So, for now—and always—he would just be a friend to the Clairmont family. It’s why he did not give Thalia away during the ceremony but rather entrusted the duty to Heph.
“Congratulations, son,” Amell said with a grin.
Bastien side-eyed a glare at him but couldn’t help his smile. “I refuse to call you Father.”
“I’d kill you if you did,” the king quipped back.
They watched in silence as Thalia danced with the poor soldier who looked like he’d rather be battling a horde of erchras, given the choice.
“She’s happy,” Amell said, his fondness evident in his voice.
“I’ll keep her that way,” Bastien replied, not taking his attention off his wife.
“Son of a bitch,” Amell growled, and Bastien turned his way. Amell stared over at Kieran who stood under a tree heavy with glowing lanterns, a tankard of ale in hand while talking to another man.
No… not a man.
A demigod.
Maddox. He was the one who first approached Bastien in the Garden of the Gods weeks ago. The one who’d put Thalia in danger by taking her ring that had kept her hidden from Ferelith for years.
“You know him?” Bastien asked Amell.
“A pity, but yes.” Amell gave one last withering look at the demigod and groused, “I’m going to ask my daughter to dance.”
“Make it fast,” Bastien said. “I’d like some time with my wife.”
Amell flashed his own grin—evil at its core—and it basically told Bastien he’d be occupying lots of Thalia’s time tonight and to get used to it.
With a sigh, Bastien headed over to his brother who seemed to be listening intently to Maddox. As he approached, the immortal lifted his chin in greeting.
“Congratulations on your nuptials. Veda sends her greetings, and I believe her words were, ‘I told you so.’”
Confused for only a moment, Bastien recalled what Maddox had told him when they first met. Veda had passed along a message for him to not give up on love.
Bastien vowed silently to himself he’d never again doubt one of the gods.
“And you’ve come to pass along those well wishes?” Bastien asked skeptically.
Maddox shrugged, looking across the way to where Amell danced with Thalia. The dark angel looked ridiculous trying to keep up with her, but Bastien found within him a certain fondness for the evil bastard.
“I’ve come for a few reasons,” Maddox said, bringing his regard back to Bastien. “Well wishes, for one. To pass along Veda’s message for another.”
“Sounds like there’s a third,” Bastien prodded.
The demigod’s gaze went back to Amell.
Or was he looking at Thalia?
Bastien stepped to the side and put himself between Maddox and the dancing father-daughter duo, cutting off his view. “What do you want?” he demanded.
Maddox nodded toward the fallen angel. “I’m here for Amell. He has to answer for his interference in the war with Ferelith.”
“Answer how?” Bastien asked through gritted teeth. His hand went for the hilt of his sword, only to curse silently because they were at peace—and at his wedding reception—and he wasn’t wearing a weapon.
“Easy, warrior,” Maddox said in a low voice. “I don’t want to hurt you on your wedding day.”
Kieran frowned and moved toward his brother. “If you want Amell, you’ll have to go through both of us.”
“I could go through both of you with a flick of my wrist,” Maddox replied with a grin. “But Amell won’t disregard the call of the gods. He’ll come with me, and there won’t be any trouble. If you don’t believe me, ask him yourself.”
Maddox nodded at something behind Bastien and Kieran, and the men turned to see Amell approaching with Thalia hot on his heels.
“What are you doing here?” Amell asked as he joined the group.
“Zora desires a word,” Maddox replied easily.
Amell scoffed. “Then Zora can damn well come talk to me herself.”
Kieran took a step back and muttered, “Someone’s about to be smote.”
“What’s going on?” Thalia demanded, taking her father’s arm and turning him toward her. “Why does Zora want to speak to you?”
“It’s not important,” Amell said, placing his hands on Thalia’s shoulders.
“Are you going to be punished for helping me?” she asked, her voice edgy.
Amell leaned in and kissed her forehead, then pushed her back into Bastien’s arms.
“I’ll be fine,” he said, and then looked to Maddox with undisguised loathing. “Let’s do this.”
Thalia didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye before Amell and Maddox disappeared. Presumably to see Zora, the god of Life, who Amell answers to in his role as king of the Underworld.
“He’ll be fine,” Bastien assured his wife with an arm around her shoulders. He gave her a squeeze.
“How do you know?” she asked.
“Because he said he would be, and I trust him.” It didn’t pain Bastien to admit that out loud. “And so do you.”
Thalia smiled and nodded. “You’re right.”
“That Maddox is an interesting fellow,” Kieran observed. “Clearly, there’s no love lost between those two immortals.”