“It wasn’t a request.”
No. It most definitely wasn’t.
“Tell me why you’re here,” Sethios said instead, setting the coffee down. “It’s not for her.”
“Do I require a reason to visit my only progeny?”
“Yes.”
His father finally shifted his gaze away from Caro and nailed him with a look. “You’re hiding something.”
“Always.” No point in denying that. “But that’s not why you’re here.”
“No.” His father stepped closer, his attention returning to Caro. “There is something familiar about you.”
She didn’t speak, move, or even blink.
Good, angel.
“Because you already met her,” Sethios reminded, feigning boredom. “Stop showboating and tell me why you’re here.”
“Skye had a vision this morning—a disturbing one. But you already know that, don’t you?” Ancient green eyes flashed his way. “I can sense Ezekiel’s recent presence. We’ll be discussing it later.”
Sethios’s brow furrowed. “Ezekiel’s presence is a permanent fixture in my condo, Father. Unlike yours. Now, what vision did your precious toy foresee that has you acting all out of sorts?”
“Disarm,” his father demanded instead. “Now.”
So that’s how we’re going to play this.
“I see.” Having no choice, Sethios set Caro’s knives on the counter. “Those were to be used on her, in case you were wondering.”
“Kneel” was the next command.
Right. There would be no debate or discussion, then—just a swift reaction to a potential future.
“Given your behavior, I’m guessing this prophecy paints me—your son—as some sort of threat.” He spoke the words while falling to his knees under the persuasion. “And we are not going to discuss it formally.”
They were statements, not questions, because his father’s behavior already provided the answers.
Sethios had hoped to avoid this for at least a few more centuries, but it seemed his father didn’t feel the same. Perhaps he’d realized how powerful his son had become and sought any excuse to take him down.
Or maybe his father was just bored and wanted a new challenge.
Or the prophecy is self-fulfilling, and I will, in fact, be Osiris’s eventual demise.
No matter the reason, it seemed Ezekiel was right to suggest that Sethios run.
There would be no reasoning with his father. He’d suspected as much but needed to see it for himself first.
Good thing he already had several backup plans for this scenario.
“It’s disappointing that you trust a seer over your own flesh and blood,” Sethios added, his tone flat. No point in conveying any emotion. It would neither help nor fix the issue at hand.
“Her visions are never wrong.” His father sounded neither apologetic nor concerned. “We’ll see how her prophecy changes once I’ve detained you. Indefinitely.”
“That sounds ominous and impossible,” Sethios murmured. Primarily because I won’t be complying with shit.
“Come now. You’ve turned your conquest into a pet with a few commands. I’m more than capable of doing the same to you.”
