30. Splinters

Naia stared blankly at the nothingness as Ronin lifted her shirt over her head. Her clothes puddled on the tile floor along with his. He removed her bracelet and placed it on the vanity next to the sink. Steam billowed along the ceiling tiles.

Ronin woke less than a minute after Cassian left her on the beach, asking questions Naia struggled to answer. Through the ringing in her ears, she overheard Ronin call Yuki to pick them up. Naia couldn't recall entering the Kahale house or how her and Ronin ended up in the bathroom.

"You're okay," Ronin murmured.

One at a time, he lifted each of her feet and worked the jeans down her legs. He could've easily cast the clothes off with a wave of his hand, but she needed this—his touch, his closeness.

He led her into the shower. It required one step, a message from her brain that seemed like ages to send.

The hot water sprayed across her skin and offered a temporary reprieve, like she was sunbathing on her favorite cove. Her muscles sank into her bones, easing the tremors caught in her hands?—

Hands—

Her eyes fell onto it.

The curse mark.

The sides of her throat constricted.

Ronin brought her flushed against him. "You're okay."

She relaxed into his embrace. Focused on his arms wrapped around her bare waist, their hips pressed together. A body she'd learned the past few days with her own, but this form of intimacy was different. Her layers were pulled back, leaving her fully exposed, and bits of herself spilled out like the oozing insides of a pumpkin. Burdensome parts of her.

Ronin squirted shampoo into the palm of his hand. The scent of pineapple and plantains infused the air as he coated her hair with it.

She swallowed down her sob and tried to mirror his calmness, but her thoughts kicked up in a tailspin and she lowered her head to look towards her naked stomach.

Pregnant.

A child.

With Ronin?—

"I-I thought I was sterile," she blurted out through the stream of water cascading over her lips. "That is why I told you not to worry about preventative measures. I thought it would be okay."

He must've been outraged, convinced she'd deceived him.

Solaris drinking a potion all those years to avoid pregnancy was justified, but what about Kaleo? Her time with him was proof. She never had a scare, nor did they use any protection.

"You showed me your whole life up to Cassian cursing you to Kaimana, and I never asked how you broke the curse." Ronin finished rinsing her hair. She couldn't find pleasure in his fingertips moving across her scalp as he did so. "I was too pissed about everything else you'd showed me. I could've asked, but I didn't. It's not all on you, okay?"

"You shouldn't have to ask?—"

"I know you didn't intentionally keep it from me. After everything you've been through, I get why you didn't think to tell me about the curse. Go easy on yourself, please."

"Ronin, I am pregnant." She needed to say the words. To make sure he was aware, in case he had missed it earlier. "It is why marrying Solaris did not break our mothers' curses."

"I know."

Marina's vow sharply overturned Naia's thoughts. I will find you and make you suffer for eternity for what you have done to Mother.

Naia's body shook uncontrollably.

Even if Marina found Naia, she could not harm her. Not when Naia was carrying a child that belonged to Cassian?—

Ronin is no longer protected.

"I have to do something. The reason she could hurt you—" Naia struggled to breathe. The edges of her vision withered like a burning leaf, and she slouched forward. Water sprayed the sides of her face and in her hair.

Ronin cupped her cheeks. "Babe."

She clung to his elbows, her lungs constricting as she fought to grab air."The child must be a boy, since you are no longer protected by Lady Ruelle. I must—I cannot sit around and do nothing. Marina will come—she will kill you like?—"

Kaleo.

"Naia," Ronin said louder to get her attention. "Look at me."

Water flowed into her eyes, but Ronin was right in front of her. She forced herself to focus on him. His hair was damp, the ends sticking to the tops of his shoulders. Dried blood streaked his cheeks, crusted in the creases of his clavicles.

Naia's main concern was the gauntness of his face. The hollow sharpness of his cheekbones gave him a sickly look. Shadows sat beneath his eyes. All proof of how much blood he'd lost during the fight; how he'd put her over himself.

She had the right mind to order him to get out of the shower and to go get food or the potion he needed to replenish his lost blood, but his current condition didn't dull the vibrancy in his eyes. They burned with a stubborn intensity, cutting through her fears and calming her heart.

"Nobody can come into this house, including Marina," he told her evenly. "There is a spell around it."

"Okay," the sound of her tearful voice bounced off the glass walls of the shower.

"Naia." He fused his forehead to hers. "We will figure it out."

The ache she had been suppressing burst behind her sternum. She curled herself into his chest and wept, letting her darkness show.

Naia woketo a scent threaded in the sheets she recognized—lingering traces of sage and jasmine and something else, smokey and like paper. It prompted her to run her hands over the bed, trying to locate Ronin.

He was gone.

She cracked open her eyes.

