He stepped closer, heat tightening the space between us. “Because staying makes you important,” he said, each word precise, brutal. “Because staying makes you chosen. Because staying makes youhis.”
My stomach dropped.
“You refuse to run away with me so you can save your friends— fine, I can live with that,” he said. “But you choosing to stay and be his mate?” He scoffed, and the sound was full of poison. “That’s to secure a throne and a title. I should have known. That’s all anyone has ever cared about.”
“Aurelius, I don’t care about—”
Blazing white fire rolled off his shoulders.
His amber eyes flared so bright they looked molten at the core.
“DO YOU KNOW HOW INFURIATING IT IS TO BE
NUMBER TWO?” he roared, and the sound rattled the stone beneath our feet. “ALWAYS SECOND TO A DISAPPOINTMENT OF A MALE?!”
The air around him shimmered with heat.
“I HAVE NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY MY BLOOD
MAGIC LEVEL IS LOWER THAN HIS,” he shouted, voice breaking with rage and something worse. “WHEN I FEEL FROM MY BONES TO MY AURA THAT I AM MORE POWERFUL THAN HIM!”
I froze, fear pinning me in place.
This was the side of Aurelius I had seen after the SkyGuard feast. The raw, uncontained, unpredictable side of him that scared me more than Titus ever could.
His flames surged— Then they faltered.
His gaze flicked to my face, and he saw it: the fear I couldn’t hide. He looked away, like he could no longer stand the sight of me. My voice shook as I began to speak, but he cut me off. “What a disappointment you turned out to be, I had thought better of you,” he said. “We are done here, Lady Delilah.” Something dark flickered across his face. He didn’t clarify what he meant. He didn’t have to. Aurelius wanted all or nothing. And in that moment, I understood I had not only lost a mentor I admired, but a friendship I had foolishly believed was real.
CHAPTER 31
Mate Out of a Monster
TITUS
Ioffered my General a mug of ale because I had found that difficult conversations were best had with libations. He took it and seated himself in the leather armchair across from me in my lounge.
Right on time, Delilah knocked politely before entering the room. I did not miss the sharp glare Cercies gave her upon arrival. I was a highly observant male, and I noticed immediately that the other two beings in this room were extremely uncomfortable with each other’s presence.
Understandably.
Not long ago, he had been all over my mate in this very room— right on this very coffee table—with his hands on her body. The thought of it still enrages me. How things had changed in such a short time.
“Thank you for joining us, Delilah. Please take a seat next to me, love,” I said.
Gods and Guardians, I had missed her.
She was freshly bathed and wearing a simple black dress, thank the
Guardians for that. If I had to go another minute smelling Cercies's
scent on her from dancing I was going to lose my mind. She looked amazing in everything, but I still wished she would wear more red. Even though I had held her and danced with her earlier, it hadn’t been enough. I couldn’t wait for this meeting to be over so I could clock out as High Lord and spend the evening with my Pickles. Alone.
She crossed the room gracefully and took the seat beside me.
I cleared my throat.
“As you know, my servant and Delilah are quite fond of each other. I invited her to this meeting to act in the best interest of the handmaid.”
