The silence lasted only a few seconds.
But to Aiden, it felt much longer.
Theron had turned back toward Ronan.
"Have his quarters prepared."
Ronan nodded.
"Which room?"
"The eastern chamber."
Ronan hesitated.
"That room is usually reserved for—"
"Then move whoever is using it."
Aiden's ears twitched.
Something about Theron's tone bothered him.
Not the order itself.
It was the way he said it.
Like Aiden wasn't standing three steps away.
Like he was discussing where to put an object.
Ronan glanced toward Aiden.
"And the offering?"
Theron barely looked at him.
"He stays within the temple grounds."
Aiden's eye twitched.
"He will not leave without my permission."
There.
That did it.
Aiden's hand moved before his brain could catch up.
Smack.
The sound echoed through the Moon Temple.
Silence.
Absolute.
Complete.
Horrified silence.
Aiden's palm stung.
Theron's head had turned slightly from the impact.
Nobody moved.
Li Mei's mouth had fallen open.
Luna stared.
Several servants looked as though they had forgotten how to breathe.
Ronan—
Ronan looked like his entire understanding of the world had just shattered.
Someone had just hit the Moon God.
Not a weak tap.
Not an accidental bump.
A deliberate slap.
And the person who had done it was standing directly in front of him with black wolf ears flattened against his hair.
Theron slowly turned his head back.
His amber eyes settled on Aiden.
Aiden stared right back.
His heart was pounding.
His palm still hurt.
But he wasn't afraid.
Not anymore.
Because anger had swallowed the fear.
I bore your children.
His jaw tightened.
I watched you cry when you thought you were going to lose me.
His fingers curled.
I watched you hold Kael for the first time.
His eyes narrowed.
I watched you stay awake all night when Ryn was sick.
His ears lowered further.
I watched you let Lior sleep on your chest because you were too soft to move him.
And now this idiot—
This young, arrogant, immortal idiot—
—was talking about me like I was something he owned.
Aiden took one step closer.
"You."
Theron raised an eyebrow.
"Me?"
"Yes."
Aiden's voice was dangerously quiet.
"You don't get to talk about me like I'm some thing you dragged home."
The servants looked at each other.
Luna slowly lowered her hand from her mouth.
Ronan looked ready to intervene.
Then stopped.
Because Theron wasn't angry.
He was fascinated.
Aiden continued.
"I don't care if you're a god."
His tail lashed once.
"I don't care if everyone in this temple bows every time you breathe."
He pointed at Theron's chest.
"I'm a person."
Theron's gaze dropped briefly to the finger against his chest.
Then returned to Aiden's eyes.
"And if you want me to stay here..."
Aiden's voice sharpened.
"...you can ask."
Theron stared at him.
Aiden stared back.
No one spoke.
Finally, Theron asked quietly,
"Was that why you struck me?"
Aiden blinked.
"Obviously."
Theron looked thoughtful.
"You could have simply told me."
"I did."
"You called me a bastard."
"That too."
Li Mei made a tiny choking sound.
Luna looked away, clearly trying not to laugh.
Ronan remained frozen.
Theron slowly raised one hand.
For a moment, Aiden thought he might retaliate.
He didn't.
Instead, Theron touched his cheek where Aiden had struck him.
"You held back."
Aiden's expression changed slightly.
"What?"
"The strength."
Theron studied him.
"You could have struck harder."
Aiden looked away.
"...Maybe."
"Why didn't you?"
Aiden's ears twitched.
Because despite everything...
he couldn't hurt him.
Not really.
Not this Theron.
Not when he still saw the other one every time he looked into those amber eyes.
"Because..."
Aiden muttered.
"...I'm not trying to hurt you."
Theron went still.
Something about that answer caught him off guard.
Aiden turned away.
"I just wanted you to understand."
Theron watched him.
For the first time, the Moon God didn't see an omega.
Didn't see an offering.
Didn't see a beautiful creature placed before him.
He saw someone who had every reason to fear him...
and still chose to stand his ground.
Someone who could have struck him harder...
but deliberately didn't.
Someone who was angry enough to challenge a god—
yet gentle enough to hold back.
Theron's eyes softened almost imperceptibly.
"Very well."
Aiden glanced over his shoulder.
Theron looked toward Ronan.
"Prepare the eastern chamber."
Ronan blinked.
"My Lord?"
"Not because he is my possession."
Theron paused.
His gaze returned to Aiden.
"Because he is a guest."
Aiden's ears lifted slightly.
Theron continued.
"And no one in this temple will treat him as anything less."
Aiden stared at him.
For a moment...
he didn't know what to say.
Then he muttered,
"Good."
Theron's mouth curved faintly.
"Still angry?"
"Yes."
"Understandable."
Aiden narrowed his eyes.
"...Don't smile."
"I wasn't."
"You were."
"I wasn't."
"You absolutely were."
Ronan quietly looked toward the ceiling.
He had known Lord Theron for years.
He had never seen anyone speak to him like this.
And somehow...
he had a feeling this was only the beginning.