Page 44 of Castor
“Understood.”
“Is this good?”Raiden asked as we followed the leader of the group. Two of them moved behind us, and the other two flew on each side of us, blocking us in. Their untrusting natures were expected.
“Yes,”Alastair answered.“If they had already sided with Asa, they wouldn’t have hesitated to attack.”
“Or maybe they want to get us on the ground and surrounded by more of their men before attacking,”Bellamy suggested.
Alastair looked over at him as we descended from the sky.“An unlikely possibility but not impossible.”
“They think I’m human,” Kyo whispered in my ear.
“Best not correct them for now,” I responded.
Once on the grass, I tucked in my wings but kept my arms around Kyo. His lips brushed my jaw before he stepped away from me. I grabbed his hand though, unable to fight the urge to keep him close.
I now knew how Galen felt when it came to protecting Simon. Kyo wasn’t even my fully bonded mate, and my protectiveness was overwhelming. So was my possessiveness. I could only imagine how much the two would be enhanced if we ever were to fully mate.
No wonder Galen hadn’t been able to leave Simon behind to come to Greece.
“Follow me,” the head Nephilim said before walking through the grass and finding a dirt path that led down the hill toward a large villa.
An orchard of olive trees sat off to one side of the white-brick house, and even in the darkness, I saw the colorful grove of flowers and plants. A light flickered on in the front window. Before we reached the door, the male turned to Alastair.
“Set aside your sword. I can’t allow you and your men inside if you’re armed.”
Alastair regarded him with an expression I knew all too well. He loathed being given an order. “And ifyourmen attack us? How do I know you aren’t leading us into a slaughter?”
A challenge sparked in the man’s eyes as he took a small step forward. “Why would we slaughter you? Care to explain it to me?”
“You smug-faced son of a whore,”Alastair inwardly mumbled. Standing so close to him, we could all read his thoughts without him having to project them into our minds. Out loud, though, he said, “How about a show of good faith? You set your weapons aside as well.”
The man glanced at the other four Nephilim before nodding. “Fine.” He unsheathed his sword and tossed it to the grass. The others added theirs to the ground, with the bow and quiver of arrows being the last. “Your turn.”
Alastair removed his sword and dagger before telling us to do the same. His gaze met mine.“Kyo is our wild card. I sense more Nephilim inside the house who could still be armed.”
I squeezed Kyo’s hand tighter, and his eyes shifted to me. Understanding seemed to dawn in them before he gave a subtle nod and faced the door as it opened.
The inside of the villa called to my love of luxury and comfort. The high ceilings and cream-colored walls brightened the room and made it feel more open, and the stonework on the archways and along some of the windows gave it a touch of finesse. Greed stirred inside me as I admired the expensive vases and marble statues decorating the living area.
“Focus, Cas,”Bellamy said from beside me.
Right. The mission.
It was then I noticed the other Nephilim in the house. Some looked down from the second-floor balcony, while others appeared beneath archways. Males and females alike. I counted seven. Twelve counting the five who had led us there. We were definitely outnumbered.
“Baxter’s on the terrace,” the man leading us said, veering toward a set of glass doors. He opened them and turned to glare at Alastair. “I couldn’t give two shits about how important you think you are, cursed son. When you’re inourterritory, you obey our rules. Step out of line, and I’ll have no qualms about removing your head.”
“I’m no fool,” Alastair said. “There is no need for the intimidation tactics, boy. They won’t work on me. Now, if you’re finished making an ass of yourself, could you get out of my way?”
A gruff laugh came from outside. “Let them pass, Titan.”
The man—Titan—scowled at Alastair one last time before stepping out of his path. Alastair passed through the doorway, and we followed.
Softly glowing lights hung from the terrace roof, and running water sounded from the infinity pool beyond it. A couch stretched along one side, and there was a rectangular table with chairs around it on the other. A man stood propped against the column of the terrace and turned at our approach.
“The sons of the first fallen,” he said, gaze scanning over us. Pink streaks ran through his spiky black hair, and his eyes were two different colors: one blue and one green.
“Are you Baxter?” Alastair asked.
