Ryker leaned back in his chair, a smug smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Yes," he said to Kael with quiet confidence, "half of why Aiden has been pursuing me this strongly might really be because of the mate attraction. But I believe the other half is because of my own appeal. I am handsome, after all, and I even saved him. Why wouldn't Aiden fall for me immediately? I'm telling you, Kael, even without the mate bond, Aiden would still have fallen for me eventually. It might have taken longer, but it would have happened."
Kael groaned and rolled his eyes at Ryker's self-assured tone.
"Yeah, yeah," Kael said with a faint smirk, "whatever you say, prince."
Ryker chuckled at that, clearly entertained by Kael's sarcasm. His mood, which had been tense only moments ago, had brightened considerably.
