Chapter 44 44

Chapter 44 44
LUCIUS’S POV

Camilla wouldn't just show up after decades of perfectly creating her distance. There was a reason she came back, a reason I was trying so hard to figure out without sounding rude to her. Don’t get me wrong, I was delighted to find out that she was alive at least, and on the brighter side of things, Axel would at least have someone else to bug. But for the life of me, I couldn't help the worry at the base of my heart. Camilla is a lot of trouble, I already have too many on my table and an addition is something I could avoid.

As I watched her with Axel and a chessboard between them, I tried to pry into her head but she had it blocked completely. More reason for me to believe that she was up to no good. As if sensing my gaze, she raised her head and stared toward me then ushered me forward with her hand but I declined by shaking my head.

Reading each other’s thoughts is a skill only Lycans can do. And you could master the act of blocking anyone from reading your thoughts if you want. Hard but totally doable. Camilla could not block me out for the majority of her stay here but at some point, she managed to get the hang of it. And now I regret teaching her that.

“He is either working these days, or curled up in the hands of that young girl. You need to see how he acts in her presence. Repulsive I tell you.” Axel moved one of his players and knocked off Camilla’s as he spoke, shaking his head in displeasure.

I rolled my eyes at his dramatic nature, wondering when the heck he would finally come to terms with the fact that Valeria was in my life to stay.

I watched Camilla scrunch her nose at his words and then muttered something under her breath. Something that even Axel didn't manage to catch.

It is only natural that she wasn't inclined toward Valeria. She was never inclined toward any woman who was close to me. And although ending things between us was a collective decision we both agreed to, she still thinks in sine messed-up way, that she has some claim on me, even though I never bothered with interfering with her personal life or what she does with the opposite gender in general. According to Axel, she just can never move on.

I must have been so engrossed in my thought that I had no idea when Camilla left her seat and sauntered toward me. I was only pulled back into reality when I heard her voice so close.

“I want my room back, or at least Axel’s” She lowered herself into the nearest couch, giving me the look of determination. She knew perfectly well what she was onto. Axel’s room is now Valeria's, even though she doesn't sleep in it, she still has her personal stuff in there. And Axel had occupied the room that was once Camilla’s.

“There are tens of rooms around here, you can be picky. Do not stir trouble, I don’t have the patience for that.” I responded without looking up at her even though I so badly wanted her to see the stern look in my eyes.

She doesn't talk for a few minutes but when she does, trust is another dimension of chaos. “For how long have you known her anyway? That you just decided she was fit to be given a room in your personal chambers.”

“She is my mate. Are you going to respect that or not?” I want us to establish a base.

“I can respect that.” She shrugged. “But I do not have the strength to respect her in particular. I mean whoever is assigning mate and all must be having an existential crisis at this point cause what the heck? She’s just some weak ass…..not even a werewolf. What is she?”

“Camilla?” I warned, this time actually raising my head to stare into her stubborn-looking eyes.

“Yeah yeah..it will take a lot of getting used to. But I will try.” She rolled her eyes. “But I still want my room though.”

“You can share with Axel or whatever it is you see fit but stay out of her business. I won’t repeat this.”

“What is wrong with you for fuck sake? Are you sure this girl hasn't done something to your head?”

“When you finally get yourself a mate, we will have this conversation again.”

“Yuck.” She made a face. “I can never see myself dedicated to just one person. I mean seriously where is the fun in that? You used to be wild and all of a sudden you are caged? Yeah definitely calls for investigation.”

“Do not get yourself involved with my mate. I would not want that.” I warned again, even before she made the agenda clear, I knew perfectly well where she was going. I know Camilla like the back of my hand.

“I am just worried about you.” She pressed on.

“You are wasting your emotion in the wrong place then. I am perfectly okay where I am now because this is where I want to be. With my mate.”

“But you were quipping about the Luna thing right?” She took another route. “You can’t possibly make that your Luna.”

“You watch me.” I chuckled bitterly, hating the fact that she could freely talk down on my mate like that. Not unless I want to wage a war in my own palace, I couldn't send her away. Axel would be bad, everybody else around me too cause as pessimistic as she can be, she is so much loved by the population.

“Did you try talking him out of this?” She turned to Axel, who was playing his chess alone. Weirdo.

He shrugged, moved his gaze lazily between us, and went back to his game.

“Something is clearly wrong with both of you.” She grumbled and moved out of the throne room.