He tilts his lips up. “Yes.”
I add everything up I know about him, about how he has no other blood relatives other than cousins who are distant cousins only in distant marriage. “Does that make her your heir, too? To the Sun Dynasty and the Moon Dynasty?”
He repeats the single word. “Yes.”
I blink. “I’m surprised you let her live with him, with them, and not let her grow up knowing you.”
Daegan pours two glasses of wine for us, spilling his before answering. “Ziven may not have the numbers, but the Moon Dynasty was extremely powerful once, especially their royal family. A war between me and Ziven, it killed hundreds of our people in only a few months. We nearly lost everything. I’m not sure who would survive us going to war again, but everyone in this place who we are responsible for would be casualties of our actions. We don’t have a lot of people left, and we already have a war waiting for us outside this place with the vampyres. One of us had to be responsible. I told Ziven he could keep custody of her until she comes of age, and she can then spend time in both of the dynasties, under the terms of our laws, just like you are right now. She can make her own decisions then.”
He put his people first and Ziven didn’t? “That was good of you, to put your people first. Though it must be hard if she’s your only family left.”
He sighs, putting his glass down. “I don’t know her. I’ve not even seen her since she was one. She does not come out of the apartments much. When she does, Ziven makes sure that I’m not around.”
I have to give him something. “She’s lovely and strong.”
“I hear she looks like my brother. The blond hair was his.” He picks up a strawberry, eating it whole. “I wanted to tell you all of this so you can make a knowledgeable decision about your loyalty. Ziven doesn’t deserve your friendship. You don’t need to feel awkward about what happened in there with him. It is truly forgotten. Let’s eat together and move on from it and go on another date soon.”
“Okay,” I tell him. Though I know I’m being a complete coward, because I should tell him that it doesn’t matter if we go on other dates. I’m just not sure that we should be more than friends, but I’m grateful he told me the truth about Ziven. I don’t have it in me to start that argument right now when he brought me food and company.
Catherine is deep within the library, looking for a book that hasn’t been pulled out in well over twenty years. She recommended I didn’t come with her unless I wanted to be covered in dust. I happily opted out of that idea. I’ve been several rows in, and it’s definitely dusty down there. “I’m going off to training in a bit. Calix invited me to learn how to use a bow and arrow,” I explain. I’m still staying in Ziven’s apartment at the moment, but he lets me come to the library now, although he hasn’t really spoken to me since that night. Other than very sharp words. Move. Go. Eat. I’m pretty sure he hates me more now than ever.
Daegan’s smile is charming. “I’ll walk you to them.” After we’ve finished our food and walk out, I find Mazzis is waiting for me with a single book in his hands this time.
He respectfully bows his head towards Daegan. “It’s good to see you. I don’t often find you in this library’s walls.”
“I missed my friend.” Daegan snakes his hand around my waist, a possessive gesture. “And I brought her lunch.”
Mazzis laughs. “I would tell you off about there being no food allowed in the library, but it’s you.” He looks at me. “Story, this book is truly memorable. I read this one over ten years ago, and I could never get it out of my head. It’s addictive.” He presses it into my hand. “It’s a murder mystery.”
“Thank you once again.” I take the book and smile. I feel like I’m in the right place when I’m here. There are several authors that I’ve become absolutely addicted to from this immense library, and I’ve read everything that I could find by them. I’ve barely even scratched the surface of the books here. I’m still mostly living off Mazzis’s recommendations, but he never gets it wrong. Ziven has left me several books on combat, and I enjoy reading those too. Why are there never enough hours in the day to read? Mazzis gives me an equal number of books on learning things I never knew and adventures to open my mind.
“Have a good day,” Mazzis tells me with an easy smile.
I grin at my friend. Somehow, I tend to be good at making friends with the kings of the dynasties. “See you around, Mazzis.” He inclines his head my way, and I do the same back to him. Daegan says his goodbyes before he is leading me out. “I’m not sure whether I should bow to him. I mean, he is a king, but it feels really…strange.”
“You don’t bow to any of the kings here,” he laughs. “Don’t change that now.”
“Would you like me to bow to you?” I ask, actually curious. I look up at him.
“No, not you.”
I smile softly at him. Why does it feel like we’ve been friends for a really long time? He might not like me anymore and demand I bow when I explain how I feel about this friendship becoming any more than it is. I think I just want to be alone right now, not have my head completely jammed by both the moon and the sun like it currently is. Ziven is bad news, and I have to stay away from him. He makes that easy by not talking to me.
I barely get two steps into the training room when Sterling steps right up into my space. Calix is a few steps behind her, rushing over. “Story, you turned up!”
“I know you usually do morning training, so why are you here?” Sterling doesn’t waste a moment.
“Don’t be rude,” Calix interrupts, looking at her. “I invited her for training, and she is welcome—”
“Not after what she did,” Sterling all but screeches. “The king might like her, but I do not.”
Oh, this is about Ziven? “I think you’ll find Ziven doesn’t like me.”
Sterling crosses her arms. “I’m not training with this stupid bitch—”
Daegan’s hands glow like burning suns. “Stop.”
She seems to just realise the Sun Dynasty king is here, and she pauses. Her eyes flicker to me. “You want to train? Then fine, you can train against me. Except it’ll be a fight, and the only way one of us loses is passing out or tapping out. Three taps on the floor, and you better make sure I see you do them.” She walks over to the massive mat in the centre of the room. “Come on.”
Calix shakes his head. “No, no. Ziven’s not here and—”
“I’m sure the perfect stranger can make her own decisions.” Sterling opens her arms, walking backwards.
“She’s not fighting.” Daegan’s tone is final.
She laughs, looking me up and down. “Fine then. I’m demanding a challenge in the name of the Decidere.”
“Fuck,” Calix swears, rubbing his face. Even Daegan goes silent. Calix lowers his voice. “Participants in the Decidere cannot refuse a challenge issued by anyone else.”
My mouth goes dry. “Please tell me you’re kidding.”
Daegan leans closer. “He’s not. If she challenges you, she’s challenging you for your place in the Decidere, for the marks on your hands and arms. If she wins, the marks will go to her, and she will take your place on Sunday. She has never been in the Decidere before, and it’s a cheap way to get in.”
“It’s not something we practice. It’s a cowardly move,” Calix agrees, loud enough for the crowd that has circled around us and for Sterling to hear.
Sterling shrugs a shoulder. “On the mat. I’ll wait for you.”
She sneers at me before walking away. My hands are already sweaty. “Let me guess, she’s a really good fighter.”
