Strolling through the living quarters and the twisting hallways on our trek to the dining hall, Ezra and I glanced at each other. Everyone was watching us warily — or flat out staring — more than likely hoping for another sparring match like we had been having all week. Funny how I hadn’t noticed their glances through the actual week, but now that I was relaxed to the point of passing out as soon as my belly was full, I definitely took notice.

Ezra’s eyebrows furrowed. “I guess we were that bad.”

“Huh,” I mumbled absently, right before we walked into the dining hall. It was full of people eating lunch. Like a record scratching, the noise turned off, and everyone’s attention swung in our direction in a crashing wave across the room. We both halted inside the door at the instant attention. They stared. I blinked, then whispered, “Not that damn bad.”

“Apparently, we were,” Ezra mumbled quietly, heading for the line at the buffet.

I quickly followed, allowing my hair to fall across the side of my face, using it as a shield.

Conversation sluggishly went back into full swing when Ezra and I stood next to each other without coming to verbal blows, although everyone kept peeking covertly our way, as if they were just waiting for a detonation.

Ezra glanced at me as we loaded our plates, both of us starving. A small smile graced his generous mouth, a soft chuckle escaping with it. I snickered right along with him. It was kind of amusing. Hell, if you couldn’t find the humor in life’s quirks, life would be damn boring.

Scouting a table at the edge of the crowd, we sat next to each other, both of us placing our backs to the wall out of habit. Unperturbed, we began eating from our piled-high plates. Ezra had grabbed a few items I loved, and I had grabbed a few I knew he prized when his plate had been too full. We sat in companionable quiet, every once in a while taking an item off each other’s plate, enjoying our meal.

Noshing our goods, Ezra took a bite of something that was definitely questionable. His face instantly puckered, his nose crinkling. I laughed at his expression, and in retaliation he tossed a bit of it into my wide open mouth. My snickering abruptly cut off, my own face wrinkling as a definite taste of fish — and maybe cheese — wrapped my taste buds in revulsion. Then it was his turn to hoot while I held my nose, swallowing it down.

“Not funny,” I muttered, smacking my tongue on the top of my mouth.

“Here.” He handed my Coke to me, his chuckle rumbling deep.

After rapidly grabbing it, I started chugging the refreshing liquid, only belatedly realizing it was abnormally quiet around us. Glancing past the rim of my cup, I noticed almost everyone was staring, their jaws gaping. I almost choked on my drink, but I set it down delicately, still feeling mighty peaceful, no one’s staring going to ruin my mood. Turning my attention to Ezra, I wore a mischievous smile. “Maybe we should start a fake fight.”

He sniggered, his eyes darting to the gawkers. He grinned down at his plate before scooting it away, shrugging, and pushing his chair back to put his boots up on the table in an unperturbed position. After grabbing his coffee from the table, he sipped it before peering at me, rumbling, “They’ll get used to it.”

I snorted, my eyes skimming the crowd as I continued eating. There were many Mysticals here. After the news had broken through the masses about hybrids creating Beasts, the Mysticals had become even more separated. After lifting a fry, I munched on it and decided you could cut the room in fourths by Mystical factions. Vampires were to the far back right, Mages to the far back left, Elementals to the direct right, and Shifters to the direct left. Still, even though the situation had only become worse behind the scenes, I knew that if war truly broke out between Com and Mys, none of them would give a flying fuck if they were fighting beside a member of a fellow faction or of another.

In matters of war, Mysticals were only Mysticals. We protected each other.

Survival in its most basic form.

My gaze stalled on a table a few over. It was mixed like ours.

It was also the air Elemental and Shifter I had seen this morning with Antonio, Cahal, and the Kings. Peering at the air Elemental, I saw that his bright yellow hair was a direct contrast against his deep ebony skin. He was striking, with delicate features, his body built on the slimmer side, like a swimmer, and he appeared to be near thirty years old by Com standards, which meant he was probably around eighty years old. The Shifter next to him looked to be approximately the same age, but that was where the similarities ended. He was enormous everywhere the air Elemental was slim, even his facial features more bold and fierce. His spiral-curled black hair complemented his olive-colored complexion, making his blue eyes appear navy.

They were watching us, but their gazes were much more penetrating, not ogling like the others.

