Chapter 41: Let Me In
The shock that washed over him quickly transformed into something more profound—a mix of disbelief and, for some strange reason, amusement. Naomi’s suggestion was so utterly beneath him that he could hardly process it.
As Zylan stared at her, his mind raced to grasp the absurdity of her words. No one—ever—had dared to question his strength, let alone suggest such a preposterous action. Call the police? The idea was laughable. He had faced his fellow purebloods, survived brutal battles that left countless others dead or shattered, and he stood here unscathed, unbeaten. Yet she thought he should call upon mere humans—beings even half-blood vampires could outmatch? Damn, he thought, staring at this innocent little wife of his. Was she serious right now?
With each passing second, Zylan’s gaze grew colder, his usually impassive face betraying none of the fury that simmered just beneath. But his narrowed eyes revealed just enough for Naomi to sense a shift in the air—a silent warning that she was unaware of the storm she had just stirred.
Anger should have been his natural reaction, yet a laugh nearly escaped him instead. He held it back, of course. Zylan was far too composed to let himself be so openly amused. His face remained unreadable, but something flickered in his gaze—a glint of intrigue, a glimmer of something bordering on amusement, which he quickly masked with an air of indifference.
For a brief moment, his eyes softened, and the corner of his mouth tugged upwards in a smirk—a rare expression that only surfaced when he was genuinely intrigued or mildly entertained. Naomi missed it, still caught up in her own thoughts, oblivious to the subtle shift in his demeanor.
He rested his face against his hand, leaning back slightly in his chair with a posture that exuded both confidence and control. His gaze locked onto hers, steady but carrying a new intensity. Her unease was almost palpable; he could feel her nervousness radiating from across the room. She was blissfully unaware, but she had made a grave error in underestimating him.
Breaking the silence, Zylan spoke with a calm, controlled tone, each word carrying an undercurrent of challenge. "So, tell me," he asked, his voice steady yet layered with tension, "do you really think he’s stronger than me?"
Naomi froze, the weight of his question sinking in. Her mind spun as she processed her own words, realizing the unintended insult. She hadn’t meant to undermine him, but in her moment of panic, her fear had overtaken her. She opened her mouth to respond, but her voice faltered under his unwavering gaze.
"No," she finally whispered, her voice barely audible as she shook her head. "You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met."