Page 81 of The Stone Secret
Like hell he didn’t know who Levi was, but he was putting on a good show of being oblivious.
“Levi Halle.” The slight hint of amusement in Levi’s tone told me he was aware of the pretense but was willing to play along. “I’d like to speak about Miss Basque.”
What was he doing?
“What about her?” Serath’s tone was lower now, holding a warning I wasn’t sure Levi was picking up on.
“If we could speak outside?”
Serath stepped out of the line, drink forgotten. I caught his profile, the tension in his jaw as he strode out of the building without giving me a second glance.
I broke away from Touron. “I’ll be right back.”
“Cam, don’t,” Touron said.
“I have to.”
I pushed open the door to the sound of Serath’s voice. The two males stood on the grass verge, several yards away from the building.
“Miss Basque’s training is my responsibility,” Serath said.
“Really? You’ve been away for two weeks. I can’t see how you’ve upheld that responsibility.”
Serath’s jaw ticked. “The workings of the elite team are none of your concern.”
“Maybe not, but Cameron is. She may be just another cadet to you, a stand-in for your lost elite, but she’s more than that to me.”
“Yes, I’m aware of yourrelationshipwith Miss Basque. I’m also aware that it’s over.”
Oh shit. I needed to get over there.
Levi exhaled in frustration. “That doesn’t change the fact that I care about her and want to help her succeed. I can do that if you let me. Her life may only mean the difference between a strong elite unit and a compromised one to you, but it means the world to me.” He looked right at me then, pinning me to the spot with his beautiful sea-green eyes, now stormy and dark with emotion. “I love her.”
His words were like slugs to the heart.
Serath’s scent spiked, bitter and laced with destruction.
Fuck. I rushed over and placed myself between them, my back to Serath’s chest. “We talked about this, Levi. I told you I didn’t need your help.”
“No, you said you’d ask the elites.” Levi looked over my head at Serath. “I don’t see the problem. I can help because I know what the elite trial entails.”
Serath moved forward, the heat of his body kissing mine, forcing me to bite back a sigh of pleasure. “How can you know?” he asked Levi.
Levi’s nostrils flared. “Because they were created by my druid clan.”
It took everything I had not to lean back against Serath. “But he can’t tell us what the trials involve.”
“I’ll think about it,” Serath said. “Are we done here?”
“Dammit, Serath, what is there to think about?” Levi demanded. “Is this about my father? Your uncle?”
“I have no uncle.” Serath’s tone was gravel and pain.
Levi’s lip curled. “Of course you don’t. You made that clear when you ran from him as a youngling and refused to let him take you in and give you a home. Your anger at the loss of your parents destroyed that relationship. I can’t believe you blamed him for your father’s death even after all the evidence proved otherwise.”
Serath’s chest vibrated, the beast within riled and ready to rumble.
“Don’t.” I pushed my body against his but addressed Levi. “You havenoidea what you’re talking about, Levi, so just drop it.”
