Chapter 117: A Familiar Presence
Jacob~
Darius stared at the royal scepter in my hands, his face draining of color. His nostrils flared, his breath coming in short, sharp bursts. His black eyes widened in raw disbelief. For the first time since I had walked into this room, he looked shaken.
His lips parted, but no sound came. Then, finally, in a voice that a mortal could barely hear, he asked, "Who the hell are you?"
I tilted my head, letting his question hang in the air. I had expected this reaction, but seeing it firsthand was... satisfying.
I took my time, watching him squirm before answering. "Like I said earlier, I’m Garrick Wilson." I paused, enjoying the total confusion in his eyes.
I was about to tell him. About the lie, I had come to deliver. About my role as the king’s secret royal advisor. But then, a scent breezed into the room.
Faint. Barely there. But unmistakable.
My entire body went rigid. It wasn’t fear that gripped me—no, I had no concept of fear—but something close. A primal warning from instincts honed over centuries. This scent... it belonged to someone I had hoped never to cross paths with again.
Damn it. Natalie.
We needed to leave. Now.
I forced my body to relax, my movements slow and deliberate as I rose from my seat. I couldn’t let Darius see the shift in me. If he noticed, he would ask questions, and I didn’t have time for that.