Mag-log inChapter Fifty-Seven — An Uncomfortable StrategyZeus’s povI left the table the second I trusted myself not to say something I'd regret.The flowers sat there, bright, stupid and perfectly arranged, and I couldn't stand looking at them another second longer. Not because Kelsey didn't deserve flowers. She deserved plenty of things nobody had ever bothered giving her.I hated that they weren't from me.I said nothing about it, mostly because I'd caught the small, satisfied look on her face when she thought I wasn't watching, the same look she'd worn in the carriage the night before when she realized exactly how much she was getting under my skin. She was enjoying this. Enjoying rattling me. And as much as it cost me to admit it, some stubborn part of me wanted to let her have that small victory for now.I wasn't ready for her yet. Not fully in the way my wolf demanded, howling beneath my ribs every time Lucian's name entered a conversation. When this investigation ended and the danger
Chapter Fifty-Six — Flowers from my admirerKelsey’s Pov I sat down at breakfast determined not to think about what went down in the carriage last night between me and Zeus .Not the way he cornered me to the wall of the carriage and how I longed for his hand to touch me in unthinkable places or the way that statement "good girl" had wrecked something in me I hadn't even known was there to wreck. I was determined, and I lasted almost four full minutes before my brain dragged me right back to it anyway.Zeus walked in shortly after, looking irritatingly composed for a man who'd pinned me against a carriage wall and growled about owning me less than twelve hours ago."Good morning Kelsey," he said, settling into his seat like nothing at all had happened between us."Morning," I muttered, stabbing my eggs a little harder than necessary.I'd spent half the night replaying that moment on a loop, and he looked like he'd slept perfectly fine, freshly composed and utterly unbothered. That,
Chapter Fifty-Five — "Good Girl"Kelsey’s povI said yes to the dance mostly because I knew exactly how much it would irritate Zeus.That probably wasn't the smartest reason to do anything, but sometimes leaving him standing there with the compliment he'd just paid me while I walked off with another man felt worth whatever consequence came later.Lucian danced the way I imagined he did everything else. Precise, practiced and charming in a way that never once felt clumsy or accidental."You dance well for someone who claims she's never attended a gathering like this," he said, guiding me smoothly through the next turn."Well, I guess I'm full of surprises.""Fourtunatly i like surprises."We talked easily enough, about nothing important at first, but I noticed quickly that he chose his words the same careful way Zeus did. Nothing slipped out unintentionally and he revealed nothing more than he meant to. That alone made me pay closer attention than I might have otherwise.Eventually the
Chapter Fifty-Four — His Gorgeous Plus OneZeus's pov I told myself going to collect her from her chambers personally was practical and efficient. The right thing for a man of my calibre to do. Nothing more than making sure she arrived on time.I believed that lie for approximately three seconds after she opened the door.Every prepared thought in my head disappeared the moment I saw her. She wore an emerald green dress that embraced her curves perfectly. The gown fit her like it had been made specifically to remind every man in that ballroom exactly what they were looking at. Deep, dark fabric that caught the candlelight when she moved, her hair swept up in a way that left her neck bare, the same neck my fingers had brushed against at breakfast three days ago.She looked elegant,confident and beautiful enough to make the entire corridor feel smaller than it actually was.My wolf surged up immediately, sharp and possessive. *Mine.*I ignored it or at least tried to, anyway.But I fa
Chapter Fifty-Three — A King's InvitationKelsey’s PovI was halfway through my eggs when Zeus mentioned it, like it was nothing more than an offhand comment about the weather."House D'Averon is hosting a gathering in a few nights. One of the larger noble events of the season.""Oh that sounds thrilling," I said, not looking up from my plate. "Try not to fall asleep standing up.""I don’t think I would.” “Is that so? Well in all honesty you came off as the kind of man who did not like these kinds of gatherings.” “I do not actually. I find it annoying and boring but i know it won’t be this time.” He looked at me and gave a devilish smirk. “And why is that?”“Because you'll be there with me."I choked on a bite of toast."I'm sorry," I said, once I'd recovered enough to actually breathe again. "What?""You heard me.""No Zeus. I'm a human. A lottery candidate. Half the nobles in this kingdom already look at me like I crawled out from under a rock. With all due respect you would be c
Chapter Fifty-Two — The Man Without Shadows POV: MarcusThree days, and I still had nothing solid enough to put in front of Zeus without him asking me twice if that was truly all I'd found.I gathered what I could anyway, because half a picture was still better than none.I identified him as Lucian D'Averon. He was twenty-eight years of age. The second son of the prestigious family, which meant he'd never been raised expecting to inherit the family seat, only to serve it. He was educated formally in royal administration, He had received the sort of education that taught men exactly how palace bureaucracy worked and how to move through it without leaving a trace. He currently oversees several departments tied to old noble property holdings and archive management.Nothing scandalous sat anywhere in his history. No gambling debts trailing behind him, no enemies loud enough to have left a paper trail of complaints, no disciplinary marks or even wealth appearing from nowhere that might







