As Jorin left, I mused to myself. A smirk played on my lips. Fate, you devious mistress, you’ve just made this all the more interesting.
Oh, Shut up!
Talon
Aswesteppedoutof the dimly lit confines of the Dungeon, the cool, fresh air hit me like a shockwave. It was a stark contrast to the heated atmosphere we'd just left behind. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing thoughts, but it did little to clear the confusion swirling inside me.
Dominic… The name echoed in my mind, accompanied by the vivid image of his piercing green gaze and the unsettling feeling of being sized up like prey. My lion, usually so sure and steady, was in turmoil, sending mixed signals that only deepened my unease. How could I feel this pull, this inexplicable connection to him, when I had already experienced something so similar with Lucas?
Oh, your lion will tell you when you meet your mate. Walter’s words reverberated in my thoughts. My lion didn’t know shit. He was as confused as I was.
And the idea of having two mates…. that was fucking unheard of—at least in everything I'd been taught. Mates were supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime bond, a singular soul meant to complete your own. Yet here I was, my lion equally stirred by both Dominic and Lucas, leaving me in a state of conflict I couldn't begin to unravel.
I glanced at Walter, who strode ahead, his posture rigid with unspoken anger from our encounter. I wanted to ask him to seek some guidance, but pride and uncertainty held me back. How could I explain this quandary without sounding like I was losing my grip on reality?
“Now that’s my type of place,” Jeremy quipped with a grin as we slid into the car. His tone was light and cheerful, nothing like what it should be.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Jeremy's inability to read the room was almost comical—if it wasn't so frustrating. Walter, striding ahead with a stern expression, was clearly simmering with barely contained anger.
“Lee, did you see that guy on the cross? Hot as hell, right?” Jeremy continued, oblivious to the growing irritation in the car.
Leon merely shrugged his silence, a stark contrast to Jeremy's casual demeanor. Jeremy’s gaze shifted towards me. “You better watch out, Talon. That demon seemed quite interested in you. Can’t imagine why. I’d give him a much better—”
His words were cut off by a roar that erupted from deep within me. The visceral reaction even surprised me. It was the same intense feeling that flared whenever he mentioned Lucas. What the heck was going on with me?
I took a deep, steadying breath, trying to regain my composure. “This isn’t a joke, Jeremy,” I said, my voice low and strained through clenched teeth.
“Talon is right,” Walter chimed in, his gaze sharp as he glanced in my direction. “We must be vigilant. Demons are dangerous, not playthings.”
He paused for a moment, then added, his voice laced with a warning, “And Jeremy, you're not wrong. That demon… he had a certain interest in Talon. Stay alert and watch your back.”
“I will,” I promised.
“I’m serious, Talon. The demon wasn’t the only one interested. I saw how you looked at him. Stay alert.”
Walter’s words hung in the air, adding to the weight of confusion and unease already pressing down on me. The rest of the ride back was steeped in a tense silence. I stared blankly out the window. The city lights blurred into streaks of color as we drove. The more I thought about Dominic's challenging smirk and Lucas's earlier hurt expression, the more a gnawing sense of frustration grew within me.
Was there something I was missing? Some hidden truth about mates that had eluded me all this time? The thought nagged at me, an unsolvable puzzle that seemed to mock my inability to understand the workings of my own heart–or the instincts of my lion.
As the car pulled into the driveway of the pride house, a sense of dread settled in. I knew I had to face Lucas again, and the thought filled me with a confusing mix of anticipation and apprehension. How could I confront him when I didn't even understand what was happening within myself?
Exiting the car, I trailed behind Walter and the others, my mind racing. Carl, ever-present at the door, welcomed us with his usual stoicism.
“Mr. Doy. The king awaits you in the study,” Carl informed us, his voice steady.
“Have all the guests departed?” Walter inquired.
Carl nodded. “Yes, sir. Only the king and his consort remain.”
A wave of mixed emotions washed over me at the news of Lucas' departure. Part of me ached to see him, yet another part was relieved at the reprieve.
“Thank you, Carl,” Walter responded, then turned to Jeremy and Leon. “You two are dismissed. Relax. Talon, you're with me.”
I nodded and followed through the pride house down the ornate hallway. My heart pounded as I entered the study. The king and the king’s consort, Lucas’s brother, Brian, were cuddled on the loveseat.
The king straightened as Walter bowed his head respectfully. I quickly followed his lead.
“Walter, how did it go? Is he going to continue to harass Mike and Jake?” King Edward asked.
