Chapter 38 #3
“I’m sure we—” I laughed as I realized that he was correct. I placed the horse back where I found it. There was so much we knew about each other, and yet so many things we didn’t. “When is your birthday?”
He grinned as he leaned against the wall. “I was born on the first day of the sixth month. You?”
My smile started to fade. “I was born in the fourth month.”
“And?” An eyebrow rose.
I drifted forward. “I…I don’t know. I mean, I don’t remember.
I have these vague memories of celebrating a birthday when I was younger, but after my parents died, neither Ian nor I really celebrated.
” I lifted a shoulder. “And I guess over the years, we sort of forgot the date, so we’d pick a random day in April for me and December for him. ”
His grin had disappeared. “Pick a day.”
“For what?”
“Your birthday. Pick a day in April, and that will be your birthday.”
A pang of sadness lanced my heart. “Vikter asked me once when my birthday was. He said the same thing. Pick a day in April.” I let out a low breath. “I picked the twentieth day, and that was when he gave me the wolven dagger.”
“Perfect.” The smile returned but it didn’t reach his eyes. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m okay. Like I don’t feel…different. I mean, maybe I do? I don’t know.” I laughed self-consciously as I approached him. He pushed off the wall. “I feel calm, though. How about you?”
“I feel the same.” He opened his arms, and I went to him, looping mine around his waist. Pressing my cheek to his chest, I closed my eyes and sank into his embrace, taking in his spicy, piney scent.
“Though I have to admit when that crown turned gold, I was relieved. I wanted a crown as spiffy as yours.”
I laughed. “I talked to Willa.”
“I noticed.” His lips brushed the top of my head. “I was very curious about what you two were talking about—and sort of jealous.”
Grinning, I stretched up and kissed the corner of his lips. “Nothing your dirty mind will approve of.”
He pouted.
It looked ridiculous and yet adorable, endearingly so.
I told him that she was the woman who’d been at the Red Pearl and had sent me to his room, much to his surprise.
He’d had no idea that any of the Elders traveled to Solis, but considering her diary, it made sense.
I didn’t tell him what she’d said about him.
I didn’t think he’d want someone knowing the innerworkings of his heart, but I shared with him what she’d said about the prophecy.
Casteel was still a bit doubtful as we walked back toward the sitting area. “It’s not that I can’t believe in it,” he said, his arm draped over my shoulders. “I just find it hard to believe that if there is one that may be true, how can there not be others? Ones we haven’t heard of?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “Maybe prophecies aren’t meant to be known.”
“That sounds like something a Seer would say.”
I giggled. “It does.”
One dimple appeared as he smoothed a hand over my cheek, tucking back a strand of wayward hair. “The food should be here soon, and I know you’re probably tired and have already been eyeing that shower. I know I have been, but I wanted to talk to Kieran first. You up for that?”
“Of course.”
“Good. Because he’ll be down here in a few minutes,” he said, and I laughed again. I saw it—the churning of vivid, golden sparks in his eyes. His lips parted until the tips of his fangs appeared. “I love that sound. I love how much more you laugh now.”
“I do, too,” I admitted quietly. “And it’s because of you.”
His eyes closed briefly as he dipped his forehead to mine, and a long moment passed with us just standing there. “Before Kieran gets here, I wanted to ask you something.”
“That sounds serious.”
“It kind of is.” He lifted his head. “Have you felt any hunger?”
“For food?” I drew out the question.
His lips twitched. “Not the kind you’re thinking of.”
“Oh.” My eyes widened. “For blood?”
He grinned then. “You don’t have to whisper it.”
“I didn’t.”
“You totally did.”
“Whatever.” I bit down on my lip. “I don’t think so? I mean, I haven’t felt that gnawing ache again. I think I would know if I had.”
“It’s not always like that, my Queen.”
My Queen . I liked that. Almost as much as I liked it when he called me Princess. Not that I’d admit that to him. “How does it feel?”
“You’ll feel inexplicably tired, even after sleeping. You’ll eat, but you’ll still feel hunger. Food will eventually lose its appeal,” he told me. “You’ll be easier to irritate, which wouldn’t be new for you.”
“Hey!” I smacked his arm.
“Perhaps you do need to feed now,” he teased, eyes glittering. “Once you get to the point where food no longer eases your hunger, you’ll need to feed.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
“You probably wouldn’t need to feed by now, anyway. If we’re basing it on when Atlantians need to feed,” he said. “But you may be different. You may not even need to, but I wanted to check in.”
I searched to find even a flicker of unease at the possibility of feeding and found none, when a knock sounded.
Casteel let Kieran in. The wolven appeared to have managed a shower and a change of clothing. A fresh white shirt and black breeches had replaced what he’d worn earlier. I was jealous.
“We won’t keep you long,” Casteel said, coming to join me. “But there is something important we wanted to ask you.”
Kieran raised a brow as he glanced between us. “Is it about the Joining?”
For the second time in twenty-four hours, I choked on my breath. “ What ?”
“Am I wrong?” Kieran crossed his arms.
“Yeah.” I nodded while Casteel appeared to do his best not to burst into laughter. “That so wasn’t where we were going with that, and by the way, the Joining isn’t necessary, right? I’m a deity. I have an incomprehensible lifespan now.”
“Well,” Casteel drew out the word.
I looked over at him, and then it struck me—what I’d worried about when I first learned that I could be immortal or the closest thing to it. “I’ll outlive you, won’t I?”
“Deities have double the lifespan of Atlantians, maybe even longer if they take the deep sleep,” Casteel explained.
