Damien lowered himself to whisper in my ear. “You bow to no one here.”
I stiffened, gripping his hand, and nodded. I had to remind myself that while this was The Council, and these were the heads of great houses of powerful immortals, I was mate to their lord, to their king. I was their demigoddess. I was their… queen.
God, did that thought leave my stomach in knots.
Those titles were heavy, and I could understand why Damien had never wanted his. Had any of these Kyrios known me in a past life? Would they have expectations of me? Ones I couldn’t meet?
I couldn’t let my nerves get the best of me, though as the male noticed our presence, turning to look over his shoulder, I willed the turmoil and nerves to calm within me. There was no room for weakness in this world, only strength.
This was only temporary. I just needed to help Damien convince them to volunteer more recruits. If we could just defeat the darklings, find peace… I could rest knowing Damien and the others were safe.
The male’s smile lit up his blue-gray eyes when he saw Damien. “Damien Archonis,” he said with a cheerful drawl. “It’s been far too long, brother.”
Damien released my arm to embrace him. “How’ve you been?”
“As well as I can be. Looks like I’ll be rejoining you and The Order soon.”
“We’ll discuss that in due time.” Damien glanced back at me, taking my hand, leading me to his side. “Xander, this is Cas.”
His eyes found me, looking more intrigued than anything as he rubbed his hand against his rough, umber beard. A smile lit his bronze face, and he bowed. Blood rushed to my cheeks, but I didn’t allow myself to refuse his gesture. This was the way it was, and I needed to adjust. I scanned my brain for all the information Damien had given me the night before, desperate to make a good first impression.
Xander... Xander. “The Kyrios of House Stoicheion,” I stated, smiling. He was of the house Barrett and Vincent belonged to, the house of elementalists. Which element could he wield?
He lifted his head and brushed his medium length umber hair back from his face as he straightened. “I’m honored. Word spreads quickly, and the houses whispered of your return. It’s a pleasure to meet you, my queen.” My heart stuttered and my lips parted, but no response formed on my tongue.My queen. The title left me on unsteady legs, but I shoved it back.
He continued. “I could hardly believe the rumors true that you’d returned as a human, but let no one discredit your current form. You carry yourself like the goddess you are.”
“You’re too kind, Xander. Damien told me about you,” I responded with a smile. “The—” Nerves derailed my train of thought, but I forced myself to calm. “Pleasure is mine.”
He cocked a brow. “Good things, I hope.” He glanced at Damien. “You didn’t sell me out, did you?”
Damien fought the grin hinting at his lips. Xander’s eyes drifted back to me, a devious grin spreading across his face. “I can tell you many stories of trouble we got into together over our centuries of friendship.”
My smile became genuine, my nerves easing. “Now I’m curious.”
Damien gave me an assuring squeeze of his hand and smiled sidelong at me. “You start sharing stories, and we’ll miss the entire meeting.”
Xander waved him off with a laugh before turning to me. “I hear you have a way with the flame.”
I fought the sinking feeling in my chest. “It’s coming along.” It was a lie, but I didn’t want to let on that I didn’t have control yet. Would they view me as inferior?
Xander’s pale eyes shifted as he noticed Barrett and the others lingering on the steps behind us, waiting for the meeting to begin. “I’m glad to see the brothers of The Order have managed to stick together all these centuries. Zephyr looks well. I’m still trying to convince Barrett to take my place as Kyrios so I can retire.”
“Barrett?” I blurted, my gaze shooting to Damien.
Xander smiled. “I’ve been trying to convince him for years, but he keeps turning me down.”
“He knows he’d have to step down from The Order if he took the role,” Damien said. “You trying to steal my third in command, Xander?”
Barrett as the Kyrios of his own house. I knew he was talented, smart—but the heir to House Stoicheion? I could hardly wrap my head around it. I wondered if Damien feared he might accept. Barrett was a skilled warrior. If he left The Order, I knew it wouldn’t be good for us, not with the possibility of war on the horizon.
“I’m not pressing him, Damien. I know how attached you are to him. The offer is there if he ever changes his mind, is all I’m saying.” The smile faded from Xander’s face, and his tone grew sympathetic as he cleared his throat. “I heard about what happened with Cole. I’m truly sorry.”
Damien sighed. “I’m sure Tobias won’t hesitate to bring it up today.”
My mouth went dry, nerves kicking in. Tobias. Calista’s father—the person I dreaded meeting. How would he act when he found me here, the one who’d derailed his plans?
Xander’s face went just as sour as Damien’s, and I was relieved he seemed to feel the same as we did. “Let him try. I’m just waiting for him to make one wrong move so I can put him in his place.”
