Page 71 of Wicked Magik

It was hopeless. Oryx had been taken by this woman, and somehow I found myself ensnared by her as well. What a fool I was, captivated by thishuman.

I shut off the shower and exited, unaffected by the chill as I wrapped a towel around my waist and moved into my bedroom. Benedict was there, his sleeves rolled up, as he prepared the bed.

“Greetings, my Lord, I figured you would want to sleep here rather than the lab tonight.” His face showed nothing, but the tone was enough.

The room was spotless, thanks entirely to Benedict.

Over the years I had spent alone, this space had gathered dust and been cluttered with books and papers strewn across desks and tables. Now, there wasn't a single cobweb to be found. Oryx had attempted to tidy up my room once, but I quickly ushered him out, insisting he wasn't permitted in there.

The last time he was here…

“Veylor, please,” he begged.

“I’ll take care of you, I’ll be gentle.”

“Nghnn, more.”

I rubbed my eyes with my thumb and index finger, feeling the fatigue settle in, and sank into my worn desk chair by the window. The sky outside was painted with hues of orange and pink as the sun dipped below the horizon.

Normally, the aroma of dinner would drift up from the kitchen, signaling it was time for our nightly meal. But today, the dinner tray sat on the small table by the door, untouched and waiting, its contents growing cold.

“Are you sure you don’t want to have dinner with them? They said they would wait.” Benedict stood from the bed and walked over to the tray of food, knowing full and well I wouldn’t change my mind.

I propped my chin on my hand and gazed out the open window. “No. They can do as they please. I have other matters to focus on that I couldn’t address because of that foolish woman.”

Benedict set the tray of food on the desk and leaned over it. “My Lord, may I speak openly?”

I raised an eyebrow, “Don’t you already?”

“Touche’, anyway…” He pulled up a chair on the other side of the desk. “I can see you are upset about Oryx and his lady friend, but I have a theory as to why he is so taken with her.”

I huffed in annoyance. “I don’t know what you are talking about. Oryx is composed of animal parts, he is releasing sexual desires he doesn’t understand. He only needs her for release andhe has a compelling obsessiveness over her. It isn’t anything to worry about. I will continue on with my plan, and soon he will fall out of this infatuation with her.”

And I will ignore that she told him she loved him.

Benedict made a noise of disagreement. “I see what you are saying, and agree with you about him being composed of different parts of animals, but he is also composed of different beings as well.”

Right, incubus, minotaur, dragon shifter.

Water dripped down my torso from my hair and I turned to him. “Go on.”

“I know the high courts don’t believe in fated mates, but here me out.” He held up his hand in surrender.

Benedict leaned in, his eyes gleaming with a conviction that made me pause. "What if she is more than just a mere distraction? What if she is his fated mate? That would explain his obsession, his protectiveness. It's not just lust, my Lord. It's something deeper."

I scoffed, looking away from him. "Fated mates are a myth, Benedict. A tale to make young fae dream of impossible things. Oryx is driven by his instincts, not by some magical bond."

Benedict shrugged, undeterred. "Myth or not, there is something different about her. She is not afraid of him, or you. She carries herself like she belongs here, like she is one of us. And Oryx... he responds to her in a way I have never seen him respond to anyone else. With the different beings in him, it’s easier to spot. I’ve seen shifters act that way toward their fated."

I stood, the chair scrapping loudly against the floor. "Enough," I growled. "I will not have this conversation. Oryx will tire of her, and things will return to normal."

Benedict sighed, standing as well. "As you wish, my Lord. But remember, sometimes the things we plan for are not the thingsthat are meant to be." He bowed slightly and left the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I looked back out the window, the sun now a distant memory on the horizon. The room was filled with shadows, the only light coming from the faint glow of the moon. I could see her in my mind's eye, her laughing with Oryx, her eyes shining with love. Love. The word left a bitter taste in my mouth.

I pushed away from the desk, the tray of food left untouched. I was not hungry. Not for food anyway. I walked to the bed, Benedict's words echoing in my mind. Fated mates. It was ridiculous. It was impossible.

What Oryx and I shared before the accident was an all-consuming love. He was the sole man who could light up my world, the only one who brought true joy to my life.