"Afraid you'll get caught being intimate with your enemy?" Lyrus asked. Although it sounded like a joke, his expression said otherwise. He gazed into her eyes, searching for the answer that she was so reluctant to utter. "Auriana…" he pulled her for another hug before releasing her. "I will leave you now. Your answer can wait for when we meet again."
Lyrus stepped aside so that she could walk by him, but she remained rooted in her position. They remained staring silently at each other for a little while until he decided he should leave first. Their presence would be noticed by those inside soon if they kept on standing there like that. Speculations could prove deadly even though there was no proof to back them up.
"I am not afraid," Auriana uttered just before he could move his foot. "I am just worried about the consequences and outcome of this. I do not fear being seen with you or in your arms. You are my mate, and I have nothing to be ashamed of," she walked over to him and hugged him from behind. "You were right. I also do want them to see us like this. I want them to know that it is you and not just a random vampire."
"Do you mean that?" He asked as he turned his body around. She raised her head, her chin on his chest, and her eyes locked with his, and then she nodded. "I do not think the time is right," he bends and kisses her forehead. "Do not protest yet, I will see you later. Remember to let me in," he said when she opened her mouth to speak.
He lets go and puts some distance between them.
"I will wait for you, Lyrus," Auriana said and turned around, immediately walking off without another word. Once she was out of sight, he opened the door and walked inside. All eyes inside turned to look at him the moment he walked in.
"Did I keep you all waiting for long?" He asked. Edgar squinted at him but said nothing while Adrian inwardly shook his head. He couldn't tell whether his king wanted to keep his lover a secret or just expose it to everyone.
"No, have a seat," Edgar said as he pointed at the seat opposite him. "There is something I would like to discuss with you, alone," he emphasized the last word as he looked at Lyrus who already had his speculations of what the discussion would be about.
"Adrian," Lyrus called without asking what it was all about.
"Your Majesty," he pleaded with his eyes so he didn't say anything that would upset the werewolf king whose home they were right now.
"You may be excused," Lyrus still said despite Adrian's obvious protest. He returned his attention to Edgar. "I believe you said, alone?" He looked at Dahlia who was seated beside him and she nearly growled.
"That is alright, Dahlia. He is right, I did say, alone," he held her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze so she wouldn't overreact and try to understand. "Please."
Dahlia didn't hide her dissatisfaction as she stood up. She had questions she wanted to ask him. Asking her to leave was directly stopping her from doing that. Her mother's instincts wanted her to confront Lyrus because she could tell something was not right.
"I do not like this, Edgar," she said and stomped off but not before throwing a hard glare at Lyrus.
"You may leave as well, Adrian," Lyrus said dismissively. With a bow and having no reason to protest again, Adrian left the study with just the two Kings left inside. "What is so important that you do not wish for another ear to hear?"
Edgar took a deep breath as he readied himself to say something g he was almost certain that would have the vampire before him laughing. It felt it was humiliating for a werewolf to have such a conversation with a vampire not to mention the king of werewolves himself. After much consideration, he decided to just go ahead. He couldn't allow his daughter to be deceived by a vampire and lose the trust of her people which would undeniably cost her position as the heir.
"It is about my daughter, Auriana," he began and lyrus raised a brow he watched as Edgar sighed as if there was nothing more exhausting than talking about what was in his mind. "As to8 must have already known, she is an open-minded person and tends to see potential in many things even what no one else would."
Lyrus didn't react nor did he let his thoughts known. He wanted to know just where the conversation was because from where Edgar started, it almost sounded as if he was in support of his daughter. That was until his next sentences further confirmed his speculations from earlier.
"But she is far too young to fully understand the world we live in. She fails to see that some things are just not meant to be. Thay some things, they are unchangeable," Edagr said and Lyrus' brows pulled together into a frown.
"May I ask that you get to the point of all this," Lyrus said, feeling his patience quickly running out. He never had the best patience to begin with.
"Very well," Edagd said. He could feel the change in Lyrus' demeanor and he had to say it before he lost his chance to do so. Although the change didn't exactly feel right. It felt more like Lyrus was angry with him rather than at what was being discussed.
"My daughter found her mate amongst you people," he finally hit the nail in the head. "I do not know who he is, his name or what position he holds, but I do not want their union," he said. There was anger in his eyes as well as regret but he tried to hide it which he failed to do.
"What does your daughter's mate have to do with me? Or the fact that you intend to sabotage your daughter's happiness?" Lyrus asked. Silence ensured and he chuckled. "You werewolves are ridiculous. You claim that there is nothing more important to you than the other half of your soul, yet here you are, clearly attempting to keep rid your child of her other half. Isn't that pathetic?"
"Watch your words, Lyrus," Edgar uttered, suppressing a deep growl.
"Why should I?" Lyrus asked. They got engaged in a stare down. "Do you want to know why I came here? It is because of your daughter, Auriana" he asked and answered it even before Edgar could reply.