Page 31 of Castor

Me:I’ll miss your dick. Does that count?

Red:haha jerk. You should be nice to me.

Me:Why the hell would I do that?

Red:If talks go south in Greece, I might have to fight.

My gut sank as I read his response. Was it really going to be that dangerous? It shocked me how much I actually cared.

Me:Is that your way of saying I should fuck you tonight like it’s the last time?

Red:I wouldn’t mind ;)

Once five o’clock rolled around, I helped Simon close the shop before hopping on my bike and driving home. Castor had mentioned that he loved fast cars. I could relate. When I was on my crotch rocket, shooting down the street at a high speed and feeling the wind tug on my clothes, I felt so free. Alive.

A familiar black car sat in my driveway. Inwardly groaning, I pulled off my helmet and carried it with me as I walked toward the door.

What the hell did my brother want now?

“I didn’t break in this time,” Tatsuya said, sitting in a chair on the front porch. His long black hair was braided to the side, falling over his shoulder, and he wore traditional clothing—a hakama with a kimono underneath and black silk haori on over it.

“Why so formal?” I placed my helmet down and leaned against the column, crossing my arms.

“Hijiri’s wedding was today,” he answered with a father’s pride. “He wed a daughter of the earth clan.”

Hijiri was one of my least favorite nephews. He was pigheaded, arrogant, and looked down on me for not falling into line with the rest of them.

“I appreciate the invite,” I said, my voice packed full of sarcasm. “It means so much for my family to include me in their lives.”

“You walked away from us.” Tatsuya stood but chose not to walk closer. “That was your decision, Kyo, not mine. Besides, you and Hijiri don’t get along. Your presence would’ve only caused tension.”

Not wanting to argue with him, I changed the subject. “How are things going with the other clans? Do they still hate us?”

“If you hadn’t run off fifty years ago, you would know that peace talks have been successful between the kingdoms. I’m finally righting the wrongs our father committed all those years ago. It has taken time. Patience. Trust can’t be built overnight, especially when it’s already so fragile.”

“What about the ice clan? Last I heard, the king still wanted to destroy us even with the ceasefire in place.”

“King Armen is dead,” Tatsuya answered.

“Good riddance.”

“His eldest son, Nikolai, has taken the throne,” Tatsuya continued. “And where his father had little interest in making amends, Nikolai is open to the idea of finally putting this conflict behind us. He wants a true alliance, not just a temporary ceasefire.”

“Cool. So, are you going to tell me why you’re here?”

If it was Castor’s last night in town for a while, I fully intended to ride his cock like there was no tomorrow. My brother needed to say what he’d come to say and leave, so I could get ready and head to the club.

“Thatiswhy I’m here, actually.” Tatsuya regarded me with cautious eyes. “You’re not going to like it.”

My scalp prickled. “Why?”

“As you know, marriages have been used to form alliances for centuries,” Tatsuya said, taking on a more authoritative tone. I hated when he used it. Nothing good ever followed. “It’s the best way to unite kingdoms. Nikolai has agreed to put our conflict to rest…ifyou marry Warrin, his younger brother.”

“What?” The word came out as a growl. “No. I refuse.”

“You can’t refuse.” Flames flickered in his ocean-blue eyes as he stepped toward me, straightening to his full height. “I’ve allowed you to abandon your responsibilities for long enough. It’s time for you to step up and do what needs to be done for our people.”

“Why does he wantmeto marry his brother? Why can’t it be one of your sons? Or Ryoko’s?”