Chapter Eleven
Ten days later
Deo
Every day, long hours were spent in intensive training. Skills were improving daily, but the schedule was taking its toll. Dinner that night was quiet. The team was too tired, or too overwhelmed, to speak. I sat at the head of the table, the tines of my fork piercing the delicate flesh of the fish before me. Cassandra had not touched her food, and looked as if she would fall asleep in her plate.
Sensing my gaze, her warm eyes looked to me, giving me a weak smile.
“Eat, my love,” I quietly admonished.
Dutifully, she speared at a piece of fish, popping it into her mouth. Chewing slowly, Cassandra gave me an impish look.
“Good girl,” I said, enjoying the flush that rose in her cheeks. I would not apologize for my terms of endearment, or my reminders to behave no matter how they made others feel. One good thing about the relentless routine was that my wife was settling into our new life. She continued to be spirited, her sass appearing throughout the days, but she’d been too busy, too tired to be naughty. It had been over a week since I’d needed to take her over my knees. A look or a quietly spoken reminder about the plug waiting for her upstairs had been enough to curb any problem before it became necessary to correct with a spanking.
My eyes touched on Andrew. Ravenous, he was devouring the meal Aunt Margaret had laid before him. “Hungry, this one,” she had chuckled amicably as she refilled his plate while he gave murmurs of thanks. Surprisingly, she was warming to the boy.
Cynthia was seated beside Baal, chatting over dinner. In her hands, she held a purple crystal. It glittered against her fair skin. Leaning in closer than was necessary, Baal ran a finger over her palm, explaining the violet charm’s properties and abilities. Her blue eyes were locked on Baal, mesmerized as much by his face as she was the magic that she held. Despite my original trepidations, it seemed the outsiders were fitting in among us. There was no way they could fully understand what was coming, but perhaps they knew enough to realize that what we were facing was vital for the good of all of us… for mankind.
Draco sat to my left, across from Cassandra, as always. His face expressionless, he carefully tucked away the greens and meat on his plate, his wary eyes darting up to my bride every other moment or so. When she would catch his eye, Cassandra would shoot him a friendly smile. Once, he returned the look with his own soft grin. Guardian and princess were becoming friends, and I found I was glad. The more comfort my wife had in this trying time, the better.
Alekos sat beside Cassandra, Xander to his right. The protectors spoke in Greek, their voices hushed. Tired as she was, they could have been speaking in English and Cassandra would not have overheard the deadly words coming from their mouths. I knew Alekos was discussing the timeframe with which Xander must leave us, and from what I gathered of his words, it was soon.
Suddenly, Baal’s face whipped from Cynthia’s to mine, his features tightening, his brow narrowing as he spoke. “Deo, we have guests.”
“So we have,” I replied, now able to hear the crunch of tires over gravel. “That will be Artem.”
At the sound of the powerful name, Xander, Alekos, and Draco looked to me. Xander’s young face was smooth, his hair falling over one eye as he locked his intense gaze with mine. As I gave a nod of my head, he bid Alekos farewell and slipped from the table, toward the rear exit of the room.
“Time is nearing,” I said quietly. Cassandra’s green eyes widened as she gazed into mine. I did not detect fear in her emerald irises, but there was a touch of uncertainty. She did not feel she was prepared for what was coming. Placing my hand over hers, I assured her, “We will all be well, my love.”
Excusing himself from the table, Baal rose and left the dining room to greet our guests. I stood from my seat, and the others followed suit, Andrew looking uncertainly to his left, then right before joining us. Moving over to Cassandra, I wrapped my arm protectively around my insecure wife, hoping to bring her some peace. She quickly wrapped her arms around my torso, nuzzling her head into my chest. “All is well, babygirl,” I murmured into her ear. “All is well.”
A few quiet moments later, Baal poked his head into the wide doorway. His long hair was swept back, his green eyes sparkling, and a wide grin spread across his face. “It is Artem, and he has brought Dolly,” Baal said before ducking back out of the dining room to retrieve our guests.
I breathed a sigh of relief. Artem was much more relaxed in his wife’s presence, though he rarely allowed her to travel with him.
Peering up at me from her secure place underneath my arm, Cassandra whispered, “Who are Artem and Dolly?”
“My aunt and uncle,” I answered, keeping my voice light. “They stepped in when my parents passed away. Helped me raise Alekos. Dolly was like a second mother to us, some years ago.”
Baal was back. With him, standing arm in arm, were a couple in their early fifties. My Uncle Artem, though shorter than us and having grown stouter in the last few years, stood proud, commanding respect by his presence alone. His once dark hair was now silver, his bronzed skin creased with slightly more wrinkles than before. I was relieved to detect a small smile on his stoic face.
“Well, hey, y’all!” Dolly unattached herself from her husband’s arm, flashing the room a bright, broad smile, waving a porcelain hand. Blonde and silver curls bounced as she teetered over to Cassandra on strappy metallic high-heeled sandals. Even in the heeled shoes, Dolly stood a head shorter than Cassandra, as she grabbed my wife into a hug.
A smile of surprise and delight came over Cassandra’s face. Dolly’s enthusiasm was infectious. She brought a lightness to the dark castle. Wrapped in a loud, floral-print dress, Dolly’s looks did not fit in at Ravensloft, but it always felt homier in her presence.
