IthoughtI did.
“You should already know that you can trust him, but just in case he hasn’t earned that right, I can tell you that I trust him with my life, and he hates Kolis with a passion.” Her gaze returned to Poppy, and I thought I saw a slight wince. “And has for even longer than Ash and I.”
“Well, I guess that’s good,” Poppy murmured.
Seraphena studied her granddaughter for a few moments. “You will not be without aid, Poppy. If shit goes south, we will not leave you hanging.” She lifted her chin. “That is a promise.”
Poppy sucked in a shaky breath as she nodded. I could’ve sworn I felt Seraphena’s oath etch itself into my bones.
“There is something we must take care of before I return to Iliseeum,” Seraphena said as Reaver rose. “We must bring Jadis home.”
CHAPTER 36
POPPY
We shadowstepped to Ironspire.
Of course, Kieran remained behind. I still found his aversion to shadowstepping amusing. It rivaled my dislike of serpents.
I glanced over at Seraphena. I kept stealing glances and had been since we arrived in the entrance hall, waiting for Reaver to join us.
He, too, had refused to shadowstep.
Did she dislike serpents, or was she fond of them? Millicent struck me as the type to keep one as a beloved pet. It was a strange thing for me to think of all things considered, but she was…family. I wanted to know more about her.
I wanted to know more about Ires, too. My father.
But now didn’t seem like the right time to ask those questions. I had more important things to focus on. Starting with whether or not Reaver had informed Seraphena about our first trip to Ironspire.
As Casteel did what he’d done last time and left to check the halls, I peeked over at the Queen of the Gods and found her watching me.
She blinked and quickly looked away. Pink colored her cheeks as she eyed the iron beams and the stained glass above. “Sorry,” she said quietly. “It’s just that you look like…”
I tensed. “Please, don’t say my mother.”
Her lip curled slightly, and her gaze returned to mine. “I think you look more like my son, which is…”
“What?”
“Confusing,” she murmured. “But it makes sense.”
My brows rose. Of course, it would make sense. I had no idea why it was confusing.
Seraphena laughed softly. “That probably made no sense to you.”
I figured there was no point in lying. “It didn’t.”
She inhaled deeply. “There are…things I need to tell you,” she said, her voice dropping as she glanced to where Casteel was checking out the eastern hall. “Later.” Her head tilted. “He’s very protective of you.” She smiled as her gaze returned to mine. “Not that you don’t already know that.”
My lips spread into a smile as the subject of our conversation moved to the southern hall. “He is.”
“Ash is the same way,” she said after a moment, drawing my gaze back to her. She had picked up a strand of hair and started twirling it around her finger.
I immediately thought about what Holland had said. That, like me, she did things to keep her hands busy when nervous or trying not to use them. I hoped this was the former.
“He knows full well that I can take care of myself,” she continued, her smile softening. “But you would never guess that based on how he behaves. It is as endearing as it is annoying.” She paused. “As I’m sure you know.”
I laughed. “I do.”
