Page 107 of Castor

“Thanks.” Daman plopped down at the table before looking at Warrin. “What the hell are you staring at?”

Warrin quickly averted his gaze, his cheeks darkening, and excused himself from the room.

Raiden fried up some bacon and scrambled eggs and reheated two of the biscuits before handing the plate to Daman. He poured him a huge mug of coffee too. The grumpy Nephilim thanked him before taking his food and coffee and leaving the room.

“He doesn’t hate us,” Castor said. “He just doesn’t like any of us that much.”

“He likes me.” Gray walked over and hung onto Bellamy’s arm, swinging a little. “Sometimes he even lets me cuddle with him while he draws.”

“Can I bake the cake for your wedding?” Raiden asked, gathering our plates and dumping them into the sink. He turned on the faucet to rinse them off.

Castor smirked. “Only if you promise not to eat it until we cut into it.”

“Deal.”

Bellamy went over to help Raiden load the plates into the dishwasher. “That includes dipping your finger into it.”

Raiden bumped against his shoulder, and Bellamy bumped him back. They were like teenagers. I didn’t see how they could change the subject so casually. Lazarus revealed that Asa had a bigger army than us. The battle on the beach was just a taste of what lay ahead in the war to come.

“Penny for your thoughts, little dragon?” Castor tucked a stray piece of my hair behind my ear. “You’re the only person I’d ever give money to, by the way. That’s how much I love you.”

“You’re such a dork.” I exhaled and turned to him in my chair, my stomach knotting with nerves. “Should we even be talking about a wedding right now? Demons could attack anywhere at any time. And now Asa has Nephilim in his ranks. Shit is getting intense.”

Alastair met my gaze. “Which is exactly why you should go through with the wedding. Tomorrow is never promised, especially in times of war. So don’t put your life on hold to wait for it to pass. Grab onto happiness whenever possible.”

“You heard the man,” Castor said before dropping a kiss to my shoulder. “Let’s plan a wedding.”

***

I had never given much thought to my wedding day. Truth was, before Tatsuya had told me about the arranged marriage to Warrin, I’d never thought I evenwouldget married.

But then I’d met Castor, and everything changed.

Ihad changed.

I barely recognized the person staring back at me in the mirror as I sat on a stool in front of it.

After nearly two weeks of preparation, the day of my wedding had come at last. Tatsuya, although a bit disappointed at first in my choice of husband, had asked us to hold the ceremony at the palace. Warrin had returned to Russia, but all of the Nephilim brothers were in attendance. Gray was especially excited. It would also give them a chance to discuss warfare and strategy with my brother.

Later though. Today was about me and Castor.

Ryoko stood behind me, softly smiling as she brushed a comb through my hair. “You look handsome.”

“That’s good. Because I feel like I’m going to be sick.”

“You love him, yes?”

I nodded.

“Then all will be well.” She studied my reflection as she fixed my hair. “Do you recall the legend of the red string of fate?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Close your eyes,” she said and waited until I obeyed. “Now. Picture the rivers of life flowing through you, envision all the blood vessels that connect inside of your body. One of these red strands connects your pinky finger to your heart. Do you see it?”

I nodded, visualizing the red strand.

“This string doesn’t stop at the tip of your finger,” Ryoko continued. “Instead, it shoots out in front of you, like a thread leading you forward. It’s a representation of your heart, and it’s linked to one other person. Guiding you. The two are bound together by fate.”