“Learn to read their body language, the veiled threats and insinuations, and the social sphere will become much more interesting to you,” he promised.
“Speaking of social etiquette, are you not supposed to go through my handmaiden to speak to me?” I recalled, turning to watch his reaction. But he did not have one. Castor was the epitome of composure.
“I think we both know that she would not grant such an audience had I asked for it,” he pointed out.
“So you just… ignored social etiquette?” I verified.
“I am told that you finally made the trip down to the warehouses,” he said, changing the subject.
“Yes. I learned a great deal about your family,” I added much more quietly.
That got a reaction from him. Castor turned his head rather quickly to look down at me with sharp eyes.
“You found Despoina,” he guessed, betraying just a moment of relief through his usual mask of indifference. “It is imperative you tell no one about her. My enemies would not hesitate to hurt her,” he warned me seriously.
“Why is she there? Surely you have the resources to make her more comfortable?”
“My direct help only causes her more stress, but she is alive because of me. Although it has been difficult to keep my interference covert, I have ensured that she is safe and does not starve,” he insisted with his chin raised.
There were so many questions on the tip of my tongue, so many accusations I wanted to hurl at him. It really was none of my business, and if I were not trying to determine whether Castor was an ally, I would have left it alone.
“How can I trust you if your own family wants nothing to do with you?” I finally asked him.
He looked at me again, and those sharp eyes felt like they were trying to eviscerate me as he sought out the extent of what I knew about him.
“I see you have been told a version of events.”
“Let’s just say that I trust the source of my information over your word,” I assured him, and Castor’s brows rose.
“So Sofia told you then. How interesting,” he mused, still completely unruffled, and it was infuriating.
“Why? Because she spent decades trying to distance herself from you?”
“Isthatwhat she told you?” he snorted, but the sip he took of his drink seemed more rushed.
“You had her father killed! I hardly blame—”
“He was going to getthemkilled!” Castor interrupted, showing another rare glimpse of emotion as he turned to glare down at me. “The things he was a part of and the people he was involved with? Despoina would not listen, and when she fled with him against my wishes, all I could do was sever her ties to those people. Before his criminal activity would have gotten themallkilled.”
“Sofia said all he wanted was equality for Ktínos and Imítheos. And that is criminal to you?” I demanded.
“It is when he and those he was involved with were all prepared to make this kingdombleedfor it,” he growled. “And where would a war like that have left my highborn daughter and her half-blooded child?”
My jaw slackened on my retort at his last words.
Half-blooded.Half-blooded.
“Her fatherwasKtínos,” I realized aloud. Sofialied.
“What my granddaughter did not bother to explain was that Michail was a figurehead in an underground rebel movement in the Rookery. The Ktínos might never have revolted violently, but they have certainly come close!” Castor insisted when I frowned. As if he knew that I was remembering when Riordan told Nikos that the Ktínos had always been nonviolent.
“I believe Michail did love my daughter, and she was certainly in love with him. And perhaps in another world, in another time, I might have been convinced to give my blessing to their union,” Castor continued more levelly. “But the idealisticilíthioswanted to make their love into some grand statement about how people overcome hatred. And he was willing to riskmaking my daughter and their child into targets for Ktínos and Imítheos zealots alike.”
Castor shook his head, furious as he glowered at some poor fool who happened to stare at him too long.
“They were attacked once.Once. And I knew I had to step in or risk losing them both. While I appreciated what he wanted to accomplish, it wouldnotbe at the expense ofmyfamily,” Castor stated firmly.
I was speechless. Completely and utterly speechless.
