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As one of his councils, Geryon stayed by his side until there was an intermission. King Bradwick wished to eat his lunch in private while he thought on the morning’s events.

Geryon had an hour to check his room, something he did once a day to make sure none of the court had tried to enter it. It was locked, but he’d seen and smelt a few trying to be nosy. His apartment was in a corner of the palace, one of the largest on this floor, as well as one of the grandest.

There was no parlour or drawing room in front of it, like some of the more special apartments. Instead, everything he wanted was furnished in one long area with plenty of room to walk about.

It held a bed, tub, mirror, sofa, and chairs around a table, in case he wanted to entertain guests, which he never did. There was a writing desk as well, something he used frequently.

One of his favourite spots was a settee he lounged across with his leg over the arm. His side of the palace was above where the court played, and he often watched them by positioning the chair to face the window.

The only time servants were permitted to enter this room was when he was inside it. It was only ever to fill his tub or bring him food if he wanted it.

Before he could make it to his destination, he turned the final corner and was surprised to find Lady Cecily walking towards him down the hallway.

Why did I not scent her approaching?Usually, he could.

There was a note to her eyes, one that told him she wasn’t pleased to see him. Like a young Dragon chasing after a female’s tail for the first time, he wanted to huff with eagerness at the defiant look she gave him.

It may cause others to back away and avert their gaze, but it only made Geryon boldly stare her down to take up the challenge.

She didn’t say anything to him when she went to walk past, her head tilted up with the intention of snubbing him.

He ducked in front of her path. “You are quite the delinquent, my lady.”

“Please move out of the way, Lord Geryon.” His brow twitched at her tone. It was like steel, cold and sharp.

“You could have told me the truth, but instead, you attempted to wound me with my own beliefs.”

She went to step around him, but he followed her, unwilling to let her pass.

Geryon frowned when she wouldn’t meet his eye directly, like she usually would. Although she was her usual calm and controlled self, she wasn’t as forceful with her stare now that they were face to face.

“It is not my fault if you carelessly injure yourself. I told you, actions can have lasting effects. Now, would you be so kind as to be a gentleman and let me pass?”

She is not going toe to toe with me like she usually does.The special kind of foreplay he liked between them was absent.Something is different.

He could tell she genuinely wanted to flee.

Had his foolishness this morning done major and lasting damage to her feelings? She desired him at one point; was it so quickly extinguished?

He was just about to let her pass when something caught his attention.Why can I scent Lord Daerk when he is not near?

His eyes swept over Cecily, who had the audacity to push him out of the way. It wasn’t something the poised and lady-like woman would usually do.

With a silent snarl, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her forward to sniff her in a closer inspection.She smells of him!Geryon could smell him on her face, her body, her hands.

He lifted her arm higher to bring her face closer, to inspect it while she was nose to nose with him. There was a slight redness to her lips, like they were kiss swollen.

“Let go of me,” she demanded in a quiet yet fierce tone.

“You smell of another man,” he said in a lowered voice, trying to hide the growl in it. He didn’t care that he’d just told her something that could reveal he may not be human.

Instead of answering him or denying it, she kicked him in the shin.Wretched little snake!He let her go to hold his bruising shin bone, hopping on one leg. She made sure to boot him hard.

“I will not discuss this with you when it is your fault.”

My fault?

Geryon chased after her when she walked away, grabbing her wrist again. He pulled her along the hallway while she tugged to get free, bashing on his fist.