Page 101 of Castor
Kyo took the chair beside mine and scooted it closer, resting a hand on my leg. After being away from him for so long, I found comfort in his touch. Raiden rooted himself on my other side, while Warrin sat across from me.
The ice dragon’s cold demeanor matched his frosty appearance. He looked as though he hadn’t smiled a day in his life. Honestly, he reminded me a little of Galen, just not as angry.
“Someone mind telling me what’s going on?” I asked. “Aren’t you guys supposed to be planning your wedding?” Bitterness filled my tone. I couldn’t help it.
“No. There’s been a change of plans,” Warrin answered in a thick accent. “The marriage has been called off.”
“What?” I met Kyo’s gaze, trying not to get my hopes up. It seemed too good to be true. “How? Why?”
“Warrin overheard our conversation the night I called you.” Kyo squeezed my thigh. His eyes shone with a kind of joy I hadn’t seen before, lacking the shadows that had been present in the days leading up to the battle. He seemed happy.
Free.
“Kyo was so upset,” Warrin said, drawing my attention. “And I realized I couldn’t go through with the marriage.” His glacier-blue eyes roamed my face before narrowing a little. “Seeing you two together right now proves I made the right decision. I can’t marry someone whose heart belongs to another.”
“So that’s it?” Raiden asked before opening a bag of chips he’d stolen from my food stash in the cupboard along the wall. “You called off the wedding that easily?”
“I wouldn’t say it was easy.” A line formed in Warrin’s brow. “My older brother wasn’t happy with my decision.”
“Mine wasn’t either,” Kyo added. “He scolded me for what felt like hours. Called me a selfish child and said if the ice clan lifts the temporary ceasefire and wages war on us again, it will be my fault. He’s always been kinda dramatic like that. He cooled off once Warrin spoke to him.”
“The reason for the marriage was to bring peace to our clans.” Warrin sat rigid with his spine straight and his hands clasped in his lap. Did he ever relax? “After spending time with King Tatsuya and getting to know his people, I learned that the water clan is no threat to us. I was treated with kindness during my stay at the palace. It showed me that the peace both sides wanted was already in our grasp. So, I traveled to my kingdom and spoke to my brother in person. Kyo accompanied me.”
“It was cold there,” Kyo said. “Nearly froze my nuts off.”
I grinned and pulled him closer to my side.
“It took a lot of convincing,” Warrin continued. “Ever since he was a young boy, my brother was told the water clan was manipulative and self-centered, that they would betray even their closest allies if it meant rising higher in the world.”
Kyo nodded. “When really, the one who behaved that way was my father. He no longer believed that the dragon clans should be separate and thought there should be one king to rule over all of us. He then took that role upon himself, invading other dragon kingdoms and conquering their land. The ice dragons rallied the other clans together to stop his tyranny. It’s what caused this whole damn war in the first place.”
“I reminded my brother of this.” Warrin returned his gaze to me. “My father and the late King Ryujin were the ones who started this war. Both are dead now. I said it was time we put that old conflict behind us and move forward.”
“And your brother agreed to this?” I asked.
“Not at first. Though, he couldn’t deny that I made a good point. The fact that Kyo journeyed with me to Russia with no warriors at his back impressed him too. It showed that there was a degree of trust between us even without the bonds of marriage. We then spoke of the battle between you and the demon army. That’s what finally convinced him to see reason.”
“What does that mean?” Raiden flicked crumbs off his shirt, completely oblivious to the ones at the edge of his mouth.
“The water and ice dragons fought together on that beach. My brother decided to allow the armistice between our clans to remain intact despite the marriage being called off.”
Kyo laid his head on my shoulder. “Tatsuya met with King Nikolai, and they signed a new agreement to be allies once again. With conditions, of course, just like any treaty. If either side attacks the other, the peace ends, blah, blah.”
“What about the war with the demons?” I asked.
“The water clan will fight beside you,” Kyo answered. “Tatsuya has already assured me of that.”
“And the ice dragons?” Raiden looked at Warrin.
He shook his head. “I’m afraid not. Nikolai sees no reason to join you or the demons. We only fought on the island because my betrothed was in danger. Since Kyo and I are no longer engaged to be wed, my brother doesn’t wish to involve us any further.”
“Understandable,” I said, a little disappointed but still too damn happy to be bothered by much. “I never got to thank you for helping that day. I know you didn’t do it for us. But I appreciate it all the same.”
Warrin nodded to me before standing from his chair. “I should head home now that matters are resolved here.”
“You can’t leave right now,” Kyo said, frowning at him. “We just got here. I know you’re tired because fuck knows I am. We’ve had a long-ass week. Not only with traveling, but with trying to get our stubborn older brothers to get along too.”
The ice prince gave the closest thing he could probably manage to a smile. “Iamtired, actually. I’ll find a hotel.”
