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I know that every day, it becomes more and more apparent that my enemy is the family of the woman I love…
His accidental confession to her long ago. Coming to terms with the fact that Io was his greatest adversary had been a conclusion months,years—if he counted his father’s dealings—in the making. Their love, no matter how world-shattering it felt for the two of them, wouldn’t change that fact. Maybe it was inevitable for them to find themselves meeting on a battlefield.
“And there he is.”
Kai came to attention at Rhydian’s voice. Somehow, he’d made it to the table he and Jonah had commandeered without even realizing. A half-eaten feast was spread between where the twins sat facing each other. Street foods and entrees and a slew of desserts, on account of Rhydian’s sweet tooth, covered the table.
Jonah looked bemused. “Look who finally got off Isla's ass,” he jibed as Kai fell into the seat beside him.
He shot his brother a narrowed look and, for good measure, plucked a lamb skewer off his plate. “Mention my wife’s ass again.” A mild, jeering threat.
Jonah’s features crossed, his amber-flecked eyes that his brother shared narrowing, and Kai took a bite.
Back was the irritating desire to jump out of his skin, like he’d burst at the seams, starting at his healing stitches from the bak’s brutal claw. He’d get Jonah a skewer replacement once he got his and Isla’s orders, but right now, maybe some good food could ground him again.
The meat settled in his stomach like lead.
Rhydian chugged from his ale, barely masking his chuckle with the wooden mug nearly as tall as his head. “You were gone a while.”
“We had a very important meeting.” Despite his nausea, Kai took another bite, flavors of home bursting across his tongue. “Alpha and luna now. Needed to talk strategy.”
“Oh, I’m sure.”
Jonah leaned back in his seat. “You know, last Autumn Equinox, neither of you was mated, which means I could enjoy my meal in peace without you reeking so badly of lust evenIcan scent you.”
Kai didn’t bother turning his head; he only gave the shopkeeper a sidelong glance. Considering Jonah couldn’t shift and had weaker senses, that said a lot.
Another bite.
No, this definitely wasn’t helping.
He dug for that little glimmering piece of Isla again, hesitant in case that hiddenthingpushed her away for a second time. He asked Rhydian, hoping to encourage the thought, “Does it ever stop? Wanting her so badly you can’t think straight.”
The oldest of the twins laughed, and his eyes drifted into the crowd. “Wanting her all the time, not at all, but you learn to think around it.”
“Madness,” Jonah muttered, shaking his head.
“Just wait until it’s your turn, Jo,” Rhydian said. “Me last year, Kai now—we’re building momentum. You or Meera are next.”
“Given how rare fated mates are,” Jonah answered, picking up his own ale. “The fact you two found yours brings the chances of us finding ours close to zero. I never cared for it much anyway.”
“Neither did we,” Rhydian said. “Now, they have us by the balls.”
“Entirely,” Kai echoed, rubbing his hand over his face.
In the distance, thunder crashed, and he felt it reverberate down his bones, that power chomping at his ribs again. What waswrongwith him today, and when the hell was it going to rain?
“Alright, I have to ask,” Rhydian began, leaning back in his seat. He folded his arms, the fabric of his linen shirt, not guard uniform, straining against the muscles of his arms. “I know it’s the holiday, and we’re trying to avoid talking about freaky shit,” he lowered his voice, “magic, witches, anything, but was that…normal…what happened in the throne room? You two nearly burnt the place down.”
Kai took the final bite of his skewer. “The fire, yes, but it didn’t burn like that for my coronation or when my parents were crowned.”
Beside him, Jonah seemed to tuck the information away. “The point of the ritual is to show the strength of your bond, the Goddess-given power that you have, that you’re linked as the alpha and luna. You’re fated; your parents were chosen. That could be it.”
Kai hadn’t thought about that. “Maybe.”
Jonah ran a hand over the pillow of his cropped hair, shrugging. “So, I guess the goddesses are justreally happyyou two are together.”
“Seems that way.”
