Chapter 40
40
KASSANDRA
B laze’s home looks more like a military base than a castle.
Fitting, I suppose, for a fae who’s renowned for his prowess on the battlefield.
The slate-gray structure features a series of lookout towers and turrets. On closer inspection, I see that it isn’t just one single building but a series of them, all connected by gated pathways. The land directly in front of the main entrance boasts tall maple trees—the leaves an enticing combination of red intermixed with orange and yellow—and dusky-colored flowers I can’t name.
Overall, it’s rugged in a simplistic way. Not as opulent or idyllic as Treyton’s home but no less beautiful.
The sun hangs heavy in the sky, drenching the pathway in pale golden light. It hasn’t begun to set yet, but the appearance of clouds in the distance suggests that it’ll turn dark long before dusk. Those bloated masses promise rain and thunder.
Blaze doesn’t outwardly react to the sight of his home, but there’s a lightness to his steps that didn’t exist prior. I can almost imagine his lips twitching upwards into a smile.
Almost.
Still, his eyes remain hard—chiseled from granite—as he nods at the guards manning the entrance. They give Treyton and Aleksander wary glances but let us pass.
When we reach the front door, Blaze pauses so suddenly I almost run into his back. Only Aleksander’s hand on my hip stops me from breaking my nose.
Frowning, I peek around Blaze’s broad shoulder to see an unfamiliar male standing just beneath the archway.
The first thing I notice is that he’s large—perhaps as large as Blaze. He wears a form-fitting tunic that emphasizes his muscles and a blood-red cape. Copper-tinted hair is peppered here and there with gray. Lines mar the skin around his eyes and mouth, and I can’t tell if they’re from smiling or frowning. Either way, he’s an imposing figure, exuding power and confidence.
The male’s eyes sweep over the four of us, lingering a tick longer on Treyton than the others and narrowing into slits.
Then he focuses on me.
Unease skirts down my spine, and I stiffen as a feeling of familiarity washes over me.
I know those eyes.
They’re…Blaze’s.
The male takes a step forward at the same time Blaze does. They meet in the middle, hard hazel eyes clashing with hard hazel eyes.
Then the large male’s expression cracks, and a smile splits his face in two. The lines bracketing his eyes and mouth deepen.
“My son! Welcome home!” He claps Blaze on the shoulder good-naturedly before once again sliding his gaze back towards Treyton, Aleksander, and me. His bushy brows touch his hairline. “And I see you brought guests.” Something dark falls over his face as he regards Treyton—almost like shutters being drawn. His upper lip peels away from his teeth. “Treyton.”
“King Darius,” Treyton greets formally, punctuating the words with a respectful dip of his chin.
The male—King Darius, apparently, and Blaze’s father—arches an eyebrow at his son.
“Is there a reason you brought our enemy into our home?” Though King Darius’s voice is casual, almost nonchalant, there’s an undercurrent of steel coating each word.
A prickling sensation creeps up the back of my neck. I’m suddenly aware of how close all the guards are. They seem to be surrounding our little party, their swords unsheathed and their expressions drawn. An acrimonious, acerbic type of tension permeates the air. It scuttles along my skin like thousands of megarts.
Treyton and Aleksander both inch a step closer to me.
“I thought the whole purpose of traveling to the Spring Court was to ensure peace?” Blaze asks lazily. He flicks his gaze back in my direction, and they harden almost instantly, turning glacial. “Now, I’ll only ask you one time, Father. Call your guards off . If they point their weapons at my mate for even a tick longer, I can’t promise what I’ll do.”
The blood drains from King Darius’s face. “Mate?”
“Little beast.” Blaze waves me forward, smugness practically radiating from his large body. “Come here.”
I hesitate but walk forward, pushing past a stone-faced Aleksander and a wary Treyton, who both seem reluctant to leave me unattended.
It feels as if it takes an eternity to reach Blaze’s side, but once I’m beside him, there’s no mistaking the feeling of security that rushes over me. The feeling of being home . He wraps an arm around my shoulders, and his pine and cedar scent curls around me.
“Kassandra, I would like to introduce you to my father, Darius. Dad, this is my mate, Kassandra.”
“Your Highness,” I sign, my hands trembling slightly as I lower into a curtsy.
I have no idea if he understands Falkan—Blaze didn’t when I first met him—but I feel like I need to do more than just awkwardly bow.
King Darius surprises me when he breaks into raucous laughter, his green and brown eyes twinkling. Before I can react, the large male pulls me into his arms and lifts me off the ground. My feet dangle in the air as I struggle to orient myself.
“Call me Darius, my daughter!” He places me back on my feet and then steps back. “Now, what did my good-for-nothing son do to convince you to take him as a mate? Did he bribe you with gold? Riches? Jewels? Because there’s no way a fae as beautiful as you would choose to tie your soul to that ugly fucker.”
Blaze’s lips twitch in the beginnings of a smile. “You know we look almost exactly the same, right? Minus the gray hair, of course. And the stomach. Have you been forgoing your exercise while I’ve been away? I told you to lay off the sweets.”
“Honestly, I don’t know how I managed to father such an ugly boy,” Darius teases, slapping Blaze on the shoulder once more. Then, as quickly as it came, Darius’s smile falters before disappearing entirely. “Now, I know we have a lot to discuss”—he glances pointedly in my direction—“but first, please explain why the Spring Prince and an elf are here.”
“It’s…complicated,” Blaze says gruffly, scowling.
Darius nods once. “Isn’t it always?” He forces a smile back on his face and then turns towards me. “Come. Come. Let me show you to your rooms before dinner is served.”
He offers me his arm, and after only a brief moment of hesitation, I place mine in his.
Using my free hand, I quickly turn to Blaze and sign, “What about the others?”
Blaze’s lips purse as if he just ate something sour. “I’ll have the guards take them to their rooms.”
“Blaze.” I give him a reprimanding look, and Blaze cracks a smile.
An actual smile—not one of those minuscule ones he wears like armor. His eyes crinkle at the corners, drawing attention to the scar slicing through his right eyebrow.
“I promise, little beast. As unfortunate as it is, they’re my guests, and I’ll treat them as such.” He turns towards three of the guards surrounding our group and jerks his chin in a nod. “Please escort Aleksander and Prince Treyton to the guest wing.” His eyes dip to my pet and harden with disdain. “And bring this…creature to my chambers.”
Disbelief splays across the largest guard’s face. “But sir?—”
Before I can even blink, Blaze stands in front of the fae, his sword held to the other male’s jugular. The guard swallows convulsively as his eyes widen in horror.
“Did I stutter?” Blaze asks calmly, not removing the sword from the male’s neck.
The guard shakes his head in lieu of a verbal response. That seems to appease Blaze, who resheathes his sword and steps beside me once more.
Darius chuckles darkly from my other side. “There’s the psychopathic son I know and love.” He gives my arm an encouraging squeeze. “Now, how about that tour?”