I opened my mouth to ask Ezra if he knew who they were, but my question stalled in my throat as I sniffed the air and blinked in confusion. I smelled smoke. Cigarette smoke, in particular. Unfreezing, my gaze snapped to Ezra. He was lounging on his chair, boots still on the table, with his coffee in one hand and a lit cigarette in the other, as he inhaled a prolonged drag. My jaw dropped, and I sputtered, “What are you doing?”

His lips twitched, and he lowered his cigarette and dropped his head back to blow the smoke to the ceiling. “I’m smoking.”

Complete shock. “I can see that.” His lips quirked in a resulting grin as he watched me, his head tilted, obviously enjoying my stunned reaction. “When did you start doing that?”

He ashed on the cave floor and shrugged. “I only smoke every so often now, but I used to smoke these…and other things…on a normal basis before coming to King Hall.” Another shrug as he lifted the cigarette to his curling lips. “This past week, I took it back up.”

My gaze narrowed as I waved a hand in front of my face. “Just those, or other things?”

He grunted, taking another drag. “Just these.”

Eyeing him a moment longer, I hummed in my throat and reclined on my chair, trying to ignore the fact that when his lips curled around the cigarette it looked sexy as hell. Not moving my lips, I barely breathed, “You do realize you smoking right now is a little cliché?”

His deep chortle reverberated. “Maybe, but it’s no less enjoyable.” He tilted his head toward me, whispering, “You do know Mysticals don’t grow addicted or get lung cancer, right?”

I snorted. “I’m not a complete idiot.” My eyes met his. “But I could use your,” my words were drier than dirt, “supreme knowledge on another issue.” One of his eyebrows quirked in silent question, so I slanted my head toward the left. “Five tables over. Do you know who the air Elemental and Shifter are?”

Lifting the cigarette and taking another drag, his head cocked and his eyes searched where I had indicated. He stilled after a moment, then slowly ashed his cigarette, his eyes lingering on them. Blowing the smoke out of the corner of his mouth — away from me — he murmured, “I’ve seen their pictures before.” His gaze held in their direction, and I glanced that way, seeing both of them watching Ezra. The Shifter’s lips were even curled a bit. Eyes back on Ezra, I saw he was returning the gesture, until he turned his attention to me. “The air Elemental is Elder Jacobs, the Shifter’s Elder Merrick.” When I stilled, he chuckled, relaxing further into his chair, and took another drag. “Yeah, they’re the other half of my dad and Antonio’s posse.”

My regard snapped around, scrutinizing them in a different light. No wonder they seemed…more. They were. They had fought alongside Antonio and Cahal. Not only had they experienced war firsthand, they had led the entirety of the Mystical population through it.

The Shifter, Elder Merrick, took that moment to wink at me, lazily sitting back on his chair. I blinked, a bit confused. What was that about? It took a slow smile from him for me to realize he was hitting on me from tables away.

I stilled, quickly peering away. Clearing my throat, I grabbed a fry, feeling strange at someone flirting with me while Ezra sat right next to me. After we had just had mind-blowing sex. Glancing at him, his eyes met mine.

He took a slow sip of his coffee. “I believe someone’s taken an interest in you.”

I tossed the fry into my mouth, sitting back, not really knowing what to say.

Ezra set his coffee cup on the table and lit another cigarette, after smashing the other one out on his plate, saying quietly, “This doesn’t have to be awkward between us.” He inhaled a drag. “The situation is no different than either of us taking another…” He shrugged, not ignorant enough to say ‘lover’ aloud.

After a tick, I nodded and relaxed, letting my head fall back against my chair. “Good.”

We sat in pleasant silence for a few minutes, both of us enjoying the peace.

Up until Ezra muttered, “Shit.”

“Do I want to know?” My eyes were closed, head still back on my chair.

“Well…,” Ezra drawled. “What could ruin our good moods right now?”

I snorted. “The Kings.”

He chuckled, even as I heard him light another cigarette. “And the winner receives a half-hour of listening to the Kings bitch.”

“You’re a chain-smoker. You know that, right?”

“Only when the situation suits,” he purred softly.

I snorted, rubbing my eyes before lowering my head to peer at the crowd. Only to see King Kincaid and King Venclaire heading our way, weaving through the tables. Their expressions were guarded, carefully examining us as if we were bugs under microscopes. “Does this place have a back exit?”

“I didn’t see one.” Of course he would have already looked.

“They were talking about me earlier,” I whispered quietly. “Trouble’s brewing.”

Ezra sipped his coffee again, saying on a mere breath, “They’re looking at me the same way as they are you, so it appears we’re both in trouble.”

