Page 65 of The Freedom You Seek

“The means. I know, I know.” Another discussion about morals was the last thing any of us needed.

“Before we’ll discuss strategy, I’d like to raise another issue.” Thain had risen to his feet, and his hands were on his hips as he demanded attention once more.

After taking a deep breath, Fig nodded to him while Dion’s chest rumbled against my back. Growling without sound, that was new.

“During our stay in Kalcas, I should act as Nayana’s husband, given she’s my Amplifier. Taking over is the smartest move.”

Sometimes, I wondered if Thain loved to create chaos when things calmed down too much for his taste—or if he had a death wish.

Dion turned unnaturally still in his own unique way—even the vibrations stopped. Heavy silencedominated the clearing, and as I observed the other men’s faces, I could see they were just as mortified as me.

Taking a deep breath, I willed myself to put all my weight onto Dion’s legs in an attempt to keep him down. Well, in theory, it could have been a valiant effort, but of course, he was stronger than I was heavy. Simply grabbing my waist, he gently lifted me off his lap and placed my feet on the ground before letting go.

Afterward, he raised himself.

Antas shot up as well, faster than he usually moved, and he was readying himself to intervene, but Dion raised his hand to stop him. Without looking over at his uncle, he growled, “Don’t.”

His eyes never strayed away from Thain, who grinned languidly, unimpressed by Dion prowling toward him with the lithe movements of a predator completely fixated on its prey. I allowed my gaze to shift to the others for just a moment.

Ireas’ unease was palpable, and he had both of his eyebrows pulled up high, giving the impression he’d prefer the ground to open up and swallow him whole.

On the other side, Fig monitored the interaction like a hawk.

Like Antas, he didn’t intervene just yet—he only stashed the floor plans where they would be safely out of reach. But I could tell by the way the muscles in his arms rippled that he was ready to react in an instant should this male pissing contest escalate for the worse.

Intuition told me it’d be the wise thing to stay put next to the log where Dion wasstoringme, and my heartpounded so hard and loud that I was sure everyone was able to hear it beating.

I turned my attention back to Dion, who’d intruded on Thain’s personal space and was staring him down through his eyebrows. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife.

Dion stood with the predatory stillness he displayed so often—although the current potential crisis was more intense than any I’d witnessed before—as if his temper didn’t affect him at all. But I knew better. He was like the calm before the storm, one that was always brewing deep within him, finally sensing its chance to be unleashed. And that he did, even though I wasn’t the only one baffled by how it went down.

“No,” Dion said with such authority and warning that even I wanted to cower. Thain, though, bravely held his gaze for what felt like an eternity before shrugging and mumbling something that sounded suspiciously likewhatever.Dion offered no further explanation beyond his simple one-word declaration.

Dion turned around and strolled back to me, his face a carefully crafted, neutral mask. If I hadn’t known him, I would have thought he was relaxed, but he wasn’t able to fool me. It was an act, and I could see right through it.

As if he wasn’t aware of everyone’s eyes on him, he sat down on the log again, reached out for me, and tugged me back onto his lap as if he had no care in the worlds.

The spell was broken, and I wasn’t the only one exhaling with relief.

Antas nodded to Dion once more, and I drummed my fingers on my chin as I mulled over all this. Had there been a recent conversation about his temper and the absolute necessity to rein it in? It would be an explanation, at least, but it’d still surprise me to see him sticking to a hypothetical concession.

As Fig pulled out the floor plans of the library again, I focused my attention on Dion. “You’ve forgotten again that it’s still my decision with whom I spend my time. I’m not fine with these male pissing contests you’re hosting because of me.”

“Stop pushing his luck.”

“Territorial bastard.”

“Shush now.”

“One of these days, Dion—”

The only answer I got was an amused chuckle.

We spent the next two hours studying the blueprints and discussing the best strategies for sneaking into the restricted section of the library unnoticed.

Nayana had eventually left my lap after some back and forth, and soon, the aromatic scent of some kind of stew wafted over the camp.

I would have preferred it if she’d stayed closer to me, especially considering how Thain was more eager for trouble than usual today. Still, she’d insisted on preparing dinner, and even if her absence didn’t make me happy, it was only reasonable.