Came Begging

Chapter Four

Veyra’s POV

When I returned home, the first thing I heard was Zuri’s laughter coming from the sitting room, and for the first time since I had seen Orien again, I felt a small sense of peace because I knew my daughter was waiting for me at home.

I walked toward the sitting room, but before I could enter, I heard Cairos’s familiar voice.

“You are getting better"

“I’m tired,” Zuri complained.

“You can rest when you are tired, Zuu”

I smiled faintly as I stood outside the room.

For the past five years, Zuri had become incredibly close to Cairos, and their bond had grown into something I never expected when I first came to the Underworld with her. Whenever Cairos left for a mission, she waited for him to return, and whenever he came home, she would run toward him before anyone else could greet him.

Cairos had taught her how to recognize danger, how to use the emergency signals, how to stay calm during attacks, and how to protect herself when there was no one around to help her.

Sometimes I worried that she depended on him too much, but Cairos never encouraged that dependence because he always taught her how to stand on her own while making sure she knew that he would be there whenever she truly needed him.

“ I’m going to my room before you point out  another thing for me to learn”

They both laughed, before he said “You can go.”

“And if I need you?”

Cairos’s voice softened slightly. “Press the emergency button, and I will come.”

I smiled again, but before I could step into the room, another voice reached me.

“Cairos.”

My smile disappeared, that’s Orion!

I remained outside the room, my body becoming completely still as I listened.

Cairos’s voice immediately changed. “Who allowed you into my home?”

“I came because I need your help.”

“You should leave.”

“Cairos, please, just listen to me.”

“I have already heard enough.”

“My settlement is collapsing, and I need access to the Defense Network.”

“You came to the wrong person.”

“The head of defense refused to help me.”

There was silence for a moment.

Then Cairos spoke again. “If the head of defense doesn’t see the need to help hou, do you think I would be the one to help you?”

“You are my brother.”

Cairos gave a cold laugh. “Do you think I forgot what you did?”

Orien became quiet. “I know you are still angry about what happened between us.”

“What happened between us?” Cairos asked coldly.

“You betrayed me when I trusted you, you gave information about my operations to people who wanted me dead, and several of my men paid for your betrayal with their lives.”

I remained outside the sitting room, barely breathing as I listened.

I had never heard Cairos speak about his past with Orien.

For the five years I had known him, Cairos had always been a quiet and controlled man, someone who rarely allowed his emotions to show even when the people around him were falling apart. He could walk into a room filled with armed men and make them lower their weapons without raising his voice, and although I had always known there was something dangerous about him, I had never asked too many questions.

He had never volunteered answers either.

But now, standing outside that room, I was hearing a side of him I had never seen before.

“I was desperate,” Orien finally said.

Cairos laughed without humor. “You were greedy.”

“I made mistakes.”

“You made choices.”

“I was trying to survive.”

“And you decided my life was an acceptable price for your survival.”

Orien fell silent.

I could almost picture Cairos standing there with his arms crossed, his expression cold and unreadable as he looked at the brother who had betrayed him.

“I have spent five years cleaning up the damage you caused,” Cairos continued. “So don't come into my home after all these years and expect me to forget because your settlement is collapsing.”

“You have the resources to help me.”

“And you think that gives you the right to ask?”

“I am your brother.”

Cairos's voice became even colder.

“That word stopped meaning anything to me the day you sold me out.”

My chest tightened.

I had known Orien was cruel.

I had known he was capable of betrayal.

But hearing that he had betrayed his own brother made something inside me settle into place.

Maybe I should never have been surprised by what he had done to me.

If he could betray the person who had shared his blood, why would he have any reason to be loyal to me?

“I know you hate me,” Orien said quietly, “but I wouldn't have come here if I had another choice.”

“You always have a choice.”

“Not anymore.”

There was something different in his voice this time.

His phone and rang and Orien answered the call. “Hello.”

Vessa's voice came through the phone,nI hadn't heard that name spoken in years, yet the sound of it still carried memories I had spent a long time trying to bury. "Have your brother decided to help us"

"No! He wouldn't agree"

“Don't worry. My uncle  has agreed to help us.”

Orien's eyes widened slightly. “003?”

I stared at him. 003?

Vessa continued speaking. “My uncle has decided to help us. He said he can get us through the eastern passage before the next attack.”

Orien's shoulders relaxed.

For the first time since he had entered the room, he looked confident again.

“Good,” he said. “Very good.”

He ended the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket.

Cairos hadn't moved.

His expression remained cold. “Looks like you have your solution,” he said.

Orien smiled. “You're right.”

He turned toward the door, but stopped before leaving. “You don't want to help me. I understand.”

Cairos said nothing.

“But you will come back begging"

His words made me frown.

Cairos slowly lifted his eyes toward him.

Orien's smile widened.

“You can call yourself the highest rank in the Underworld all you want, but when everything starts falling apart, even you will come begging.”

The room became silent.

Cairos's expression didn't change. “Get out.”

Orien chuckled.

“You'll come to me.”