Having just made this decision, he’d obviously not thought of that and it caused not a small amount of unease.
But he had made this decision. And Apollo Ulfr was many things, one of them decisive.
Therefore, he asked his cousin, “Have I ever cared what people thought?”
“No, but has it occurred to you that Maddie might?’ his cousin asked him.
It, of course, hadn’t, and this idea, too, troubled him.
But time never stopped and people accustomed themselves to a variety of things, given enough of it. They would accustom themselves to the new Ilsa. And if she was discomfited by it in the meantime, he’d just keep her close and not take her out in society.
He explained his decision by saying, “She’s been in the company of her guard for four months, Lees, and five have fallen. Derrik so deeply, he confronted me and asked to take her away.”
“Gods,” Achilles muttered, shock on his face, but not surprise.
The shock was that Derrik would confront him. The lack of surprise was that Achilles knew it might happen.
“Precisely,” Apollo said tersely. “She’s extremely spirited. She’s also exquisitely beautiful. And I know you have not missed there are other things about her which would pull at any man.”
“Have they pulled at you?” Achilles asked quietly.
Apollo didn’t answer.
Instead, he stated, “For her protection, I must take her as wife.”
Achilles remained silent.
Apollo did not.
“Therefore, if she chooses to stay here, I bid you to keep her protected from the attentions that might come at her, as well as see to my affairs and keep an eye on Christophe and Élan. Élan will have no issue with her. Christophe may have difficulties coping.”
Achilles nodded.
Apollo continued. “If she is to stay here, when I deliver her in the morning, I will collect Derrik and take him with me.”
Achilles nodded again.
Apollo went on. “Upon my return, we’ll see to a quiet wedding.”
Achilles didn’t nod at that. He held Apollo’s gaze and said nothing.
Apollo ignored the reservations in his cousin’s eyes and kept speaking.
“If she comes with me, dispatch the guard as I instructed, however not the men I chose. You choose who to send but send four of them. I’ll wed her along the way.”
Again, Apollo didn’t nod.
Instead, he advised, “I urge you to take some time to consider this, cousin.”
“I have no choice but to sleep on it,” Apollo replied.
He watched his cousin take in a breath and let it out.
Then he again watched his cousin nod. This did not surprise Apollo. They’d grown up together, alongside Laures, Draven and Derrik. Achilles knew when Apollo’s mind was made up, there was no changing it.
And Achilles would champion it, if not in word at that moment, when the time came, he’d do it in word and deed. For Apollo and, he was in no doubt, also for Ilsa.
Therefore, Apollo nodded back and ended the conversation by leading Torment into the stables.