The Warrior King (Inferno Rising #3) - Abigail Owen Page 0,51

slightly. Not giving ground per se, more like a token show of acknowledgment that Samael would rip his arms off and beat him with them if he so much as glanced at her wrong.

The urge to laugh disappeared under the realization that cozy warmth wrapped around her because of it. All that talk of mates. Not to mention that kiss.

Hell’s bells.

“This is Aidan Paytah,” Rune said. “He was part of the Huracán team of enforcers until he found his mate, Sera. You’ll meet her in a bit.”

Meira glanced at Samael, but he was still in intimidation mode and not emoting.

“Why are they with you?” she asked.

“Because before they mated, Sera had three different brands interlaced on her neck.”

That pulled Samael out of his glower. “Holy shit.”

“Indeed.” The glance Rune flicked him seemed significant, though Meira wasn’t sure how.

“I can see that that’s unusual,” Samael said slowly, not taking his gaze from the blue dragon shifter. “But why would it require him to go rogue and join you here?”

Meira dropped her own gaze to the man’s hand. Sure enough, on the back of his hand between his forefinger and thumb, where Ladon’s mark should have shown, was only a patch of blank skin.

“Because.” Aidan spoke up for the first time, calm and resolute. “One of the marks on her neck belonged to Pytheios, and the Alliance was not going to allow me to be part of the process. They wanted to find the High King his mate, be the ones to save his life.”

“Fuck.” Samael spat the word, but he also eased up. She had no idea what tipped her off to that fact—the set of his shoulders, perhaps, because his emotions remained steady—but she knew he’d accepted that answer.

“Why is he here, though?” Meira leaned closer to Samael to ask.

“Good question,” he said. “Why are you here?”

“I have a family to hide. But any king who stands against Pytheios is all right with me.” Aidan held up his hand. “With or without the mark.”

Meira glanced up at Samael, who gave a small shrug. She had no doubts they were of the same opinion. Regardless of what sent Aidan rogue, which sounded legitimate at first glance, here stood a man of honor.

Besides. He could do nothing to Kasia and Brand through a screen.

“You may stay,” Samael said.

Aidan’s lips tipped sideways. “Thanks.”

Rune hit a button, and the wall came to life.

“Kasia?” Meira called.

“I—ear—ira—” Kasia’s voice cut up. Meanwhile the screen stayed black.

Rune grimaced, leaning over to fiddle. “This happens sometimes. We’re patched into the closest city, but weather and the distance and mountains cause issues.”

Meira tapped him on the shoulder. “May I?” she offered, hesitantly. Not wanting to step on his toes.

Raised eyebrows greeted the question. Then he waved at the console. “Be my guest.”

He hardly finished talking before she pulled one of the chairs up in front of a keyboard, typing away, immediately looser because she could finally tune out all the people and messy emotions in the room and just focus. Fingers flying across the keys, she brought up a series of diagnostics and then started adjusting.

“Can you hear me?” Kasia’s voice sounded more clearly, but the screen remained black.

“Just a sec,” Meira said, distractedly.

“O-kay.” Her sister drew the word out. Not that Meira really noticed.

Then the screen lit up with a clear image. Kasia’s lovely face, red hair a halo, larger than life, peered out at her from four middle screens paired together. Her sister was in a similarly set-up room in the Gold Clan’s stronghold of Store Skagastølstind.

Meira stood and scooted back. “Hey, Kas. How did you find me?”

Even virtually, Kasia must’ve picked up on the tension that crept into every man in the room as she cast her gaze around. She locked in on Rune. “I expected to speak privately with my sister…”

“My name is Rune Abaddon. This is my installation.” He held up his hand, which showed no mark between thumb and forefinger. “But I owe no king my allegiance. Meira remains here as our guest, but her presence is a danger to us, especially after what we’ve been through. You speak with her with us in the room, or not at all.”

“The fuck you say.” Suddenly Brand stepped into the picture behind his mate, gold eyes blazing, face set in a scowl that made Meira step back only to bump into Samael, who steadied her with a hand at her back that then curled around her waist. She sucked in as awareness filled her with