“Her name is Calpurnia, and I will act in the best interest of my mate… My Lord,” Cercies replied sharply.
From his tone I could determine that this meeting was going to end with something on fire. I exhaled an irritated breath.
“Alright then, General. Let’s get right to it. What is it that you want?” I asked.
His tone was direct and harsh. “I want you to convince the council to redact the Law of Flesh from Holy Law so that I may have my own mate and be free of my monthly obligations.”
He looked at Delilah with remorse.
My blood began to boil. I had assumed he would ask for a simple transfer for the servant.
But this? This was outrageous, he might as well have asked me for the moon.
I would do just about anything for my brothers—but not even a High Lord could overturn Holy Law.
I scoffed. “And how do you suppose I do that? Thousands of years of practice, and you think I can wipe it away in a day?”
“You are the most powerful Lord of Flame in history, are you not?” Cercies countered, arching a brow.
He knew exactly how to push my buttons.
I leaned in, resting my elbows on my thighs.
“Be that as it may,” I said as calmly as possible, “just mentioning such a thing is grounds for the council to overturn and execute me. Their army of Holy Guards would have the castle surrounded in minutes! I am willing to transfer her to your estate in Dragon’s Maw as a servant on paper. Once she’s there, I don’t care what you do with her—just do not mark her.”
“As for monthly obligations,” I said evenly, though my flames prickled beneath my skin, “I have yet to mark Delilah. But when I do, the last thing I want is the council sniffing around my private affairs.”
I let my gaze lock onto his.
“There will be no monthly obligations. Not from you. Not from Aurelius.” My voice dropped lower. Colder. “She is mine.”
“That’s not good enough!” Cercies roared, surging to his feet. Flames burst from his back in a violent arc, his chair skidding behind him.
I rose slowly.
Deliberately.
Just a fraction taller. Just enough. The air thickened between us.
“Why the hell not?” I asked, each word ground through clenched teeth.
“Because Calpurnia is myfatedmate!” he shot back, fire licking at his shoulders. “You think this is about convenience? About paperwork?”
His chest heaved.
“She deserves to be worshipped,” he said, voice breaking with fury. “Not hidden. Not tolerated. Not reduced to a servant you ‘allow’ me to keep.”
His flames flared brighter.
“I don’t expect you to understand,” he continued, eyes blazing, “but she is not a secret arrangement. She is my equal.”
A small hand pressed against my leg.
I looked down into Delilah’s arctic blue eyes. She said my name and I was instantly disarmed.
Perhaps I had made a mistake inviting her. She had a way of softening me.
I retracted my flames and sat. He did the same. When the tension settled, I spoke.
