Finn and Cassander exited the train, not bothering to hide the fact they weren’t exactly human. They didn’t take the stairs. The two just jumped out the door, flying through the air toward us.
Cassander’s long fur jacket blew out behind him and whooshed forward as he landed in a crouch. He stood, his attention on Godric, his silver eyes narrowed. “Are you going to let me in your home so we can talk about what happened today? Or are you going to continue to be an asshole, and make me wait on the lawn?”
Finn ran a hand through his white hair. “Cass, can you try to be halfway civil?”
Cassander snorted. “Go stick yourself with a blade, Finn. I am being civil right now.” Silver eyes turned to the man holding me close, waiting for an answer.
The rough waves lapped at the rocky shore.
“Cassander is the only one who knew the monsters were coming. It only makes sense to talk with him about it.” I tipped my head to the side and peered back. “Godric, why won’t you let him into your home?”
The other two looked away.
Godric raised one eyebrow. He answered simply, no inflection in his tone. “Because Cassander killed my mother. She was one of the six wrong pairings, and he chopped off her head when she asked him to do it.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY-TWO
“Oh,” I whispered softly.
Cassander picked at his fur coat, not speaking.
“Well, I…” I cleared my throat, my voice too breathless from shock. I shook my head and aligned my thoughts. “Didn’t you tell me you value intelligence? No matter who it comes from? It might be a good time to heed your own words.”
Godric’s nostrils flared, staring down into my eyes. “I’ve changed my mind. Having a cunning mate is annoying.”
My red brows lifted. I waited.
Godric knew what the right call was.
The lion—the freaking lion—growled softly in his throat. Then he pierced the seer with a death glare. “I’ll let you inside. This one time.”
Cassander continued to mess with his coat, rumbling with a light tone, “How very kind of you, God. I’m so happy to accept your fine invitation into your home. I’m sure I’ll have the most wonderful time.”
It hit me then. I had thought it interesting before.
But only his friends called him by that nickname.
These two had been close once.
I glanced back and forth between them.
Their eyes shuttered all true feelings as we started walking down the paved walk to the mansion on the water.
They had been friends. Perhaps the closest.
That was why they were in such pain.
One hid it with anger. The other with humor.
The four of us walked up the white marble stairs that opened to a massive marble porch. There were many cushioned, comfortable seats as if he had company over a lot. Potted trees were placed next to the seats for an interesting form of shade to use in the daytime sun. It brought a little of the forest to his home.
I stopped dead in my tracks and stared.
Then I laughed, holding my stomach. “Oh my goodness. You are so vain.”
Godric peered down his nose. “It’s expensive.”
“And that makes it any better?” I waved my hands in front of the enormous statue right next to his front door. “Is this what you look like when you shift?”
