Page 72 of Third Offense

My mother took a sip of her tea before answering, “All of them are females except for Ketos.”

“Oh.” I wasn’t sure I liked that detail.

Ketos gently tugged on one of my loose strands of hair, drawing my attention to him. “I’m not compatible with them, Layla.”

“I… I wasn’t thinking that,” I lied.

His grin told me he knew I was lying, too. “Just making sure you know. They’re like sisters to me. Something your mother very well knows.”

My mother gave him an innocent smile that told me she’d brought up the topic on purpose to goad me. “Of course I do.”

“Hmm,” he hummed, clearly amused.

We all fell into companionable silence, which was swiftly broken by a phone ringing.

Sighing, I leaned back in my chair as Ketos frowned and pulled out the device.

Saved by the phone.

“I forgot I had some business to handle,” he admitted a bit sheepishly, glancing at me. “You and Auric distracted me.”

I mustered a smile intended to make him feel comfortable. “It’s okay.”

Ketos stood and then hesitated. But Gaia mirrored my smile with one of her own. “Take your call. We’ll be here. Or we’ll see you at dinner later.”

Ketos offered us both apologies and a bow before he left, although it was clear he didn’t wish to go.

It reminded me a bit of my father leaving dinner the other night. He hadn’t wanted to excuse himself, but he’d felt obligated to do so.

What pressing matters do they have to see to?I wondered. Not because I minded, but because I genuinely wanted to understand how they lived in this world.

My father hadn’t elaborated on the reason for his trip, something I just now realized. I’d been caught off guard by my mother mentioning a Lady’s Maid—whom I’d since informed I would call as needed, which I’d yet to actually do—that I’d failed to ask questions.

I nearly did now, but my mother’s expression told me she had a pressing inquiry of her own. “So, what do you think? Are you as fond of the Prince as he is of you?”

A flush of warmth crept up my neck, especially considering I now knew hergiftwas related tofertility.

Which meant lying wouldn’t be possible in this situation.

I’d also tried—and had likely failed—to hide my innate possessiveness of him earlier.

It had been an intrinsic response, one born of our potential bond more than anything else.

However, I couldn’t deny that the prince intrigued me. And not just because of his scent, but his overall persona. He was exactly the kind of mate I’d desired growing up.

Other than Auric, anyway.

But he and Ketos couldn’t be more different.

Auric was a warrior. My protector. Someone who forced me to learn. To grow. To be a better angel.

While Ketos was regal, a male who understood politics, one destined to lead.

And Novak… Novak was my beast. My silent knight. The one I would always turn to when a problem needed to be fixed.

My mother arched a brow, my impending silence seeming to intrigue her.

I cleared my throat. “It’s all a bit overwhelming,” I admitted quietly. “I won’t lie to you. I do feel an attraction to him. But Novak and Auric are mine. And their opinions matter to me, too. I don’t see them ever accepting Ketos, or anyone, into our mate-circle.” I didn’t even think that it mattered who it was. No one would be good enough for me in their eyes.