My lip curled.
“Atlantians like Aylard are part of the reason. I’d like to say we are without bigots, but that would be a lie that would only serve to empower those like him.” His thumb began moving again. “Not many view the wolven as less than, but one is enough.”
Anger sparked, stirring the essence. “That doesn’t even make sense. The wolven are closer to the gods.”
“Such hatred rarely makes sense.”
Gods. I’d seen that enough in Solis to know it was true. “Do you know why? Is it because of the war with the deities?”
“Some of it. Both sides killed many.” Cas drew up a leg, bending his knee. “But some of it stems from the lack of space those like Aylard believe was worsened by the increasing wolven population. As if they were taking something they had no right to.” Casteel scoffed. “They seem to forget that, since day one, Atlantia belonged to both the Atlantians and the wolven.”
One could argue it belonged more to the wolven, considering their unique ties to the true Primal of Life. I had a feeling Cas would agree.
“But Aylard will fall in line,” Cas continued. “People like him always do.”
I cocked an eyebrow at that, unsure if it was a good thing, even if it benefited our needs. I shifted my thoughts from Aylard. “We also need to deal with Masadonia. I think it’s safe to assume—unfortunately—that the scouts I and then you sent will not be returning.”
“I fear I have to agree with that,” he said, arms clenching and then loosening as the heaviness of the loss settled in my chest. “But we’ll handle Kolis first and then deal with whatever awaits us in Masadonia.”
I nodded, figuring Masadonia had remained an even fiercer Ascended stronghold. Whether or not it was on Kolis’s behalf didn’t matter. Taking on the Ascended after Kolis would be like fighting Craven, who were little more than bones.
“If we have time tomorrow, I want to train. With a bow,” I added. “It feels like years since I picked up a bow. And I would also like to train with the sword.”
“That can be done.” His lips brushed my temple, drawing a smile from me.
It didn’t last, though, as my mind returned to what would happen when we arrived in Pensdurth. What needed to be done.
His thumb stilled above my navel. “Poppy?”
“Stop reading my emotions.”
“Should I lie as you have and say I will?”
I rolled my eyes. “Shut up.”
His chuckle was quick. “What are you thinking?”
Knowing we needed to be on the same page, I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “You know what has to be done, right? What I have to do.”
Casteel went quiet.
Turning around, I rose to my knees. Our gazes locked. “I am his weakness—”
“Then why do you have Sven digging around looking for something to weaken him.”
“I asked him to do that before I learned the truth,” I reminded him as I placed my hands on his chest. “And we still may need that if I end up not getting close enough.”
That muscle along his jaw started to tick. “I don’t want you anywhere near him.”
My chest twisted. “I don’t want to be, but I have to.”
Essence flared in his eyes as they hardened into cold citrine. “You don’t have to do shit.”
“That’s not true,” I whispered, sliding my hands up. The bite mark on his throat had already faded to a faint pinkish-purple. “I wish it was. I really do. But it must be done if we want a future—for us, for those we care about, and for both Solis and Atlantia. You know this.”
“Actually, I don’t.” He grasped my wrists and lowered them to his chest. “And neither do you. We just know what we’ve been told.”
“Cas—”
