“It means none of the rules the Fate’s presence should guarantee applies to you or him,” Attes shared. “As you two were not summoned. She was.”
I sucked in a sharp breath.
“And?” Casteel repeated with a tight-lipped smile.
“Is that the only word you can speak now?” Attes snapped.
“I have a whole vocabulary of words I could be using, but they’d be wasted,” Casteel replied. “Whether or not these protections—ones you’re not even sure will extend to Poppy—cover us doesn’t matter.”
“We’re going,” Kieran finished.
Tension crept into every muscle as my fingers twisted together. None of the protections… Gods, was that not confirmation of what I’d known the moment Kolis said he’d love for them to attend?
“Casteel,” his father started.
“I don’t want to hear it.” Casteel started flipping the blade again.
“I know you don’t.” His father wasn’t swayed. My eyes met Attes’s. “But in no situation should the three highest-ranking members be present for such a meeting.”
“The three of us were present for the battle at the Bone Temple,” Casteel pointed out.
“That’s different,” Valyn said, his voice steady.
“Is it?” Kieran asked. “Because it makes no sense.”
A muscle ticked in Valyn’s temple.
“Besides.” Casteel shifted, slouching slightly. “The kingdom would not be without guidance. Vonetta is here.”
Vonetta’s stare darted between the three of us. She looked like she was about to speak but thought twice about it.
Valyn took a deep breath. “I strongly advise that you not do this.”
“You can advise all you want.” His thick lashes lifted as he pierced his father with a look that held a warning. “It won’t change anything.”
“No.”
The table fell silent again.
Then Casteel’s neck turned. “What?”
“I said no.” I spoke louder. “If you two accompany me, you will not leave.”
The dagger halted between two fingers.
That wasn’t the only reason they couldn’t go, but it was the main reason. I knew I had to get close to Kolis. That meant goingalong with his…desires to an extent, despite what Seraphena had said. And that would never happen with either of them there.
Kieran leaned forward. “Poppy—”
“There is no other reason for why he would’ve phrased the summons like he did.”
“Pretty sure I just made it clear that whether the protection extends to us or not doesn’t matter,” Casteel replied, his tone flat.
“I know, but…” I looked at Attes. “What happens if I make a move against Kolis to defend either of them?”
“You will be…put in a time-out,” he answered.
“Time-out?” Emil repeated under his breath.
