Page 52 of Eternal Light (Fated in the Stars #5)

So Shifts The Balance Of Power (Gideon)

The crowds of sycophants at Carnell’s parties never fail to disgust him.

When he’d been a child, the low hum of voices, bright lights, and strangers in his den had made him anxious; made him want to hide in his room, where the familiar scents of his toys and blankets soothed the seeds of anger and fear.

Even that last year, when he’d been only ten and his father had forced him into a suit like a tiny member of his army, Gideon had just wanted to be somewhere quiet.

Now, especially, he loathed the stares and whispers; he wanted to take his mates and bundle them out the door. But he loathes his father even more.

He’s waited a lifetime for this moment—to stand before his father as an equal—and he sure as fuck isn’t going to waste it now.

It’s almost laughable, really, to think that he could have walked into one of his father’s parties years ago and caused this much chaos just by existing.

Yet here he is now; and ruffled, Carnell most certainly is.

Their host looks utterly ridiculous in his too-tight white suit and matching white shoes, more fit for a Las Vegas stage show taming tigers than for hosting a gathering of elites whose combined net worth could rival that of small nations.

While taller than Gideon, Carnell is built like a scarecrow—thin and awkward.

A mental image of him standing in a cornfield, arms outstretched as birds perched on him without fear, flashes unbidden into Gideon’s mind.

The illusion is only heightened by Carnell’s leathery, sun-scorched skin, browned like an overripe prune, and the blindingly bleached teeth that gleam with an almost cartoonish brightness in the light.

Carnell is still wasting Gideon’s time with false social niceties while expecting Gideon to play along.

“Allistair, what an unexpected pleasure,” Carnell drawls, his voice slick with oily charm, thin lips curling into a mockery of a smile, dripping with condescension.

Gideon smirks. “I somehow doubt that, given that you invited us.”

There’s only the smallest eye twitch at Gideon’s failure to show his sire the respect he feels he’s owed.

“This is a celebration in your honor.”

“We received all of your invitations. You were so eager to have us that I could hardly resist coming to see what the fuss was all about.”

Luca snorts from Leo’s left.

Carnell’s jaw tightens, but his smile stays in place.

“Come,” he says smoothly. “It’s almost time for your coronation.”

Coronation?

Good Goddess, this must be about the prophecy Luca and Nix mentioned.

His father’s obsession with Oracles and magic hadn’t faded with time, then.

Gideon had always believed that the mysteries of magic weren’t for regular people; ironic, surely, given that he has his own magical mate.

Regardless of the truth about magic, Gideon wants nothing to do with the madness in Carnell’s eyes or the delusions that have sustained him for a decade or longer. No, Gideon has his own agenda.

It’s difficult to ignore his mates behind him, but he shoulders this persona nonetheless, needing to see it through. So he shakes his head, smoothing his expensive black suit jacket down over his stomach as if he hasn’t a care in the world.

“I don’t think so.”

Luca gasps behind him; he hopes his mate can hang on to his composure, because he can’t spare a glance to make sure he’s all right.

It’s rewarding to see Carnell’s mask slip, his carefully constructed facade cracking as a heavy silence falls in the aftermath of Gideon’s words. The illusion falters even further as Gideon continues his verbal onslaught.

“Perhaps we should continue this conversation outside. I’m not the boy I once was. You’ve murdered my mate—my alpha. Surely that warrants further…discussion.”

Leo tenses in his periphery.

This isn’t exactly the plan Leo had laid out for him in the early morning hours, where he’d said if Gideon could get Carnell alone, he would make sure Luca and Nix were elsewhere, as he didn’t want them to bear witness to Carnell’s squealing demise.

He knows he’s hit his mark when Carnell’s eyes flash red, and he growls, “Surely you aren’t challenging me. Here. In my own home. In front of the entirety of Florida and Nashville’s elite?”

“If you’d like to do it here in front of your friends, then I am happy to oblige. It matters very little where I end you.” Gideon forces a smile.

To say Carnell is shocked would be an understatement.

His jaw drops and he’s frozen, eyes popped wide in surprise.

The few guests who’d thought they’d have a front-row seat to their interaction scramble like cockroaches from the light, fleeing down the stairs, leaving the four Rhodes Pack members and Carnell with his two guards.

Carnell gives a sudden clap, his blindingly white teeth curved into a smile, and his olive oil scent sparks hot with anticipation.

“Well, what an exciting turn of events. You’re challenging your alpha for the right to rule on the night of the Wolf Moon.

How interesting, boy; I did not see that coming.

