Theodore didn’t need anyone’s help in taking care of the malicious clan head enemy. Ergo, he was only accompanied by a driver on his hunting mission.
The clan head, also known as Ivan Sidorov, was a renowned hater of the crown. He was a power-hungry man who didn’t mind dirtying his hands if it meant getting the throne for himself.
Theodore knew he was walking into a trap. Ivan was far from naive enough to believe the man he had sent would be any match to him. He had been no doubt counting on him to spill the beans, and thus on Theodore to come.
What he didn’t know was Theodore wasn’t fool enough to believe he wasn’t walking into a trap. But he was confident enough in his abilities as a warrior – as the god of war, as Theos – to go tend to his business alone.
He made a show of his abilities as soon as he entered the residence in which Ivan was waiting for him.
There was the distinct scent of mold associated with forest and rain, and that told Theodore that Ivan had brought in rogues.
It was clever and yet stupid of him to do so. Clever because he knew the dragons wouldn’t want to oppose Theos, and yet stupid because the rogues – no matter their number – would barely qualify to entertain him.
Within a few minutes, he was standing before Ivan, a trail of bodies – of wolves – behind him, and blood smearing his clothes.
He would have to change in the car, seeing as he didn’t want to upset or worry his sweet Emily.
“Ivan, how good it is to see you,” he sneered at the man.
For someone who reeked of fear, the man knew how to keep his composure.
“Theodore King, oh revered Theos,” he began scornfully. “I can’t say I was betting on you. I thought that 50 rogues would be enough to keep you busy for a while.”
“Well, you thought wrong,” Theodore shrugged as he took a few steps forward.
Ivan who had been sitting on the sofa nonchalantly rose his feet at once. “Do not approach me,” he stated boldly. “I have proof. Proof of your entanglement with a human girl. What would your parents say?”
“Is there something in particular you are trying to tell me?” Theodore raised an eyebrow. “I can feel the fear coming off you in waves.”
“You’re the one committing treason, and I have all rights to come for your head for that.”
The man had obviously become deranged.
Theodore went nearer until he was whispering distance, “Goodbye Ivan.”
And with that he plunged his hand into the man’s chest and ripped his heart out ruthlessly.
When all was said and done, Theodore called the driver and asked him to bring in the spare clothes he had brought along.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
“So? How was it?” Emily started fretting the moment she saw Theodore enter the estate. “Are you okay? Is everything okay? You look alright but I could be wrong. Was it a dead end?”
Her rambling was endearing. And her worry for him made his heart beat more wildly for her if that was possible. Had she waited for him here, on the porch, all this time?
“Everything went well,” he told her softly.
“Really?” Her eyes were shining with unshed tears.
He merely nodded at her in response.
“Heavens have mercy, I was so scared!” She admitted in a loud cry as she hugged him to her.
He patted her back lovingly.
“I am Theos, dorogaya,” he reassured in her a proud tone of sorts. “I am a legend in our community.”
She hit his head lightly. “You’re not invincible though. I am allowed to worry about you, am I not?”
“Feel free to do whatever you want, dorogaya, but worrying will only give you early gray hairs.” He tried to tease her to lighten the mood.
She let out a stunned “oh” in response before exploding, “Theodore King, how could you even implicitly say that I am growing old?” Her hand rested over her left hip bone. Her big green eyes were spitting fire at him…
She looked magnificent.
His beloved was beautiful. She was his mate. His. Completely and irrevocably his.
Come hell or high water, nothing was going to separate them.
“Aren’t we all growing old?” He carried on teasing her.
“You’re one to talk,” she rolled her eyes at him.
“Did you just roll your eyes at me, dorogaya?” He asked icily.
She stilled, eyes wide, mouth gaping like a fish. She obviously didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t lie to him seeing as he had been witness of her eye-roll. And he would bet all he possessed she wasn’t particularly eager for a spanking.
“Dorogaya,” he said threateningly.
“Yes,” she said breathlessly and the smell of her desire wafted to his nostrils.
He reasoned that had he made the bet for real, he would have lost. His sweet innocent little mate was looking forward to getting punished, it would seem.
He grabbed her hand and dragged her into the office.
One hour of debauchery later, and they were ready once again to face the world as a loving couple.
They emerged from there, with him sporting a smug smirk while his sweet little mate looked bashful. He caught her stroking her behind every now and then – as discreetly as she could – throughout the day.
She was disturbingly cute. And also impossibly innocent despite what they have been up to. For a girl who was discovering her sensuality, she sure was sweet.
He was going to have fun tormenting her in the most delicious ways imaginable.
Already, he was looking forward to having her in his arms again. Sadly, he had work to take care of.
And as the saying went, business waited for no one.