Page 111 of Castor
My hand automatically went to the dagger concealed under my suit jacket, and I jumped to my feet, putting Kyo behind me. Tatsuya’s guards readied their weapons just as quickly.
“The ice kingdom is here!” the man who burst in exclaimed.
A male with medium-length silver hair and a bulky muscled build entered the ballroom. A thin crown sat atop his head, and his clothing consisted of fur and layers that would no doubt make him sweat in the tropical climate.
“King Nikolai,” Kyo told me.
Warrin walked behind him, followed by a company of armed men. None of them had their weapons drawn, but their hands rested on the hilts of their swords. A majority of them had blond, white, or silver hair with a few pale blue mixed in.
“Fucking wedding crashers,” I mumbled. “Do you think they’re pissed about us getting married? I thought Warrin was cool with it.”
“He is.” Kyo scrutinized them with a deep frown. “There has to be another reason they’re here.”
“King Nikolai,” Tatsuya announced, calmly rising from his seat. “To what do we owe the honor?”
The ice king stopped at the foot of the steps leading to our table. “We came for the celebration. I have to say, I’m hurt you didn’t extend an invitation.” His accent was thick, making his already gruff voice sound harsher.
“I apologize,” Tatsuya said. “Given the circumstances, I thought it rude to invite you to the wedding of the man your brother was supposed to marry. Yet, now that you’re here, please make yourself welcome and join the festivities.”
“Gratitude.” Nikolai nodded to him. At least he seemed amicable. “The wedding isn’t the only reason we’ve come.” His gaze lingered on me a moment before moving on. “Which one of you is called Alastair?”
“I am.” Alastair stepped forward.
“I have a proposition for you,” Nikolai told him. “I suggest you and your men come with me so we can speak in private.”
Couldn’t this shit wait until later? The effects of the magic-infused wine made my body ache for Kyo. I yearned to finish the ritual. To become one with him.
“Any business talks will have to wait until tomorrow,” Tatsuya said. “It wouldn’t be fair to the newlyweds to have their special day thrown off course.”
“I care little for fairness, King Tatsuya,” Nikolai said. “I’ve traveled a long way and will wait for no one. The discussion happens now or not at all.”
Tatsuya clenched his jaw before looking at me and Kyo, then back at the ice king. “Very well. But I shall join this discussion.”
“But of course.”
“Carry on,” Tatsuya told the wedding guests before walking down the steps toward the ice dragon king. The music started up again.
“Stay on alert,”Alastair told us as we met in the center of the ballroom.“Just in case this is a trap.”
Kyo stayed close to my side as we left the room and moved down a corridor. Gray fought to keep his eyes open, so Galen lowered to one knee so Gray could hop on his back. King Nikolai walked beside Tatsuya, and Warrin followed behind them. The rest of the ice dragons closed in behind us. We were wedged between them.
Thankfully, the armed soldiers stayed in the hall when we reached a room and went inside it.
Stars shone through the many windows as darkness blanketed the island. Tatsuya motioned to the table in the middle of the room, and we sat around it. All except for Daman, who chose to stand against the wall.
Nikolai spoke first. “I’ll make this quick so the celebration can continue. My brother Warrin has asked me to reconsider my stance on your war. He believes the demonic army will pose a much bigger threat to the world than I originally thought.”
Warrin, who sat beside Nikolai, kept his gaze fixated on the table. Almost as though he were ashamed of something. Guilty even.
“I’m a firm believer in tradition,” Nikolai continued, his accent thickening the faster he spoke. “Since the beginning of our clan, alliances, political or otherwise, have come in the form of marriage. It offers certain assurances that signing treaties or proclamations of peace just don’t provide.”
Oh shit.I suspected where he was going with this. I caught Alastair’s eye, and he appeared to realize the same.
“You need allies, yet I have no reason to provide aid or pledge fidelity to you or your cause.” Nikolai focused on Alastair. “You and your group of Nephilim are the strongest of your kind. One might even say you are royalty. Not only the highest among your ranks, but also the most powerful. Any one of you would make a fine match, and I have heard that all of you enjoy the company of men. My proposition is this: if you want the ice clan to aid in your war, one of you will need to marry Prince Warrin.”
Warrin lowered his head even more. I felt bad for him. It was obvious his brother had forced it on him.
“Your offer is most gracious,” Alastair said, his tone taut. “Might we have a moment to discuss it?”
