“And yet you waited until now to summon me?” I asked.
“I rode long and hard to get here, Your Highness.” Orion lifted his chin. “I was hungry and needed a moment to collect myself.”
“Well, we all need moments to collect ourselves.” I smiled. “When did my father leave for New Haven?”
Elijah’s gaze shot to me, the smile slipping from his face.
“I’m sorry?” Orion frowned.
“Let’s not pretend you didn’t read this missive and then attempt to conceal that fact.” I tossed the letter onto the desk.
Orion’s shoulders stiffened. A moment passed. “It is my duty to keep Alastir informed, therefore the King and Queen informed—”
“Yes. Yes. I know. You were just doing your duty. Now, do it again,” I said. “When did my father leave?”
“I imagine shortly after Alastir sent me. He will likely arrive within a day or so, depending on the track of this storm,” Orion told us. “I’m to rejoin him at Berkton.”
I hid my shock. Berkton was about half a day’s ride from here if one pushed it—a village on the cusp of the Dead Bones Clan’s woods and long since forgotten. No Rise existed there any longer. The homes had all turned to rubble, but the manor still stood and was often used as a hideout. One unfit for a King and the Crown’s Advisor, because if my father came, so would Alastir.
Fucking gods, this was a highly problematic development. One I would have to deal with shortly.
I eyed Orion. I didn’t know the man well, but I did know Alastir. He was like a second father to me. The only reason he’d let Orion deliver a missive from Emil was because it fed him additional information. Alastir always liked to know more than what he was told. He’d sent Orion to snoop, which was why he would be rejoining them at Berkton instead of waiting for them to arrive here, where much nicer accommodations awaited.
“Oh, no,” Delano murmured. “He’s got that look.”
Orion frowned as he glanced at the blond-haired wolven.
“Yep.” Elijah nodded. “He does.”
Delano leaned forward. “Do you know what that look means?” He gestured with his chin in my direction.
My tight smile remained.
The Atlantian shook his head as he looked me over. “No, I don’t.”
“I’ve seen it, well, a time or a hundred,” Delano went on. “That smile you see? It’s always a warning.”
Orion’s inhale was swift as his gaze darted between us.
“It usually comes right before a lot of blood is spilled,” Delano said.
“A lot,” Elijah added.
“They speak the truth.” My smile grew, baring a hint of fang. “I’m going to make something very clear to you, Orion. I know you’re serving Alastir, therefore the Crown, and you must be a terribly loyal man to travel alone into vampry-infested lands.”
“I am very loyal.” His chin lifted a notch.
“Here’s the thing, though. I don’t care about your loyalty to Alastir or my father. Here?” I spread my arms wide. “I am not my father’s son. I’m not your Prince. I’m just a man not to be fucked with, so I will only ask you this once. What do you plan to tell the King when you return to them?”
Orion’s lips thinned as he locked his amber eyes on me. “I will tell them that the rumors are true. That you have captured the Maiden, and she is here with you.”
“I imagine that should make my father very happy,” I murmured. “I assume he already has plans for her.”
Orion relaxed. “He does.”
My head cocked. “And what are the plans?”
“I’m unaware of the details,” he said.
“But I’m sure Alastir is aware of them,” I countered. “Which means you are. What are his plans?” I paused. “That, I am asking as your Prince.”
Orion’s laugh was as thin as ice. “It’s interesting how you use your title only when it suits you.”
I smirked. “Isn’t it?”
“You should be at home, Casteel.” Orion took a step toward me. Over his shoulder, I saw Elijah’s lips purse. “Your father and your mother need you there. Alastir needs you. The kingdom needs you.”
“What do you think I’m doing here, Orion?” I said.
“I know what you think you’re doing. So do your parents and Alastir, but if you want to save your people? You should do so at home, where you belong,” he implored, shaking his head. “The crown should’ve been passed onto you years ago—”
“The crown belongs to my brother,” I cut him off. “Prince Malik is the heir.”
“Prince Malik is—”
“I wouldn’t finish that sentence,” Delano warned.
Orion clamped his mouth shut.
I forced the building fury down. “You still haven’t answered my question.”
Orion shoved his cloak aside, placing a hand on his waist. “He plans to send a message to the Blood Crown.”
Everything in me slowed, but the rage… I could taste its hot bitterness. “And the message is?”
“The Maiden,” he answered. “He will return her to them. Her head, that is. Then, our armies—”
I struck, punching my hand into Orion’s chest. Bone and cartilage cracked and gave way.
“Welp,” Delano murmured.
Hot blood spurted as Orion’s eyes went wide. His mouth dropped open as my fist snapped his ribs. He spasmed as my fingers dug into his heart.
Smiling, I jerked my hand back. “Perhaps I will send this back to my father in place of you.”
Slowly, Orion’s chin lowered as he looked down at the gaping wound in his chest.
A bloody, wordless breath escaped him as he dropped to his knees and then fell forward.
“But I won’t do that.” I turned, tossing the Atlantian’s heart into the fire. Flames crackled and whirled, spitting embers. “I have more class than that.”
Delano’s lip curled as he stared at the fireplace. “That’s kind of disgusting.”
“Well,” Elijah drawled, picking up his glass of whiskey and finishing it off. “Was not expecting to learn that our King would arrive.” He then leaned over, swiping a meaty hand across the desk. Taking Delano’s drink, he downed what was left in the glass. “Also didn’t expect to see a man’s heart tonight.”
“But here we are.” I knelt, using Orion’s cloak to wipe the blood and gore from my hand. Didn’t do much good. I rose. “Unfortunately, our loyal courier will have met an untimely demise on his return to Berkton.”
“Understood,” Elijah replied as Delano snorted. The wolven rose, going to the credenza. The chair behind the desk creaked when the half-Atlantian leaned back once more. “The King is really in Solis?”
“Sounds like it.” The flames calmed.
“And you think that’s what your father really plans?” Elijah asked. “I mean, that’s brutal. Even more so than that.” He nodded at Orion’s prone body as Delano picked up a pitcher of water. “He was a smug bastard—like far too many of you elementals. No offense.”