Damian opened his mouth to respond, but Raphael kept talking, his voice rising with passion.
"My brother....her father.....entrusted her to . The night of the coup, when everything was falling apart, when the palace was burning and assassins were hunting us through the halls, Azrael made promise. Made swear on everything holy that I would protect his daughter. That I would keep her safe until she was strong enough to claim her birthright."
His hands clenched into fists at his sides. "I have watched over her for twenty-three years. Twenty-three years of hiding in shadows, of tracking her from a distance, of eliminating threats before they could reach her. I have killed for her. Lied for her. Sacrificed any chance at a normal life for her. Because she is my blood. Because I made a promise to my brother. Because she is my responsibility."
He t each of their gazes in turn, his amber eyes burning with absolute conviction. "I will die to protect her. Without hesitation. Without regret. So you can doubt my motives, you can question my intentions, you can dislike my presence....but do not ever question my devotion to Evangeline’s safety and wellbeing. That is non-negotiable."
The brothers looked at him, and for the first ti since he’d arrived, they could see the truth in his eyes. Could hear it in his voice....the absolute, unwavering dedication. The love of a man who’d given up everything to protect the last piece of his murdered family.
Silas looked at his brothers and shook his head slightly...a silent communication that said See? He’s telling the truth. Stand down.
Damian closed his eyes for a mont, wrestling with his territorial instincts. When he opened them again, so of the hostility had faded.....not gone, but tempered by reluctant respect.
"Although I still don’t trust you with my mate," Damian said carefully, "I also won’t deprive her of eting her last living relative. So you will be seeing her today."
"Not that we could stop her from seeing you anyway," Damon added, his voice grudging. "She’d probably tie us up with that power of hers and sneak out to et you regardless."
Despite the tension, Silas actually smiled slightly at that image.
"But in the anti," Damian continued, and his voice took on a different tone.....calculating, strategic. He exchanged a glance with Damon, so silent communication passing between them.
Damon’s expression shifted to match his brother’s.....a smile that was more predatory than friendly.
"We know that you had a long journey," Damian said smoothly. "Traveling from the Seraphim Court all the way here. And given the nature of your kind....."
His smile widened, becoming sharp. "We know that you need to feed. At least, we know that from Eve. She requires regular... sustenance... to maintain her strength."
"So to show our hospitality," Damon picked up seamlessly, "we will prepare pack mbers who will make sure you are well fed. Completely fed."
The way he emphasized ’completely fed’ made Raphael raise his head, genuine amusent returning to his expression. Oh, he saw exactly what they were doing. Saw the transparent attempt to keep him occupied, distracted, too busy fucking their pack females to spend ti with Eve.
It was almost cute in its obviousness.
"Because we can’t afford to make you starve on our territory," Damian finished, his smile not reaching his eyes. "Eve wouldn’t be happy about that. And I hate to see her sad."
Raphael looked at the Alphas in front of him and actually laughed.....a rich, genuine sound that filled the office. Of course he was aware of what they were trying to do. They wanted to keep him occupied, keep him away from Eve by offering sexual distractions.
He could indulge them. For a while, at least.
And it so happened that he genuinely did need to feed. The journey had been long, the portal travel had drained him, and stabilizing Eve’s power surge last night had depleted his reserves more than he’d let on. He was running on fus right now, and accepting their offer would solve that problem while amusing him with their transparent scheming.
Plus, he’d heard that female werewolves were excellent lovers. Passionate, energetic, uninhibited. It might be... enjoyable.
He sat down in the chair opposite Damian’s desk, crossing his legs with elegant ease, and smiled at them...a smile that was all sinful promise and dark amusent.
"Of course not," he said smoothly. "I sure do need to feed, and I appreciate your concern for my wellbeing."
Damian’s smile in return was sharp and didn’t reach his eyes. "It is our pleasure."
"However," Raphael continued, and his eyes changed in that split second.....shifting from amused to deadly serious, power crackling in their silver depths. "You cannot keep away from Eve. I am here to train her for what is coming. The Seraphim Court is not to be ssed with. They sent an assassin yesterday, and they will send more. Stronger ones. More creative ones. She needs to be prepared."
He leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping. "I am not here to fuck your females...." He paused, his smile returning wickedly. "....alone. I am here to protect my niece. To teach her everything she needs to survive the political battlefield she’s about to be thrown into. To train her to be not just powerful, but strategic. Not just a succubus, but a queen."
Damian looked at him, and despite his irritation at being so easily read, he had to respect the directness. "We wouldn’t have it any other way. You will be allowed to train Eve."
His expression hardened. "But know that we will be present during the training sessions. Making sure no boundaries are crossed. Making sure everything remains appropriate and familial."
He held Raphael’s gaze, alpha dominance eting ancient incubus power. "She is our mate. Our responsibility. We failed to protect her from one assassin yesterday...that won’t happen again. So if you’re going to be in close proximity to her, teaching her, touching her to demonstrate techniques.....we will be there. Watching. Every. Single. Ti."
Raphael looked at Damian, at the territorial possessiveness written across every line of him, and smiled with that sinfully handso face that Damian couldn’t wait to wipe off.
"Then we have a deal," Raphael said easily.
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