The Tiger Within 379 Father In Law

"No, my dear girl. My little Warrior. You have every right to want to come home and one day you will. However, don't sell yourself short. I don't know about that boy, but his daughter loves you, as does Mordrin and Mordakai, even old Half Eye cares about you, dear." The Shadow King reminded her patiently. He knew there was nothing that could replace the loss of her brothers, nor appease the guilt she felt. There were few feelings worse than knowing he would not take that pain away from his baby girl. One worse pain was to know she could join him sooner because she didn't have the fight to live.

"I didn't mean it like that. I just… don't belong here. They love me but I am not one of them. I am a friend or a student that they cherish but… they are not my brothers. They would protect and support me, I have no doubts there. It's just…" Kyera, for the first time in a long time, struggled to find the words. Her heart tried so hard to bare itself to her father. She wanted to be honest but she had never verbalized this pain before.

"Kyera, breath Princess. Your pus.h.i.+ng yourself too hard by trying to find the right words. Just be honest." He encouraged her, well aware of what she was trying but it was important she opened up herself. He turned a blind eye to the people who had entered the clearing, having a pretty good idea of who they were from Ping.

"I just don't feel I belong anywhere. My home has been stained with the blood of my brothers, my lover became dead to me, My forest is in the control of the dark ones. h.e.l.l, the palace had begun to feel like home then the king kicked me out over something I couldn't control. I am loved but… I feel so lost." Kyera explained as the tears that had threatened her earlier lost one of their number down her cheek.  As she spoke she was unaware that they were no longer alone.

A pair of strong arms wrapped around Kyera, from behind. A familiar scent stopped her hand before it found a soft spot to gouge for her freedom. Her eyes widened and then narrowed dangerously, glaring at her traitorous father. There was no way he hadn't seen him arrive. Still she couldn't bring herself to break free of Clovis's arms.

He had wanted to introduce himself politely to the man who rescued his wife, but her words stopped him. The sorrow and pain in her words like sharpest of knives ripping thin  strips of flesh from his heart. He moved his lips to her ear and spoke.

"Kyera, you will always have a home with me. Home isn't a place of brick or stone. It isn't even a piece of land that you own. It's where someone loves you and would never leave you to face this world alone." Clovis's deep husky voice filled her ears, the short poem a bit of wisdom laid on him a long time ago, by a woman on her deathbed. All he knew was it needed to be pa.s.sed on. Kyera needed to hear it. "When I hold you, you are home. When you tuck little Raina in or hold her hand, You are home. Even traveling across the country borders with me, your home. Don't ever think you have nowhere to belong, because if you aren't home… then my own home is empty."

Kyera turned in his arms hugging him close. Unaware of his intentions she found herself caught in a searing kiss. She tried to break it, feeling a pair of eyes boring into her back. However after a long moment, she stopped struggling finding it hard to with this sensation was.h.i.+ng through her.

"Okay, we get it. Dog food for everyone. You get a bag, and you get a bag,  and you get a bag… but perhaps not in front of your father, hmmm?" Myla reminded the two love birds. Her body was already trembling with the oppression The Shadow King was filling the clearing with. Her instincts and sense of self preservation screaming abort mission, run away.

Clovis's back stiffened as the realization of what Myla reached his ears. However, he didn't pull away instantly. He let her lips go, stealing one more light brush of his lips to hers and turned to face his father in law, completely unaware that Kyera was s.h.i.+elding him from her father's aura. That didn't stop those cold black eyes from piercing straight into his soul, and holding him captive with a glance.