“Sure,” Bergan smirked, crossing one leg over the other as he leaned back in his chair. “Declan was always a coward.”
“Keep his name out of your mouth.” Lennox’s voice cut through the room, Leone and Viona froze, as Bergan’s laugh rumbled through the room.
“He’s my son, I think I can talk about him if I want to.”
“You lost the right to call him your son a long time ago.” I closed my hands into fists as I met Bergan’s stare.
“He’s lucky I even acknowledged him as my such.” Bergan’s mask finally broke, his cocky smile disappearing. “That worthless piece of shit. When I finally got himwhipped into shape, he went and left without warning. Leaving a note like the fucking coward he is.”
The three of us stood, our bodies acting as one in defense of Declan, our friend.
“If you speak about him like that again, it will be your life you lose,” I seethed.
Nico palmed a dagger from his side. “And we’ll gladly hack you to pieces.”
Began didn’t move from his seat. “All this for my son? For Declan?” He made a noise in the back of his throat. “Doesn’t seem worth it.”
I couldn’t hold it in anymore. Declan wasn’t here to stand up for himself, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t do it for him.
“If it was up to me, you wouldn’t get to call him your son. You’ve never been a father to him. If it was up to you, you would have disowned him at birth. You practically did. It is an honest-to-Goddess miracle he’s made it to where he is today. The way you treated him—your fuckingson.” I stepped into his space, towering over him as he remained sitting. “I’d love nothing more than to kill you and tear you limb from limb for what you did to him. But Declan’s a better male than I—he’d never allow that. Because despite everything you put him through, he still chooses to take the high road. Because that’s the kind of male he is.”
Bergan snarled, the scar across his lip wrinkling. The scar Declan gave him, the one and only time he fought back against his father and his punishments, two days before he left for good. “What makes you think you can speak to me like that?—”
“I’m your fucking High King—that’s why.”
His eyes flashed with anger.
“If you decide to join your forces in this war, you will stay the fuck away from Declan. If you so much as look at him or say anything other than ‘yes,Captain Hale’ to him, I will kill you.” I gripped his shirt in my fist. “Do you understand?”
“Yes,” he grit out.
I let go of him. “Good, now get the fuck out of my sight.”
I finally turned my attention back to Leone and Viona. “I don’t care if his name holds weight here. Declan Hale is the captain ofmyroyal guard. He holds a higher rank thanhim.”
I turned my attention to Bergan one last time. “He wanted to come here, to face you, Declan did. It was Lennox and I who commanded him to stay back. We didn’t want him to have to look at you. To come back here after everything that was done to him.” I steered my gaze to Leone. “To face everyone who ignored the cruelties done upon him.”
“So this is how it’s going to go,” Lennox interjected. “Your armies are going to aid us in this war because I command it. I will, however, leave it up to you who in this room accompanies us. I am smart enough to acknowledge Captain Hale would be an asset to our army despite his shortcomings. But know this, Declan will be in charge, you will fall in line behind him and his direction, and you will take orders from him.”
Bergan’s face scrunched, but Lennox continued. “You have until tomorrow morning to make your decision,Captain Hale. Your army is hereby directed to march with us toward the Blood Court in the morning. Let us know if we need to send someone to help rally the troops. Thank you for your time,” she finished. “We will see our way out now.”
“Do you feel better now?” Lennox whispered in my ear as her arms snaked around my waist.
“A little.”
“Me too.” She reached up and kissed my jaw as wemade it through the doorway. “And I have to admit, that was pretty hot.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes, I’m serious. You say it makes you hard when I show my violent side, I guess seeing yours can have an impact on me too…”
I stopped her with a kiss, sealing my lips against hers as my hand clasped around her neck.
“C’mon love birds, you can make out all you want later, but I want the fuck out of this palace.” Nico’s voice caused me to pull my lips from Lennox’s, but I still held her against me.
“To be continued.” Lennox kissed my lips one more time.
“I can’t wait until this war is over. That beach retreat is sounding sweeter every fucking day.”