“This must be the lovely Cassandra,” she cried, smoothing a hand familiarly over Cassandra’s shiny locks. Her cornflower blue eyes locked on mine. “Deo, she is more beautiful than you described. Now how can that be possible?” Not waiting for an answer, Dolly took her attention from me, grabbing both of Cassandra’s hands in hers. “That man was so stuck on you. I swear when he first met you, that was all we heard about—Cassandra this, Cassandra that. He could not wait for your wedding day.”
Rarely embarrassed, I felt an unfamiliar flush rise in my neck. “And may I greet you, or am I chopped liver in my wife’s breathtaking presence?” I asked, reaching my arms out to embrace Dolly.
Looking me over with motherly pride, Dolly hugged me tightly to her. “Deo, I haven’t seen you in so long. I just wish it could be under better circumstances.” Her eyes darted to Cassandra, then returned to me. “Still, I am so very glad to see you and meet your lovely wife.”
Alekos joined us, calling out a jovial, “Long time no see.” Wrapping his arms around Dolly, he lifted her right off the floor, twirling her in his arms. “Hello, petite Mama,” he said joyfully.
Laughing, Dolly slapped his back with her jewel-covered fingers. “Put me down, Alekos,” she shrieked.
Clearing his throat from across the room, Artem cut his eyes to Alekos. Kissing Dolly’s cheek, Alekos returned our aunt to the floor. Flushed, she straightened her dress, elbowing Alekos good-naturedly.
Artem spoke. “Deo, Alekos, a pleasure to see you again, my sons.” Looking over our group, he added, “There are more here than we anticipated.” His cold eyes rested on Andrew and Cynthia.
Striding across the dining room, Cynthia held out her hand to Artem. I was impressed with her natural confidence and composure.
“Hello, Artem, my name is Cynthia,” she said clearly, giving Artem a firm handshake. Gesturing over her shoulder, she said brightly, “And this is Andrew. We have come to join the team.”
Releasing her hand, Artem asked coolly, “And how exactly have you come to join our team?”
Clearing his throat, Andrew answered, “Friends of Cassandra.”
“Ah, Cassandra,” Artem said, fully laying eyes, up close, on my wife for the first time. A look of disdain crossed his furrowed brow, though so slight only I or Draco could have detected it there.
I felt Draco tense by my side. When the guardian had joined Cassandra and me on this side of the table, I had no idea, but was not the least bit surprised.
“Easy,” I whispered through my teeth to the dragon. Draco shifted his weight on his feet at my word. Cassandra looked between us anxiously. I gave her a smile, wrapping my arm around her shoulders, holding her tightly to my side.
“Artem, it is my honor to officially introduce you to my wife, Cassandra.”
Hands locked behind his back, Artem strode over to where we were standing. Stopping in front of Cassandra, his eyes roved over her. I could feel my wife becoming ill at ease. Catching Artem’s eye, I sent him a look, suggesting he go easy on my wayward bride. Artem was a fierce believer in devotion, fidelity, and loyalty. He was not pleased with my wife.
Not reaching a hand out in greeting, Artem stood solid, giving Cassandra a hard stare. Dark brows knitting together, he spoke quietly. “The young wife. And so, we finally meet.”
Cassandra froze in my arms.
The tense silence was interrupted by Dolly’s cheerful twang. “Oh, my, y’all, is this Margaret’s cooking? I declare I am simply famished from that trip. Florida is so much warmer than New York. Just being out in this cold made me hungry,” she said, placing a gentle hand on Artem’s forearm.
Jumping at the chance to lighten the mood of the room, Baal and Alekos quickly made room for our guests at the table, moving place settings and glasses down the line. “Sit, sit,” Alekos commanded, pulling out a chair for Aunt Dolly. “I’ll go talk Margaret into bringing out some more food.”
“Better he then I,” Baal joked. “Margaret would beat me with her spoon if I requested more food.”
At Baal’s proclamation, Artem shot me a knowing glance, his mouth tight. I was well aware that he felt that I was at fault for our predicament. Having encouraged me to take my wife in hand immediately after marrying, he believed we would not be in this mess had I followed his advice. Part of me couldn’t fault him for his belief. In not doing so, the darkness had been unleashed.
What more could I do than learn from the mistakes of my past? I looked away from Artem’s dark gaze.
Margaret came shuffling out, followed by Alekos. Greeting her with a kiss on the cheek, Artem took my seat at the head of the table. Baal sat to his right, Dolly to his left, and Alekos next to her. I sat beside Baal, Cassandra beside me, and Draco, as always across from my wife. With the lethal looks Artem was sneaking at Cassandra between bites of food, I was happy to have Draco so close.
Everyone returned to their half-finished meals. Dolly and Alekos chatted animatedly, like mother and son who had much to catch up on.
I rested my hand on Cassandra’s thigh, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
Uncharacteristically quiet, she looked up, giving me an unsure smile. It was obvious she sensed Artem’s disdain for her.
“Don’t worry,” I murmured lowly, “he will grow to love you. I promise.”
Picking worriedly at her food with her fork, Cassandra did not reply.
“Eat,” I said, giving her thigh a firmer squeeze. I would not have my wife practicing all day and not nourishing her body. We would sit here until everyone else had eaten and excused themselves from the table if that was what it took for her to finish a meal.
Giving a small sigh, Cassandra obeyed, biting into a piece of roasted cauliflower.
Artem watched us curiously. My eyes locked with his. There was much we needed to discuss.