It was time to fight, evidently, but Aidan felt paralyzed. His father’s betrayal had hurt him to the core, but he’d barely had time to process it because Maddox had sent the rest of his thoughts to him with such force it seemed impossible for him to react.

Accepting that Maddox had dared to lay a single claw on Rhia was unbearable, but it was worse knowing that he had as much right as Aidan did, or, rather, as many chances... No, no, that wasn’t right either because Maddox hadn’t made as many mistakes as he had.

“You’re Rhia’s other destined mate…” he murmured.

Maddox laughed, taking an offensive stance. “And you’re cute, but I don’t like threesomes.”

He watched Maddox twirl the Keqzhara in one hand as if the spear was an extension of it before launching into a clean, frontal attack. Aidan called Akela for a full transformation and dodged the first thrust of the Keqzhara as the sole of his boot slammed directly into the back of his knee, sending him rolling on the ground but getting u