Page 32 of A Trial of War
“Talon is a braver male than I gave him credit for,”Daxton told me.
I chuckled.“You’ve never been on Rhea’s bad side.”
“Alright. Shall we begin preparing for this meeting?” I asked, turning to Castor. “You’re taking the lead on this.”
“Fantastic,” Castor said, clapping his hands together. “Training more shifters on how to behave… Oh, what a joy this will be.”
Chapter Eleven
Castor Aegaeon
Three days on the sea training shifters in etiquette and politics… I’d rather face a horde of the fallen creatures or a night in Minaeve’s chambers. And surprisingly, one of those was actually survivable.
I lounged on the edge of the desk, twirling a quill between my fingers, pretending not to be on my very last nerve with these lessons.
“As I’ve said,” I began, flashing my most charming grin, “human courts are like a den full of wolves—eager, calculating, and ready to tear you apart when we enter their lands.”
“Really?” Talon asked, his expression dropping.
“What? I thought you’d appreciate that metaphor, considering you two shift into—”
“We get it,” Rhea said.
“Right. Well, humans will smile while planning your downfall, hoping to distract you with glittering spectacles and pretty words.”
Rhea, the fiery one, leaned over the table, laced her fingers together, and rested her chin on them with a smuggrin that only meant trouble. “So, they’re exactly like the High Fae.”
I can tell why she and Skylar get along so well.
“Exactly. We won’t be favored, nor welcomed with open arms.”
Talon narrowed his brows. “But the request—”
“It’s a ruse,” Rhea cut in.
I smiled. “Clever wolf.”
Talon slumped back, arms folded across his chest. “I don’t like this. I’m with Skylar. I believe we should first negotiate for peace.”
Rhea turned toward her mate, placing a hand on his thigh. “Which is why I love you, and also why Skylar needs you at her side more than me when we meet with the human king.”
“While the rest of us—” I paused, seeing if anything from my teachings sunk in.
The she-wolf’s grin was cunning, and if I was honest with myself, slightly terrifying. “We’ll anticipate a trap.”
“Very good.”
By the time I concluded the lesson, the cabin door clicked shut behind the shifters, leaving me in blissful silence. I rubbed my temples, feeling like I had survived some kind of torture uniquely designed to diminish my immortality.
Teaching shifters politics. Gods above, someone save me.
I collapsed onto the bed near the door, letting the salty breeze cool the edges of my irritation from the openwindow. I gazed up, seeing that night had taken root as stars blinked overhead.
No longer able to fight the pull, my eyes drifted shut.
And then, I felt it.
That subtle tug at the edge of my soul, like a thread winding tight. My pulse slowed, and everything seemed to fit into place.
