It doesn’t escape me how different my mate is when it comes to his family vs. the kind of leader he is. Though compassionateand patient with our people, Angel has a reputation for not giving second chances to those who threaten his kingdom.
I’m linking with Harvey to discuss his battle plan and where he wants me when Grace nudges into our link andsquealshow she can’t wait to see me.
Ilovemy Honeybunch,but the woman has no clue what her high-pitched excitement does to our sensitive ears. Harvey has to find her on the field to shut her up with a kiss before our ears start bleeding.
“Horseman Famine?”
“Dad is handling the south side. War and Famine Warriorheads are guarding the western gates. Khatri volunteered to cover east so we could focus on the front and—”
A shadow moves past me to reach Seiji, and on instinct, I grab and push the person against the wall before he can touch Seiji. With my hand on his throat, thewarlockchokes from the pressure.
A warlock in my home?He must have a death wish.
“Tell me one good reason I shouldn’t snap your neck right this second.”
“Nevaeh.Don’t.” In a blink, Seiji removes my grip and drags the warlock behind him.
“Hey idiot, you’re supposed to step away from strange men of enemy species, not closer!”
Ignoring me like I’m the one acting strange, Seiji stands still like a wall between me and the man I’m trying to kill with my mind. The warlock in question straightens up and tries to step in my direction before I stop him.
“Woah buddy, Princess might be impulsive and softhearted, but I’m not. Stay right there before I burn your brown ass to a crispy black.”
Seiji covers the man by stepping in front of him yet again, and my glare softens when it meets his cautious gaze. The warlockis just as tall, if not an inch taller than Seiji, so the cover is not practical but a statement nonetheless.
I’m forced to back down. As much as I hate how Seiji is protecting this warlock, I don’t want to hurt my friend. Not even unintentionally.
“Thatis a warlock.”
“Heis Jackson,” I scoff, but Seiji continues, taking advantage of the fact that I’m not in attack mode anymore. “He came to warn us yesterday. Told us everything about the coven’s battle strategy.”
I can see how Seiji is choosing his words carefully. Ignoring the sting of him choosing a stranger over me is all I can do at the moment.
“That just proves he is treacherous to his own kind,” I see a tick inJackson’sjaw.Ah… so I’ve hit a nerve. “So why the fuck should I trust him with my family?”
The warlock steps away from Seiji’s protection and makes a bold move by stopping directly in front of me without the one person who can spare him from my wrath.Okay, he gets a point for being brave.
“I was the one who teleported you back to your kingdom the night Anisha attacked you. I followed her after the queen blasted her with black magic but lost her trail midway. I only found you because of how loud Anisha wailed.”
Excuse the fuck out of me.
Taking in my stunned expression, he glances back at his protector, who encourages him. Seiji is practically dancing in his head at how Jackson has managed to take me by surprise.
Seiji keeps pouting and asking me to keep an open mind when all I want to do is to bash this man’s head in. Less now when I know he helped us at a crucial moment, but he is still a warlock, and his one good deed doesn’t change much.
“Why are we only hearing about this now?” Angel asks, and I’m glad to find him just as suspicious. I don’t want to be the only bad guy here.
Trusting a witch?Not happening in this life.
“The reason I didn’t come forward earlier was because I was on my deathbed. The spell I used to teleport the four of you took a lot out of me. I only recently gained consciousness, plus finding a portal took me a while too. But when I did, I came straight here.”
Ah fuck, now I have to give the guy more points for literally saving my family and risking his life.Shit.
Squinting at him, I smirk when a drop of sweat rolls down the side of his face. “Why would you go against your kind?”
He ducks his head in apparent shame, but I need to know he’s not like the bitches I grew up with in his coven.
“After what they did to you and all the others, why wouldn’t I? I’m not the only one who hates her ways, but no one cares about your opinion when you’re nothing but a rule-following warrior under a tyrant.”
