Page 149 of Ascendant King
“Yeah,” I agreed. “And this is literally a case of one poisoned apple destroys your whole houseandmy pack, so no pressure.”
Cade shot me an annoyed look. “Thank you both for your words of support. I’m so glad I came to you for advice.”
“What does your mage council think?” I asked, picking up a file at random and skimming it.
“That I’m being too cautious. That our house is strong and we will be able to determine someone’s intentions quickly, even if they managed to pass all of our screenings.” Cade looked away. “I just can’t risk what we’ve built. It’s too important to me.”
I felt myself soften. When Cade looked up, his blue eyes were searching, and it was impossible for me to imagine a time when I’d thought he was heartless. He wore every feeling in his gaze, every subtle worry, every slice of concern.
“As alpha of the Los Santos Pack, I say that if these are the people you want in your house, open the doors. Let them in. You always have my support if something goes wrong. And if it doesn’t, it makes us both stronger.”
“The houses are crumbling,” Cade said, his voice low. “It’s faster than we expected. If things keep progressing, we’ll likely see more and more mages that want in on the last of the mage houses because they think House Castillo is like the old mage houses.”
When he looked at me, his eyes were clouded with worry, a frown perched between his brows.
“Then we’ll deal with that as it comes. A strong pack starts with loyal members. A strong house starts with good mages.”I brushed my thumb over the crease between his brows. “Your house has you, the best of the mage kings.”
Cade snorted but turned to lean against my shoulder, his face pressed against me. “I’m…”
He didn’t have to say it. There were a lot of things I knew might finish that sentence. Scared. Worried. Lonely.
The mage houses were weakened, and infighting was cracking their foundations as older members took their money and influence and tried to hole up somewhere rather than joining forces together. Without the constancy, thepromiseof the ley lines, they weren’t willing to stick their necks out for anyone else, much less a house that they weren’t sure could support them. Mage houses were being destroyed by the same greed that had built them in the first place.
Cade’s house drew all the mages who wanted to protect each other, who wanted the reassurance of working together for a better future for all supernatural creatures rather than scrabbling for as much power as they could hold.
Even outside of House Castillo, younger mages, especially unaffiliated ones, were building their own way. A few had modeled smaller-scale houses after Cade’s. A few had joined forces with local supernatural councils. We’d even heard of one commune that had sprung up in what used to be the Contested Territories made up of dryads and mages living together, trying to regrow forests destroyed by logging.
Where the old houses had been about power and control, the new system gave me enough hope that something good could grow from the ashes.
“You’re good,” I said. “You know what youdon’twant. You don’t want the backstabbing and politics of House Bartlett. And House Castillo is strong. Even without the most powerful mages, it’sstrong.”
Cade laughed. “I want to believe you.”
I cupped his face between my hands, looking into his eyes. “So do. Believe me. You can do this.”
We were no longer talking just about new members. I leaned down and kissed Cade, our mouths barely brushing together before Cade pushed up, driving us tighter.
“Well,Emperor,” Cade said, his tone amused. “What do you say?”
He looked down at my suit, brushing his palms down the lapels. Rhys practically jumped in front of me like a bodyguard.
“King Bartlett,” Rhys said. “I just finished adjusting that, if you don’tmind.”
“I mind very much you putting your hands on my husband,” Cade muttered under his breath.
“He’s not your husbandyet,” Rhys said pointedly. “And unless you’d like to appear at the ceremony wrapped in magic to prevent anyone from mussing mymasterpiecesyou will refrain untilafterphotos have been taken. I havenotbeen planning this day for fiveyearsonly to have you wrinkle his suit.”
“Five years? That means you’ve been planning it since…” Cade frowned. “Since we defeated Leon?”
“I began planning it as soon as you gothistattoo onyourneck.” Rhys leaned forward, hissing, “And you will not ruinmybig day.”
Cade looked put out, a cat being doused in water. “Isn’t it supposed to bemyday?”
“Hey,” I said, grasping his hand. “It is.”
“No,” Rhys said, stepping up to the mirror and using their palms to smooth their hair. “It will beyourday when it’s over. Right now, it’s politics and appearances. The Emperor Wolf ismarrying the last mage king. It’s a big day for everyone. Frankly, given the history between mages and wolves, this is a day that will probably be written about in history books. History books that include yourwedding photos.”
Rhys stepped between us again, slapping my hand away before I could touch Cade’s hair. They threw up their hands, turning to Nia. “I don’t even know why I try.”
She shot them an amused look, straightening her own tuxedo. Glancing at me significantly, she drew Rhys out of the room, her arm laced through theirs.
“Did you ever think we’d make history when we met?” I asked. “When you rescued me from the back of a bar?”
Cade considered me, pressing his palms flat against my chest again, running his fingers over the expensive fabric of my suit. “Miles, Ialwaysknew you were special. From the moment I saw you.”
“That’s not true,” I chided, but when Cade looked at me, his blue eyes endless and reassuring, I frowned. “Is it?”
“Always,” Cade repeated. “Now, let’s show the rest of them. Rhys says we make history.”
I laughed. “All right. Let’s go make history, Cade Bartlett.”