“When are we not?”

Ezra snickered quietly and tilted his head as they approached, his position mirroring mine.

The Kings stood in front of our table, both watching us warily.

King Venclaire gestured to the chairs in front of them. “Are these seats taken?”

Ezra and I shook our heads, staying mute. The less we talked meant the faster they left.

Both Kings sat tranquilly on the chairs, even though their eyes darted between us.

King Venclaire murmured, “The rumor mill said you two were here.”

Wonderful. It had gotten so bad others were keeping tabs on us.

We shrugged like it was nothing special.

“More specifically,” King Kincaid’s eyes were watchful, “You were in here not arguing.”

Another time we shrugged.

King Kincaid scented the air. “Are you two drunk?”

I was pretty sure we stared in barely masked surprise until we shook our heads.

King Venclaire’s gaze went to Ezra’s cigarette, then to our eyes. “Stoned?”

This was actually damn funny, but I kept my mouth shut as we shook our heads.

King Kincaid’s eyebrows furrowed. “What’s going on then?”

King Venclaire’s nostrils flared as he relaxed further on his chair, staying silent.

It wouldn’t be advantageous to our goal of them leaving as quickly as possible if we played ignorant, so I stated honestly, “We had a discussion. Worked out our issues.”

“There may have been a little bloodshed, but,” Ezra ashed, “we got it all figured out.”

How I kept an innocent mien was beyond me, both of us holding their gazes guiltlessly.

King Kincaid sniffed the air, his face clearing as he sighed, and muttered, “Truth.” He smiled. A happy one, which slowly turned malicious. “As ecstatic as we are that there will be no more outbursts from you two, the other Kings and I have decided the both of you need a form of punishment for your recent childish behavior.” Ah, here we go. “Both of you will be working in the day care area.” My jaw clenched, eyes narrowing. Fucking prick. “Not together, mind you. We wouldn’t want you having too much fun.” He stood, placing his hands in his pockets, appearing as pleased as Punch. “So every morning one of you will be helping with the,” he snickered, “precious little ones.”

Ezra and I stayed mute, nodding only once and praying he would walk the fuck away before he came up with any other atrocious form of punishment. He did leave, chuckling as he swept through the tables. Way too cheerful for it to be innocent in nature.

King Venclaire continued sitting where he was, gazing at us.

We stared back, just as mute as him.

A few moments into the silence, he asked Ezra, “Can I have a cigarette?” He smiled, and it was crafty and sinful. “I just came from…talking…with a friend, and I could really use one.”

Ezra and I flinched the barest bit, just the tiniest smidge.

King Venclaire noticed. His smile widened even as his eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward to place his elbows on the table, speaking in the barest whisper, “I hope you two remember what I stated before.” We stiffened, both of us very much remembering his ‘sex talk’ and not wanting to ever hear a repeat of it. “This isn’t the time, nor will it probably ever be, for anyone to find out what happens behind closed doors.” He held our gazes, not moving from his position, nor appearing like he planned to until we gave him some type of confirmation that we weren’t complete idiots.

Ezra’s chest rose, then he growled, “They won’t.”

King Venclaire’s eyes met mine.

My cheeks flamed bright red under his regard. I couldn’t help it; he was my damn biological dad. He had thought we were having sex when we weren’t, and it had been more of an annoyance, but this time we were most definitely having wild monkey sex. Mortification flooded my system, my gaze swinging to my lap where I stared avidly. Nodding jerkily, I mumbled, “I understand.”

To my surprise, he reached across the table and squeezed one of the hands I had fisted on the table, before standing silently and walking away.

Ezra cleared his throat, asking quietly, “First time being caught?” By a parent, he didn’t say aloud. When I nodded, still staring at my lap, trying to collect myself, he chuckled. “I’ll get you some ice-cream.” A pause as he stood. “And maybe a drink?”

“A big one,” I grumbled, rolling my head around on my shoulders. “Of both.”

Flicking his lighter repeatedly as I waited for his return, staring at its flame, my hand shot out across his empty seat. “It’s taken.”

A rumble, deep and gravelly, sounded. “I didn’t think you were paying attention.”

I smiled, flicking the flame again, not removing my hand from the seat. “You smell of your animal, Elder Merrick.”

Elder Jacobs’s merriment was light as it sounded from the front of our table. “Shut down.” He continued snickering. “I bet you thought she would bow down to you.”