It makes perfect sense that in order to rule, you’d want to prove yourself worthy. ”

It’s Leo’s turn to snort at Carnell’s choice of words.

Boy? Worthy? Gideon wants to laugh at the sheer creative foolishness Carnell is engaging in, to justify what any other alpha would deem the gravest of insults.

There’s no need to even address the insanity.

Either way, he’s going to take his father’s heart; whether it’s here on the marble, in his office, or outside, it makes no difference.

Carnell continues without pause, rubbing his hands as the new delusion settles in his mind. “When you lose, you’ll know you’re not ready and will come home, where we can finish your training.”

There’s a surprising growl from behind Gideon’s left shoulder. Luca’s burnt coffee scent overpowers his scent blocker with his rage. His soulmate remembers what Carnell’s training entailed, and how it resulted in nightmares that still surfaced after all this time.

“You are a psychopathic fucking terrible excuse for a father!”

Despite being muttered under his breath, it’s still loud enough for Carnell to focus his eyes on Luca with annoyance and contempt.

“Allistair, you’d best get your bitch under control before I show him how I handle insubordination.”

Unsurprisingly, Nix takes a single step forward at the threat to his mate, eyes flashing blue. “You will not touch him,” Nix growls, his omega-voice echoing in the back of Gideon’s brain, even though it isn’t aimed at him.

Carnell’s eyes lose focus temporarily, and he takes a small step back, bumping into his large, similarly-dazed beta bodyguard. The collision startles him into shaking off the compulsion.

“We’re wasting moonlight. You’ll need to learn how to handle them if you wish to rule by my side, boy.”

“Are we doing this here? Because, as you said, we are wasting time.” Gideon unbuttons his suit coat and pulls at his tie.

There’s a collective gasp among the few remaining onlookers when it’s clear they are going to settle this with fangs and claws.

“Krunk, clear the house of humans.” Carnell gestures to the largest of the two men, who flinches but leaves to do his bidding.

Luca whispers, pull the lever, Kronk, as he slips his fingers into the back of Gideon’s pants. Just the touch of those soft digits along his back—even over his tucked shirt—makes his soul sing.

“I prefer not to have your blood on the marble. It’s proven difficult to get out, and good help is so hard to find. Speaking of which, where is that lazy bastard Connall? This suit is Bottega. Connall!”

When the mysterious, lazy Connall isn’t forthcoming, he growls, “I’m taking this suit out of your hide, you useless shit.”

He mutters, pulling off the white suit coat to reveal a silver mesh tank top.

“Lestrange, let’s take this to the back lawn,” he addresses the other bodyguard, handing him the suit coat. “Shall we?” He nods for Gideon and his mates to precede him.

“You first.” Leo stands aside, pulling Nix out of the way so Carnell can pass by while Gideon does the same with Luca.

“Ah yes, Costas’s disappointment,” he goads, but doesn’t wait for Leo’s reaction before passing by and down the stairs.

“Let me push him, Sugar. Come on. He won’t bounce,” Luca says, looping his arm through Gideon’s.

Gideon grabs Leo’s arm. “You’re not anyone’s disappointment, Leo.”

But Leo smiles and puts his hand over Gideon’s on his arm. “I know. I’m loved. You are, too,” he says pointedly, implying that Gideon shouldn’t listen to Carnell’s hateful words because his self-worth doesn’t come from him.

Gideon allows the words to seep through to the place he’d locked down before he started this tonight, and it warms the parts of him that feel cold with hatred.

“I’ll remember that. Let’s finish this.”

“It’s too simple,” Nix finally speaks. “He’s not going to go easily.”

“I know, Kitten. But if I can almost take you…” Gideon leaves off and boops Nix’s nose. “Just keep your eyes open. I don’t know if his guards will step in.”

“We’ve got your back, Sugar,” Luca says. “Kiss me before we go.” He jumps up, and Gideon gets hands on his butt, holding him up so Luca can eat at his mouth and suck on his tongue.

“You’re so hot when you’re mean,” he sighs before getting down.

“Luca…” He groans, feeling his ears heat.

“Right? It’s not just me, then?” Nix whispers, looping his arm through Gideon’s other one so it looks like he’s taking them on a promenade.

“100% smokin’,” Leo agrees. “Now, let’s see how hot he is while kicking Carnell’s ass.”

The house is virtually empty by the time they get through to the back of the house.

Beyond a series of open French doors lies a large pool. Grayson was right: it’s beautiful even under the full moon, its interior lights turning the water a stunning turquoise blue.