“Whatever Vadoma says, you must know that having you by my side has been one of the greatest joys in my long life. That I wouldn’t have changed it for anything. Do you understand?”
A chill went down my spine. “What are you—”
“Do you understand?”
No. No I didn’t. “Morgan.”
“There is much I haven’t told you,” he said, finally looking at me. There were lines around his eyes and mouth. He looked tired, more so than I’d ever seen him. Like he was an old man. He was an old man, close to three centuries, but he never looked it. He smiled tightly. “All I ever wanted was to keep you safe and whole.”
“You have. Why are you—”
The Great Doors groaned as they parted, the Castle Guards pushing against them.
At first, nothing else happened.
Then I felt a prickle along the back of my neck, like the softest of whispers, as if something was reaching out for me. It felt familiar, as if I’d somehow known it before.
A man came first, barefoot, each step deliberate and soft. He was shirtless, the shadows from the flickering candlelight crawling along his muscular torso. His trousers were tight at the waist but billowed along his thighs and legs. His arms were heavily tattooed, colorful lines etched into his skin seemingly without pattern. A gold band was wrapped around his right bicep. His skin was darker than my mother’s, his black hair pulled back and tied in short ponytail. His eyes were dusky, with what looked to be black coal smudged around them.
Dude was hot.
“Um,” Gary whispered. “Can I have him, please? For science.”
“I would also like to partake in said science,” Kevin whispered back. “If the science we are speaking of involves an experiment where I cover him in my dragon juice.”
And what made matters worse was that even in the presence of the King of Verania, the King’s Wizard, even the Prince, this man never once looked away from me as he approached.
“Uh-oh,” Gary said.
“Why uh-oh?” Tiggy asked.
“We’re probably about to see unnecessary displays of testosterone,” Gary said. “And it’s going to be glorious.”
I wondered what the hell they were talking about until Ryan muttered, “He could have at least put on more clothes before coming in. And why can’t he walk like a normal person? Is he trying to have sex with the air? Who does that?”
Oh boy.
The man stopped a respectable distance away from the dais. He cocked his head at me, that unnerving stare unwavering. Now that he was closer, I could see just how young he was, probably around my age. I felt off-center at that watchful gaze. It only lasted a moment before he dropped to his knees. Gary let out a slightly pained noise at the sight, but I ignored him.
The man leaned forward, hunched over, arms extended out in front of him. His hands touched the ground, palms flat on the floor as he bowed down. The muscles in his back rippled as he held the pose for almost a full minute. There was that prickle of familiarity again, something that teased along my senses, just out of reach.
The throne room was silent. I thought to speak first, but it wasn’t my place. The King would know when it was time.
The man finally pushed himself back up to his feet in one fluid and
slow motion. “My Good King,” he said, voice raspy. It was almost startling to hear. “It is an honor to stand before you.” He had an accent much like my mother’s, musical and light, except far thicker, like his tongue curled around each word deliberately.
“The honor is mine,” the King said, bowing his head. “It has been far too long for your people to stand in Castle Lockes.”
The man grinned suddenly, wide and blinding. “I’m sure there were reasons for that, don’t you think? Certain… circumstances.” His gaze flickered to me before returning to the King. “But no matter. My name is Ruv. I am the Wolf of Bari Lavuta.”
“The Wolf?” the King asked, glancing at my mother.
“It means he’s the enforcer of the phuro,” Mom said quietly. “The Wolf is to her what the Castle Guard is to you. He protects her at all costs. With his life if called upon.”
Ruv snapped his attention away from me and looked upon my mother. His smile took on a softer edge at the sight of her. “Dika Tshilaba,” he said, bowing in her direction. “I have heard many wonderful things about you.”
“Is that right?” Mom said. “How strange. I’d thought my name would have been banished for all days given the path I followed.”