Glancing up at them, I saw Elder Merrick bare his teeth at Elder Jacobs, but his eyes found mine quickly. “Ignore the Elemental asshole. He finally got laid, so he’s in rare spirits.” His hand rested on top of mine where I held the chair, even as Elder Jacobs laughed heartily, not arguing and pretty much proving Elder Merrick’s words true. “Are you sure this seat’s taken?”

His gaze didn’t waver. Yes, he was handsome. Extremely so. But I wasn’t disrespectful enough to give another man Ezra’s seat. “Yes, I’m sure.” My eyes darted to his hand over mine, and back to his eyes, which I would normally find captivating if I wasn’t completely sated. “Do you mind?”

Antonio walked to our table as we continued our silent staring match. Elder Merrick did not answer me, nor did he remove his hand. Antonio pulled out a chair, muttering, “There’s a seat right here, Merrick.”

Elder Merrick leaned down, nostrils flaring as he scented me. “I want this one.”

My lips quirked. Not many ignored Antonio. He had balls, that was for sure. “As I’ve already explained, it’s taken.”

“By whom?” Cahal’s voice startled me from behind, but I didn’t glance away.

“By me,” Ezra stated calmly, also from behind me. He moved around the table and set a double shot of tequila, a beer, another cup of coffee, and a large cup of ice-cream on the table in front of our seats. Ezra leaned a hip against the table, directly next to us, as Elder Merrick’s body blocked his seat, and in the meanwhile, Elder Merrick and I continued our battle of wills. “I believe she’s told you the seat’s taken three times now.” He hooked a boot on the chair Antonio had pulled out and tugged over, making it squeak on the black floor obscenely. “Or possibly, with your old age, you have a problem with your hearing?”

Elder Merrick’s lips curved. “I may be older than you, baby Zeller, but everything still works,” his grin grew, his striking gaze heating on mine, “just fine.”

My jaw clenched. I knew Ezra wasn’t going to like the name-calling.

Ezra didn’t disappoint, his chuckle sounding roughly. “Only one person calls me baby. It sure as fuck isn’t you,” he tilted, his face hovering directly next to Elder Merrick’s ear, “and it sure as hell isn’t in that context.” A quiet Vampire growl. “Now, get the fuck out of my way.”

Elder Merrick stiffened at the blatant order.

“Yes, please do.” I grinned. It was more of a baring of teeth. “My ice-cream’s melting.” I flittered a hand between us. “We could keep this up all night, you and me, since we’re both obviously strong, but honestly, I want my damn ice-cream too much.”

Elder Merrick smiled, mimicking mine, showing his teeth. “We wouldn’t want your treat to go to waste.” He and I blinked at the same time, turning our attention away from each other and mutually stopping our staring contest. I grabbed my ice-cream while he lifted and straightened as Ezra did, so that they were damn near nose to nose, since they were of the same height.

Elder Merrick smiled again. The same smile. “Don’t ever give me an order again,” he growled, “baby Zeller, or I won’t give a shit that I respect your dad, and I’ll kick your fucking ass.”

Ezra grinned, his fangs extended. “I’d like to see you try, old man.”

Antonio sighed heavily, sitting on a chair. “Cahal, do something about your son.” He flicked a hand at me. “At least mine diffused the situation.” Another hand flick, this time at Ezra. “Yours is only escalating it.”

Cahal merely grunted, also sitting down at our table.

Elder Merrick’s gaze flew to Antonio — away from Ezra. “Yours?”

“I raised her,” Antonio stated evenly.

Yanking my hand out from under Elder Merrick’s, I patted the seat. “Seat’s free, Ezra.”

Ezra’s eyes narrowed as he continued grinning. “Elder Merrick, you’re in my way.”

“Ezra,” his dad stated gruffly, obviously tired of his son’s antics. “That’s enough.”

Elder Merrick still watched Antonio. “That’s where you disappeared to.”

“Something like that,” Antonio murmured, taking a drink of his beer and running a hand through his hair. He nodded to the seat both he and Ezra had motioned for him to sit on. “You may want to take a seat before the Vampire you’re ignoring helps you onto it.”

Amazingly, Elder Merrick grunted and then moved, sitting on the proffered chair as Ezra slipped back onto his seat and tossed his boots onto the table right in front of Elder Merrick. I suppressed a chuckle. Ezra rarely had to exert any pressure to get people to do as he wished, so more than likely he was enjoying this little battle he kept egging on. Taking my spoon, I dug into my slightly melted ice-cream as Ezra sipped from his beer. Elder Jacobs, also sitting at our table, occupied the last remaining seat.

