In that moment of stunned quiet, when we were both supposed to be working—no personal shit—it finally dawned on me… He was the true dominant in our relationship. I was the weaker of the two…by leaps and bounds. I had known it, but alsonot reallyknown. I had thought I stood a fighting chance with him—in some freaking way.
Now, I knew different.
Cold-hearted blue eyes flayed mine. Ensnared in his lethal gaze, he owned my attention and wouldn’t release it.
He wouldn’t back down.
Lord Belshazzar could crush me in every damn way if he so wished it. He could take my heart and burn black holes in it. He could take my mind and pinch its existence down to a plaything for his amusement. He could take my body and rip it to shreds. He could take my soul and hoard it for his mere pleasure.
What the fuck had I gotten myself into?
Panic bulleted through my mind.
My lips pinched as I froze. Fear fluttered across my face before I could hide it. My eyes shuttered quickly so the Overlord wouldn’t see too much, but I couldn’t stop my heartbeat from galloping like a spooked horse.
How…could I have been so blind? The sex?
Fuck yes, it was amazing. But so perfect I had forgotten the most fundamental rule of existence?
Survival.
Did I want to be in a relationship with him if I wouldn’t survive it?
How. In. The. Fuck. Had. I. Let. This. Happen?
I couldn’tbreathe.
Instantly, his power vanished.
Lord Belshazzar smoothly sat back in his chair, no longer leaning forward on the table, giving me space. Those murderous eyes hooded, keeping his emotions hidden from view, before turning serene. His muscular frame relaxed in his chair, his body no longer strained for attack.
He attempted to hide the fact he was a threat.
I was no longer fooled. I couldn’t calm down.
Where had all the air gone?
The Overlords around us shuffled on their chairs, clearly surprised and uncomfortable with the situation.
In the tense silence, Lord Xenon lifted his head of short black hair. He swallowed hard, glancing between us—and at whatever he saw there. He didn’t cower, though, stating, “Perhaps you two can take this outside the room? And once you’re done working out your issues, come back in and try to be professional?”
“No…” I cleared my throat when it came out as more of a wheeze. I patted at the perspiration on my forehead, wiping it away as delicately as I could muster. With a shaky inhale, I tried speaking again. “I think I’ll stay here. Thank you, though.”
I went back to staring at Lord Cato’s cellphone.
I didn’t want to be alone with Lord Belshazzar right now. Call me a fucking coward…because I was one right now. I didn’t give a shit.
“Queen Gwynnore…” Lord Belshazzar whispered quietly. Patiently. Almost kindly.
My lover stood from his chair with extreme slowness, obviously trying not to spook me further. I wasn’t hiding shit right now, embarrassing as that was. All of my senses were on hyper-drive as my heart beat erratically inside my chest. I didn’t watch him as he walked little by little around the table, heading in my direction, but going so slowly that a turtle could have beaten the pace he set.
I didn’t need to watch him. I could damn near feel him, my powers so alert right now. The Overlord placed his hands in his pockets and stopped directly beside me—not behind me where I couldn’t see him.
He stated gently, “Please come to my room for a few minutes, your majesty. Lord Xenon is correct. I shouldn’t have brought this up right now, but since I did, we should handle it privately.”
Privately? No.
“I’m good,” I sputtered, not looking up at him. And damn if I didn’t lean toward my father more—for protection. That right there proved just how out of sorts I was. “I’d like to watch what King Niallan is doing. Right here. In this room.”
