Baldrir’s lips pursed as he side-eyed Thad. “Sisters be with you, my friend. Caius has been in a right bloody state. I don’t envy you.”
“Where is he?!”
“Ah, fuck.” Thaddeus scrambled beside her at that shouted demand from the corridor, doing his best to wedge his large body between the bench and tabletop—as if his father wouldn’t immediately spot him under there in the empty hall.
“No use for it, lad,” Magnus said around a mouthful of food, tugging Thad to his feet. “You wanted to be taken seriously? To be a warrior? Here’s your chance. Accept it.”
“Shite.” Thaddeus cringed at an echoing bang and crash outside. “Maybe I’d rather be a coward after all.”
Magnus chuckled. “No, you wouldn’t. This isn’t even the worst thing you’ve ever done. Just means more than before, aye? You’ll be fine.”
Thad loosed a slow breath and nodded, his jaw set.
“Get the fuck out of my way.” Caius burst through the double doors with fury twisting his features, revealing a crowd of eavesdropping Demons before the panels slammed shut again. “Thaddeus!”
Despite his blond hair being combed and braided neatly on the sides, and the perfect press of his ceremonial robes, Caius looked haggard. Worn out. Deep lines bracketed his downturnedmouth and burning eyes, mottled anger splashed across his face in almost impossible shades of red and purple.
Shitting stars. Maybeyoushould be hiding…
Caius located his quarry, wrath in every clipped step as he barreled over. “You daft, misbehaving, contrary bastard,”he growled, only feet away. “I should fucking skin you.”
Thaddeus shrank even further under those biting words, the fire in him dwindling with each snapping syllable.
Caius plowed straight into him, enveloping his son with both arms. The hug was desperate, almost violent in its fervor. “What were you thinking?” he breathed into Thad’s hair, before pulling back and giving him a rough shake. “What were youthinking,Thaddeus?”
He stared down at his father, standing a little taller. “That it was high time everyone stopped treating me like a child.”
Without warning, Caius lifted a hand and cuffed Thaddeus in the side of the head. “And you thought sneaking off and worrying me sick was the way to do it?”
“Aye, and I was wrong. I understand now.” He sent her and Magnus a fleeting look as he grimaced and rubbed his ear. “I’m sorry, Da. It won’t happen again.”
Caius’s hand was trembling when he jabbed a pointed finger in Thad’s face. “You’re damned right it won’t.” That same hand flattened against Thad’s chest, clenching. “Are you hurt, lad? Well? What the fuck happened?”
“Ach… Um…” Thad gripped his nape, at a loss. “I’m fine. We’re all fine? The rest is a wee bit hard to explain.”
Caius sighed and released Thad. “Aye, no shite. One second I’m bringing permission from the Chieftains for the Demons to enter our lands at Faldir’s request, and the next you’re all back here looking harried as anything and no one knows fuck all about it.”
Magnus clapped Caius on the back. “Trust me, uncle. Our account isn’t going to help matters. Just know we wouldn’t have succeeded without him. You’d have been proud.”
An odd look flitted across Caius’s face. “You went into battle?”
“Aye. I did.” Thaddeus beamed, his chin lifting with pride. “I’m to be marked for my part.”
“I can’t decide whether to be pissed I wasn’t there or to take you to do it now—mostly because it’s going to fucking hurt and you deserve it!” Caius barked out a laugh as he embraced Thad again.
When Caius broke away, he finally caught sight of Baldrir holding Fern. “What the fuck?”
Magnus ran a hand through his hair. “One of those things that’s hard to explain.”
“Someone had better!”
Lunara stood on shaky legs. “We found her in Glynmor. Suffice it to say that she was… the only one left. Barely.”
Caius recoiled. “She was there in the village?”
“Did Faldir tell you what happened?” Magnus asked, voice little more than a whisper.
“Aye, but only enough to have me running back to the Keep to beg for aid from all sides.” Caius scrubbed a hand down his face. “A fucking mess, and no mistake.”
