monster who had haunted my life, but as a man.
A broken, defeated man.
The world narrowed to the sound of my father’s ragged breathing and the weight of Soaring Precious in my hands.
A knot of tension gathered in my shoulders.
“I tried desperately to make you my son and shape you with violence and death, but in the end. . .” My father coughed wetly. More blood bubbled at the corner of his mouth. “You are your mother’s son.”
Those tears finally left my eyes and I gazed at her face as she beamed up at me with so much pride. “I am my mother’s son.”
“Thank God. The East may be better because of it.” He turned his gaze back to the sword. “What will Soaring Precious’sfinaljudgment of me be?”
“We’ll see.” I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat threatening to choke me.
For a moment, silence stretched between us.
Then, he spoke again, and his voice trembled with an unfamiliar vulnerability. “I’m. . . sorry.”
My very soul shivered.
The words hit me like a blow, so unexpected that they knocked the breath from my lungs. I couldn’t think of a moment in my entire life when my father had everseriouslyapologized—not to my mother, not to me, not to anyone.
Tears rolled down his bloodied face, mingling with the dirt and grime. “I wanted you to be happy with Monique. . .I did. . .but I think. . .in the end. . .I got so afraid of death. . .and the possibility of hell. . .I figured, why not just try to enjoy heaven on Earth.”
Slowly, Moni lowered the gun and her eyes glistened with unshed tears.
I pressed the blade of Soaring Precious next to my father’s neck but didn’t pierce his skin. “I. . .”
The words caught in my throat, strangled by emotion.
I wanted to tell him that I loved him, that despite everything, some part of me still yearned for his love.
But my heart hurt too much.
He closed his eyes. “I love you too, son.”
Moni sniffled beside me and her presence grounded my soul with what must be done.
Okay. It’s time.
Slowly, I pushed the blade against his skin.
The ghosts disappeared.
To my utter shock. . .Soaring Precious emitted a loud melodious sound.
What the fuck?
I hadn’t even cut an inch into his neck before the sword began to sing even louder and it was a mournful, haunting melody.
Beautiful.
