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“You did what?” Osias bellows, pausing his pacing to narrow his gaze first on Olivia, then on Mateo. My lip curls at his incredulous tone, having to hold myself back from going after him. If anyone else spoke to Liv that way, those would be the last words they spoke, as they’d currently be missing a windpipe. I flex my hand into fists at my side, needing to do something to work off the energy. I stand propped against the wall, assessing the entire scene.
Olivia and Mateo had ushered us out of the ball last night, and after Adrian took Nelle back to the mortal realm, they filled us in on everything that happened while they were gone. I admit I was livid when I heard the two of them did something so reckless, we were lucky they had.
The pages they retrieved sit on the coffee table, and Olivia perches on one of the sofas, sandwiched between Kyros and Adrian. Mateo sprawls out of the opposite one, a permanent scowl on his face as he glares between our other two brothers. Having been the last one to arrive in the sitting room, he was forced to sit across from Liv instead of beside her. Apparently, he’s over whatever issue he had. Good because I was about to knock some sense into him just as I had with Adrian.
“We found out what they have planned for the last trial,” Olivia cuts in, redirecting him back to the reason we called him here this morning. We all decided it would be best to fill him in the next morning and get a good night’s sleep. I’m not sure any of us could have endured the shouting last night.
“Fine, what are they planning?” Osias grumbles, crossing his arms over his chest. Finally, calming enough to listen.
“The first task will be a test of the mind, a puzzle it seems like, based upon the student’s studies on the ethereal realm. The second task will be a test of their focus, using their skills of meditation. The third task will be based around defeating an opponent with both their combat training and their powers,” Kyros explains, flipping through the pages.
“Those are all fairly standard tasks. I’m not seeing why this is such important information.” Osias quirks a brow in question, tapping his foot against the floor impatiently.
“Because it seems a lot simpler than the other trials Liv has had to pass, as though they want or need her to succeed. I don’t think it’s the trials we should worry about, but something after …” Kyros grimaces, giving Liv an apologetic look.
Osias blanches, all the color draining from his face instantaneously. I eye him suspiciously, knowing he’s holding something back from us, and more importantly, Liv.
“Spit it out, Osias,” I growl, and he looks at me in surprise. He clears his throat, adjusting his suit in an attempt to compose himself.
“Liv, we should talk,” Osias says evenly, gesturing towards the door.
“Dad, whatever you have to say to me, you can say in front of the guys.” She smiles at each of us in turn, and the moment her sea-green eyes land on mine, my body instantly relaxes, the anxious tension rushing from every inch of me making me feel at peace.
My mind goes to when I first met her, my insistence that I could stay away from her, that I could watch her from afar and be fine with never having her. How wrong I was. This girl, my mate, has broken down every one of my walls, a fact I’m not sure if I should be relieved or terrified of. Yet, just her mere presence helped calm the churning storm of destruction in my core. For the first time in my long life, I felt like I’m in control of my power instead of the other way around.
“I don’t think that’s wise,” Osias says through gritted teeth, his body tensing at her words, and his gaze darts around the room anxiously. I glare at him, his voice having jerked me from my inner thoughts.
“It’s fine.” I step forward, cutting off Olivia’s reply. Osias is clearly anxious about speaking this truth in front of others, and the only reason for that would be it putting Olivia’s safety at risk, and that’s the last thing I would want. “You need to know, and if it helps keep you safe, we can wait to hear until after the trial.”
Osias nods gratefully, his body losing some of its rigid tension, but I ignore the gesture. I was doing this for Liv and her alone. With only a week left until her last trial, I could wait to find out the secret, even if the others might not be able to. Her safety is more important than our curiosity.
Olivia glances around the room warily, her gaze assessing each one of us in turn, gauging our reactions. Thankfully, the others school their features because their inner thoughts tell a different story.
“Why the hell did you say that?”Mateo projects, his mental voice a growl in my mind.
“Ya, now we’ll look like assholes if we insist on knowing.”Adrian chimes in, his mental voice conveying his annoyance.
“He’s right, though. If Osias has true fear of this getting out before her trial, we can wait. She’ll tell us after.”Kyros adds, and despite his words of agreement, I can see the curiosity shining bright in his eyes, his mind desperately craving the knowledge.
“Okay,” Liv says hesitantly, slowly standing from her seat as though waiting for one of us to object.
“I hate you so much right now,”Mateo whines in my mind.
“Hate me all you want, just keep your mouth shut,”I growl back, knowing he will because, despite their projected words, I know they will always put Liv’s safety first.
“Let’s go out to the gazebo,” Osias gestures towards the door, and Liv nods, leading the way outside.
“Thank you,” she whispers, planting a kiss on my nose, of all places. I purse my lips, and a giggle escapes her at my perceived annoyance. She strides towards the door, and Osias follows after her, giving me a nod as he passes. The two depart through the front door and close it behind them.
“You little sneak,” Mateo exclaims as soon as the door closes. “You only said that to get more attention.”
“No, I said it because I care about my mate’s safety,” I growl back, and it’s true, but I won’t complain if I get a little extra attention for it.
“Okay, okay enough, you two,” Kyros says, standing from his place on the couch, readying himself to intervene. “It’s time to figure out what we’re going to do from here.”
We stand in silence for a moment, waiting for him to continue. Kyros huffs out a breath of exasperation, looking around the room at our blank faces.
“I think it’s best to train Liv in a power that may help her more if there’s an ambush waiting for her,” Kyros hedges, his tone cautious for some reason.