Antonio flicked a finger against Ezra’s boots, which Ezra didn’t remove from the table, and said, “We heard you two were in here,” he eyed us, “getting along.”

I chuckled around a mouthful of ice-cream — Ezra had picked strawberry and it was quickly vanishing — while firmly keeping my gaze away from Cahal. “We already had this conversation with the Kings.” I pointed my spoon at Antonio. “Did you have anything to do with our punishment?”

Antonio smiled. It was of pure mischief. “I may have put a bug in their ear.”

Ezra scowled, taking a swill of his beer. “I swear to God, I’ll never have a fucking brat.”

“Amen,” I muttered, then gave Antonio a fed up glance. “For someone who just loves children, you sure know how to push others away from them.”

Cahal snorted, glancing to Antonio. “You love children?”

“Currently? One,” Antonio retorted in a clipped tone. “Lily.”

I rolled my eyes. “You love to torture me.” I set my bowl aside, done wolfing my sweet.

“That too.” He grinned as only a dad could.

Cahal blinked, then asked, “What did you tell the Kings?”

Antonio snickered, watching us. “They’ll be on babysitting duty.”

“Again,” Ezra grumbled, handing me his beer when I slammed the shot and started coughing. After taking a few swigs from it, I gave it back, pounding on my chest from the burn. Finishing most of his beer off, Ezra glared at Antonio over its edge. “Don’t you think we’ve had enough of that?”

They stared. At us. Oddly silent.

Antonio quickly cleared his throat. “No, I don’t.” Once more, Antonio cleared his throat, harder this time, cocking his head, staring at me with an expression I couldn’t quite read, but I knew he was trying to communicate something.

They still stared.

I yawned. “What?” I wiped my mouth, wondering if I had dried ice-cream on my chin.

“Jesus,” Ezra grumbled, setting the almost empty beer down and picking up his coffee, glaring with tired eyes at the other occupants of our table. “What the hell did we do now?”

Cahal reclined on his chair, crossing his arms lazily. “You have no clue?”

Ezra’s eyebrows puckered, obviously as lost as I was. “Would you care to enlighten us?”

Cahal’s gaze flicked back and forth between us. “No, I don’t believe so.”

“Then quit staring,” Ezra muttered, gesturing at everyone at the table with his coffee mug. “It’s rude.” Still they examined us, their heads cocking, except for Antonio’s, but he just appeared exasperated. “Why are you all sitting here?”

“Ah yes,” Antonio stated loudly. “We wanted to discuss your combat training.”

Ezra sipped his coffee with a raised eyebrow, then yawned. “She and I train together.”

I rested an elbow on the table, my cheek on my hand. My tired gaze met Ezra’s. “Or, at least, we did before we got here.”

Ezra grunted. “We should start again.”

I nodded, feeling sleepy and ready for a nap. “If we could find a place suitable.”

Antonio tapped the table with his beer. “I believe I was speaking.”

We both blinked at him.

“Are you two stoned?” Elder Jacobs asked, gesturing to the many empty plates and drinks. “You two ate enough for six people, appear as if you’re about to pass out, and not to mention…” He eyed us, before glancing to Antonio and Cahal. “Or are they always like this?”

Ezra stated dryly, “You’re the second person to ask us that within a half-hour, and the answer is still ‘no’.” His head cocked as our eyes met, and we chuckled, then he nodded to Elder Jacobs. “Though, yes, to the second question.”

With drowsy motions, we fist-bumped.

Antonio muttered under his breath something I was sure was uncomplimentary, then asked loudly, “I realize it’s hard for you two to stay focused, but could you try to pay attention to the adult for a moment?”

I glanced at Ezra. “We focus just fine, don’t you think?”

“Definitely.” Another sip of his coffee, his lids drooping lazily. “Except for school.”

I hummed, my eyes blinking slowly. “Or with the brats.”

He rested his head back. “Or the rules.” His eyes shut, a tiny smile playing on his lips.

My eyelids closed. “Unless they’re our own.”

Ezra grunted, sounding half purr.

Quiet.

Tranquil slumber, coaxing and exquisite, was starting to take me under when I heard a masculine voice, sounding incredulous, ask, “Did they just fall asleep?”

