“Sorry, Z.”
“Sorry? What for?”
“You don’t need to be tested or trained to be with me. No one does.Jeez.You don’t deserve that. I’ll talk to him and—”
“No!”
“No?”
“I kind of liked it, Win.”
“Structure and control, being monitored down to every little detail, even slight reactions—physical, emotional, mental? That’s him in training mode. Intense beyond belief. And he’s a dominating force, something that comes through in virtually everything he—oh. You’re looking for discipline and grounding, alongside your own need to conquer and punish wrongdoers and unjust situations. My dad and Requital are perfect to obtain both.”
“And purpose.” He unfolded his arms, the tension leaving him now. “I’m in my fourth and final year here at Loxley Academy, and I started the year with still no idea of what I wanted to do or to become once I graduated. Now there’s this. I mean, it’s early stages, so who knows? But giving it a try is something I really want to do.”
I smiled. “Good.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes. I’m really happy for you. Definitely pursue it.”
His whole face brightened.
And it really did things to me.
“Does Vax know about Requital’s actions, that you called them in on his behalf?”
He nodded. “I told him atPolaris.”
“And? How did he take it?”
“He reacted rather reasonably,” a silky smooth voice sounded, which had Zayn spinning around and me looking out to see Vaxan strolling out onto the balcony.
He’d conjured some black silk pajama pants that were incredibly alluring. As if the sight of him bare-chested, all that expansive broad muscle on display, wasn’t fucking seductive enough already.
He’d put his crown back on to come out here, given that the sun had risen, but his hair beneath was out of place and mussed like Zayn’s—and mine. A rare relaxed and leisurely look for Vax. It looked good on him.
“You took it well, hmm?” I queried.
“He actually slapped me,” Zayn said.
“What?”
Vax rolled his eyes. “He was panicking and shot off the bed. I slapped his beautiful ass to snap him out of it. A slap that he enjoyed immensely, I might add.”
Zayn chuckled. “Yeah. Just fucking with you, Win. It’s all good.”
Even with Vax’s Basilisk nature, his standing as High Lord Heir of the Excetra Crown, and the pride that came along with that?
I didn’t need to voice it, because he registered my skepticism, and told me, “He did it to protect me, to assist you, out of love. For the right reasons. There’s nothing to condemn there. No instinctual reaction borne of pride will prevent me from recognizing and honoring that.”
I beamed out at him.
“Always with the reason through all the bullshit, huh?” Zayn commented.
Vaxan stepped forward, asking me, “Speaking of such things, how do you intend to proceed concerning the unknown threat against you?”
“Last night, you saw me cast it out. Since then, my magic has stabilized. Before the two of you came out here, I was even able to perform Soul Track without any issues. I’m back to normal.”
