The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era

Chapter 840: THE ONE HE WANTS

LUNCH was relaxed, filled with delicious food and easy conversation. Laughter drifted around the table as everyone lingered over the meal. Nicol tried to keep up, but he had stayed up too late the night before, and with a full stomach and the comfortable atmosphere, his eyes kept getting heavier. His eyelids drooped lower and lower until he finally dozed off against his father’s shoulder.

Thomas carried him to the room Nicol always used whenever they visited Casey’s house. The rest of them headed up to the floor above and settled into a spacious sitting area. The room was open and airy, with glass walls that offered a clear view of the city below. From up there, it felt like they were floating above the skyline, the buildings stretching out beneath them like a sprawling map.

Astrid sat down and looked around the room. This was the perfect moment to tell them about him and Wulfric. Nicol was asleep, which made things easier. He was pretty sure his little cousin would have thrown a fit if he found out Astrid had a boyfriend too. The thought made him chuckle. He would just wait for Thomas to come back, and then he would share the news.

As if on cue, the door to the room opened and Thomas walked in.

”Is Nikki settled in?” Casey asked. ”He didn’t wake up when you laid him down?”

Thomas nodded as he sat down. ”He’s sleeping like a log, didn’t even stir.”

With everyone finally gathered, Astrid decided it was time. He cleared his throat to get their attention. Casey and Thomas, who had been discussing Nicol’s late bedtime, looked over. Reas and Lauren, who had been sitting close together with their heads bent toward each other, clearly in the middle of their own quiet flirting, also glanced up.

”I have something to share,” he began. He paused for a moment, making sure he had everyone’s full attention before continuing. ”Wulf and I are together now. As in, dating. Boyfriends. Like Reas and Lauren.”

He added those words just to make sure there was no confusion and that they would immediately understand what he meant.

A beat of silence followed his words. Then Casey shot up from his seat. ”What?”

Casey stared at Astrid like he had just announced he was running away to join a circus. His eyes were wide, and his mouth had fallen open just a little. He stood there, frozen mid-motion, like his brain was still trying to process what he had just heard. He was not angry, not exactly. More like he could not quite believe it. As if he were waiting for Astrid to say he was joking.

”Cassius, sit down,” Thomas said to his brother.

Although he was just as surprised as Casey, he kept his expression carefully neutral. He had known the prince was interested in Astrid, but he had never expected Astrid to actually return the man’s feelings. The prince was intense, overwhelming, the kind of person one wouldn’t really consider a romantic partner. But Astrid had chosen him anyway. That was what caught Thomas off guard.

He thought back to when they had all been in Delryria. All he remembered was the prince hovering around Astrid, showing off like some kind of peacock trying to get his nephew’s attention. Astrid had seemed amused by it, sometimes even giving him a helpless smile, like he was humoring an overly eager kid. But now, with the two of them actually together, it seemed Thomas’ read on the situation had been wrong. Astrid had not just been humoring him.

Reas went still for a moment at the news, then forced his shoulders to relax. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise. He had seen it coming for a while now. Being the closest to Astrid, he had noticed how serious his brother’s feelings for the general had become. It had always been a matter of time before he gave in. He just hadn’t expected it to happen so soon. He had thought it would take longer. Clearly, he had underestimated just how deep Astrid’s feelings ran.

Lauren was just as caught off guard as the others, but underneath the surprise, he felt a spark of excitement. He had always known it was only a matter of time before Astrid and the prince got together. The prince wasn’t exactly the type of person he would have pictured for Astrid, but the way his friend lit up whenever he talked about him made it clear that the prince’s feelings weren’t exactly one-sided. And now, his guess had turned out to be right.

He got up and moved to sit beside Astrid, pulling him into a side hug. ”Congratulations. I’m really happy for you!”

”What’s so happy about this?” Casey asked, his voice carrying a hint of a pout as he dropped back into his seat. He crossed his arms, looking more like a sulking child than a grown man.

He honestly hadn’t expected to hear this kind of news today. And if he was being honest, he would have been happy about it if Astrid had chosen someone else. If it had been some college kid, he would have accepted it more easily. But the prince? That man had a reputation. He was unstable, dangerous, and nothing like the kind of person Casey wanted for his nephew. They didn’t fit together. It was like trying to mix fire and water. Like an angel tying himself to a demon.

”Cassius,” Thomas said, his tone carrying a clear warning.

He understood his brother’s reaction, and honestly, he probably shared some of the same concerns. But they should not voice them. At least not in front of Astrid. He didn’t want their nephew to think they were meddling. The last thing he wanted was for Astrid to tell them to stay out of his business. They had only just started building a real relationship with him. He was not about to risk that over an opinion that wasn’t theirs to give.

He turned to look at Astrid. ”Is this really what you want?” He paused, then rephrased. ”Is he the one you want?”

Astrid looked at Thomas, then at Casey. A soft smile spread across his face, making his features glow. ”Yes.”