Page 60 of Third Offense

My gaze narrowed. “Then what do you want?”

He shrugged. “Keep walking and find out.”

Rather than wait for me to decide, he turned and continued down the hallway, leaving me glaring after him.

A challenge.

One I wanted to run in the opposite direction from.

Which was why I immediately stepped forward. Because I wasnota coward. Nor did I fear him and his energy voodoo.

I’m going to find your weakness, I thought, narrowing my gaze at his back.I vow it.

The prince glanced back at me, a grin in his eyes as though amused by my mental threat.

Can he read my mind?I wondered.

But rather than confirm or deny the question, he simply twisted back around and kept going.

That look could have been a result of him being amused by my trailing him. Or perhaps this godlike being possessed even more traits that I needed to be wary of.

Goddamn it.

I fucking hate this place and everything it represents.

Except for the parts about Layla and her parents.

As well as her happiness.

I enjoyed those aspects.

But nothing else.

And especially not the confident prince sauntering up ahead of me, or the mind games this palace seemed to be playing on me and mates.

CHAPTERSIXTEEN

KETOS

Auric’s reluctanceresembled a whip on the wind, but his distress cut through it like a knife. My ability to manipulate energy allowed me a glimpse of insight into the emotions of others, particularly strong ones that pulsated vibrantly in another being’s aura.

Which was precisely what I picked up from Auric now, and also why I’d asked him to go for a walk. The reluctance bit didn’t bother me—I’d expected that—but the despair hanging over him piqued my interest.

I hadn’t spent much time around the estate the last few days, only choosing to stop by in the evenings for dinner. Seeing Layla come undone between her mates had left me conflicted about how to proceed.

Mostly because I no longer trusted myself to be patient in her presence.

It took considerable effort just to sit across from her at the table and pretend like I didn’t want to devour her instead of the food.

Just thinking about her made me hard. And those noises she’d made, her purr,fuck,they haunted my dreams.

I wanted her more than I desired to breathe.

And it was wreaking havoc on my senses.

I’d returned earlier than expected today because I needed to check in on my affairs up in Ireland, and I couldn’t do that from the air over the Tyrrhenian Sea. But I’d overheard Auric speaking with Kyril on my way, and I’d stopped to listen.

The anxiety wafting off of Auric had made it difficult to breathe. I’d been concerned about Layla at first. However, Kyril had confirmed she was out for a flight with Novak.