Page 15 of Leader

The amount of tunnels and secret passages beneath the surface makes it impossible to know the exact location. That’s just part of what makes it the perfect ultimate resting place. The temple that’s said to literally be a doorway—an entrance—to Hades. I suspect that’s the real reason this place was chosen for the Drákon Leaders, spanning back to when our family lived in Greece.

The location would give them a backdoor into the land of the dead, possibly earning them a place in Elysium, also called the Elysian Fields or Elysian Plain. According to Greek mythology, the Fields or Plains are the equivalent to heaven, and who wouldn’t love a direct way to end up there?

This is one of the many secrets that only the Heir and Leader are privy to. However, since Gus and I are the last in our line, Nikolaos told us about it during our training. I never thought to ask my uncle if he told us because we’re the last, or if it was a fail-safe in case something happened to him—and now I can never ask. Back then, I was more focused on the fact that my dad was buried there and not in the grave Nikolaos took me to once a month.

“Right now, I’m not the Ruler, I’m just Kai.” I’m surprised when Kai speaks until I remember Gus has asked him this twice already. “I’m sorry for your loss, Gus. I really am. And you’re right, we need to talk about how we move forward.”

No one offers any opinions, suggestions, in fact, no words are spoken out loud. It’s just on the tip of my tongue to say something, anything, to break the pregnant silence that feels suffocating to me.

“Both Cia and I are Heirs, and with Alexander back…” Gus trails off, biting into the nail on his thumb. “Sorry,” he adds, probably to me.

The unnecessary apology makes a sad smile spread across my lips. Gus has nothing to apologize for. Alexander the Great, the elephant—the unwelcome Drákon in the room, needs to be brought up, eventually.

Lifting my chin, I look Kai straight in the eye. “I don’t want to see him, and I definitely don’t want him near me.” As much as I want to, I can’t avoid him forever, I already know that. That doesn’t mean he has earned anything from me.

“As Gus just pointed out, the two of you are Heirs. By right, Alexander is the Leader now that he’s back. I can’t keep him away, Nereid.” Kai’s tone softens as he uses my nickname. “As long as you’re a Drákon, you belong to him. I’m sorry.”

I bite down on the inside of my cheek, not letting go until I taste blood. My nerves are beyond frayed. I’m sleep deprived, heartbroken, and… I’m starting to feel like the Titan Atlas, like the weight of the world is literally on my shoulders.

Just as I’m about to give into my emotions and scream in frustration, an idea pops into my head, a thought so random and crazy that it feels as though it was planted by Hermes or Iris—the messengers to the gods. It’s… gods, it’s beyond lunatic, but I can’t see any other way around it. I planned to do it regardless, so why not do it on my terms?

I know I have to put this on the table in the right way, much like playing chess. If I screw up the presentation, it won’t go the way I want it to—and I need this to be done just right.

Taking Gus’ hand, I pull until he looks at me. “We have a lot to work through, I won’t deny that. Time isn’t on our side right now.” I laugh wryly at my choice of words, and smile at Kai before focusing on my cousin again. “Will you be mine again? Even with all our baggage, will you belong to me once more? I know you—”

“Yes!” Gus says, interrupting me, so much heat in that one word. “Fuck yes, I will.”

Without giving myself time to celebrate, I turn to Kai. “Will you marry me in Greece before the funeral?”

Kai frowns in confusion. “In Greece?”

I nod empathetically. “There’s only one place I can envision myself getting married. In the maze in Greece, the place where my journey began for real.” While waiting for Kai’s answer, I take Liam’s hand into my empty one, not wanting him to feel left out.

“You know there are expectations and traditions—” Kai says, but I cut in before he can finish whatever he wants to say.

“I know that, and we can do all that. I’m… I can’t be a Drákon anymore. With my… with Alexander in the picture, I can’t be his Heiress. Please, Kai… I know it goes against everything, and I know it’s not the right way of doing things. I will do whatever else I have to do after the summer, I promise. This is just to buy me, Gus, and Liam time—a way to be on our own.”

As soon as Kai’s features smooth out and his green eyes burn with passion, I know he’s going to say yes. “You won’t be on your own,” he says, which isn’t what I expected. “You will belong to me, all three of you. Are you sure you’re ready for that level of trust?”

Swallowing audibly, I look between Gus and Liam, wanting them to be okay with this. Liam speaks up first. “I stand with you no matter what, agápi. For what it’s worth, I think this is the smarter choice.”

“I agree,” Gus says. “You saved Cia when we couldn’t. You’ve taken care of her when I couldn’t, and you’ve… fuck, what I’m trying to say is, I’m on board.”

Tears well in my eyes as I take in the magnitude of their words, and their trust in me, and love for me. “Thank you,” I croak.

“I’d be honored,” Kai says in a thick voice. Then he swallows several times, never breaking our eye contact. “We need two witnesses, one from each of the other families. That way there’ll be no way to dispute it, especially since it will be unofficial and not documented through the expected channels.”

Lupa and Morgana instantly come to mind. They’re the only ones I can imagine keeping the secret, and being willing to travel halfway around the world at a moment’s notice without knowing why. I assure Kai I’ll take care of the witnesses, and he promises he’ll get Abel to preserve and guard Nikolaos’ body. Abel might be old, but he’s as vicious as he is loyal. If anyone can guard Nikolaos, it’s the good doctor.

Knowing that Nikolaos will be safe isn’t enough, though. So I ask Kai why we can’t just bring Nikolaos with us and give him the funeral while we’re already nearby. “As much as it would be convenient to bury him while we’re already in Greece, we still have to uphold appearances. You cannot take care of Nikolaos’ funeral rites until every Heir and Heiress is made aware of the death of the three Leaders. It would look… suspicious.”

I want to argue with him. I want to do this so badly I gnaw on the inside of my cheek as I try to come up with a way. In the end I can’t find any, and I have to bow to Kai’s logic.

The rest of the day is spent planning and making arrangements. It’s vital that we get away unseen. Since I don’t know what my da… what Alexander’s pull is with Drákon Enterprises, I can’t risk using one of our jets. Yet, I can’t let them stay on the ground, either. Luckily, Kai takes over, telling me to make sure we have a plane that takes us to the Necromanteion.

“Nereid, listen to me. Since Alexander is already aware of his brother’s passing, and we have to entertain the thought that Marian knows as well, you need to make it look like you’re preparing. However, for those who may wish to follow but don’t know, it could look like you’re wishing to visit your family’s crypt. You can claim it’s to visit your dad’s final resting place, or just because you have a morbid curiosity. Either way, appearances are everything right now. I know you don’t want your… I mean Alexander,” Kai corrected himself. Clearly, he’s caught onto the fact that I’m refusing to use his parental title, and I’m glad for that small mercy. “You can’t stop him from visiting the Necromanteion, or taking part in Nikolaos’ funeral when that time comes. And while we’re talking about people that you can’t stop from coming, Marian will probably be there, too.”

“The hell she will,” I spit, anger surging through me at the mere mention of her.

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