Along with Felis, Taiyi reached the camp with thick emotions whirling across her mind. The night was nearing an end and she knew that she had to leave.
They reached the tent and Taiyi once again snapped her fingers to surround themselves with thick mist so that the sound didn't percolate out.
"Thank you," she said in a soft voice once she sat on the edge of the bed.
"I would have done it earlier if I had known..." he said. "Does Eltanin know?" he mocked.
"No..."
"You mean Eltanin doesn't know about Menkar at all?" he asked, his eyes growing wide.
"No..."
Felis sank in his chair as he continued to gaze at his mother. "That means Eltanin doesn't know that I am his elder brother?" He couldn't believe that.
"No..." Taiyi bit her bottom lip, lowering her gaze to her lap where she had intertwined her fingers.New novel chapters are published on
"Calaman's horns!" He stabbed his fingers in his hair. He let out a chuckle which converted into a deep throaty laughter. When he stopped, he looked at his mother. "You all are such hypocrites. You haven't told Eltanin that he is my brother?"
"I told you that you and I didn't have enough time to spend with each other. How can I have favorites? I have known you for less than a night!" Taiyi lashed at him, towering over him like the mother she was.
Felis became absolutely quiet. A new feeling swirled in his chest. Of possessiveness. Where was his anger? In a low voice he said, "I heard that you lived away from Eltanin for a long time and that Alpha Alrakis lived with him for most of his youth. Is that true?"
Taiyi closed her eyes and then went back to sit on the bed. She had clenched her fists tightly. "That is true."
Felis blinked his eyes and suggested, "In that case, Eltanin must be very possessive about his father. Even more possessive than he must be about you. Why can't you stay with me?"
"What? What do you mean?" she spat.
"I mean that he can have his father while I have my mother," Felis replied with a gleam in his eyes. "It is a win-win situation!"
Taiyi raised her eyebrow. "I have to go back to Stourin, Felis. My kingdom awaits me."
All his hopes dashed against a hard cliff like waves crashing against them. "Then if I want to come to Stourin, will you allow me to visit?"
"Of course," she replied, but then we will do that in happy times. "And for that, I suggest that you give up your ways. It is long that you stop with your nasty activities and recall your Nyxers."
"Why are you making deals with me, Mother? Can't you accept me the way I am?"
Taiyi closed her eyes. "This is a long argument which will never have an end, Felis. But remember this— if you mend your ways, I will be standing right there for you. If you mend your ways, I will protect you from everyone's wrath." She got up from the bed, her chest heaving. She walked to Felis and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I missed you a lot..." she whispered. When she removed herself, she said, "It is time that I leave..." She knew that it was a hopeless exercise to convince Felis. He had gone too far. And for that she hated Ukdah.
Felis gulped a thick swirl of emotions. He didn't want her to leave, but he nodded. He had promised her that he would leave her by morning.