"I don't have it. I gave it away."
"To whom?"
Her eyes found his, it had only been for a moment before she looked back at the King, pleading.
"Please, he didn't do it. He didn't mean it--"
"Who did you give it to?"
"Oliver. I gave it to Oli, my mate."
"It was a gift of trust." Oliver stood up from the chair, his eyes twinkling with the glint of the ever-present humor. "I didn't even use it. I didn't do this, I didn't do anything. Tell them, Laura!" He ended with a smile.
Rage blazed in her eyes, seamlessly mixing with helplessness.
It was such a sight.
Beautiful.
"You did it."
His smile dwindled.
"I know you did it and that is why things haven't been the same between us."
"Things haven't been the same between us because I spent a night with Riza."
Gasps filled the court at the implied reference to cheating.
It was a scandalous thing and very distasteful thing to happen between mates, fated or chosen.
It was an act deserving of punishment.