The morning sunlight filtered across his childhood room. Hanging on the wall in front of her were hand-drawn sketches, their pages slightly bent and warped at the corners. Portraits and landscapes and the sea.One caught her eye of a view she'd seen countless times standing on one of the highest peaks on the island. Though, back then it was with Kaleo at her side, hand in hand as he pointed with the burning sunset melting down the horizon.

The thought of Kaleo only reminded her of Cassian's words and how Ronin's soul ceaselessly wandered the world to find her own. She planted one of her hands on her chest, hoping it would ease her heartache. Ronin, Kaleo, no matter his name, he was her other half. Beneath his skin, flesh and bones, he was hers, as much as she was his.

She sat up on the mattress and found Ronin on the foot of the bed, his eyes locked on his fuzzy, bright pink slippers, lost in thought.

They didn't speak much last night after getting out of the shower. He'd led her from the bathroom, the cool tiles giving way to the soft carpet of his room, and gently guided her into the comfort of his bed. She hadn't meant to fall asleep, but Ronin suggested a spell to help silence her mind. Only after her eyelids grew heavy and drowsiness settled in did she realize he hadn't taken his sleep tonic.

Naia analyzed the side of his profile, but his hair was down, making it difficult to get a clean view of his face.

"Ronin," she said.

He slightly angled his body towards her, his gaze cast downward.

A wave of silence passed.

In the time she'd gotten to know him, he wasn't chatty in the mornings, but this felt different.

His silence hung thick in the air, filled with tension.

Should she try to fill it? What could she possibly say to make things better? There was much to discuss between them, and the mere thought of picking a place to start had her jaw locking and her brain ticking with an overwhelming rush of nerves.

Ronin let out a breath. "Take it slow this morning. I'm going to make breakfast and a few calls."

She registered the short, exasperated tone in his voice, but before she could address it, he gave her a light peck on the top of her head and left the room.

Naia stayed in bed,unwilling to get up and face everyone.

Their voices traveled from the kitchen. As well as the sweet, fruity aroma of the breakfast Ronin prepared. The scent of warm dough wafted under the bedroom door, and it was almost enough to convince her to swallow her pride and rise from the mattress.

Truthfully, she wasn't ready to face the others' potential hostility towards her after everything that had happened. Theon made it clear he blamed her. Not to mention Akane and Yuki, with their family history involving deities. And, worst of all, members of the Blood Heretics had lost their lives.

Violet. Sweet, vivacious Violet, who had been one of the first people to make her feel included, was dead.

Naia brought the blanket up to her chin and took in Ronin's room.It wasn't colorful, by any means, like the rest of the house filled with mismatched furniture and pastel tones, but it held more of a personality to it than his apartment did. The charcoal drawings pinned everywhere gave her a better insight into his abilities. Pens, paintbrushes, and palettes were well-arranged on the desk in the corner.

A knock sounded on the door.

Naia propped herself against the headboard with the blankets draped over her legs. "Come in."

Akane slipped into the room, her dark hair braided down her small shoulders, and wearing a blue overall dress.

A pink beaded bracelet slid down her wrist as she lifted her arm, holding a triangle-shaped pastry in her hand. "I snuck something for you."

Through difficult moments in Naia's life, eating was not something she found to be enjoyable, but she couldn't find it in herself to reject Akane's kind gesture.

She accepted the pastry. "How did you know I enjoy sweets?"

"My uncle hates sweets," Akane said matter of fact. "Unless he's completely lost his mind, he'd never eat something like this."

A small smile crept over Naia's face as she pinched off a piece of the pastry.

"What is it?"she asked.

"A scone." Akane kicked her slippers off and climbed into the bed beside Naia.

Naia took a bite. A warm, soft blueberry burst across her tongue. Combined with the subtle sweetness of the dough and the pinch of vanilla, it was exquisite, lifting Naia's spirit.

"Is it good?" Akane asked.

"Excellent." Naia offered some to her.

She declined with a shake of her head.

Naia took another bite, wishing Akane had snuck two, maybe three, of the pastries in.

Noticing movement, she glanced sideways at the little girl.

Between them, Akane held out a potion bottle Naia instantly recognized. One she had kept safe in her pocket like her life depended on it. Until it had gotten smashed by the explosion. Avi had advised her to ingest the potion several times throughout the day, and she hadn't taken a single dose in twelve hours.

"Aw, this is why you snuck this in here." Naia placed the scone on her lap, wiped her fingers clean of crumbs, and took hold of the bottle.

"Uncle Ronin asked me to come in here and watch you take it with my own eyes." She melodramatically emphasized Ronin's serious expression.

They both giggled.

It was obvious he was avoiding her, but he still thought of her while doing so.

"Here, hold this, please." Naia handed the last few bites of her scone to Akane, reserving them to ward off the awful taste of the potion.

