Chapter 23
Razik
“ALunar Marriage?” Tybalt demanded, the doors to Cethin’s study scarcely closed.
Cethin rounded his desk, taking a seat, while Kailia stood stiffly next to Razik, clearly unsure of what she should do or say.
The pair had come down for breakfast, all the Cadre already there along with Razik.
Everyone was on edge, waiting for Tybalt’s wrath over the events of the hunt.
Tybalt had entered, already looking like someone had stolen an intricately woven pillow from him.
Razik had never been more grateful he was Kailia’s guard than in that moment, but another part of him felt guilty that he wouldn’t be there when the Cadre was put through the wringer for the failures on the hunt.
Tybalt’s eyes had swept the room, his pupils already glowing a faint red.
Then they stilled when he reached Cethin and Kailia, gaze fixed on the backs of their hands.
The male’s voice had been nothing but a pure growl when he asked if he could speak to them privately.
Razik had followed because Kailia was his charge, and he wasn’t about to give his uncle a single reason to think he wasn’t serious about handling this properly.
More than that, he didn’t understand what had triggered such a visceral response.
If something was wrong, he needed to know to guard Kailia effectively.
But he hadn’t expected his uncle to say those words.
Of course he’d noticed there were no Union Marks on their hands. He’d assumed Kailia had changed her mind. Not that Cethin had bound them together in a godsdamn Lunar Marriage.
Leaning back in his chair, Cethin was more than casual as he held Tybalt’s stare, and for all his arrogance, Razik had to give it to the male. It was slightly impressive. A little. A minute amount of gall to act so nonchalant in the presence of a dragon clearly riding an edge.
“I told you we were moving the union up,” Cethin said. Looking past the Commander, he added, “You can take a seat, wife. No need to stand in the doorway.”
Kailia’s eyes narrowed, her mouth pressing into a thin line as she went to the side opposite the hearth, perching on the edge of the velvet settee. Her fingers curled around the cushion as she looked between Cethin and Tybalt.
“You said you were moving the union up,” Tybalt retorted. “You failed to mention you were initiating a Lunar Marriage. Who anointed it?”
Cethin remained silent, drumming his fingers on the desk.
“Of course she did,” Tybalt spat, and Razik hated that he didn’t understand what was going on. “She’s the only one who would have possibly known how, but not without your help. How did you convince her?”
Cethin arched a brow. “Are you implying that I coerced Niara into doing something she didn’t want to do? Kailia, did Niara appear to have apprehension about our night?”
“She did not,” Kailia answered factually. “In truth, it was the most pleasant interaction I’ve had with her, but I assumed that was because there were no injuries to tend to this time.”
Tybalt turned to her then, and Razik instinctively stepped closer to her.
Not that he thought his uncle would do anything.
His control was impeccable, but he was a dragon.
A very irate dragon at the moment, and she was his charge.
Cethin was halfway out of his chair too, but he’d paused when Razik had moved, slowly lowering back to his seat.
“Did Cethin explain what this marriage was before it was anointed, Kailia?” Tybalt asked, the words tight with restraint.
“I knew what I was getting myself into,” Kailia replied, lifting her chin.
Tybalt shook his head, turning back to Cethin. “Your mother—”
“Is not here,” Cethin interjected, a pointed look on his face. “Neither of my parents is here, and that is not something I can dwell on. I have a kingdom to protect, responsibilities to adhere to, and promises to keep. That is what I have done.”
“You are going to have to face all of this some day, Cethin.”
“And today is not that day,” he replied, straightening and reaching for a stack of papers on his desk. “If there’s nothing else, I have things to get caught up on.”
Tybalt sighed, dropping into the chair on the opposite side of the desk, and Razik watched as the male shifted from concerned family friend to the Commander of the Forces. “I have the official report from Ariadne.”
Cethin paused, setting down a piece of paper and sitting back in his chair. “And?”
“And they were Avonleyan.”
“We assumed as much,” Cethin replied, glancing over at Razik and Kailia.
Razik was listening intently, but he was also watching the new queen.
She hadn’t shown any emotion at the mention of the attack.
Nothing of the utter panic and mania she’d been in when they’d found her in that clearing, bodies at her feet and blood everywhere.
“We have reason to believe they were part of the Elder Clan,” Tybalt added solemnly.
“Shit,” Cethin muttered, rubbing at his brow with his thumb and forefinger.
“What is that? What does that mean?” Kailia asked.
Cethin glanced at Razik and jerked his chin.
