He and Paris both agreed on that. They refused to do what their other siblings had selfishly done and force their children to face their death sentence. He was all too aware of how close that deadline loomed. Of how precious every night between now and then was.
And how precarious every breath afterward would be. He vowed that he would relish whatever time he had.
Even if it meant being married to a woman he didn’t really love for the sake of convenience. After all, he didn’t have the luxury of waiting.
“Is he her only child?”
“Nay. She has a daughter.” Urian jerked his chin toward Nephele, who was standing off in a small circle of friends. Her purple peplos had been borrowed from Tannis, yet it was extremely fetching on the girl. Too fetching for Urian’s comfort, as he wanted to chase away all the young boys Nephele’s beauty attracted. While she might not be his natural daughter, he was no less protective of her and he considered her as much his daughter as if he’d sired her. “Her name is Nephele.”
“If she looks anything like her mother, then your Xanthia must be a great beauty indeed.”
“Thank you.”
They turned at the sound of Xanthia’s voice to find her behind them.
Urian inclined his head respectfully. “Mata … meet my bride.”
Gripping one another’s forearms, they gracefully kissed each cheek in turn, and then Xanthia curtsied to the human mother she’d cursed Urian for having. He watched them closely, ready to intervene at any second if Xanthia said anything to hurt his mother’s feelings.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,kyria.Urian has had such wonderful things to say about you. I feel as if we’ve already met.”
“You’re too kind, Xanthia. And I’m thrilled to see my boy so well settled, and with such a great beauty no less. I’m sure the goddess will bless you both with even more children.”
“I hope so. Nothing would thrill me more.” Xanthia’s eyes widened. “Please excuse me.… Geras! Don’t you dare!” She rushed off after Geras, who was trying to light a fire from his posterior.
Urian shook his head at the boy’s antics.
“Don’t you dare laugh.” His mother popped him playfully on his bare arm. “I seem to recall a certain pair of twins doing the same thing at that age.”
“Aye, but we were better at it. We actually succeeded.”
“And almost set fire to your solren’s study.”
“And he in turn set fire to our asses,” Paris said with a jovial laugh as he joined them. “Greetings, Mata. How are you?”
Smiling, she cupped his chin and kissed him. “Wonderful, now that I’ve seen my boys. And where’s your better half?”
“Ah! I always knew you preferred Davyn to me, and now I have proof.” His golden-blond curls dancing, he sobered as the merriment went out of his eyes. “I told him to stay home, if that’s all right. He’s still mourning the loss of his sister and her family.”
Urian winced. “Understood. The last thing I want is to cause him more pain.”
“Good. He feared you might think his absence was meant as a disrespect or slight.”
Urian was aghast. “Never. I know his heart better than that. I’d never lay such ill intent upon him.”
That relaxed his twin instantly. “Such evil’s not in him, either. It’s why I’m with him over anyone else. While others scheme and plot, he’s loyal to a fault.”
No one knew that better than Urian, except for probably Paris.
Their mother straightened Paris’s cloak. “Then I will make sure and visit with him before I leave. I can’t go home without seeing all my boys and letting them know I love them.”
Paris smiled. “I’ve missed you, Mata.”
“And I you.” She glanced over his shoulder to where one of the Daimons was eyeing her.
Urian glared at the bastard, daring him to even think about coming near them.
“I’ve got him.” Paris left them to go have words with the man who was new to their world and who had no idea that Hellen was off his menu.
