His Little Fae

Homecoming (III)

"But we cannot simply sit

and stare at our wounds forever."
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Livius' pov:

Alexandria was sleeping when I left in the early hours of the morning. She hadn't even stirred as I pulled away from her, the exhaustion of the past few days evident. And it tugged at my chest to leave her side, even for a brief moment.

The pulsing mark on my neck served as a permanent reminder of her, the crescent shaped scars on my back were proof of what I was missing.

But there were a few things that had to be settled, things she would frown at the mere mention of.

Our 'tentative alliance' with Alexius officially expired the moment we'd gotten her back. And I'd extended it overnight as a courtesy. But it did not change who and what he was.

Or what he'd been planning.

I stopped at the sight of my Beta and Delta stationed on either side of my office doors. Immediately, Jayden dipped his head in respect as Noah bowed.

I nodded to them both. "He's inside?"

It was Jayden who answered. "Yes, Your Majesty."

"Good." I turned to Noah. "Do your patrols as normal. This meeting is only a formality."

Noah's expression was apprehensive, but he nodded regardless, gave another bow, and turned to depart. Jayden would remain stationed outside the door, but he would not set foot inside.

This was a meeting between kings.

Without another word, I strode into my office and paused at the Fae king lounging in one of the seats across my desk. I let out a heavy sigh before shutting the door behind me.

This is going to go well.

"Glad to see you've made yourself comfortable," I muttered dryly.

Alexius leveled me with his golden gaze, gone were the flickers of mirth and amusement he had around his sister. Instead, an almost unsettling seriousness lined his expression. Good.

He sat predatorially still, but his scent told a story of barely contained ire and violence.

"It was hard not to," he responded, his eyes following me as I circled around the desk. "Are you late to all your meetings?" His voice carried an aggressive note.

I could practically feel a fight coming.

Well, might as well be prepared.

Shrugging off my suit jacket, I draped it over my chair before nonchalantly unbuttoning my cuffs and rolling them up my forearms. Only after did I respond. "Only the insignificant ones."

Alexius' gaze flared with obvious anger and I couldn't help my smirk at the sight of the irritation lining his features.

"I'd be more mindful," he murmured calmly, though his eyes were anything but. "Last I remember, my battle plans were still unfurled on my desk."

I chuckled while lowering myself into my chair. "Last I remember, I don't even need battle plans or outside counsel to crush you."

His eyes darkened. My gaze did not waver.

"Alexius," I said after a beat of silence, my eyes narrowing. "Let me be completely clear."

Slowly, I leaned forward to fully read his expression. "I would have burned your kingdom to the ground be it not for your relation to my Alexandria," I told him quietly, wrong as it was. A twinge of shame flickered in my awareness, but I disregarded it.