His face was bathed in the sun's last beam, gilded in sophisticated gold. That scarlet yolk sank slowly behind the trees, bleeding slowly into the horizon.
There was no mistaking it. It was becoming less of a secret. He couldn't begin to imagine the conflict that would brew between him and his brother. His poor brother. And poor him too, honestly. Damn it, poor him too.
His fists curled. Who could have thought the Moon Goddess would lack so much discretion? And this was merely about the fraternal feud looming. One that would perhaps make rounds for centuries. His brother's feelings were of little to no importance. Whatever made Callum sleep at night. It was just the timing.
He fists found the sill with a bong.
He wasn't ready.
His hands lashed onto the dresser table. Heaving it over, it toppled over the sound of his grunt and landed on its face with a boom, all fours up. Dust particles sputtered off the ground.
The entrance gave way.
Speak of the devil...
His eyes narrowed. "Do you know how to knock?"
Selena stood at the doorway. Her crinkled brown dress stopped just above her ankles. The brass thorn at the ankle of her boot glinted. "I...I thought I heard a crash" she floundered.
The birthmark, a single polka dot at her bosom, her skin a tasty olive. His wolf desired to tug at it with his bare fangs. His words simmered at the tip of his tongue. His fury abated to steam.
His eyes were soft as they grazed. Her heartbeat accelerated under his scrutiny. Her face flushed. She gulped. She needed to get it together. "The moon makes no mistakes," she began.
She watched him blink back lust. "What are you on about?"
Her voice was low and sombre. The saddest affirmation. "It's destiny"
"Get out–"
"You can't run from it!"
His jaw tightened, teeth clenched. "I said get out" He lowered his eyes. "Right now"
"Sooner or later, we'll both have to face it"
His chest grew cold and laden, watching her leave.
There was only one solution to this problem. Selena's time here had to end.
Callum sat on his bed, staring at his brother. Brows furrowed, he finally responded. "What?" It was as quiet as he was perplexed.
"She needs to leave"
"Excuse me?"
"Are you hard of hearing?" Lucian sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. "Look, I get that she's your girlfriend, but she's not family anyway...it's been morally dubious accommodating her this long"
Callum slowly got to his feet. "You? Care for morals?" Chuckling, he shook his head. "Do you just love picking fights with me?"
"Cal, I will not reiterate this." His tone was flat. "Trust me."
Silence fell between them.
"Oh really?" Callum crossed his arms, leaning back with casual defiance, though his jaw was tight. "And since when do you call the shots?"
"Well, you see, your sorry ass did come after mine. So yes, I do call the shots."
"You're insane," Callum spat.
Lucian slurred in a bored tone. "My, what a surprise"
"I just don't get you"
"Will you stop whining?"
"And why all of a sudden"
Lucian caught himself mute for the first time. Callum pushed up a brow.
"Like I said" He measured his words. "It's been morally dubious accommodating her" Then he slowly came up to his brother's face. Callum caught his eyes flicker with spite.
He breathed out the words gently so it struck him just where it would scar. "You're not even mated to her"
Callum's pupils flared. He shoved Lucian back hard.
The response was immediate. His brother gathered the neck of his shirt in his hand and slammed him to the ground.
The air between them burned. Callum glared.
"Next time,-" Lucian tightened his grip. "-I won't stop at shoving" He released his neck. He turned, starting for the winding stairs leading to the artillery range.
At the top of the staircase, Freya was oncoming.
"Lucian, can I borrow your-"
"Later, Freya"
The girl frowned at his back and her face contorted. She mimicked him. "Later, Freya" But it was hushed, just to be safe.
Lucian held the door open. "And once again, I don't want you on this floor"
She sighed. "But I just want to see Uncle Bane"
"The rooms here have many things that you're too little for. You could get harmed"
"I'm not little"
"Please get back to your room."
He watched her stomp away. He shook his head and shut the door.
Meanwhile, Selena was in Uncle Bane's chamber as earlier instructed.