Jacob~
Darius stared at the royal scepter in my hands, his face draining of color. His nostrils flared, his breath coming in short, sharp bursts. His black eyes widened in raw disbelief. For the first time since I had walked into this room, he looked shaken.
His lips parted, but no sound came. Then, finally, in a voice that a mortal could barely hear, he asked, "Who the hell are you?"
I tilted my head, letting his question hang in the air. I had expected this reaction, but seeing it firsthand was... satisfying.
I took my time, watching him squirm before answering. "Like I said earlier, I'm Garrick Wilson." I paused, enjoying the total confusion in his eyes.
I was about to tell him. About the lie, I had come to deliver. About my role as the king's secret royal advisor. But then, a scent breezed into the room.
Faint. Barely there. But unmistakable.
