Page 10 of A Spell of Bones and Madness
Then Giselle spoke. “You may take what supplies you need, although I will require an ambassador to journey with you.” She turned to her daughter and lowered her voice, so much that Katrin barely heard her. “Chloe, go wake your brother, you’ll probably find him still piss drunk in his room. Maybe this journey will teach him some responsibility.”
“But, Mother, do you really think Dimitris is our best option? If you would let me go in his place—”
“My word is final. The wolves will be alright under my guidance through the changing moon. I am an elder, they will report to me as such.”
King Nikolaos stood and approached the Alentian sisters on the floor below the dais. “I can offer you weapons and men when the fight is brought to these shores.” Giselle elbowed him in the side. “I can offer you minimal supplies, enough to cover your time sailing to one of the smaller isles surrounding your shores. Your crew should be able to take it from there. But Aikaterine, the onlyperson who truly knows how to stop all of this is your father.” Katrin felt like she took a fist to the face.
“My father? What does he have to do with any of this?” she asked, swallowing down the tangy taste that coated her tongue.
“Everything,” King Nikolaos whispered.
Chapter Seven
Ember
With a swoosh of her cloak, Chloe took off out of the throne room, her booted feet clacking against the marble stone floors. Ember wasn’t going to let the youngest Kirassos out of her sight until they boardedThe Nostosonce more, supplies in hand. It could all be a ruse—giving them aid. Perhaps Chloe was going to alert the guards and they would all end up locked in a tower somewhere to be used as a bargaining chip for Ander’s life. Nodding at her sister, Ember took off just as quickly behind the lupine girl, which meant Ajax shifted into step beside her.
She could handle herself and, to be frank, Ember didn’t want him anywhere near her right now—not when her emotions were still so heightened over his lies. If her ownfriend did not trust her enough with such vital information, then was it also a lie that he believed she was strong enough to lead the Spartanis? Had his pride and support been only for show? Did he truly think her to be some vain princess that had no clue about how to fight, how to lead? Her hands clenched tighter with every step she took. She was god born, shewasworthy of her title, and she would prove it.
Chloe wove in and out of hallways with Ember trailing close on her heels. Every wall was carved from alabaster stone, glittering in the sunlight that filtered through archways to the outside. It was far from the decrepit images Ember had learned about from Iason. Honestly, it reminded her of home. Daunting and beautiful, but also warm and lived in. Not brandishing in luxury like many castles in the isles. No—Nexos seemed to be all about pure, natural beauty, carved straight from the cliffs of the isle itself.
It was strange to think of this place Ember had despised for so long as being ahome, but for the curious young girl that scurried off before her, and the supposedly devilish prince they ran toward, it was. Chloe turned quickly down a narrow hall at the end of the main corridor that led up a spiral staircase to a worn, white-washed wooden door, and Ember almost tripped trying to follow her. The door was already ajar, opening into a room where clothes lay strewn across the floor, a half-naked body lying face down in the middle of a large bed alone. Muffled breaths trickled out from the pillow. Labored, raspy breaths. A half of a tattoo was inked on his ribs—a howling wolf surrounded by the phases of the moon. Ember’s eyes drifted along the rest of the male’s exposed skin, curious if any other markings peppered his body. She had only seen Dimitris for a moment at the Wrecking and hadn’t any time to take in the sheer size of him until now. So entranced by his—dare shesay, lustful?—breathing, Ember had not noticed the object Chloe lifted until it was too late.
“Wake up you insolent rake!” Chloe splashed a pitcher of ice cold water over the dark-haired, sweaty young man. “Quite the alpha, you are,” she bristled, tapping her foot against the wooden floors of Dimitris’s bedroom. Ember snickered as she leaned up against the doorway.
Dimitris flung himself onto his back. “What in Aidesian was that for?” he growled, rubbing at his silver eyes. “It’s barely morning.”
Chloe huffed a sigh. “It’s nearly afternoon. Get dressed.” She chucked some clothes that had been lying on the floor at him. “We have places to be.”
Dimitris narrowed his eyes, now somewhat awake from what Ember could only imagine was a late night at the tavern and an alcohol-induced sleep. A grin twitched on Ember’s lips as she traced her eyes from his all the way down his muscled chest, snorting when he gave her an equally assessing gaze.
“Who’s the blonde?” His nose twitched slightly. “And why does she smell like a cat?”
“You’ll find out soon enough, brother,” Chloe hissed.
Ember’s brows rose. Mykonos had been circling around her on the ship before Katrin decided it was time to leave the captain’s quarters after a week, but the littledaimondidn’t smell like anything to her. A chill crept up her spine. Giselle’s trait really had passed down. Did her sister know? Could Ander shift as well?
Chloe stomped over to the door and laid a fiery gaze on Ember. “Watch out for that one, he’ll rip you to shreds.”
A loud chuckle left Ember’s mouth, “Don’t worry about that happening. I’m—well, let’s just say I’m spoken for.”
“Yes—yes, I guess you are,” Chloe deadpanned, looking over Ember’s shoulder.
“I’m not so sure, blondie. I think you’d find me to be a very entertaining companion,” Dimitris said with a wink, causing a rosy hue to spread across her cheeks and an embarrassingly girlish laugh to leave her lips. He did look like he could get into quite a bit of trouble—and the best kind at that.
When Ember composed herself and turned around, she was met face to face with a scowling Ajax, arms crossed and eyes narrowed. Not looking at her, but past her, at the half-naked prince getting dressed. His breathing was labored, air coming out in loud huffs through his nose.
Ajax had no right to be angry at Dimitris. It wasn’t like Ajax and her had discussed any sort of feelings between either of them. Quite the opposite, actually. Up until recently, Ember had thought he was having some kind of illicit affair with Farah. The painful lurch in her stomach the first time she had seen them waltz away together still lingered all these weeks later. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to flirt with the rakish prince, even if the way Dimitris stared at her did look like he would shred her to bits.
“Hurry up, Prince,” Ember started, “you’re coming to meet my father.”
Now the commander’s eyes shot over to her, clenching his fists. Dimitris slipped up behind her, placing his large hand on the small of her back as he whispered, “Meeting the parents so soon, blondie? I’mflattered.”
Ember could have sworn she saw Ajax lift his arm just slightly. Could have sworn he was about to throw a punch right across the prince’s smug face.
The great hall was in chaos and King Nikolaos was doing nothing to stop it. Half an hour ago Ember had followed the prince and princess back to the room, leaving Thalia and Ajax to return to the ship to gather their belongings. From what it appeared, they would be staying here for the night trying to determine whether they would first journey to Alentus or to her father in Aidesian.
As they entered the hall, Ember was surprised to see that the king, Leighton, Farah, and Katrin had not moved. As soon as they’d stepped into the hall and Chloe saw they were all sipping wine and not discussing how to bring her brother home, she exploded and had not stopped yelling since.
