Page 81 of Rejected By My Shifter Billionaire
Alessandro merely nodded.
“We’ll be going with him,” his twin stated with a nod towards their older brother.
The leader of the soldiers frowned. “There have been no instructions—-”
“You misunderstand,” Domenico interrupted with a coldly pleasant smile. “We were not asking for permission nor do we have any intent of stopping you from escorting our brother. There is no law that forbids us from accompanying him. If you persist in thwarting us, be certain you are ready to face theconsequences.” And whatever those unspecified consequences were, the menacing glint in Domenico’s eyes made it clear that blood would be shed.
Being no fool, the leader bowed stiffly. “As you will, Your Highness.” Domenico Moretti might have lost much of his social standing in their race, but it was clear he hadn’t lost any of his innate strength and power.
Questioning by the Lyccan Council often took place in one of the cavernous chambers of the Lyccan Hall’s upper floors. But when they were instead escorted to the dungeons, it only meant one thing. The Council had already made its decision, and no hearing or reprieve would be granted to Alessandro.
Three of the highest members of the Lyccan Council were seated on a round stone table, their faces immediately recognizable to the Moretti brothers. When Giovanni, the eldest of them, nodded, Alessandro bowed before taking the seat across them. His brothers remained on their feet, still flanking him.
“My apologies,” Alessandro said politely. “My brothers are ridiculously protective about me.”
None of the Council members smiled.
“Do you deny revealing our most sacred truth to your human companion, Kassia Summers?” This from the man seated on the right, Placido, a Lyccan royal made famous for his shrewd but bland way of talking.
Behind him, Alessandro could feel his brothers willing him to lie, and he almost smiled. But to the Council members, he said simply, “No, I do not.”
Giovanni sighed heavily. “Pray tell me that you have sworn her in with a blood oath.”
“I’m afraid not, Your Highness.”
“Perhaps she is to be your future mate?”
“I am hoping she will be so, yes.”
Giovanni’s eyebrows shot up. “Do you understand what you’re saying?”
Teodoro, the last Council member, spoke up, his tone condescending as he drawled, “Can you not see this is another sad case of history repeating itself, Giovanni? This young man has been influenced by his older brother’s radical views.” A contemptuous glance at Domenico. “He’sfallenfor that human, and his emotions have turned him into a dog just like Domenico Moretti.”
The old Alessandro Moretti would have been out of his seat before Teodoro would have finished speaking. The old Alessandro would have had Teodoro by the collar, back against the wall, feet dangling in the air while he debated how to best make him suffer before knocking the other Lyccan unconscious.
In fact, his own brothers expected it, too, by the way their hands had automatically clamped down on Alessandro’s shoulders the moment the balding, middle-aged Council member hurled out his insult.
But that was then.
This was now, and sitting there, listening to Teodoro speak the usual lies about Domenico, Alessandro realized that he no longergave a damn. It was an untruth, and lies only had the power to hurt when one allowed it to.
As such, when Teodoro finished speaking, Alessandro only nodded before promptly changing the subject, pointedly ignoring the Council member as he said quietly, “I have complete faith in Ms. Summers. Shewillbe my mate.”
Placido grimaced. “Your faith is commendable, but it’s not enough to reassure us. We will give you 48 hours starting now to have her mated to you or bound by a blood oath. If not...” He let his voice trail off, knowing that he didn’t have to explain what the penalties were.
For crimes such as this, only death would suffice.
FORTY HOURS BEFOREthe execution.
Domenico paced the length of his office, impatiently waiting for a call from his younger brother that would let him know there was nothing to worry about anymore. Alessandro had told him he would make sure that Kassia agreed to a blood oath, but his younger brother had also refused to promise he would say anything about the Council’s threat.
Thirty-six hours before the execution
Fuck it, Domenico thought. His brother’s honor could go to hell. He was not going to stand by and do nothing while Alessandro’s life was on the line.
Snatching his phone from the table, he made a call to Kassia, whose number he had in his possession the moment his security team had discovered her relationship with Domenico’s brother.
Kassia answered on the fourth ring. “Hello?” Her voice was wide-awake and dead at the same time, and Domenico took comfort from it. If she was still bothered about Alessandro’s actions last night, then that was a very good thing.
