"Thanks for the flowers."
Shit, he had a messed-up family. His mother was invisible, his father was a scary galactic ruler, and his uncle was a slave trader Jory was trying to bring down without his father's knowledge.
The opening of the temple door brought the guards running.
"Sir, you're all right!" Mal gasped, his eyes scanning Jory for signs of injury.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"Turn around."
He turned around to see vines completely covered the temple. Dotting the vines were roses a silvery-blue, the color of Jory's eyes.
"Show off," he muttered, knowing his mother could hear him.
"What, sir?"
"Nothing. Let's get back to the castle before my men start to worry."
Chapter Twelve
Four soldiers surrounded Jory as he approached the study. Apprehension shivered up his spine as he got closer. The message he'd received told him one of his relatives had arrived at the palace, but didn't say which one. This was the first of his relatives to arrive for the wedding.
Rai had sent out the invitations, and every one of his family members responded that they'd come. Jory would've been pleased if he didn't know for a fact that at least one of them was trying to kill him.
Jory was politely scooted to one side as the bodyguard slipped through the door ahead of him. It didn't do any good as the man waiting sensed his presence. Being bonded with a space dragon at a young age took away his cousin Tor's ability to see like a normal person. Space dragons bonded so completely with their humans that their bond-mate could only see through the dragon's eyes. So while Tor could watch the cosmos, he couldn't see what was right before his eyes. To compensate, he used a cane and a team of servants to get around.
"Joriah?"
"Tor!"
Happiness bloomed through his body. With a glad cry, he ran past his bodyguard and leaped lightly into the pair of outstretched arms. "It's been so long," he said, tears prickling his eyes. Wrapping his arms around the taller, muscular man, Jory held on as if he would never let go. He felt a soft kiss brush across his head. The scent of home drifted through him as he continued to hug the one steady person in his life since childhood.
"I missed you," Jory whispered just loud enough that he knew his cousin heard him.
"Would someone like to tell me what the hell is going on?" Rai's voice boomed across the room, breaking into Jory's moment of joy.
Pulling slightly away from Tor, he glanced behind him to see a look of fury crossing the king's face.
"Rai, come and meet one of my favorite people in the entire universe." He gave Tor another tight hug before kissing each cheek.
He was grabbed him from behind and ripped out of his cousin's embrace.
"Hey—" Jory struggled in the king's arms. "—what are you doing?"
Rai lifted him with one hand and shook him like a bad puppy. Before he could complain, a scream cut the air and Precious swooped down and clawed Rai's hand, forcing him to release Jory.
"Fuck. Everyone just calm the hell down," Jory shouted. "I don't know what has got you all upset, but you need to stand down before Precious does something that can't be fixed."
Rai spoke through gritted teeth. "I will not stand down while you plaster yourself up against another man."
"What?" A new voice joined the mix, as angry as Rai's.
Val came closer as Rai continued to rant. It was amazing how two such dissimilar men had the exact same expression.
Val stepped between Jory and Tor. "Who is this?" His emerald eyes flared as he took in Tor's elegant form.
"Apparently one of Jory's favorite people." Venom all but poured from Rai's mouth as he spat out the words.
