“You barely know him.”
“I know enough.”
“You just don’t like him because Kieran doesn’t.” Sitting back, I crossed my arms. “He’s been extremely helpful, especially while freeing you,” I reminded him. “And he’s also very—”
“If you say he’s nice,” Casteel interrupted, “I’m going to have serious questions regarding your definition of the word.”
“She thinks you’re nice,” Kieran tossed over his shoulder as he went to the door. “I already question her definition.”
I snorted. “He has a point.”
“Uh-huh,” Casteel murmured, taking a drink. “I’m surprised it took him this long.”
Frowning, I started to ask what he meant, but then Kieran cracked the door open. “What?”
I sighed at the less-than-friendly greeting.
“She’s awake,” came Reaver’s low, raspy voice.
Kieran remained firmly planted in front of the door. “And?”
“Kieran,” I snapped, shoving back from the table. “Let him in.”
He extended an arm, pushing the door open farther in the slowest manner possible. I stood. Just when I thought I would have to tell Kieran he also needed to move aside, he did.
Kind of.
Reaver wasn’t small by any means, but all I saw of him as he squeezed past Kieran was a glimpse of a bare chest.
Having no idea if Reaver was actually wearing clothing, I dared a quick glance. Relieved to find he was wearing loose black pants instead of a curtain or nothing, I stepped toward him.
He stopped a few feet inside the chamber and tilted his chin down, sending shoulder-length blond hair swinging forward. “It is good to find you awake.” He lifted his head as Kieran pushed the door closed. “And that you appear to be yourself.”
I shifted on my feet, my toes curling against the stone. “Glad to be…back to myself.” I clasped my hands together as a vague memory of seeing Reaver flying backward surfaced. “And I’m sorry for anything I might’ve done while—”
“No need,” Reaver interrupted.
“For once,” Casteel said, setting his glass down, “I agree with him.”
I glanced at the fine cracks in the wall and winced. “I really feel like there is a need, though.”
“You were not yourself.”
I hadn’t been, but still. “That’s no ex—”
“I didn’t come here for an unnecessary apology, Poppy.”
“Shouldn’t you address her as meyaahLiessa?” Casteel asked, his gaze fixed on Reaver as his finger tapped the side of his glass.
I hadn’t even caught that he hadn’t called me what roughly translated intomy Queenin old Atlantian.
“The Queen of the Gods is awake,” Reaver replied, his tone flat. “Therefore,sheis meyaahLiessa.”
Casteel’s finger stilled, and Kieran stiffened. “That is not what you said the last time we spoke.”
“What I said was that it has never applied to Nektas or me,” Reaver replied, crossing his arms.
“You never said Poppy was no longer your meyaahLiessa,” Casteel said, his voice dropping low.
