Taboo Kisses(75)
She eyed the male siren. “I figured you’d have taken the cowardly way out and be running by now.”
“Why on earth would I do that?” Lucius cocked his blond and aqua head to the side as if contemplating her.
“We both know why, you traitor.” To pretend he wasn’t the instigator of the rebellion against his sister was an insult to her intelligence.
The arrogant bastard smirked. “You know me better than that, Sameya.”
Gabriel effected some more low-throated growling. She didn’t chance a glance in Maximus’s direction, but she wouldn’t be surprised if his fangs overlapped his bottom lip.
“I’m considering relinquishing my status as Empress.” E’Neskha reclined in her seat, but for all the effort she put into a casual pose, it failed wide of the mark, her tense shoulders giving her away.
“If she does, I’ll be making a bid for her position.”
Sameya ignored Lucius, her focus centered on her leader. Why would she contemplate something like that? They’d spent over fifty thousand years maintaining the safety and well being of Atlantis. To give it up on a whim, because it had to be an impulse, otherwise her possible resignation made little sense. Surrendering wasn’t in her personality, and she would never give up on her people merely to spare a battle. Not if it were in their best interest. “Why?”
“As if that’s any of your business.” Lucius sniffed haughtily as he approached. “You’re overstepping your boundaries.”
“And you’re getting on my nerves.”
“I think it’s time to concede, Sameya.” E’Neskha shrugged, sending her brother a disillusioned glance. “We discussed it once before and—”
“Discussed it two thousand years ago. To forfeit when it’s revealed Lucius is the turncoat…I don’t understand your reasoning.”
“Pish-posh, you know I’m no threat to E’Neskha. That you’d deliver false information simply to place a wedge between us is atrocious. Verifies what I’ve been telling her all these years, that your advice cannot be trusted.” Lucius lounged in a chair beside his sister, his overconfident demeanor nettling Sameya. Judging by the conceit in his eyes, he thought he’d won.
“Do you believe him, E’Neskha?”
“Which part? Your misinformation or his innocence?”
“Either, and both.” She watched her, gauging the leader.
E’Neskha was silent a long moment before she responded, and not to her question. “You’ve got your mates to keep you busy now. You don’t need me, and I’ve been restless this last millennium. Maybe I should’ve stepped aside sooner.” She shrugged. “I hadn’t thought about it until all this mess with the rebellion. All things must eventually come to an end.”
Sameya stomped to the table and slammed her palms facedown on the tabletop. “Do. You. Believe. Him?”
The Empress wouldn’t meet her gaze. “He’s my brother, Sameya, we’ll leave it at that.”
“Have you lost your fucking mind?”
“You’ll mind your tone,” Lucius said condescendingly.
Sameya ignored the arrogant bastard.
“What reason does Lucius have to lie?” E’Neskha shot back, her bottom lip trembling.
No way was the Atlantian leader that gullible. That they shared the same blood softened her. Maybe it was time E’Neskha yielded her throne, but there wasn’t a chance in hell Sameya would allow Lucius’ behavior to go without repercussions.
Utilizing her siren speed, Sameya zipped to Lucius and drenched him in a serenade. He screamed and slapped at his forehead as E’Neskha vaulted to her feet. “Sameya!”
“No closer, E’Neskha, or I’ll reap him.” The coldness in her voice halted her leader’s approach. She plugged the male siren with her special magic, the magnitude of the effects more pronounced on someone as strong as him. But he still held no chance of evading her control.
With his sister staring on in horror, Lucius finally gave up the fight and went limp in his seat, his hands dropping into his lap. He twitched as if suffering the delayed twinges of an electrocution, but with his mental struggle against her song eliminated, he had become her puppet. At her mercy, he’d do her bidding with no hope of E’Neskha superseding Sameya’s song.
The other woman’s hands shook as she lifted them in prayer-like fashion below her chin. “Please don’t harm him, Sameya. He’s all the family I have left.”
When I’m done with him, you will be all he has left.
“I’m disappointed you’d turn your reign into a mockery like this, E’Neskha.” Sameya couldn’t understand her leader’s tolerance for Lucius’ comportment. “Being your brother doesn’t grant him indefinite liberties. He is still accountable for his actions, yet you won’t hold him to that standard.”