Page 59 of Caged By the Ruthless Thief

The music drifting through the ballroom reaches my ears. I haven’t been paying a bit of attention to it. Or the opening to the alcove. An opening where Castor stands glaring, confusion and frustration on his face. He crosses his arms over his chest and turns his back on us when he sees me looking. He’s barring anyone else from entering and keeping anyone from looking in on us.

Being with us behind closed doors is one thing. In public, with Belle mated to Eros now, it would be the death of Castor’s political career. He might be a reformed thief, but his reputation still precedes him. Although, there isn’t a male alive in the city today who doesn’t know that Nico Portsmouth and Castor Drakos are friends and that the two of them would die for each other.

As far as I’m concerned, how Castor lives his life is up to him. He can join us now like he does in private or not. He’s not fooling anyone. It’s not a secret. He can’t possibly think it’s a secret. Because nothing he does is secret for long. But it’s up to him.

I have my mate. And while we’re not broadcasting it to the city, at least not yet, having her in my arms is the best thing I’ve ever felt.

28

CASTOR

My skin is crawling. I want to go in there. I want in there so badly I’ve bitten the side of my cheek and it’s bleeding. I’m watching the dancers shuffle round and round. The ball is at six dances, and things are heating up. Most pods have taken to alcoves or chaises around the room. I’m not moving. I’ll stay here for Nico. He doesn’t need anyone else in his pod bed tonight. He sure as hell doesn’t need Eros. Eros, who stole his way into Annabelle’s pod. I watched from a distance as she took the scarf off. He must have coerced her into it.

I was ready to throw myself between Nico and Eros, into their pod business where I’m not wanted. Where I have no right being. But damn, I can’t stop myself. No, instead, I’m staying right here. I’m not letting anyone even glance in their direction.

The Stele governor stops next to me. “Castor.”

“Forrest.”

“Reduced to guard duty?” Forrest tips his head in a knowing way.

“No, friendship and dome loyalty. You should try it sometime.”

“Your words are as sharp as the Poseidon trident. When are you joining a pod? You know we can’t have another king who’s unmated. Unmated males like to run off to war, and we need our king right here.”

“Atlas is home. We have our king again. I’m sure he’ll straighten things out.”

“We’ll see. How do you plan to map out your administration?”

“Atlas has a few years. Let’s let him rule in peace.”

He raises his eyebrows at me. “Are you joining the Poseidon pod?”

Poseidon pod. Fucking hell, that’s the last thing we need to have going around. “I’m not in there, am I? I’m out here, protecting my best friend and his mate’s safety, from people snooping around them, wanting to grab onto his coattails after the ordeal he endured thanks to the governors’ barbaric practices.”

“Your brother is one of them.”

“And Nole is away.” On a fool’s mission. A mission to keep the Tinom governor from starting another war.

“Yes. How is diplomacy with the other nation going?”

“You’re a governor—you tell me.”

“Happy Vividaria, Castor Drakos.” His tone scratches the scab of my problems.

“Same to you.” The moaning behind me has me wanting to turn and watch. But it would take too much out of me.

Another bed nearby holds the eldest daughter of the governor of Braesen. She brings with her high status, as her mother had two daughters. Two females born in one pod—it’s unheard of. Her pod of three has also chosen a bed on the edge of the dance floor. One where anyone could look at her, at them. Saraphina continues to make eye contact with me as her hips buck and fling around her mates. Three mates. Her fourth mate would signal to her body it’s time to conceive. A favorite time to join a pod.

The three behind me moan. My friends would do nothing for me, for my bid to be king. But a daughter of a governor—and with three mates from high-ranking families, one a Glyden? That’s the type of pod my family hopes I join. Not one with the second coming of Poseidon, a criminal, ageminae, and a hybrid mermaid. Yet they’re the only ones I want. Standing here with my cock hard, protecting them—that’s all I can do. I’m their servant now. I’ll protect them. I want to be anywhere near her.

After the first four dances, the mermaids who aren’t looking for new mates wander up the stairs to the balcony. I feel a set of eyes on me, stern eyes glaring down at me. In two years, I’ll be king. Ophelia Drakos will learn she doesn’t control everything in Glyden, and she doesn’t control me.

I pivot and watch. Annabelle’s on her knees now, her mouth on Holter’s cock. He’s holding her hair back, and fuck, she’s taking him so well. I can watch. That’s what happens here. But I’m not letting others watch.

There’s heat at my back. I turn.

It’s one of Saraphina’s mates. He’s got a throw draped over his shoulder, covering part of his chest. “Castor, Saraphina is wondering if you would like to join us.”

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