I laughed. “Oh, please. You’re a greedy asshole. You want power, too.”
He gave me a severe look. “And you don’t?”
“Well, I’m not going to turn it down.”
The laugh erupted from him. “Dick.”
“We need to get going. So what do you need to do?”
Bel looked toward the command center. “I guess I need to leave Lord Cato in charge. That piece of shit. Appropriate that he’s a snake.”
“Go, do what you need. Meet me at the main gate in an hour, and we’ll all get going.”
“All?” The surprise was evident in his question.
“Yes. All. If you think I’m leaving three—well, two and a half—of my assets behind, you’re more insane than I gave you credit for.”
“Half?”
“Aiko.”
“I don’t know how you share her with anyone. I can’t even stand to think that Gwen was ever with anyone else.”
“Here’s some news. Rilen and Roran are two of the best lovers I’ve ever had. She fits in with us. And it’s a damn good time in bed. Why not share? We all get satisfaction in whatever we want.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You love them.”
I rolled my eyes. “You don’t share a bed with someone for fourteen hundred years and not feel something for them.” I stood from the wall and pointed. “Go. One hour at the gate.”
* * *
The twins and Aiko were sitting on the short wall that lined the road up into the stronghold. I was pacing because I hadn’t been able to sit still since Osirdan had appeared.
My father.
Even the idea of him made bile rise in my gullet.
Bel marched out of the stronghold, sporting a backpack like the rest of us.
“Set?”
“Fucking Cato.” The words came out as a growl.
“Why haven’t you killed him?”
“He’s Queen Gwynnore’s father.” His lips curled over his fangs. “And she hasn’t asked me to.”
Roran raised a hand. “I’ll ask.”
Belshazzar ignored him. “Where are we headed first?”
“He’s on Ota’ano. We cross back to S’Kir and then up to the Shroud.”
“What if he locked the gate?”
“He didn’t. You know he wouldn’t.”
My brother wasn’t happy about this, and I couldn’t blame him. I never wanted to go back to Ota’ano for this very reason.
