I kept forgetting to talk to him about the future of the kingdoms—about who should rule them. It had just resurfaced, but…was now the right time to discuss it? When everyone, including nearly the entire capital, was waiting on us? We needed more than a handful of minutes to talk about it.
Cas waited, his gaze expectant. “Did you have something to say?”
“Just that I…love you.” I gave him a big smile.
He blinked those ridiculously long lashes. “That’s why you burst my eardrum?”
“Your eardrum is fine.” I sighed.
“I don’t think you realize how loud you are,” he replied, the corners of his lips twitching. “But the temporary loss of hearing was worth it to hear those words.”
Now, my smile was as genuine as it was big.
One side of his lips curled up. “You ready now?”
I nodded.
“You sure? I don’t want to lose the other—”
“For fuck’s sake, Iamgoing to burst your eardrum in a minute.”
Cas chuckled deeply, his golden eyes warming. “You are so incredibly…violent.”
Which was one of the many, many reasons we needed to discuss the future of the kingdoms.
Stretching up, I kissed him. “I’m ready. No more shouting.”
Cas shadowstepped us to the Sun Temple with both eardrums intact.
When the silver light faded, it took me a moment to recognize my surroundings. The last time I’d been in the Temple was as a young child, but I quickly recalled the vast cella—the Temple’s main chamber.
The day was overcast, but that didn’t dampen the radiance of the space. The gold veins in the ivory floors shimmered, and the diamonds encrusting the tall limestone pillars framing the steps leading to the pews and the alcove circling the cella captured what light there was, casting fractured beams of warmth across the wide chamber. As Casteel turned, my gaze swept over the raised dais and the golden throne, its back carved into the shape of a sun. It shimmered with an almost otherworldly light.
Had Seraphena ever sat upon that throne while the Temple was empty?
Casteel’s hand tightened around mine, and I dragged my gaze from the throne. We crossed the cella, our steps echoing through the hollow chamber. While I was curious to explore the glittering halls and sun-drenched chambers, there was no time for that.
I could hear the crowd gathering outside.
Climbing the spiral staircase to the High Chamber where the others waited, I expected the flutter of nerves to grow into those large birds of prey. But they didn’t. Nor did my heart begin pounding with anxiety. The realization caused me to stop.
Casteel, a step above me, turned. “Poppy?”
I looked up at him. “I’m not nervous. I mean, I’m a little nervous, but that’s it.”
“That’s a good thing.” He cocked his head. “Right?”
“Yeah.” And it made sense.
Cas studied me for a moment. “Is there another reason you stopped?”
I drew my lip between my teeth. “I guess I’m just surprised.”
He continued staring at me for a few seconds, and then his lips curled up in a faint smile that came close to making the dimple in his right cheek appear.
“We should probably keep moving,” he said.
Squashing the disappointment, I nodded. He squeezed my hand, which was almost as good as glimpsing the dimple. Almost. We continued up what felt like a never-ending staircase. By the time we reached the short hall, my calves were burning, which I felt was quite ridiculous, considering I was a Primal god. Stealing a quick glance at Casteel as I heard Emil, I saw that he appeared utterly unbothered by the fact that we’d just climbed a thousand steps.