My head fell off my hand, and I jolted back on my chair just as Ezra cursed, lurching when his coffee spilt on his leg. I blinked blurrily at Ezra while he yawned, showing his pearly whites and placing his coffee on the table, then I turned my attention to Antonio. Rubbing my eyes, I asked, “Were you saying something?”

“Jesus Christ.” I recognized that voice as the one from a moment ago. Elder Jacobs. He swung a finger at the two of us. “They need to be drug tested before they spar with anyone.”

I lifted my Coke from the table, but realized it was empty and set it down with a sigh. I needed caffeine to stay awake for this. Elder Merrick held his Coke out to me, but I shook my head. “No, thanks.” Who knew how much backwash he left in the thing. I lifted Ezra’s coffee and sipped at it, my nose crinkling. Glancing at him, I muttered, “This shit is awful.”

“It’s black,” Ezra rumbled, settling back again after drying his pants. “It doesn’t have cream and sugar like you prefer.” I took another swill, only handing it to him when he grumbled, “Don’t drink it all.”

I stifled a yawn, watching him drink it, and then glanced where the line was for another Coke. Nope, too lazy right now for that. I sat back, rolling my shoulders and shaking my head a few times, trying to wake up. I lifted my arm to Ezra, mumbling, “Pinch me.”

He did. Kind of.

“Ow, goddamn it!” I shrieked, my eyes flying open as I held my injured arm. “I said pinch, not twist off a chunk of my flesh!” I pinched his easily accessible leg in retaliation, making him shout and glare. Pointing at his quickly receding drink, I whined, “I don’t want to get up and stand in,” my uninjured arm waved vaguely, “that. Give me some more.”

“You just hurt my damn leg,” Ezra griped, still rubbing it. “Now, you want my drink?”

My hand hovered in front of his face, over his cup. “Please.”

“No.” He took another sip, glaring and swatting at my hand.

I paused. “I’m sorry.”

“For?”

“Your leg.”

“Thank you,” he mumbled, sounding pleased, and handed me his cup.

I groaned, and swigged heavily of his nasty brew. Licking the edges of my mouth, I set the cup down and rested my head on my hand again. My eyes started to close as Ezra’s head tipped back on his chair. “Didn’t help.”

“Nope,” he groaned.

I heard a light snore from him, my own breathing evening out, and again, like a bad habit, I heard a voice mutter, “My God, maybe we should have a full cranial scan run on them while we’re at it.”

My head jerked, and yet again, I lurched, sitting straight on my chair. I squinted foggy eyes across the table. Squinted more, waiting for them to focus. I had…forgotten…about the Elders in my post-sated haze.

Elder Merrick was chuckling silently.

Elder Jacobs was staring at us like we belonged in a mental institution.

Cahal had an elbow on the table, his chin on his hand and a portion of his fingers covering his mouth, as he avidly watched.

Antonio was rubbing his temples, glowering.

“Sorry ‘bout that.” I yawned, rubbing my eyes before shaking Ezra’s leg since he was still snoring, his mouth slightly parted and his face toward the ceiling. “Ezra, wake up. I think they were saying something.”

He groaned softly.

More shaking. “Ezra, wake up.” Hell, I wasn’t awake enough to wake someone else.

“Sweetheart, go back to sleep,” he grumbled. “You wore my ass out.”

I stilled for a moment, coming fully awake, and then slapped his face with a bit too much force, but I needed to wake his ass up before he said anything too damning. He jerked, his green eyes flying wide open, and I muttered, “Stay awake.” I pointed between me and him, glancing to everyone at the table. “He meant we had a fight earlier. Worked out our issues.” I flicked a glance to the next table over — Shifters — who were gawking, since they had seen me slap Ezra. Pointing at a younger individual, I ordered, “I want two coffees. One black, the other with plenty of cream and sugar.” A glance at the beverage area, then back to her. “Cut in line.”

She jumped from her chair, nodding, and scurried off to do as told.

Ezra glanced at me from under hooded lids, rubbing the back of his neck.

I turned from him, staring directly at Antonio. “What were you saying?”

“That I wish for a bullet. To my brain,” he muttered, continuing to rub his temples.

Elder Merrick was wiping tears from his eyes from his silent mirth. “That was fucking extraordinary.” He turned his watering gaze to Cahal and Antonio, and started busting up again as he stared. “I hope like hell I don’t have kids like them.”

“Possibly ADD,” Elder Jacobs stated, sounding thoughtful. He nodded. “It has got to be.”

“Shoot me. Please,” Antonio muttered under his breath.

