Page 4 of Taken By the Titan

“Ah… yeah…” I didn’t feel the pull to her, but here there was no time to wait for fate. Joining influential houses was a way to gather and unify strength.

“This is what we’ve been waiting for. Now go in there and make a good impression.” She took my wineglass and stood near one of the golden glowing lights in the room.

I opened the white and gold door leading to a private room where the older man sat alone on the lengthy couch watching the handsome, well-sculpted dwarven male ride the lithe dwarf female. It wasn’t uncommon to purchase dwarves of different genders to watch a show such as this.

“Come.” The older gentlemen with the braided salt and pepper hair waved me in, and I sat down on the couch next to him and watched the grunting couple work up into a frenzy.

“You wanted to see me?”

“Yes, I did.” I tore my eyes from the dwarves. “I admit. Back in Udgård, just before coming here. I didn’t think you would make anything good out of yourself. You’re a royal prince, but the youngest of the bunch. I figured you were destined to be run over by the more ambitious, I thought. Too spoiled, too much a child still.” He stood and grabbed a glass of Absinthe and drank the anise-flavored liquid. The dry, pungent aroma was a delight to smell, and the bitter taste was even better.

The old titan called Felman, laughed and downed the alcoholic drink before filling his glass with another. Dwarves preferred to allow water to drip onto a block of sugar to balance the bitter notes and lessen the alcohol's strength. But not us. We preferred the strong bitter drink to anything else dwarves had made.

“Do you remember, dear boy? What it was like when we first arrived?” The dwarves reached their climax, and the older man turned his gaze to the city lights below. “Life was hardon everyone, but it’s during these times when true leaders are born.” He sat the glass down, enjoying the heat of the liquor. “I was the one who came up with the idea of these cities. Everyone wanted to hold on to the vague hope we would find the rune in those rough waters. How could we survive after destroying the regions we needed the most? Pussies!” He laughed heartily. “Isn’t that what dwarves would call cowards?” He looked to the panting dwarves, who nodded.

“I agree.” I smiled and sipped the drink, enjoying the light-headedness, but didn’t enjoy feeling this way here with this man or even at this party. In the safety and comfort of my own home, sure, I would have drunk the entire bottle. But not here among my enemies, and I didn’t care to get drunk while listening to some noble asshole toot his own horn. And no, I did not agree with him.

“Building these cities is what saved our asses, and now look at us? We’re not just surviving; we’re thriving. That’s why I admire you, Thorsten. You used your brain and courage in the face of adversity, and now here you continue to stand.”

“Thank you for your kind words.”

“Enough ass-kissing, let me tell you why you’re here.” He gestured for the naked dwarves to leave. “I have it on good authority that the Madam is still searching for the rune. She has employed several of these dwarven dive teams to hunt it for her.”

Now that was interesting. “I take it this concerns you?”

“Of course, it concerns me.” He scoffed. “It’s not as if I wouldn’t want to return home. However, think of the chaos it would cause us all if she found it.” He shifted his gaze to me.

I knew what he wanted. He wasn’t interested in returning home because of how powerful he is now. A minor lord turned King, who would give it up? “Even if she found the rune, using it without my shield and portal station would be suicide. She’s a smart woman. She knows this.”

“And you believe nothing would come of it?” He asked.

“I’m sure.” I held his gaze. “Is that all?”

“Yes, yes it is.” He sat back on the couch and I stood to leave. Did he know that I was secretly building another portal station with the intent to leave here? I wasn’t colluding with the Madam, but I also intended to open another portal should I find the missing rune. I’d rather leave than to say something and give myself away.

We exited the room; Felman walked over to his daughter, who still beamed with the excitement of what this meeting meant.

Another titan dressed in a red tunic and loose pants approached. The man with the stark black hair and tight-lipped expression was Gio, my mentee, and heir.

It wasn’t uncommon for an unmated childless noble to have an unrelated heir, a guardian of the house, so to speak. Their job was to protect the household and act as Lord if the true Lord traveled far. When you mate and have a child, and that child comes of age, the guardian must step down. These protectors of the house would be significantly rewarded for their service, even given nobility if they were not already nobles. Gio was my house’s protector before joining me on this expedition. “Sir, your presence is requested.”

“Seems like I’m needed elsewhere.”

“I want to see you tonight.” Freda grabbed my arm before I could depart. She whispered it, embarrassed with the desperation in her voice. I didn’t know when she had left her father’s side, but she seemed to sense when I left.

“If I have time,” I assured her, though I wasn’t doing a fantastic job. Freda could feel my desire to leave, like always.

“Remember, I will be your mate. I know it isn’t fate, but still, you know how I feel about you.”

“I know.” I pulled my arm from her and departed from the room.

Gio handed me my long red coat and opened the umbrella once we stepped outside into the cool, rainy night. I stepped into the large vehicle, careful not to soil my clothing on the damp ground. Gio sat upfront, slipping the valet a tip and steering the sizeable black vehicle through the drenched streets.

My phone rang. This better be good news. “What is it?”

“Sir, they tried to fuck us over. We got two of’em here, but a third got away.”

Everyone called the man on the other end a Suit or, as the dwarves liked to call them, MIB. Men in Black, they were cold and meticulous and hired to take on the dirty jobs we didn’t want to do. They typically had a high chance of success, but then it must have been a disaster if they're calling me.

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