Good call.
His lips pressed against my temple.He also shared that he and Helenea started speaking to the Ascended they believe will be open to living like the Unbound. He didn’t get a chance to mention that.
I nodded as I glanced past Casteel. Malik now stood with Kieran, his features set in cool indifference. I wondered why he wore a mask among those who knew him.
How did that go?I asked as Cas grabbed my hand and guided me forward.
So far, so good.
I felt a smidgen of relief, even though I knew the path forward with the Ascended wouldn’t be easy.
“Ready?” Kieran asked as we approached.
I nodded as Vonetta stepped in behind us and took my glass.
“Are you sure you do not want to be announced formally?” Hisa asked.
“We’re positive,” Casteel confirmed.
As Hisa stepped back, Vonetta’s bright gaze met mine. “You’ve got this.”
I took a deep breath, realizing I really didn’t need to. “I do.”
CASTEEL
My heart beat slow and steady, mirroring Poppy’s as we neared the balcony’s open doors. Whatever previous nerves she had regarding the address seemed to have vanished, but I kept her hand wrapped firmly in mine.
“The curve of the balcony will help project the sound, as will the limestone and marble mixed with the gold.” Kieran’s gaze met mine. “So, keep that in mind if you’re about to say something you don’t want half the capital to hear.”
I huffed out a dry laugh. “Noted.”
Poppy nodded and then sent Malik a pointed look. He currently appeared as if he were attempting to disappear into the wall.
“I’ll be right behind you.” He sighed.
His obvious discomfort was as amusing as it was strange. The Malik I’d grown up with would’ve loved to bask in the attention of such a large audience.
But he wasn’t that Malik anymore.
Poppy’s small hand squeezed mine, drawing my attention forward. Hisa and my father appeared on either side of the doors, and they opened them in unison, letting in the cool breeze.
The crowd below immediately quieted, and then silence descended on those farther out.
Poppy and I stepped out beneath the overcast sky, followed by Kieran and Malik.
Poppy sucked in a sharp breath when she got an eyeful of everyone staring up at us. Her heart sped up a little but quickly calmed as she scanned the city.
With the number of mortals below, it was shocking how quiet it was, save for some scattered coughs and the cry of a babe. People crowded the courtyard, filled every street of the Garden District, and watched from open windows. There wasn’t a bare spot as far as the eye could see, and not one Primal god lurking about to stare at my wife.
I glanced down at Poppy. Our eyes met, and her lips curved up. Fuck, if my heart didn’t skip then. Resisting the urge to kiss her, I refocused. The faster we got this over with, the sooner I could taste her lips.
There was no better motivation.
We walked to the center of the balcony and the gentle curve jutting out over the courtyard. Still keeping our hands joined, I placed my other on the cool railing, feeling the smoothness of the stone and the roughness of the crushed diamonds. Poppy did the same—
A whooshing sound snapped my head to the right as Malik jerked to his left. His eyes widened as silvery-gold flames erupted from the stone torch. One by one, the others followed—igniting in a rippling line across the Sun Temple walls until the torch to Kieran’s left sparked to life, casting a silver glow on the crowd below.
“Those torches,” Malik uttered as murmurs swept through the crowd in a wave. “I’ve never seen them lit.”