“What fight earlier?” Cahal probed, his concentrated scrutiny still honed on us.

I blinked, then quickly evaded his question, muttering, “Ezra and I get along, talk to one another. Yet you’re making fun of us, when the four of you just had four separate conversations, and I bet none of you even heard what the others said.” I jerked my head at Ezra. “At least he listens to me, and I listen to him.”

Still with his chin on his hand, Cahal nodded absently to Antonio. “He wants a bullet through his head for having to deal with you two, which I don’t blame him for since he’s had to do it far longer than the three of us.” He paused, eyes on Ezra’s. “What fight earlier?”

“Hmm?” Ezra grabbed a coffee when the Shifter set them down in front of us. He sipped, his nose crinkled, and he handed it to me, lifting the other one. His eyes danced to me as he took a drink, then to his dad. “What are you talking about?”

Cahal drummed his fingers on his chin. “You were asleep, and you said…,” he glanced to Antonio, “what was it exactly?”

Antonio simply growled.

Elder Merrick murmured, “I believe he stated that she wore his ass out.” He sipped from his Coke, watching me as I took a drink from my coffee.

“Ah, yes.” Cahal nodded, his eyes back to his son. “Ms Ruckler said it was in reference to a fight you had earlier. So again, what fight?”

Ezra recovered fast enough, hearing of his major oops, to state dryly, “Obviously, the one we had earlier. Fists, kicking, teeth, the whole shebang as we worked through our issues.” He turned his gaze on Antonio. “Other than a bullet needed, what were you saying?”

Cahal held up a hand, and peered toward Elder Merrick.

Elder Merrick drank from his Coke, and then smiled. “He told truth.” His arresting gaze met mine briefly when Ezra’s dad glanced away.

I knew right then he had caught me in a lie somewhere. Altering my attention to Antonio, I quickly went through what I had said, but nothing sprung out as too awful. Plus, he had to have one hell of a nose to be scenting truths, lies, and partial truths at all times. I actually had to concentrate in order to do it.

Antonio asked sharply, “Lil, are you listening?”

I jerked. “Yep.” No clue what he had said before, but I was listening now.

Elder Merrick laughed while rubbing his face, his chuckle heard this time, sounding jagged.

Ezra glared. “Do you mind? We’re tired, and you’re not helping the situation.”

“From the fight?” Elder Merrick prompted.

Ezra grunted, letting that be his answer, since he was smart enough not to answer.

Antonio held his hands up when Elder Merrick began to say something else. “Okay, I’m going to say it quickly, so,” he growled, thumping his fist on the table, “listen the fuck up.” He pointed at me. “Lil, you’re going to be training with Elder Merrick on the days you’re not babysitting, learning to use more of your strength.” Both Ezra and I stiffened at the news, and we both opened our mouths — surely to argue — but Antonio thumped his fist on the table again.

“Shut. Up.” We both still tried to speak, and he hollered, “Ezra, you’re going to start sparring with Vampires on your level of experience when you’re not babysitting.” He stood, slamming his hands on the table. “This is not a fucking request. Get that through your damn skulls.” He growled, his eyes glowing as we glared. “Do you understand?”

Yes, we understood. It was a fucking order made by Elder Farrar in the middle of a packed dining hall. Inhaling sharply, I turned my head away from him. He had never acted this way with me before. Never purposely embarrassed me, anyway. I barely withheld the childish temper tantrum of tears that wanted to erupt.

“Answer me, dammit,” he shouted. He made an odd noise in his throat and leaned down, whispering so damn quietly I barely heard him, “Or, I swear to fucking God, I will dump each of you in separate parts of the world without a fucking decent memory.”

My breath caught, and I jolted seeing his glowing hands come our way.

Ezra’s back, and mine, slammed against the back of our chairs, staying as far away from him as we possibly could. We both knew he could do exactly as he had threatened. I nodded, same as Ezra, both of us mumbling our assent as true hate and brutal fear for the man I loved filled me, who had raised me as his own.

Antonio stopped glowing, and he straightened, running a hand over his face. His golden gaze met my blue, wide one. Into the silence, which had descended on the entire dining hall, he murmured quietly, “Hate me all you wish.” He swallowed hard, gaze lowering. “Everyone who knows me does at some point.” He stalked away, chairs squeaking in all occupants’ haste to give him space.

