“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.”
I snorted. “None taken.”
“But taking the Maiden’s head?” He blew out a low whistle. “She’s just a girl.”
Just a girl.
Poppy wasn’t just anything. “My father isn’t a cruel man,” I said as Delano came to me, a wet towel extended. “Thank you,” I murmured, taking it to clean my hand. The irony of me having done a similar thing earlier tonight was…well, it was something. “Years ago? Before everything? He wouldn’t have considered that.” Especially if he had spent any time with Poppy and saw that she hadn’t chosen this life. “But after what was done to me? To Malik? And all those who have been taken by the Blood Crown?” I rubbed at the blood on my hand. “He is capable of anything.”
Delano took his seat. “And what are you going to do with her, Cas?”
Tossing yet another stained towel into the fire, I laughed, and it sounded just like the spitting, hissing flames. “I don’t plan to do that.”
“No shit.” Elijah snorted. “I figured keeping her head on her shoulders fell under the whole no-one-touches-or-harms-her warning from earlier.” He smirked at Orion’s body. “But I suppose he was too busy collecting his thoughts to have heard that.”
“You knew he was here?” I stepped over Orion’s legs as I went to the credenza, feeling a sudden dull twinge of discomfort in the side of my stomach. It came and went fast.
“I knew he was here, but I didn’t know who he was. Only that he was Atlantian,” Elijah said. “You going to Berkton?”
Pulling the cork from the whiskey, I took a swig. The liquor was smooth. “I have to.” I took another drink and waited for that fleeting sensation to return. It didn’t. “What is the condition of the Berkton manor?”
“We keep it together and stocked with supplies,” Elijah said.
“Good.” They would have to make use of those supplies because I could not allow my father to come here. Not yet. “I’ll leave in the morning. Make it there by the afternoon and then come back.”
“You’ll have to ride fast to beat this storm. It looks like nothing right now, and there will be weaker bands, but once it gets going, it’ll be a big one,” Delano said, resting his elbows on his knees.
“Fucking wolven,” Elijah laughed, shaking the table. “They’re like your own little forecasters.”
Delano ignored that. “It’s blowing in from the east, so if you spend just an hour too long in Berkton, you’ll get stuck there or in between.”
“I won’t.”
“I’ll go with you,” Delano said.
“No. I want you here.” I put the cork back on the whiskey. “To guard her.”
“The message has been sent and received by those in Haven Keep,” Elijah assured, staring pointedly at the floor. “No one here would be foolish enough to cross you.”
“I’d rather not risk that.” I scratched my fingers through my hair. “By the way, her name is Penellaphe. It would be better to call her that instead of the Maiden.”
“Yeah.” Elijah nodded, chuckling softly. “It would be.” He pulled his boots off the table. “Magda said she was nice if a bit nervous.”
“She is—” I turned at the sound of pounding footsteps. “What the hell now?”
The door swung open, and Naill burst in. “We have a problem.”