Page 62 of Third Offense

“Follow me,” I said, not explaining my intentions beyond the command and taking off over the sea. The trick was varying my routine and killing the sentries with speed.

If Auric was the male I expected him to be, he’d have no problem keeping up.

And the sentries would eventually tire and retreat.

I’d also help push that exhaustion along with a little energetic wave of air that made it difficult to fly. It was second nature to me to block them with a wall of power, but I carefully crafted it to ensure it didn’t impact Auric’s flight pattern.

I felt him right behind me, making it easy to construct the invisible barrier.

However, I heard the shouts of annoyance from the Noir as they slammed into my energy net, suggesting they’d been closer than I’d expected.

I sighed. One of these days, the sentries would give up entirely. I didn’t need a guard, nor did I want one. Their jobs were to maintain the boundaries of the estate, not shadow me.

When Vasilios returned, I intended to have a word, because their penchant for following me had increased to an uncomfortable degree in his absence.

He would argue the importance of establishing a permanent guard—something I’d fought him on for decades, saying it wasn’t necessary. Although, with Layla’s arrival, he might mandate it.

It was never about arrogance. I was powerful, but not unintelligent. I just didn’t see the point in drawing attention to my status. I also preferred my privacy.

Alas, that time was drawing to a close.

But I sure as fuck would enjoy my freedom while I could, as I did now by zigzagging my way through the sky and losing the guards on my tail.

Auric, however, kept pace just behind me, proving his title of commander.

When I finally paused, he merely came to a stop beside me and arched a brow.

“I don’t like the sentries,” I explained.

He grunted, his gaze instantly suspicious.

“Look, if you’re thinking I lured you out here to hurt you—”

“I don’t,” he interjected.

Now it was my turn to arch a brow. “Oh?”

“You already proved your power over me on that cliff. If your intent was to kill me, you would do it in front of an audience. But I honestly have no idea what we’re doing out here or why I followed you.”

Because something’s bothering you,I nearly said.And as a result, you’re not thinking as clearly as you normally would be.

Auric didn’t strike me as the type to do anything without purpose, and he’d flown out here with me willingly. Away from the guards. Away from the safety of the estate. Away from his mates. Knowing full well that I could hurt him, yet instinctively trusting me not to.

Layla wasn’t the only one compatible with me; her entire mate-circle was. Which was why his scent intrigued me. Just as my own cologne no doubt intrigued him, too.

He might not like me.

But he couldn’t deny that our souls had a connection.

One fated by the gods themselves.

“Either start saying something useful or I’m leaving,” he said, sounding bored. But that anxious air continued to waft around him.

“Why are you so concerned?” I asked him.

He affected a flawless expression of nonchalance. “Who says I’m concerned?”

“Your energy does. It practically suffocated me when I returned to the estate.”