Braxis started to smile again.
Chapter Forty
“Juriksel,” I exclaimed in surprise when I walked into the living room with Braxis a few minutes later.
Alex was there, looking awkward, and the Bleiten warrior I'd met in the supe prison sat beside him, looking right at home with a bottle of beer in his hand and his prince sitting in an armchair to his right. Also there, was a pack of Dralmarin, sprawled in chairs that had been brought in from the dining room. Rain sat with them, a big grin plastered on his face. I completely understood; there's nothing like being surrounded by friends.
Juriksel jumped to his feet and bowed to me. “Princess Amaranthine, thank you for having me in your home.”
“Of course. Welcome. I'm relieved to see that you made it off that island safely.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.” Juriksel's gaze slid to Braxis, and he went tense. “But what is a Reaksarian warrior doing in your company?”
The Reaksarian Tribes inhabited Reaksar, a Northern continent on Hell, and they tended toward a paler coloring, especially their hair. Braxis's bright, auburn locks had given him away, just as Juriksel's short, dark hair and tanned skin had marked him as a man from the continent of Taroth Vin—the same continent Mal was from. Taroth Vin was home to Abaddon, the capital of Hell, and was where King Lucifer ruled.
“The Reaksarians are now at peace with us,” Malik explained. “This is Duke Braxis, my father appointed him to rule the Reaksarian Tribes in his name.”
“Duke?” Juriksel frowned and looked from Malik, to me, to Braxis. “I seem to have missed a lot.”
Braxis grunted and held his hand out to Juriksel. “Braxis Fengoth.”
“Ranval Juriksel.” Juriksel shook Braxis's hand.
“It's good to have another Bleiten here,” Braxis said.
Ranval blinked and processed. I smiled softly at Braxis. It had been a very diplomatic thing to say—a statement with layered meanings. Braxis had just told Ranval that there was no animosity between them, that they were on the same side, and that here on Earth, they were just Bleiten, not Reaksarian and Taroth Vinian. His words had offered peace and friendship. And Ranval—thank all that's holy—took him up on the offer.
“I'm honored to be here, Duke Braxis,” Ranval said. “I intend to stay and help you catch the man who imprisoned us and stole our prince's magic.”
“Thank you.” Braxis waved him back to his seat. “We could use your help.”
“And I see your friends have arrived, Rain,” I prompted.
Rain introduced his team while Alex squirmed. I'm sure he thought I was being petty for ignoring him, but I wasn't trying to be rude. In fact, it was the opposite. I thought it would be polite to be introduced to Rain's group before I started a conversation with Alex.
“Hello, Alex,” I finally said as I took a chair between Cyprian and Everan. “Thank you for bringing Ranval. I assume it was your doing.”
Braxis pulled a seat over from the window and set it behind mine, guarding my back. Malik nodded at him in approval. I rolled my eyes but didn't say anything. If it made them feel better, let them pound their chests and patrol.
“Hello, Amara,” Alex said just as formally. “Yes, I found him at the prison and brought him back to D.C. with me. We're still investigating the arrests of the other prisoners currently, but we've already freed twenty-three supes.”
“Twenty-three already?” I lifted my brows. “That was fast.”
“It was fast because there was little to no cause for their arrests.” Alex sighed. “At least the Chinese President is working with us. He doesn't want the alien races to think he was involved. He'd likely be attacked.”
“Washe involved?” Landry crossed his thick, dark arms.
“We don't know yet.” Alex grimaced. “That's being investigated too.”
“And what about the machine?” I asked.
“We've got a special team on it. We're trying to keep knowledge of its existence to a need to know basis.” He swallowed visibly. “I heard that you found another.”
“It was destroyed,” Cyprian said curtly. “There was no point in having two.”
Alex nodded and then sighed. “I'm sorry about the argument in China. I understand your feelings about Bishop, but I try to follow the rules. We're the good guys; we're supposed to obey the law.”
“There are no good guys,” Braxis said grimly. “Only us and them. Good and bad are relative terms.”
