AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I spin around and spear my Guardian with a steely look. “Make sure their signatures are on every single page. Don’t let them stop no matter what happens.”
“What’s going to happen?” Morgana asks, only briefly pausing her scribbling.
Lupa nudges the Hatt witness with her hip, and whispers, “Just don’t stop. This could get ugly, and we can’t… please, keep writing.”
What little time I spent with the women yesterday was enough for me to completely change my view on them. I already knew Lupa is fierce, protective, and loyal—if I didn’t, there’s no way I would allow her to serve as a witness. Morgana was a wildcard, one I now believe might just be the most loyal of them all. Her loyalty isn’t to Acacia, and why would it be? It’s to her lover, or girlfriend, or whatever they are—and rightfully so.
They both assaulted me with questions last night, and I answered the best I could. Whenever one of my answers upset Lupa, tension was pouring off Morgana in thick waves. The Hatt girl might not be a formidable warrior like Lupa and Acacia, but she’s lethal in her own right. Cunning and intelligence, those are her weapons and I have no doubt she can wield them with deadly accuracy.
Alexander walks closer, flanked by two guards dressed in all black and with gold emblems on their shoulders—huh, I’ve never seen the Drákon guards donning the infinity sign.
My nereid stiffens in my arms, turning her back on her dad. “I don’t want to see him,” she declares. Her tone is as rigid as her posture, making me sigh.
I won’t force or persuade her to see him, the choice is all hers. But the longer she keeps this up, the longer it will take to get him off her back. Although he has observed her from a distance for the last many years, I know that isn’t enough for him now that he’s officially back.
“Get behind me,” Liam growls, swiftly placing himself in front of her, well, in front of both of us. Craning his neck he hurriedly says, “Take her and leave.”
I shake my head. “I need to stay.”
“This isn’t aboutyou,professor,” he spits, looking like he wants to throttle me for daring to disagree with him, and I can’t hold back a smile.
“And it isn’t aboutyoueither. Look, Liam, I know you want to protect her, and I won’t ever stop you from doing that. You need to trust me on this. I hate pulling rank, but as the Ruler I need to stay, so it’s better you take her. Gus and I will stay and explain.” I try to soften my features so Liam knows I’m not being a dick for no reason, but dammit, we don’t have time to stand here and discuss this shit.
“He’s right,” Nereid murmurs. We both watch her intently as she exhales audibly, squares her shoulders, and turns around. “And I was wrong. I’m not going anywhere. This ismyplace. He abandoned it, and I won’t let him come in here and throw his weight around.”
I don’t point out that now that she’s Acacia Kronos she’s technically an intruder. If it comes to it, I’ll make sure we vacate the island.
Just as Alexander reaches us, my Guardian lets me know they’re done with the signatures, and I ask him to take Lupa and Morgana with him—he knows where to go and what to do.
“Alexander!” Gus says, greeting his uncle with contempt.
The Great doesn’t pay attention to his nephew. Instead, his eyes zone in on mine and his daughter’s joined hands, frowning as his gaze falls on the rings on our hands. “She’s not mine anymore?”
The statement sounds like a question, so I shake my head. “No, she’s not.” I don’t elaborate further, that’s not my place.
Squeezing my hand, Acacia speaks up. “Don’t come any closer, Alexander.” Her dad looks like she’s punched him, his brows furrow and he falters as she uses his name. “What do you want?”
“I came to see you,” he says, his arm lifting as though he wants to reach out and touch her.
“Don’t touch her,” Liam snarls, pulling a blade from his back. The veins in his forearms have engorged with the tension he’s trying to keep at bay.
Next to me, Gus also pulls a weapon, joining Liam in front of us. “Why are you here?” he asks, his voice dripping with forced boredom.
“Dove, please—”
Nereid makes an unhappy sound. “Don’t. Call. Me. That. Tell me what you want.”
The Great sighs and takes a step back, holding his hands out with the palms up in a surrendering gesture. “I came to see you.” He swallows audibly. “I wanted to see you before we lay my brother to rest.”
Acacia forces a laugh, a cold, bitter sound that’s so at odds with the beautiful, serene terrain that’s surrounding us. “You don’t get to dictate when we see each other, Alexander. For years you’ve been hiding from me, letting me mourn and miss you. You might be ready now, but I’m not. The girl you once knew is long gone, and the woman standing in front of you has nothing to say to you. You. Abandoned. Me.” The last part is an eerie whisper, one that serves as a warning that death and violence are in its wake. “Your absence showed me your true colors. That, and the way you spoke to my consort—”
“Is that so?” Alexander calmly asks.
“Oh, yeah, I watched it all. Did you forget how thorough your brother was? Every room in his mansion was wired, and I was privy to everything you said and did. Threatening Liam? That wasn’t a smart move. Have you forgotten what you once taught me? Judge people by how they treat those perceived as lesser, and how people act when they think no one is watching.”
To my surprise, Alexander lets out a booming laugh. “Do you think so little of me?” He runs a hand across his face. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, which is why I tried to lure you out. Don’t you think I knew you were watching? I know you better than you think, dove.”
What the hell did Alexander do and say to Liam? I’m mentally kicking myself for not insisting on knowing everything that went down between them. As I pull Nereid closer, I vow to stop letting things slip through the cracks. Once we’re back home, Iwillget to the bottom of everything that’s been going on.
