"Why?" Micah asked feeling thoroughly confused.
"He listened to Colton," Kendrick explained.
"You do realize that those two are the highest-ranking unit warriors in the country, don't you," Micah pointed out.
Kendrick smiled. "Amazing isn't it?" His smiled faded a bit. "You should see those two fight. Never in all my years have I ever seen anything that comes close to how beautiful they look when fighting in hand-to-hand combat, standing back to back with each other."
"Beautiful?" Micah asked skeptically.
Kendrick just nodded. "I think it's because they were raised side by side. Before they even received any training, they were toddling around together in diapers. It's almost like Colton is an extension of Aiden when they're fighting. They just know instinctively where the other is." He looked Micah in the eye. "Without magic, there's no way I could take them and I've studied different fighting techniques for thousands of years."
"I really want to see them fight now," Micah confessed.
Kendrick stared into the distance. "They're also the best because they never leave a man behind. The day Elder Airgead tried to kill us, the council building was coming down, I had given up, but the Alpha Unit was waiting for me in the hallway." He shook his head. "I owe them much."
Micah's mouth dropped. "What in the hell do you mean when Elder Airgead tried to kill you?"
Kendrick winced. "Oh yeah, you only heard the edited version." He took a deep breath and began retelling him the actual events of that day and the ramifications of what it all meant.
Micah swallowed hard. "Your parents..."
Kendrick's jaw clenched. "Still trapped."
"I swear to you on my life, I will not rest until they are free," Micah vowed.
Kendrick just stared at him. "Thank you. I've long since forgotten what it felt like to have the loyalty of such a dedicated family." He tilted his head, reminding Micah of Meryn. "Why didn't you go to the Ashleighs or the Ironwoods?"
Micah just stared. "They know?"
Kendrick held up his finger. "So far, only Marshall Ironwood and Lily Camden know. The truth kinda came out at dinner when they were visiting Amelia. In fact, the entire Alpha Unit knows." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I haven't told the Ashleighs yet."
Micah barked out his laughter. "Thane is going to kill you," he predicted.
Kendrick winced. "Yes, I'm not really looking forward to that conversation, though I know it's coming soon. I pulled Marshall off his mission to find my parents. The Ashleighs listened to Marshall when he reported in because they respect him, but I know they sent multiple agents to check to make sure Marshall and Lily aren't under any influence or being coerced."
"Have they met Lily Camden?" he joked. That woman was a force of nature.
Kendrick gave him an evil smile. "You mean Meryn's biological aunt?"
"Who in the hell is this little human?" Micah asked. It seemed like every time they turned around Meryn was at the center of things.
"Believe me, I know exactly what you mean. She is under my protection at the moment, if only because Anne simply adores her."
"And she adopted your cousins," Micah said slyly. He took great satisfaction in the way the blood drained from Kendrick's face. He owed him after his identity reveal.
Kendrick was now the one standing with a hand on his chest. "What! No! That's impossible. They-they-they..."
"Breathe. In. Out. In. Out," Micah teased.
Kendrick took a moment to collect himself. "It's not true."
Micah nodded. "Actually, it is. Remember, my family deals in truth and secrets. Your father's cousin was murdered that night, but his mistress lived. She gave birth and the child lived happily in ignorance and ambiguity. My gran kept tabs on that line thinking they were the last of the Stormharts. The twins' parents were assigned out and never returned to Storm Keep so the boys were placed in the orphanage. There were a few times when she almost yanked them out, but decided it was safer not to bring attention to them." Micah pointed up at Kendrick. "You helped raise your cousins and didn't even know it."
Kendrick sat back down abruptly returning to his place on the bench. "It's been just me and Kee for so long, then Kee..." His eyes narrowed. "Is that twisted son of bitch still in charge at the orphanage?"
Micah nodded. "Why you gonna kill him?" he asked flippantly. When Kendrick turned to face him, his eyes held such murderous rage that it shocked him. Micah shook his head. "Poor bastard doesn't even know he's already dead."
Kendrick growled. "Like your gran, I didn't interfere because I didn't want to make things worse for them and legally I had no recourse, but now that I know..." he trailed off.