“Ah. We assumed you were an employee, but you are the owner. How impressive.” My father grinned at me. “He's a good match for you.”
“Father, please,” I said under my breath.
My father only grinned at me.
Everyone was having fun at my expense. Mine and Aras's. The former, I could abide. The latter, I could not. I narrowed my eyes at my father.
“So, how long are you in port for?” Ellas, who was seated on Aras's left, asked.
I spun to face them, transferring my glare to my best friend. A best friend who was quickly becoming my nemesis.
“Uh.” Aras looked at me.
I softened my expression for him. “Aras, I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't . . . I know it's not a laughing matter. It's important to me too.”
“Oh-h-h, what's important?” Ellas asked.
“Ellas, could you, please, kindly, fuck off?” I growled.
Ellas chuckled, then declared, “Ah, the first course!”
Platters of warm bread, cubed cheese, and potted butter were set on the table along with bite-sized pieces of grilled meat and bowls of lentil soup. They also filled our glasses with water and wine. I nodded and thanked the servers. But when they left, I instantly turned my attention back to Aras. He was busy buttering a piece of bread.
Absently, I filled my mate's plate with the best bits of food as I said, “I want you whether you're my mate or not.”
Aras froze. Then he slowly looked up at me. “What does that mean?”
“You know what it means,” I hissed. “We are good together. I—”
Do not!the Eye shouted.You cannot vow your love. Nor can you elevate him to any status. Do not make him your consort or even a concubine.
Gods damn you!
I am only trying to save you, Lyrandir.
Fuck!
“Ly?” Aras asked.
“Never mind,” I snarled and turned away from him.
Aras gaped at me. I saw it from the corner of my eye. But my heart was crushed and caged in fear. Too much depended on my winning this war now. So many lives were at stake, including Aras's. I had to get the Eye. And she was right. If Aras already thought he could walk away from me like he had earlier, he was getting too comfortable with me. I had to put him back in his previous place. It was no longer his place, but I had to make him believe it was.
“If you are needed on your ship, Captain, perhaps you should go there now,” I said.
My mother gasped.
“Whoa. Lyran, what the fuck—” Ellas said.
“Stay out of this!” I snarled at my friend.
He sat back and held up his hands in surrender. “Sure. You go on and fuck up your relationship if you want. I'll just be over here, watching it crumble.”
“Are you telling me to leave, Ly?” Aras asked, his tone clipped.
“Your display earlier has shown me that you've forgotten your place, Aras. You are my lover, but you are also my bonded man, contracted to obtain an item for me. Do not forget that.” I speared him with my stare. “My affection for you will not save you if you fail to uphold your end of our arrangement.”
“Holy fuck,” Ellas whispered.
