Page 61 of To Ashes and Dust
“I’m not worried about that. Has he reached out to you at all? I didn’t think about him taking his anger out on you. He was so furious when he left.”
She shook her head. “I haven’t seen him. I went to check on him last night, but no one answered, and his house looked empty.”
“I’d like to see him try,” Zephyr said in a low growl at her side. “I’ll finish what Damien started if he even tries to lay a finger on her.”
“If he does, you have my blessing to end him,” Damien told Zephyr.
For a moment there was a brief flash of hesitation and… fear in Calista’s eyes. “He use to be kinder, he wasn’t always like this.”
“Yeah, when you bent to his will and did everything he asked of you,” Zephyr growled. “The moment you started going against him he started treating you like dirt.”
Calista swallowed, her eyes falling to the floor briefly, and guilt replaced the bitterness I felt toward Tobias. While I didn’t like him, hewasher father. Even if he didn’t care for her feelings, she likely still loved him.
“So, you accept?” I asked, looking at Calista. I tried to hide the hope in my eyes as she turned back to me.
She smiled, nodding as her eyes lit up with her own hope. “Of course! It’s the chance we females have needed for centuries. It’s won’t be easy, but it’ll be worth it.”
A grin spread across my face as I wrapped my arms around her neck, and she giggled.
“Cas proposed changes to the existing laws revolving around the rights of females in the aristocracy, so all that’s left is to lay out how we modify the laws or repeal them entirely. You have my support, and I know the others will likely support the changes you bring to the table. Lysander might offer resistance, but he’s only one seat,” Damien said, giving her some assurance. “I’m starting the paperwork tomorrow. The Kyrios house will be cleared and ready for you to move in by the end of the week. Whenever you’re ready, it’s yours.”
Calista smiled. “Thank you, Lord Damien.”
Damien waved a hand, offering her a friendly grin. “No formalities here. Please, just call me Damien.”
She nodded, her eyes flickering as if she were struggling to override the etiquette that had been hardwired into her over an immortal lifetime. “Apologies… Damien. Thank you for your support.”
“So...” I started, glancing at Damien, who raised a dark brow. “If you’re the head of House Nous, I would assume your title overrides the head of your family’s, and you would be the one who determines who you can and cannot take as a mate. Would that be right, Damien?”
A realization passed across Calista and Zephyr’s faces, and a crooked grin curved Damien’s lips. I’d seen this look before—right after I’d made the call to replace Tobias with Calista. I couldn’t miss the pride in his eyes, or the heat.
“You would be correct in that,” he said, hunger painting the tone of his voice. He gripped my thigh, fingers digging into my skin and my skin heated. I bit my lip, smiling as I pulled my gaze.
Calista and Zephyr looked at each other, shock and hope lighting their faces.
“We... We could...” Calista clapped her hands over her mouth.
Zephyr smiled and leaned his forehead against Calista’s. “I think it’s time we made this official.”
My heart swelled at the happiness I felt in the air, the warmth of his adoration drifting over my skin, the scent of... wildflowers filling my lungs. I frowned; wildflowers?
“Drinks on the house to celebrate a female on The Council!” Semele called from the bar, flashing a pearly grin as she grabbed glasses. “And to celebrate this beautiful union!”
“Water for me please, Semele! I’m still recovering from the party the other night,” I said with a smile, remembering how drunk I’d gotten.
Barrett laughed from the bar with Thalia, and I cut him a sharp look. I hadn’t said anything, but Barrett and Thalia had been talking amongst themselves privately the entire time we’d been here. The last time I’d seen them together, they’d been awfully affectionate.
Vincent didn’t seem to be involved in their conversation, as he’d been talking on the phone. The way he smiled when he spoke led me to believe he was talking to Anna. She must’ve been working at Johnson’s tonight. I wondered how much longer she’d work with her pregnancy. Would she go on leave soon?
I leaned in to whisper in Damien’s ear. “Barrett and Thalia seem to be getting closer.”
Damien’s eyes drifted to them. “It would seem so.”
I pushed myself up and headed for them. They’d left together after the party we’d held the other night, celebrating my first hunt, and I’d been curious about where things were heading for them. I hopped onto the barstool next to Thalia. Her pale eyes drifted to me, lit with her smile.
“You fucking killed it in there yesterday!” she said, shaking my shoulder.
Barrett didn’t look my way, but I saw the quirk of a grin creeping across his face as he swirled his drink. “I knew you’d chicken out on putting that dagger to use.”
