Page 96 of Of Nine So Bold

Brock hesitated, eyeing the duke and the vampire and then the crowd like he was weighing something. But like the good little lapdog he was, the lackey did as he was told, striding off through the crowd.

Ignoring him, Deter walked toward us, drawing himself up as if to emphasize justhowmuch bigger he was than the vampire.

He always did love that move.

“I do. I am King Deter Ensid of Erenelle.”

I choked at the title.

Next to me, my brother blurted out, “Excuseme?”

Deter’s eyes raked over us, and he didn’t bother trying to hide his disgust. “Silence.”

A strangled noise left me. “Not happening. How the hell are youking?”

I could feel my friends’ eyes on us. Gwyneira’s too.

“Do you know this man?” Dex asked.

Deter spoke over him, turning back to Casimir. “You will use your magic to undo these bindings now.”

One brow rising like Deter was some bratty child who’d interrupted him, Casimir regarded the guy cooly before turning to me and my brother like the old bastard barely existed. “I take it this man onlyclaimsthe crown, not that he actually possesses it?”

I scoffed, and Lars responded coldly, “He’s a duke.”

“The dwarves will be silent,” Deter snapped.

Casimir continued ignoring him. “And how do you know this duke?”

Deter’s jaw clenched with obvious rage at being so completely disregarded.

“He’s our uncle,” my brother said.

I heard Gwyneira’s breath catch, while my friends stared at us or Deter. A low growl left Ozias, making several nearby giants recoil.

Roan spoke up, a hint of the demon’s rumble in his voice. “Oh,ishe now?” His dark eyes slid to Deter, his monster’s promises of bloody retribution in his gaze.

I knew I liked that demon.

“But… wait.” Niko looked between us and the direction Brock had gone. “That means Norbert’s your cousin and… Are you related to Brock too?”

“He’s our brother,“ Lars replied.

Niko’s mouth dropped open with surprise.

“Creature,” Deter snapped at Casimir, “you will assist us or face the consequences of defying the ki?—”

“Andyouwill cease referring to me ascreaturethis instant. I am Casimir zel Elric ver Altreya, king of Zenirya, and you will speak to me and my associates with respect, or I will rid Erenelle of the one who makes a pretense of claiming its crown.”

His fangs on clear display, he leveled an expression on Deter so regal, I would’ve thought the cave was his throne room. Not waiting for a response, the vampire turned back to us. “May I assume this is not a pleasant reunion?”

I sneered. “Oh, Uncle Deter tried to kill us quite a lot when we were kids. It was his favorite fucking hobby.”

“And he was instrumental in convincing our parents that kicking us out onto the streets to die was the best way to remove the ‘shame’ of our existence,” Lars added.

Casimir’s brow arched. “Indeed?” His gaze returned to the duke with a predatory gleam, while behind me, Gwyneira gave a small, barely suppressed growl.

I stopped myself from looking back, if only to keep from drawing attention to her. While Casimir could reveal his royal identity and use it to our advantage, Gwyneira’s would make all hell break loose.

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