An Understated Dominance (Dustin Rhys)

At first, it had only been a suspicion. But now Matthias was certain that someone had deliberately set him up and shifted the blame to drag him into this mess.

“Hmph. You people from Dragonmarsh talk out of both sides of your mouth,” Zeus said coldly. “Every word out of your mouth is a lie. I’m done believing a damn thing you say.”

The supposed connection between Logan and Matthias had come from the Hall of Gods’ internal investigation. Compared to anything a Dragonmarsh official might say, Zeus naturally trusted his own people more. And with the badge as evidence, it was hard to argue.

“Whatever grudge you’ve got against Logan, it has nothing to do with me,” Matthias said in a low voice. “I’m telling you, this is all part of someone else’s plan. They want us at each other’s throats so they can sit back and enjoy the fallout.”

Now that he knew it was a setup, he was much calmer. He needed to get through to Zeus before this exploded into war. Of course, he didn’t want to take the fall for someone else’s scheme.

“Why should I believe you?” Zeus shot back. “For all I know, you’re hiding him right now.”

He’d searched all over for Logan, and now that he finally had a solid lead, he wasn’t about to walk away empty-handed.

“Do I need to spell it out for you? If I were hiding Logan, do you think I’d be standing here explaining myself? I’d have handed him over already,” Matthias growled, struggling to control his anger.

Zeus grunted. “You snakes from Dragonmarsh are all the same-scheming, lying bastards. Who knows what game you’re playing?”

Matthias took a slow breath to calm his nerves. “Then, tell me. What will it take for you to believe me?”

Zeus replied. “I won’t trust a word you say until you bring Logan to me.”

“I have no idea where he is,” Matthias snapped. “How the hell am I supposed to find him overnight?”

Zeus said coldly. “You have until dawn. If you can’t give me Logan’s whereabouts by then,

luck,

ahead. Let’s see who walks away alive.”

that didn’t mean he was backing down,

felt like a volcano ready to erupt. He glared at Zeus, then

out there and find him

Neville frowned

ready to charge at Zeus on Matthias’ command. But he didn’t expect

Zeus had taken, was Matthias thinking

to Neville and shouted, “I said

Dragonmarsh, Matthias wasn’t used to feeling so humiliated. But for the greater

gritted his

back down, Zeus let

what he expected from the Dragonmarsh’s cowards-let someone walk all over them and

men from Dragonmarsh had no pride. They let others walk all

my men are harmed, there’ll be no more talks today. We go straight to war,” Matthias said before turning

used the Celestial

strike, Matthias would have to face two royal gods simultaneously. Even with the Five Sanguine Elemental Seals protecting him, he was not guaranteed

he did manage to kill Zeus, endless problems would follow. He knew well how powerful

assassination attempts, and every day

pushed him to the edge, he wouldn’t go down alone and would