I didn’t feel a single ounce of worry coming from him while I was five seconds away from throwing myself onto the floor.
“But we have a very long time before we have to stress over that.”
“I’m stressing over it now.”
“Obviously,” stated Kieran. “I’m bonded to you—all the wolven are. Not in the same way the bonds worked with the elemental lines, but a wolven would still be the connecting piece that fuses two lifelines together.” He frowned. “Or three, I suppose. It’s just your life that his would be bonded to.”
I stared at him.
“Anyway, it could be any wolven.” Kieran shrugged.
I continued staring at him.
“Okay. That’s good to know.” Casteel patted my shoulder, and I sat down on the thick, black cushion of a chair. “But that really wasn’t what we wanted to discuss with you.”
“No shit,” Kieran said.
Blinking, I shook my head. We were about to ask him to be our advisor. Tomorrow, we would travel to Iliseeum and then into Solis. I so did not need to think about any of that right now.
“We wanted to ask if you would do us the honor of being the Advisor to the Crown,” Casteel began.
“I had this whole speech planned in my head about how you have been a brother to me and that there is no one I trust more, but now things are just kind of awkward, so…yeah. We would like for you to be our advisor.”
Now it was Kieran who stared at us, his eyes wide, and I felt the coolness of shock from him—something I didn’t think he often felt.
“You’re…you’re surprised,” I said. “How can that be? You have to know that Casteel trusts you. As do I.”
“Yeah, but…” Kieran rubbed the heel of his palm down the center of his chest. “The Advisor to the Crown is usually someone far older than me, with more experience and connections.”
“The King and Queen are usually people far older than us,” Casteel replied dryly.
“I know, but…why wouldn’t you choose my father?” he asked. “He would serve you well.”
“But not as good as you,” Casteel told him. “You don’t have to accept—”
“No, I accept,” Kieran confirmed. “It would be an honor.” His wide, pale blue eyes darted between us. “I just…I really thought you’d ask my father.”
I was shocked that he’d thought that.
“Literally no one else entered my mind.” Casteel stepped forward, clasping the back of Kieran’s neck. “It would always have been you.”
What I felt from Kieran warmed my chest. He was surprised but proud and swimming in that warmth. I swore tears glimmered in his eyes as he said, “It will be my honor to serve as advisor to both of you,” he repeated. “From this moment to the last moment.”
“It is our honor,” Casteel said, pulling him in for a one-armed hug. “Seriously.”
Kieran returned the embrace. Seeing them hug it out brought a smile to my face. Friendship was a far stronger bond than even something the gods could create. “Okay.” Kieran cleared his throat as he stepped back.
“I know there’s normally a ceremony,” Casteel said, glancing over at me. “It’s like the one we did in the throne room of the Temple.” He turned back to Kieran. “We could do it when we have the larger coronation.”
Kieran nodded. “I would like for my parents and my sisters to be there.”
Sisters . My smile grew. He was already thinking of his baby sister.
“As would I,” Casteel said.
He dragged a hand over his head. “I feel like I need a drink. Or five.”
Casteel chuckled. “I think all of us could use one after today.” He turned to the credenza where several bottles and crystal glasses with vines carved into them sat. “What would you like?” he asked of me.
“Whatever you’re having.”
An eyebrow rose. “Intriguing.”
I shook my head.
“You know,” Kieran said, looking over at me as he sat in an identical chair, “I’ve never heard of a response like that to a crowning before. The people are happy. That’s what they’re celebrating.”
“I imagine they’re relieved that there’ll be no more tension over how long Cas’s parents have ruled.” I sat back as Casteel sent me a heated look while pouring three glasses of something I would probably regret later.
“I think it has more to do with you,” Casteel said.
“Because I’m special.” I rested my chin on my fist and rolled my eyes. “A unique snowflake.”
He laughed deeply. “Hell, yeah, you are.”
Still not as special as those who could shift forms. I would never get over that, but the reaction was probably also in response to the fact that their Prince Ascended—
My eyes widened as I sat up straight. “Oh, my gods. I just thought of something.”
“Can’t wait to hear this,” Kieran murmured.
“Nyktos is protected by guards,” I said, remembering what had been said during the Council meeting. That wasn’t exactly breaking news. “The…draken either went to sleep or protect the resting place of the gods, right?”
Kieran took the drink that Casteel offered him. “Yes.”
My stomach dropped to my toes. “And the guards that Ian told us we need? Would they happen to be the ones protecting Nyktos’s resting place?”
Casteel put my drink in my hand. “Are you just now realizing who and what Nyktos’s guards are?”
Yes.
Yes, I totally was.
“We’re supposed to get the draken to help us?” I exclaimed. “Those who are basically able to take the form of a dragon ?”
Casteel stared at me, nodding slowly. “I thought you realized that.”
“No!” I shouted, and Kieran’s brows flew up. “Yeah, I remember being told that, but I’ve also been told a lot of things since then, and…good gods, I’m going to get to see a draken?”
“Yes, my Queen.” Casteel sat on the arm of my chair. “You may get to see a draken.”
“I don’t know why you look so excited,” Kieran remarked. “The draken were a notoriously…unfriendly bloodline, with temperaments that would make yours look like a small, cuddly animal’s.”
I lifted my right hand and extended my middle finger. He smirked. “But I have the blood of Nyktos in me,” I pointed out.
“And they can also breathe fire.” Kieran tipped his glass at me. “So, let’s hope none of us pisses them off.”