Naia could sense the girl staring at her marked hand and hoped she did not ask questions. After finding out about it, Naia made it a point to avoid looking directly at the curse mark herself. She'd considered wearing Theon's glove to keep from catching glimpses of it. She couldn't breathe when she thought about it.

Thankfully, Akane kept quiet.

Naia uncorked the bottle, grimaced, and took a sip.

The flavor hit the back of her throat, and her stomach heaved.

Naia shot off the bed, the bottle slipping from her fingers and landing on the corner of the nightstand, as she hurriedly made her way into the bathroom. She flipped the toilet seat open and plunged her head into the bowl, unloading the contents of her stomach.

Akane pulled Naia's long hair behind her shoulders and rubbed circles on the small of her back.

Naia sat there, her head hanging in the toilet bowl with the coolness of the ceramic against her forehead. Not once in her life had she ever been physically ill.

Naia's taste buds revolted, and she spat, trying to rid her mouth of the foul combination of scone, stomach acid, and potion. The muscles in her abdomen throbbed from the exertion. She struggled to shake off the grogginess in her mind. Her body ached, and all she wanted was to sink into the floor and drift off to sleep.

"I'm no doctor," Akane said, "but even I know you haven't been pregnant for very long."

"Eavesdropping on conversations, are we?" It was Naia's attempt to lighten the mood.

Akane rolled her eyes. "Obviously."

Naia wiped the liquid dripping from her nose with toilet paper."If you are insinuating that I should not be showing such harsh symptoms, then I believe you are correct."

Naia crawled up, her knees biting into the tile floor. For the first time in her life, she felt fragile, like holding a glass in her hand knowing, if it were to fall, it would shatter entirely.

Akane gripped Naia's fingers to help pull her up. It did absolutely nothing to actually assist Naia, but she appreciated Akane's kindness.

Climbing up on the vanity, Akane rummaged through the bathroom cabinet until she found a bottle containing a mysterious green liquid.

A look of distaste crossed Naia's features. "I cannot handle another potion."

With a flat look, Akane said, "It's mouthwash. For your breath."

"This is unbelievable."Avi groaned, inspecting the large cast iron tub in the center of the room. "Your cauldron is rusting at the base."

"I haven't exactly had time to fix it." Yuki's voice was crisp and sweet, like the spritz of an apple beneath a blade.

Naia chose the chair with the uneven leg, finding solace in its constant wobbling as it distracted her from the weariness in her bones.

Before her was a small room, its ceiling made of glass, allowing the sweltering midday sunlight to flood in, brightening every corner. The pungent odor of herbs and damp soil was only heightening Naia's queasiness.

She propped her elbows up on the surface of the wooden table. Beads of sweat formed under the wire of her bra, down her spine, and into the seam of her underwear as a chill rushed over her. Neither hot nor cold, she inhabited a foreign space. It was an odd feeling, and her only wish was to trudge back to Ronin's bedroom and cuddle up in his bed.

"And your ingredients," Avi continued to chide. "When did you last forage? Most of your jars are empty."

"I work full-time." As if to prove this, Yuki gestured with both hands down to the pair of scrubs she currently wore.

Naia had forgotten that she was a doctor.

"So do I. Yet my jars were capped full—before they were burned to a crisp, of course."

Yuki made a face, dismissing his excuse with a light toss of her hand in the air. "You work full time as my brother's right-hand man. What does that entail, uncapping bottles? Customer greeter? You probably spend more hours at the gym than anything."

"Ronin works my fingers to the bone making potions."

"Does poor Aviel need his hands massaged?"

"You'll kill someone if you make a potion in this rusted bowl."

"I don't need a self-absorbed prick telling me what I already know."

"Self-absorbed?" Avi echoed in shock. "I am not?—"

"Would it kill you to wear a shirt with fucking sleeves?"

"Gods, bothofyou, shut the hell up," Theon grumbled.

Naia sat across from him, and she couldn't help but notice his painted fingernails tapping anxiously on the table, adding to the already heightened tension in the room.

Ronin joined them, sliding a steaming mug over to Naia. The peanut-colored liquid sloshed around in the cup. She could feel the prickle of his eyes probing on her face, analyzing her uncharacteristic behavior of not ingesting it immediately.

"What's the plan, Boss?"Avi asked, pulling Ronin's attention.

Ronin leaned back in his chair, sighing. "For now, we are staying on the island. We, as in me and Naia."

A frown touched Naia's lips. This was news to her. Not that she minded staying put on the island. It was a smart decision. She only wished he'd talked to her first.

"For how long?" Theon asked.

"Until the baby is born."

"What is your solution to the problem?" Theon gestured down to the mark on Naia's hand. "Or do you plan on handing the child over?"

Ronin grew tensely quiet.

"I am going to figure out how to break my curse," Naia announced, albeit in a sluggish voice.

"How?" Avi asked. "You look seconds away from collapsing as is."