Surprised at being allowed to godsdamn speak at all, he didn’t show it.
Instead, he said, “The Elder Clan are exactly what they sound like. They’re a group of beings centuries old.
Some are believed to have been here when this realm was created.
That’s never been substantiated, but if not them, then their descendants.
They keep old traditions and records, and they are tasked with keeping the sacred places in the kingdom protected. ”
“Like the temple at Lunae Falls?” Kailia asked.
“No, that is a Witch temple,” Cethin answered absentmindedly, obviously deep in thought.
“These are sacred places from when the world was created. There are creatures there that the Elder Clan keeps at bay, and in return, we let them be. They are highly respected and knowledgeable, but they have a fault in relying too much on ancient ways and prophecies. It’s a balance to keep the peace with them. ”
“And if they are the ones who attacked you, it could be a problem,” Tybalt supplied. Shifting his attention back to the king, he added, “A big problem, Cethin.”
“One I’ve handled before,” the king replied.
“With Tethys at your side.”
Darkness drifted off the king in faint wisps. “I’m more than capable.”
“Yes, but at what cost?” Tybalt countered with a pointed look at the new queen.
“I have it handled,” Cethin gritted out.
“That doesn’t mean it won’t bite you in the ass in the end,” Tybalt replied, getting to his feet. “If I learn anything more, I’ll let you know, but I wanted you to be aware.” Turning to Razik, he added, “She goes nowhere alone.”
Razik nodded, his arms crossed where he still stood next to Kailia. At least she waited until Tybalt was gone before she said, “He does not like me.”
Cethin sighed, slumping back in his chair. “It’s not you, Kailia. It’s the situation.”
“I don’t think that’s true.”
“You’re right. He doesn’t,” Razik said plainly, taking a seat in the chair his uncle had vacated.
“Razik, can you not?” Cethin muttered, rubbing at his brow again.
He shrugged. “I’m not going to try to convince her of something that’s more than obvious. It’s not like it matters. She’s not going anywhere. You made sure of that.”
“Yeah,” Cethin murmured. Then he sighed, looking at the stacks of papers on his desk. It clearly pained him to ask, “Can you escort Kailia around today? I have…this to do.” He picked up a stack of papers and dropped them unceremoniously back onto his desk, a few fluttering to the floor.
“Anything in particular we need to handle?” Razik asked.
“Don’t let her stab anyone,” he muttered.
“That’s only you,” she retorted, getting to her feet.
“Tell that to those you left bleeding out in Shira Forest, tiny fiend,” Cethin replied. He didn’t smile, but he winked at her.
With a huff, she crossed the room, Razik following.
“Greybane,” Cethin called after him.
But Razik didn’t slow. He just threw a wave over his shoulder. He knew he was just going to reiterate the underlying meaning of his previous words. Don’t let her stab anyone, but also make sure there’s no reason for her to stab anyone.
“Where to, your Majesty?” Razik asked once they were outside the study, two of Cethin’s guards glancing at each other at the title.
“My rooms, I suppose?” she answered.
“Is that where you plan to spend your days? Because I’m not standing outside those doors all the fucking time.”
She looked up at him, eyeing him warily. Her gaze darted to the guards too before she said, “It’s probably best.”
Razik shrugged and, with an exaggerated flourish, motioned for her to lead the way. But once they rounded a corner and entered a stairwell, he said, “We’re away from prying ears now, Lia. Where would you like to go?”
She stilled, one foot on a stair. She wouldn’t even look at him when she said, “I don’t know what you mean.”
“You don’t?” he asked, and his disbelieving tone had her turning to him.
“No, Raz, I don’t. Enlighten me,” she retorted.
“Considering you seemed as though you were actually enjoying yourself on the hunt, I assume that means you don’t enjoy being cooped up in the same rooms day in and day out,” Razik replied. “More than that, Cethin talked you into a union that made you a queen.”
“In title only,” she interrupted.
“Still a queen. Still going to be known throughout the kingdom. You’re going to get bored, and you’re going to get bored quickly. Since you’re not afraid to stab the godsdamn king multiple times when you’re not bored, I can only imagine what will happen when you are,” he said.
She eyed him, lowering her foot back off the step. “You are…”
“Correct,” he deadpanned.
“I was going to say a dick,” she said with an apathetic shrug that rivaled his own.
“Still astounded by your observational talents,” Razik said. “But if there’s nothing you want to do today, the least you can do is accompany me on an errand.”