To know Jericho had survived such senseless cruelty because of something he had done in his family’s memories eased some of the terrible guilt in Rhys’s heart.
Fate continued. “He was not the only one, either. You helped numerous victims find hope and love.”
Rhys’s throat tightened as children of all ages and races filled the sky. He felt humbled when he saw the ones who had faced adversity and survived.
“That was your destiny, Rhys. Your last battle as a mortal on Earth,” she said softly.
Rhys’s emotions swelled until there was no longer a way to hold them back, and with them, the memories that had been buried for centuries flooded his mind and consciousness with all that he was and had been. A conqueror whose victory was not what he’d wanted; he’d only desired his family returned. One who could accept that a victory was not always the one they wanted, but it might have been the one that was needed. Rhys could live with that. However, he frantically clung to the last remnants of his life with Deena and his children, not wanting to lose them forever.
“Rhys, do not be afraid. You will always be inside of him, but now it’s his turn to return home,” Fate spoke, easing his confusion and fear of the returning memories flashing through his mind.
Fate waved her hand and the sky became filled with scenes Rhys didn’t remember. A man bearing a striking resemblance to him was fighting an animal that he had seen in museums. Then he was fighting other men, going through different time periods and battles. The hair color and eyes changed, but the man stayed the same. Fate had not lied; he had been a killing machine, winning battle after battle, time after time, until even Rhys became entranced at the fierce image in front of him.
“He is magnificent, isn’t he?” As Rhys heard the awe in her voice, something within him preened, enjoying the praise from a woman who had seen it all.
“Why did you wait to bring him back?” Rhys did not take his eyes off the images flowing across the sky as he felt himself slipping away, exchanging places with the force within him.
“For two reasons.” Fate’s voice softened. “To give you a chance to say good-bye to your family…” Rhys felt a sharp pain in his heart, but it wasn’t as sharp nor did it last as long.
Fate nodded to the sky. “He is used to death and loss; he will give you the strength to accomplish what you could not do alone—heal. He knows what it’s like to experience loss.”
“The other reason?”
Fate laughed. “Because he also needed to learn a lesson from you. How to be a loving, faithful husband. That was something you excelled at doing in life. Together, you will be worthy of Broni.”
“You’re taking a lot for granted. Perhaps he won’t want Broni any more than I did.” The warrior within Rhys came closer to the surface, not liking being told whatto do even less than Rhys.
For a second, anger glittered in Fate’s eyes, and Rhys became very aware of this woman’s power.
“Oh, he wants her just as you do, but he’s stubborn. He’s tired from the battles he has fought, and he senses the battle coming will be the worst of all.”
When Rhys opened his mouth to deny it, Fate stopped him before he could lie to both her and himself. “Remember, I see everything. Your guilt and fear held you back from loving Broni, but she was meant to be yours for eternity. Yours to have or lose forever,” Fate warned, waving her hand again.
This time, the sky lightened as image after image played before him and the warrior was forced to watch. A tortured groan came from deep within when they saw Broni attacked on the street. When Adam bent and picked her broken body up into his arms, Rhys wanted to tear her away as their images gradually faded away.
“My prize.” Now the warrior within Rhys prowled even closer to the surface.
Fate’s lips twitched at the vain warrior. “Believe me, she’s no prize. Broni is willful, disobedient and takes dangerous risks with her safety. It will take a strong man to hold her heart and a warrior to claim her soul.”
“Are you doubting me?” The warrior was nothing if not vain.
“It is not me who has doubts.”
Rhys had fought against the attraction to Broni, refusing to see what was before his eyes. With the memories and emotions assailing him, he was no longer afforded that luxury as the images in the sky changed one last time to Broni as a young child watching him fight. At first, she’d been frightened but bravely watching. As she grew older, she had begun to watch his lives other than when he was fighting. He saw the laughter in her face as she watched him with other warriors, training, and when they were just together as friends. The jealousy as she grew older, observing him with the women and families he’d had. Finally, the tears she shed as she watched him that last day as he found his family. Broni had watched and loved him through lifetimes.
The sky darkened and he saw a passageway with Broni, Cara, and a woman he knew must be Zerina. He witnessed as they were attacked and Broni fought to reach a particular doorway as the swirling mist tried to swallow her just before she finally succeeded in dragging herself through. Unbelievably, he watched as she found herself on Earth, weak and sick. She had almost died before an old woman had taken her in from off the streets, helping her.
Rhys winced in self-hatred as she tried to warn him of the danger his family was in. It was Broni, not Deena, who had called that day to his office to try to get him home early. She had even dragged herself to the courthouse and tried to use the little power she’d held, which had been taught to her by her father for transferring emotion through love. She had lied to him. She had tried to save his family without endangering him. Broni had tried to get him home before the tragedy unfolded, but she had been unsuccessful because Fate had intervened.
“I didn’t know it was her.” Fate’s voice broke. “The doorway had thrown her back in time. I stood there with her within my reach, and I did not know. She hid from me, knowing full well the consequences she would face. Not until the Drearien appeared did she allow me to find her.”
“Consequences?” Rhys asked, yet he saw for himself.
“She followed your every footstep for the next five years. That was why she was at the bar that night.
“She walked the Earth for you. One of the harshest punishments Mother gives to immortals, yet she put herself there willingly, knowing there was a chance she would never be able to return home. She did that for you. To give you your family back, not so she could be with you. She sacrificed herself. Even upon her return home when her powers were given to you because she’d tried to interfere, she didn’tprotest. With Broni, it was and always will be because of you.” The words clicked into place as, at last, Rhys understood those words spoken to him by Fate as she had stopped him from killing himself.
Fate touched him, drawing a symbol with her finger on his chest. Walking behind him, she traced another on his back. Then, walking forward, she again traced one last mark on his forehead. “Remember who you are as well as who you have been.” Fate then took a step back, walking slowly around him in a circle.