Chapter 67: Chapter 67 Rivals in Love
Elara’s POV
"Yeah, all yours. But not for free." I held out the empty Dragonfire Blaster. "Can you refill the ammo for me?"
"You used it all?" Kaelen stopped sulking and got serious.
His gaze swept over me from head to toe. I’d cleaned up, but he still caught the medicinal scent lingering on me. Something dark flickered across his face. His eyes clouded with concern as he stared at me. "You... You weren’t really on leave these past few days, were you?"
I hesitated, my chest tightening at his worry. "I’m fine. Look? All healed up."
My smile seemed to cut right through him. "Elara, I’m sorry."
He looked as if he felt like a worthless husband.
I threw up my hands. "Don’t say that..."
He interrupted me with a deep bow.
For a moment I freaked out, then bowed back just as low.
"I’m sorry..."
"What are you two doing?!" Kaelen’s apology crashed into Julian’s shout. We both whipped our heads toward Chamber Two.
"Say another word," Kaelen growled.
Julian smirked. "I’ll say twenty. Kaelen, you shameless fool. Do your soldiers know you turn into a clingy kitten at a pet café? You’re nothing but a stray begging for scraps."
"Screw you, fish-face! That’s brutal! I have every right."
"Rights? Ha. You’re just thick as concrete." freeωebnovēl.c૦m
I wanted to smack my forehead.
No wonder Alistair warned me to brace myself in the kitchen. These two morons still don’t have a clue about the real situation.
The thought made me smirk. I couldn’t wait to watch their reactions when they discovered the truth.
But how did they piece together fragments of it?
I’d questioned Alistair before.
He explained that Barrett had dropped hints, then they’d figured things out after my touch brought down their spirit collapse levels.
Back to now - the snarling dragon squared off against the raging sea lizard. Fine, gorgeous merman. Julian gripped his trident, flashing his teeth at Kaelen.
Battling for their mate was worth breaking protocol.
The air force and navy stood on the brink of war... until Julian spotted me. In a heartbeat, the fierce sea beast transformed into a beautiful, docile man.
He settled peacefully against the wall, his trident morphing into something that belonged in an adult bookstore.
The merman leafed through his book silently, as though he hadn’t been yelling seconds ago.
Kaelen stamped his foot in anger.
"Shit. Shit!" he muttered under his breath.
"Julian, fight me properly!" he bellowed.
Julian replied, "Elara, look at him. He terrified me so badly I molted scales! A distinguished air general, so barbaric..."
"Oh, right. So saltwater turns you into a whiny princess. Do your crew members know you act this way?" Kaelen fired back.
Julian instantly switched to soft and vulnerable, gazing at me with doe eyes, silently pleading for my support.
But I froze, gawking at the book in his grip. I pointed with a shaking finger. "Hold on. You’re the respected navy general... and you’re reading that? And you want me on your side?"
How to Conceal Your Lustful Intentions and Dominate Your Mate?
Wow. No beating around the bush there.
"Enjoy yourselves, boys." I dropped off their meals, flowers, and oversized vine wreaths, then made my escape.
Like Kaelen, Julian had detected the medicine smell on me too. Their bickering was just theater to keep me cheerful and relaxed. I was concealing things to keep them steady - so they’d play their parts.
——
They watched Elara glide down the corridor as always. The two enemies shared a knowing look.
"Thanks."
"Thanks."
Their gazes met, and the genuine hostility came flooding back.
Julian whispered, "Try making another move."
Kaelen whispered in return, "Shameless bastard."
——
Elara’s POV
Dorian’s booming voice shattered their standoff. "Elara!" ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
The leopard rushed to the opening, tails swishing with excitement. He gazed up at me, eyes bright. "Where did you disappear to? Why were you away so long? I missed you like crazy."
He truly had.
I noticed how much weight he’d dropped and knelt down, extending my arms. "You didn’t eat properly, did you?"
He was the baby - and the only one who didn’t trigger my dirty mind.
Dorian couldn’t stop the tears at my tender tone. "Elara, I really missed you. You can’t imagine how awful the food tasted while you were gone."
He just couldn’t keep it together anymore.