“Has she tried to murder you yet?” Benny joked, reaching up to slap him on the shoulder. “She wanted to when you left. I’d never seen her so mad before.”
Ael held out his hands and spun around, showing how healthy and unharmed he was, and Benny laughed in response. “I knew she wouldn’t.”
Sedadidwant to hurt him when she had arrived, and he knew it. In fact, he thought she still might want to. He truly wished to make amends to her for everything.
Ael turned to one of the guards and asked them to fetch Fran to arrange some rooms for their guests.
“I’ve never seen anything so grand. This place is amazing. Why the hell would you leave it to live in Joro?” Askold asked him as Ael led them to a sitting room near the front doors.
“You know why,” Ojore snapped at him, clearly in a particularly sour mood, more than usual. A servant entered and brought them some whiskey as they waited. They obviously needed it.
Everyone chose a seat and sat down, except for Roya.
“Did Seda tell you what the Wisps said to her?” Ferona asked, sighing in relief as she plopped down in her chair.
“She did,” he responded.
“Go on…” Roya said curtly as she waved her hand in the air and paced around the room. The woman was always only business. When did she ever take time for herself?
She obviously needs more time with Benny,he thought as he watched her stomp around.
“Not here,” Ael replied in a calm tone, not wanting to discuss the details of Wisps where prying ears might be listening. Roya huffed and finally chose a spot to sit.
“Where’s Feich?” Ael asked them. The room went quiet, and everyone stared silently at the ground.
“Our brother died with honor, protecting the one he chose to protect,” Roya responded, grabbing her glass and taking a long sip of her whiskey.
“I’m so sorry,” he said as he looked between Roya and Ferona. “He was a good man. May the Mother Goddess carry his soul.” The two thanked him in return, and Ferona wiped away a tear that slipped free.
“I take it you heard about Kalon?” Benny asked, staring into the fireplace in the room, trying to change the subject.
“When I get my hands on that bastard—” Ojore snarled.
We’re at least on the same page about something,Ael thought.
“Make sure to do it in bear form,” Ferona joked as she tried tolighten the mood. Ojore glared at her at first, but then nodded in approval, clearly thinking that was a good plan.
So he was a bear shifter. Thinking back, it was pretty clear which Lycanthrope type he was. The anger should have been the most obvious clue.
“Yes, I’ve heard about Kalon. He stole something we need to get back.” Ael took a sip of his whiskey, savoring the burn as it went down his throat. Not only had he stolen her necklace, but he also placed his fucking lips on Seda. He intended to get backboth,even if it meant cutting the man’s mouth from his face.
Ojore wasn’t going to lay a finger on Kalon. He would give that gift to Seda and watch with a smile as she roasted him to a crisp. He smirked into his cup and took another drink. That fucker was going to pay. He tried to get close to Seda, and she washis.
He would much rather see him suffer at the hands of her than Ojore.
“We need to get back a necklace?” Askold groaned. “I know it was sentimental, but how will we even find the guy?”
“Not here,” Ael reiterated, and Askold looked down at the floor, his cheeks turning pink with embarrassment at forgetting not to discuss details.
“Sire.” Fran approached with six other servants, and they bowed deeply. When they straightened, Fran asked, “How many rooms will we need, and which wing?”
“Ferona and I can share, and we demand to be close to Seda,” Roya commanded.
Ael sighed. “Do all of you want to be near Seda?” He looked at the group of exhausted people before him.
“Well, I don’t wanna be alone in my own wing,” Benny told him. “Wherever Roya and Seda are, that’s where I am.”
Ael turned to Fran. “East wing. Four rooms.” Fran quickly headed off with the other servants. His usually almost silent wing was about to get incredibly noisy.
