A few people gasped around us.
I turned away and kept walking.
He called for me.
And I ignored him.
He was younger, born a hundred years after me to my father’s new wife after the death of my mother. My father had no longer wanted me, not cared for me. Even the times Cassius brought me back to visit, I’d been unwanted, until the day I took my place and then lost my mate.
Lost it all.
My mind, my sanity…
And now… returned.
“Do not let your fear turn to hate,” Cassius whispered as we walked to the front of the castle gate.
A few men stood watch as they always did against the outside world or a drunk wandering tourist who went into the wrong tunnel at the precise right time.
I watched and waited as slowly the five men came forward and addressed us with a single nod of their heads.
I let out a breath, and we followed them south around the castle and then down a flight of stairs into a tunnel that had a giant sign in front of it. DANGER Do Not Enter.
We walked through.
The tunnel continued on for a mile before we descended the stairs and were brought into the first throne room.
“Mason,” Serenity said at my side, “why are we in a castle underneath a castle?”
I shook my head then hung it in shame.
“Royalty,” Cassius answered for me. “I thought you knew he was a king?”
“I did,” she said quickly. “I just thought that was a fancy word for Alpha or that he was King of the Wolves.”
“Nae…” A warrior stepped forward. “He is King of the Land.”
“Land,” Serenity repeated.
And Cassius whispered, “Earth.”
MASON
I closed my eyes as Serenity’s breath hitched beside me, finally cluing in to how important my job had been — and how severe my absence had hit my clan. And noat just my clan, but every warrior guarding the earth, spread around the world.
I didn’t recognize the warrior in front of me.
He stared me down for a few brief seconds before muttering, “He’s nae gonna wanna see ya.”
“He,” I stated boldly, “doesn’t get say, now does he?”
Cassius smirked next to me.
“And who are ye?” He gave Cassius a disgusted look.
Cassius’ eyes flashed white before his wings spread out behind his back. With a little shrug, he said, “Oh, nobody.”
The warrior stumbled back and made a cross over his heart while I tried to keep from laughing.