Page 20 of Third Offense

CHAPTERSIX

AURIC

Fuck.

I didn’t knowwhatjust happened, but Novak and I had very clearly underestimated Ketos.

That asshole had taken us down without exuding any outward effort at all, something that I could honestly say had never happened to us before.

And the expression on Novak’s face told me it would never be happening again.

I agree.

Layla’s cherry fragrance wrapped around me in a claiming scent, drawing my focus to her. She stood with her gaze on the sky, a note of wonder in her expression as she watched Ketos fly.

My heart gave a little pang at the sight. Because this was what I’d never wanted to see.

A compatible mate for Layla.Fuck, I’d even asked to be reassigned from her guard specifically so I would never have to witness her fall for another man.

And now…

Now she’s mine,I thought, my eyes narrowing as I followed her gaze.You may be some crazy powerful Noir. But you arenotbetrothed tomymate.

Novak grunted beside me, the sound one of agreement. It didn’t matter that he couldn’t hear me. He understood loud and clear how this was going to go down.

That royal is going to die.

“He’s the son of two gods?” Layla asked, her still eyes on the retreating Noir in the sky. Her voice held a note of wonder that matched her expression.

It made me want to growl, but I wanted to hear the answer to that question as I’d wondered the same after her mother had originally voiced that revelation.

“He’s the son of two very powerful gods.”

Which two? And what exactly does that mean?I wanted to demand.

“Yes. Bia and Chryus,” her mother replied, the familiar names making my lips curl down.

I met Novak’s gaze and he arched a brow in return.

Coincidence?he seemed to be asking.

Doubtful, I replied.

The way his icy gaze flashed told me he agreed with my assessment.

Which raised a hell of a lot more questions. But I wasn’t sure I wanted to voice them out here. I’d listen first.

“Or that’s what’s to be believed, anyway,” her mother continued. “His powers directly correspond to their lines.”

Layla pulled her focus away from the sky, a frown marring her brow. “But I thought King Vasilios was the last son of a god.”

That’s what Kyril claimed,I thought, pushing off the ground.

“Of his era, yes,” her mother murmured, her gaze sliding from Ketos’s winged form to her daughter. “Ketos is from the new era.”

“What’s the new era?” Layla asked as Novak joined me in standing behind our mate.

“There are different eras of gods and goddesses, with Ketos being the newest generation. Your father is from the oldest generation, and the last of his kind,” her mother replied.