Page 73 of Third Offense

Not even a god.

Or maybe that’s precisely what made them feel so threatened.

My mother considered me for a long moment. “I understand your mates mean a lot to you, but if you mean the same to them—which I suspect that you do—then they will be open to your choices.”

I nibbled my lip, uncertain as to whether or not that was true.

Yes, they cared about me as much as I cared about them.

But they were highly possessive.

And I wasn’t even sure I wanted Ketos to join our circle. I barely knew him. So right now, whether or not Novak and Auric would accept him was a moot point. BecauseIdidn’t accept him.

Not yet, anyway, a small part of me whispered. A traitorous part. A part that had liked the feel of his arm against mine just a little too much earlier. A part that was still languishing in the residual notes of his ambrosia-like scent in the air.

My mother smiled knowingly, likely sensing my unvoiced interest. “He won’t push you to choose, Layla. He’s very patient.”

“Patient,” I repeated, playing it over my tongue before smiling. “I don’t think that Auric or Novak know the definition of that term.” Which probably wasn’t true. Both of them had proved to be quite patient with me when we’d first been stuck in the reformatory.

But so much had changed since then.

So much hadevolved.

And where Ketos was concerned, I highly doubted they knew how to bepatientaround him.

Although, Auric let Ketos escort me here,I recalled, frowning a little.He wanted to talk to Novak.

Where are they?

Why aren’t they here yet?

What are they doing?

“The humans have a saying,” my mother interjected, distracting my thoughts. “Patience is a virtue.”

“Hmm,” I hummed, amused by the turn of phrase. “I knew there was a reason I liked humans.”

Queen Gaia laughed. The sound was easy and comforting to my ears as she cradled her tea in her lap. I was sure it had long gone cold, but she eventually sipped from it, her gaze turning thoughtfully onto me.

“There’s so much for you to learn. You haven’t been given much choice in your life.” She set her tea onto the table. “This time is different, Layla. This time, you get to choose.”

I bristled at that because I knew she meant Ketos.

“I did choose,” I countered. “I chose Auric and Novak.”

My mother blinked at me a few times. “Sure, I know.” She glanced at the door. “I rarely see you without one or the other. Where are they now?”

Her question reignited my thoughts, making me frown. “I left them to talk outside.” But I suspected they were busy beating the shit out of each other for reasons I didn’t fully understand.

Well, I did a little.

Auric had allowed Ketos to escort me, and Novak had clearly not approved.

I should have stayed, I thought.But I’d felt compelled… to come here.

Almost like, if I hadn’t come up here, something would be wrong. A kink in a program. Which was a bizarre feeling.

Yes, I’d established a routine the last few days, one that included spending time with my mother. But surely she would have been all right with me being a few minutes late.