“He doesn’t speak English.”
“Even better.”
Austin wondered what Eli had done to get on Liam’s nerves so quickly. “Alright. And if we’re not too tired after dinner, we’ll return tonight? Or maybe it would be better to go back in the morning.”
“Tonight would be better. I have to feed your cat.”
Austin turned slowly to Liam. “Excuse me?”
“He’s not any good at hunting.”
“I don’t have a cat.”
“I got you one.”
Austin’s mouth opened and shut. “Excuse me?”
“I thought you’d like it. It’s more cuddly than an octopus.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Can you believe him?” Austin raved as their carriage travelled beneath an ancient marble arch carved with merfolk and monsters. “What am I supposed to do with a cat? I am not being responsible for a—I’ll feed it to the matriarch! Would that be evil? I don’t want to be evil.Youfeed it to the matriarch.”
Tristan sat opposite Austin, comfortable against the velvet-cushioned seats, lit by the same glowing blue stones that now dominated the estate. A deceptively plain forest-green shirt hugged the swell of his broad shoulders in soft silk, tucked into dark cotton trousers. Unusually, he’d deigned to put on a pair of tall black boots. His hair was clasped back with a golden pin rather than tied in its usual messy bun. Austin had made him wear it to match his own golden body jewellery.
“Are you sending Liam away? If not, he can mind it. Or we can send someone to watch over your territory. Char usually has someone in training under him at the ready.” Tristan offered the solutions mildly. “Or I can feed it to the matriarch, if that’s what you really want.”
Austin flashed his teeth at Tristan, supremely irritated. Tristan didn’t seem to notice. He hummed, distracted eyes onAustin’s wrists. Decorative metal gauntlets shaped like laurel leaves hugged Austin’s forearms, the craftsmanship so precise it looked as though someone had poured molten gold over a real plant. A gift from Hal that had arrived that morning.
The carriage pulled up outside Hal’s palace, a series of large stone buildings roofed in colourful terracotta tiles. A large grey wall overgrown by lush vines with white blossoms ringed the estate. Inside, the grounds bustled with activity. Austin peered through the curtain at the line of carriages they were passing. Among the guards, he spotted familiar faces from Tristan’s personal Troop.
“You never answered my question earlier,” Austin said.
“Which question?”
“Do you have an attendant?” Austin turned back in time to see surprise cross Tristan’s face.
“I don’t,” he answered.
“Are you going to get one?”
A brow went up. “Certainly not.”
Austin peered closely at Tristan, mapping every micro-expression, seeking out any sign of deceit. “Ever?”
“No.” The answer was dead steady.
Austin leaned back. “I won’t either.”
An unmistakably pleased look spread across Tristan’s face. The hum he released was one of deep gratification.
The carriage came to a stop. Tristan climbed out first and turned back to offer Austin his hand, helping him down. A warm breeze was blowing in from the ocean, a little blustery, but nothing like the gales of the past few nights.
“Is there going to be a storm surge tonight?”
“A high tide.” Tristan glanced at the ocean far below. “And tomorrow, another surge.”
Austin fell into step with Tristan as they approached the building. Just as they had skirted the line of carriages, theybypassed the line of people waiting to be cleared by guards. Curious gazes followed him.