She cleared her throat and sat up in her chair. "I am not sure yet."

Yuki's cool palm came down on Naia's clammy forehead. "Naia, are you having any symptoms?"

"Morning sickness."

Yuki tilted her head, swaying her jaw-length hair, intently studying Naia for a moment.

"The potion she is taking now to ward off the effects of our blood isn't enough, is it?" Ronin assumed with a touch of dread in his tone.

Yuki nodded, looking at him. "I think it's because she is carrying a demigod."

"Basically, it's slowly poisoning her," Avi said.

"Yes. Unlike us." Yuki gestured to her and Ronin. "Its blood can kill a deity. We need to make a stronger potion if we want to keep her alive."

Ronin's jaw muscles ticked.

Avi examined the half empty jars on the shelf above the workbench. "I'll need to go out and forage."

"I don't expect you or Theon to stay with us," Ronin told them. "Once Yuki learns to craft the potion, you can both go home."

"I want to stay." Avi sent Naia a light-hearted grin. "As your pregnancy progresses, I will probably have to make adjustments. And besides, you need someone else's company other than this old hag and brood." He pointed to both Yuki and Ronin.

Naia cracked a lousy smile."Thank you, Avi."

"Wouldn't the most sensible thing be to leave Naia here and for you to come back to the city?" Theon said. "I can bring you to see her whenever you want."

Theon's animosity towards Naia knotted her stomach. Although, she agreed with him. Ronin would be happier in the city he adored.

"I'm staying on the island," Ronin said, his tone clipped with finality.

"Because of her, they burned down your brewery. Violet is dead, among others. And now, you are no longer safe?—"

"Bringing Naia into our lives was my doing." Ronin's voice was composed, but his leg bounced furiously beneath the table. "I did it knowing what she was and with an idea of who she was running from. I made it clear to Damian, Noah, and Violet they did not have to involve themselves or their crews in a fight I knew would inevitably take place. They agreed, regardless of the consequences. My brewery is being rebuilt as we speak, and I really don't give a damn about my safety right now."

"Ronin, I made you a promise," Theon responded, the air in the room turning frigid, matching his tone. "To protect you, no matter what."

"Your promised loyalty is not why we are friends, Theon."

The chilled temperature bit Naia's bare arms. Avi shifted uncomfortably where he stood.

"I won't go back on my word, and staying here jeopardizes your safety," Theon said.

"You are right." Naia drew in a quivering breath to gather the courage to push her words out. "The best option would be for me to go somewhere else to prevent putting any of you in?—"

"Naia." Ronin stared at her, hard and unyielding. The bouncing of his knee ceased.

He only provoked her stubborn nature. She had nowhere to go and was hardly thinking of her next move if she were to leave, but she'd figure it out—the same way she always did.

Naia squared her jaw and stared right back at him. "We both know it's the right thing to do."

"And what fucking good will it do when Cassian comes for our child?" Ronin lashed out, sitting up in his chair. "Dammit, Naia! I told you when we first met. I am not afraid to die."

"I am afraid!" She slapped her palm over her chest. Her greatest fear reawakened and lanced through her like a knife. "I refuse to let death become your fate. You will live this life! You will not die again because of me!"

"Again?" Ronin shook his head, running a terse hand through his hair. "What are you talking about?"

"Cassian!" Her pulse turned the blood in her neck hot as it climbed to her head. Frustrated towards herself for bringing up the grim subject now. She planned on telling him when they were out of the weird limbo with one another.

"What the fuck about him?" Ronin's voice matched her own in volume. His brow twitched, and he locked eyes with her, the last of his patience waning.

"He told me of our history. We were one until we parted in the Land of Entity, and since, you've succumbed to death over and over to find me!" An unexpected sob escaped through the last of her words. She threw her palm over her mouth to catch it.

Her eyes fell to her lap as she attempted to regain her composure.

Everyone in the room was still, the tension mingling with the bone-chilling air and creating a miserable environment.

A long moment passed before Naia brought her gaze back up to Ronin.

"If you leave, I will follow you." A dark look passed over his face as he spoke, low and grave. "Do you understand me? You will not do this alone."

It was a completely different side of him than she was used to seeing. This was Ronin, the leader of the Blood Heretics, domineering and headstrong—and there wasn't a single part of her that wished to defy him.

Some people only cared until things became difficult, but Ronin Kahale cared too much, too deeply, to let go.

He scraped his chair against the floor, breaking the silence in the room, standing to face the others.

"Make the potion by tonight," he ordered Avi and Yuki. "She takes however much of it she needs to ensure her survival." He turned to Theon. "When I am not around, you will stick near her. Your unwavering loyalty to protect me extends to my child and to the woman I love, so for the next nine months, consider yourself her bodyguard if you have no intentions of leaving the island."

And with that, he stormed out of the room.