Page 11 of Third Offense

Alas, it explained the hatred in Vasilios’s dark expression when he regarded Auric again. His midnight gaze raked over Auric as though he could see his pristine white wings beyond the effects of the elixir, and he made no effort to hide his distaste.

“We eventually found this world,” he said, sweeping his hand over the expanse of the land behind us. “And we quickly learned the importance of hiding our true natures. The mortal minds are too feeble to understand our existence, and many want to worship us, which has never been our way of life.”

Hmm,I hummed.Is that truly accurate? Because you’ve certainly built yourself a palace befitting of a god.

His gaze met mine as though he’d heard that thought. “While this has become our home, we miss our world.”

Oh? Are we finally arriving at the point of this whole lecture?I wondered.

“Sefid has taken something that doesn’t belong to him,” Vasilios continued, his voice deepening as his words carried over the wind. “There are many who believe he orchestrated the plague, too. We’ve never been able to prove it, but he certainly possessed the motive and talent to do so. And he’s clearly responsible for the memory alterations.”

I couldn’t argue with him there. Sefid’s ability to manipulate the mind was well known among the warriors, and often revered.

Although, Sefid had always presented it as a benign gift, one meant tosoothe.

He’d often promised to remove “bad memories” for warriors who had experienced loss or troubling situations, and many had agreed to his brand of “altering.”

I’d never accepted the opportunity because experiences mattered. They defined me. And I’d never been very eager to have any of them removed from my mind.

Although, would he have removed my memories of Vasilios had I followed through that day?I wondered, my lips curling down as I glanced at Auric.Has he ever been in your head?

Auric had been one of Sefid’s prized commanders, a warrior he’d trusted with the protection of his own daughter. If anyone had fallen victim to Sefid’s powers, it would be Auric.

And maybe even Layla.

My gaze narrowed, my focus returning to the clever Noir King.Or this is a way to drive a wedge between me and my mates, make me question Sefid’s interference in their heads.

His mouth curled, making me wonder just how much of my thoughts he could hear. Because I doubted my eyes were conveying nearly as many words as my mind.

“Well, a historical discussion wasn’t what I had in mind for this conversation,” he admitted.

Liar, I thought at him.

“But it sets the context,” he added. “My daughter is the future. She’s my only successor, the heir to a throne neither of you can even begin to understand in your current states. You’re not worthy of her.” He tilted his head after a moment. “At least, not yet.”

That last part had my eyebrow inching upward.

You could be worthy,he seemed to say.But only if you prove it.

That sounds like a challenge,I mused back at him, my expression doing all the talking for me.But I’ve already won over your daughter. And I’ll continue doing so for an eternity to come.

Auric stood beside me, his shoulders rigid, his jaw tight. He seemed to feel the same way as I did, his posture saying he didn’t care what this king thought; Layla was ours.

Ours to protect.

Ours to worship.

Ours tofuck.

Because Layla’s approval was the only one that mattered to us. Not his.

I glanced at Prince Golden Boy.And certainly not yours.

“That said,” Vasilios continued. “I’ll respect her choice for now as long as you respect that these lands are mine. I am King here. My mate is Queen. And my daughter is very much your superior.”

I considered his choice of phrasing for a moment, then dipped my chin in acknowledgment. Layla had always been my superior, even as a Nora Princess. I could easily accept her being my superior here, too. She was a Goddess. My mate. And I would always bow to her, regardless of her status in life.

Auric appeared to agree as well because he echoed my nod.