“There was nothing inappropriate about my conduct.” The words came out stiff. Formal. Mayor’s voice.
“Sure, there wasn’t.” Leo exchanged a look with Beck. “That’s why you showed up late tonight for the first time in three years.”
“Budget reviews?—”
“And that’s why you’ve driven past the Celestial Gardens four times this week.”
Hux’s jaw clenched. How the hell did Leo know about that?
“The pride talks,” Leo said, answering the unasked question. “You really think lions don’t notice when their mayor suddenly develops an interest in botanical restoration?”
“The gardens are a significant municipal project. It’s appropriate for me to monitor progress.”
“From your car. Without stopping. Multiple times a day.”
Damn it.
“This is ridiculous.” Hux set his beer down harder than necessary. “She’s a contractor. I’m her administrative oversight. That’s the extent of our interaction.”
“You sound defensive,” Wyatt observed.
“I’m not defensive.”
“You sound extremely defensive.”
“I watched Narla for six years before I did anything about it.” Wyatt’s voice remained completely flat. “Thirty seconds seems efficient by comparison.”
The words landed like a punch. Six years. Wyatt had spent six years watching the woman he wanted, pretending he wasn’t interested, maintaining distance while his panther clawed at the inside of his ribs.
Six years of loneliness. Six years of that ache Hux knew too well.
“It’s not the same thing.”
“Isn’t it?”
“No.” Hux met Wyatt’s gaze.
The words came out before he could stop them.
The table went silent.
Beck set down his beer. Theo straightened in his seat. Leo’s grin faded into concern.
“Hux—” Theo started.
“Don’t.” Hux held up a hand. “I’m fine. It is what it is. Some people have fated mates waiting for them. Some people don’t. I’ve made my peace with it.”
Liar, his lion snarled.
“The mating surge doesn’t care about candle visions,” Leo said carefully. “The flames don’t always tell the whole story.”
“Or maybe they tell exactly the story they’re supposed to.” Hux’s voice came out harder than he intended. “Not everyone gets a happy ending, Leo. Some of us just get endings.”
Another silence. Longer this time. Heavy.
“That’s depressing as hell,” Delos said finally. “And I’m the one who got dumped for an ocean.”
Despite everything, Hux’s mouth twitched. “Fair point.”
