Page 27 of Castor

“Look who’s worrying now.” Galen looked over at me.

Damn our stupid telepathy. “I hate that we can’t keep secrets from each other.”

“While I understand your concern, know that this is what I want, Cas. If the day ever comes when Simon leaves this world, I’m grateful that I’ll follow him.” Galen touched the silver wedding ring on his left hand. “It brings me peace.”

“I’ve lost one brother before,” I said, my chest constricting at the memory of Kallias. “So lock Simon in a protective bubble or something. Because I can’t lose you too.”

Kallias had been our eighth brother and had held the sin of Melancholy. He had fallen in love with a Spartan warrior named Elasus and performed the binding ritual so they could live together for eternity. However, their eternity only lasted a year and a half before a demon decapitated Elasus right in front of us. Kallias had dropped to his knees, a cry tearing through his throat… and then his heart had stopped beating, and the life faded from his eyes.

I still felt the pain of his loss, like a piece of my heart had died the same moment he had.

“You won’t lose me,” Galen said before spreading his wings. “Let’s return home.”

The crisp night air caused bumps to form on my skin as we flew to the mansion. The end of summer was quickly approaching. The end of another season.

Time passed differently for an immortal. Days blurred together, and years passed in the blink of an eye. But I always stopped to notice the passing of a season, when warm transitioned to cold and the trees came alive and painted the landscape in shades of orange, red, and yellow.

Galen and I landed on the porch of the mansion, tucked our wings back in, and stepped through the patio doors into the kitchen.

Raiden stood at the oven, peeking through the glass in the front. “Hungry? I’m heating up a frozen pizza for a late-night snack. Supreme.”

“I love how your snacks are like two regular-sized meals,” I said, sliding onto the barstool at the island.

“Just think of all the awesome food we’ll get to eat in Greece.” Raiden practically drooled.

I glanced at Galen. “Excited is the right word for him.”

Galen cracked a smile. “Where’s Simon? I thought you were watching a movie.”

“We did,” Raiden answered before shoving a few potato chips into his mouth—his snack while he waited for his other snack to finish making. “Gray picked a horror movie and fell asleep during it. He snored really loud on a suspenseful part. It scared Simon so bad I think he shit himself. We called it a night after that.”

I choked on my spit.

Galen laughed a little too as he left the kitchen. To find his mate, no doubt.

I grabbed a few slices of pizza once it was done and sat with Raiden on the back porch to eat them. We didn’t talk much, but the company was nice. It beat lying alone in my room and trying not to think about all the shit that had tormented me for months. The clear sky above us shone with countless stars, and the full moon was bright.

A distant howl wailed from miles away, the sound carried by the breeze.

“You think Sterling’s still pissed about his ring?” Raiden asked, breaking the silence.

I snorted and glanced down at it on my index finger. “Probably. I should give it back to him. I’m bored of it now anyway.”

“Not sparkly enough?” Raiden shoved half a piece of pizza into his mouth in one bite, and his cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk as he chewed.

“I do love my bling,” I said, then jolted a bit when my ass buzzed. I pulled my phone from my pocket and checked the text.

unknown number:Hey. It’s Kyo. I got your # from Si.

I smiled and added him to my contacts list before responding.

Me:I knew you couldn’t stay away ;)

Little Dragon:Don’t get cocky. I’m at the club and horny af. Come fuck me before I find someone else.

Me:On my way. Keep your pants on until I get there.

“Where are you goin’?” Raiden asked with his mouth full as I stood from the porch and walked down the steps.