Drawing in a deep breath, I closed my eyes. It didn’t pass me by that his comment meant he was still bonded to me. But at the moment, I didn’t care.
“So, what is happening here?” Reaver asked.
“Well,” Attes drawled. Without even opening my eyes, I felt his stare.
I tipped my head back. “I saw someone on the Cliffs. I knew it wasn’t Kolis in person but figured it was him tagging along with a Revenant or Ascended. So, I decided to send him a message.”
“And you decided it without waking me?” Casteel asked.
I cracked open an eye. Those shadow-laced golden eyes were on me now, which I supposed was an improvement. “You needed your sleep.”
“I’m not going to even dignify that with a response.”
“Isn’t that a response?” I retorted.
Casteel lowered his chin.
“Why would you think that was who was on the Cliffs just because you saw someone out here?” Attes asked.
Um…
“That’s a good question,” Reaver chimed in.
I opened my other eye. “It’s a long story that doesn’t matter.”
Casteel went to speak but…
“At all,” I stressed. “I came and killed the Revenant. That’s it.”
Attes laughed. “Yeah, that’s it. That’s all I stumbled upon.”
“I know that’s not it,” Casteel said. “Because you were bleeding.” He turned his stare back on the Primal god. “Why don’t you tell me what you stumbled upon. But first, tell me how you managed to do so.”
Attes stiffened to the point he nearly matched my posture. I didn’t intervene because his appearance was awfully convenient.
“Waiting,” Casteel murmured.
“So am I,” Reaver added.
Attes’s jaw flexed. He took a step back and held Casteel’s stare. “I’m not your enemy.”
“I hope not, for your sake,” Cas replied coolly. “But that didn’t answer my question.”
A moment passed. “I suppose not.” Attes stretched his neck to one side and then to the other. “I was arriving, as expected. I stopped to see Setti. Figured it was a good idea to make sure he wasn’t left to roam the realm by himself.”
I swallowed a scream.
“Then, I felt the Primal essence,” Attes continued. “I followed it. That’s all.”
“That’s all?” Casteel murmured, and I saw the doubt I felt etched into his features. “And why the fuck did you think Setti would be roaming the realm by himself?”
Attes tilted his head, and…gods, while the two may not look identical, they were clearly of the same damn bloodline when it came to temperaments.
“Yes. That’s all. And do I really need to answer that question about Setti, considering where we are right now?”
The smirk returned to Casteel’s face, and I hit my breaking point with him—both of them. “You know what?” I unfolded my arms. “If you two want to stay out here and continue trying to out-threaten each other, go ahead. I’m going back.” I pivoted and glanced at Reaver. “Have fun.”
Then, without waiting, I shadowstepped back to the Solar.