My body was trembling watching him leave. Setting my coffee aside with a shaking hand, I cleared my throat and raised on what felt like wobbly legs to stand next to Ezra, who was already on his feet, the man I had almost lost mere moments ago. I glanced to Elder Merrick, and my voice shook slightly. “Just call my room. We can set up a time for training.”

He nodded once, his lips pinched.

Ezra rumbled quietly, “Let’s go.”

“Yeah,” I whispered, wanting nothing more than to hug not only him, but also Pearl and Jack, and tell them how much I loved them. “Let’s go.”

A hard and repetitive knocking at the door woke us.

I wasn’t sure how long the person had been banging for, but Ezra’s head snapped up from my shoulder at the racket. He blinked sleepily, as if he didn’t know what had woken him. His eyes found mine, and they stilled, a slow smile crossing his features.

The knocking came again.

I chuckled at his startled expression, and pointed up at the wall where he couldn’t see, positioned as he was. “It’s for you.” I rolled and saw we had only been napping for an hour since we had hightailed it from the dining hall. Pulling the blanket over my shoulders, I muttered, “It may be your dad on the hunt, since he was trying to catch us slipping at lunch.”

Again, the thumping sounded.

“Shit,” he muttered, quickly pulling away from me, scooting backward off the bed…and falling straight on his ass when he landed on the headboard, no longer in its correct place.

Appropriately, I slapped a hand over my mouth to keep from laughing aloud.

I heard a rumbled curse, then the headboard creaked and he popped up at the end of the bed. He grabbed his shirt he had removed, yanking it over his head as he maneuvered his way through the debris of our earlier bout. The pounding came again, and Ezra picked up his pace, running his hands through his bed hair before opening the door.

Jack burst past him, muttering, “It’s about damn time! I lost my key…” His tirade waned to an inaudible whisper, his brown eyes darting from place to place as Ezra and I both froze. We hadn’t planned to hide it from Jack and Pearl, but we had hoped to find them after our nap and explain before they saw the mess our first joining had created. Ever so gradually, I saw it cross his features: awareness for what had transpired, as he viewed Ezra, and then me. “Well,” he cracked his neck, “I wondered when this would finally happen.”

I stayed mute, a bit confused.

His gaze flew to Ezra’s. “You really need to work at being more discreet when checking out her backside and breasts when she’s not looking.” He flung one of his hands my way at Ezra’s shocked expression. “Just because she’s not watching you,” his hand waved about, “doesn’t mean other people aren’t.” He snorted. “Covert, you are not, when you’re ogling her ass and tits.”

Ezra’s cheeks instantly flushed.

I stared in wonder at the sight.

Jack snickered, patting his best friend’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. You were much more discreet in public. It was only obvious when you were with the three of us.” He smacked Ezra’s shoulder once more, a bit rougher, then began trekking through the debris, mumbling, “Pearl will at least have something to clean up now.”

He stepped onto the headboard, making it groan, and rifled through a few items on the floor before standing with a digital camera in hand. He glanced about our room, shaking his head as he stepped over and back through the debris, his brown eyes meeting Ezra’s now hooded gaze. “Took on the wolf, did you?”

My cheeks blushed this time, but Ezra and Jack weren’t looking my way, thank goodness.

With a hooded gaze and pink cheeks, Ezra still managed a carnal smirk. “Yes.”

Jack chuckled, saying, “I’ll let Pearl know of the new development.” He paused, glancing at us with his hand on the doorknob. “Do we need to get separate beds now?”

Both Ezra and I stated, “No.” It wasn’t that type of relationship.

“Alright.” Jack nodded, not batting an eye. “I’ll be back later.” He paused with the door open. “You know, I heard the most interesting rumors about you two while I was out.” He gestured to the mess. “Makes sense now.” He stepped out of our suite, closing the door quietly behind him.

Ezra stared at the closed door while I gazed at the back of his head.

I probed teasingly, “Checking me out, huh?” Ezra slowly turned his attention toward me, his flush staying bright. “Well, I’ll just have to return the favor.”

He grinned, arching an eyebrow. “I’ll give you the opportunity.” He began prowling toward me, deliberately moving unhurriedly as he lifted his shirt over his head, all of his delicious muscles rippling with the action. “But I’m too fucking tired to do anything else but let you look right now.”

“Sounds like a plan,” I murmured, my eyes definitely devouring his flesh as I lifted the blanket for him to get back into bed. “Sleep, dinner, then sex.”

His Vampire growled softly as he climbed in next to me. “I love the way you think.”