“Just a ruse to get close to you,” he answered.
“Smart. Hestus believes in guest rite and would not take kindly to a guest dying under his roof. It’s one of the reasons he was so adamant about you not dying, young man. I see you made it to Illyria.” He said, nodding toward me. He dropped to the bed as if he no longer had the strength to stand, his eyes frozen on his son’s face. “I can’t believe you’re really here.”
“We’re not just here, we’re here to get you out,” I said.
Kyris smiled.
“I had hoped that someone in Illyria would get my message, but I wasn’t sure.”
“Your message was received, my friend,” Master B said, clapping a hand on Kyris’ shoulder. “We’re here to get you and Stergiou out. Where is he?”
Kyris’ face fell.
“You either have the best of luck, or the worst, my friends. Jozel is here, but is most likely only here until tomorrow morning. The King is sending Master Aurelius to move him. Aurelius is expected for dinner, after which he will be…entertained…and then he is expected to return to the palace.”
Hel swore.
“That doesn’t leave us much time,” he said. “But we’ll make it work.”
“You don’t understand,” Kyris said. “Aurelius heard that there was going to be new blood here this evening, so he plans on sampling the new…wares.”
My eyes widened. I hadn’t ever met Aurelius, but I knew he had been one of Luke’s tormentors. “And he has a taste for blonds.”
My eyes flashed to my Bonded.
“Shit. He would recognize me, I think,” Hel said. “He’s the one who captured me and released me into the Machi to begin with, and—”
“And you bit his hand off,” I added.
“There’s that, too,” Hel said, laughing.
“That was you?” Kyris asked, his voice a mixture of amusement and pride. “We’ve all heard the stories of the giant snow tiger that took his hand.”
“I’ll do it. I’d be more than willing to kill the bastard,” I volunteered.
“He would, indeed, recognize you. He suffered a great deal for the mistake of placing you in the Machi, or so gossip has said,” Kyris said, a small smile on his lips. “The King’s punishments are legendary. As far as for you attending him, Kataramenos, he prefers blonds.”
The name made me start as I realized it was the only one I had ever shared with him.
“It’s Elex, actually,” I said.
Kyris raised an eyebrow.
“Wait.Elex. As in, the bastard son of Cyrius? Who died in the Machi Thanatos?”
I nodded.
“Except he didn’t actually die, and he’s my Bonded,” Hel said proudly.
Kyris looked between us, the joy on his face undeniable.
“Goddess be praised!” he said, hugging his son again. Then, to my surprise, he stood and wrapped me in a hug as well. As he held me in his arms I understood where Hel got his skill at hugging. Though he was much slighter than his son, his hug was all in.
“Glad you saved me?” I asked, grinning as he took my face in his hands.
His lined face smiled, and I couldn’t help but smile back.
“So very glad,” he said. “Even if you weren’t my son’s Bonded. Welcome to our family, my son.”
