Page 19 of Third Offense

A glimmer of fuchsia in the distance momentarily captured my focus, my gaze homing in on the two gorgeous angels flying toward us.

Layla, I whispered to myself, utterly taken by the sight of her stunning hair weaving through the pale blue sky as she effortlessly sailed through the air.So fucking beautiful. So graceful. So perfect.

Everything about her captivated me, from her ebony feathers—which I hadn’t seen before —to her curves, which were more evident now thanks to the force of the wind on her ill-fitting clothes.

Her mother would help her with the wardrobe change.

Not that I truly cared.

Her mere presence took my breath away, as did her addictive scent.

I inhaled, loving the way it mingled with the natural cologne of her two mates. Somehow that just made her all the more attractive. Like she was complete in a way she wouldn’t be if their fragrances were missing.

“What’s going on?” she demanded as she landed deftly in the grass, her execution as flawless as the rest of her.

“Your mates wanted to spar, but I don’t use weapons,” I explained. “I use my mind.”

Novak snorted.

Auric glowered at me. “He’s a fucking telekinetic.”

“Not quite,” I murmured.

“Ketos,” Gaia said, her tone holding a note of chastisement that I hadn’t heard in a very long time. She often reminded me of my mother.

“I warned them,” I told her. “They chose not to listen.”

“Yes, I’m quite certain this was their doing,” Layla said, sounding irritated. “What the hell is wrong with you two?”

“Whether they started it or not, Prince Ketos knows better,” Gaia interjected. “He’s the son of two very powerful gods. There is no such thing as a fair match where he’s concerned.”

“I’m choosing to take all of that as a compliment,” I decided out loud. “And, as I said, I warned them. More than once, I might add.” I gestured to where Novak’s wings were lodged in the grass. “That one is almost as lethal as me, just in physical form rather than mental.” I pointed at Auric. “And that one is too stubborn for his own good.”

“And you’re not?” Gaia countered.

“We all have our weaknesses,” I murmured, fixing my jacket and stepping forward to kiss her on the cheek. “In most cases, it involves a woman, too.” I winked at Layla as I said it, then continued on past her. Because if I didn’t leave now, I’d probably end up trying to kiss her.

And that would likely end with me introducing Auric and Novak to the ground again.

“I’m going to freshen up for dinner,” I called over my shoulder, my gaze finding Layla once more. Mostly because I couldn’t help myself. I also didn’t want to appear rude to her by leaving so suddenly. “I look forward to chatting more later, darling. I think we have a lot to discuss.”

That elicited a twin pair of growls from the ground, causing me to sigh.

Shaking my head, I waved my hand to release them of their final binds. Then I used my wings to propel me up into the sky before they could even think to stand up and attack me again.

As far as introductions went, it could have been worse.

Layla’s perfume wrapped around me as I flew through the same strand of air she’d taken here and my groin tightened.Could have been better, too.

Alas, patience was a virtue, after all.

I would wait as long as it took.

As I’d told Novak and Auric, I believed in the right to choose.

And with that belief came an important task to prove myself worthy enough of that choice.

Which was exactly what I intended to do now.