Page 100 of Daman
“Okay.” I gave a short nod. “Let’s head out.”
A jet waited for us in the field not far from our cottage, and with it, a handful of men. Men I’d befriended over my weeks in the ice kingdom—Lev, Ivan, Efrem, and two other warriors named Alexander and Rurik.
“Commander,” Lev said to Warrin, bowing his head.
Warrin returned his gesture. “Thank you for accompanying us on such short notice.”
“Of course. It’s an honor.” Lev tilted his head a bit to the side as he regarded Warrin. “Something’s different about you.”
The mark. Every male in that field sensed it. Envy purred as I stepped closer to Warrin’s side.
“Mine.”
Bellamy put his arms around Ivan and Efrem’s shoulders. “How are my favorite twins doing?”
“Who are you again?” Ivan asked.
Bellamy’s face fell. The twins burst into laughter, and my brother laughed with them, promising to punish them later for the remark. We boarded the jet. It was roughly the same size as Alastair’s private plane. Just as nice too. The king had spared no expense.
“I call dibs on the bed,” Gray said. “I need my beauty sleep.”
“Nope.” Castor blocked his way down the aisle toward the only bedroom aboard. “Kyo and I already called it. And we won’t be sleeping.”
“You won’t be fucking either,” I told him. “It’s only a two-hour flight.”
“Plenty of time to get my fuck on. Hey, where’s Gray?” Castor looked around. The door to the bedroom closed. “That sly little devil. He snuck past me.”
“It wasn’t hard.” Kyo dropped down into one of the cushioned seats. “You’re so oblivious sometimes.”
“Not when it comes to you.” Castor knelt in front of Kyo, sliding his hands up his thighs. “I notice everything.”
“Stalker.”
“Who’s flying the plane?” I asked Warrin.
“Lev. Alexander is his co-pilot.”
“Cool.” I removed my sword and sat down, bouncing my knee as I stared out the small window. Everyone on this plane was my responsibility. They wouldn’t be there if not for me.
Warrin placed a hand on my restless leg, and I instantly calmed. He said he trusted me. I breathed in deep and released it slowly. Fucking nerves. I hated them.
Once everyone was seated, the plane took off. We were headed for the city of Cluj-Napoca, the place where the kingdom of Dacia once stood. It was the first time I’d be returning since Lazarus took me away.
Ugh.More nerves.
As we lifted into the air, I stared down at the snowy landscape. The castle stood in the distance with mountains rising behind it. The sky flickered and changed once we passed through the barrier.
It was still winter in Russia, but the sun shone bright.
Warrin’s warm palm slid against mine as he interlaced our fingers. I peered over at him in the seat beside me. The blue tones in his silver hair stood out that day. Maybe the sun had something to do with it. He was radiant.
“Remind me to make you a Russian coffee when we return,” he said.
I was taken aback by his strange choice of topic, but then I realized what he was doing. He was trying to take my mind off everything. Trying to distract me.
“Russian coffee? What’s in it?”
“Vodka, rich espresso, and cream.” He brought our joined hands up to his mouth and lightly kissed my knuckles. “A dash of sugar too, to counteract the bitterness. Though, I don’t mind bitter things.”
