That evening, the Kings, my friends, their mates, and I sat inside King Fergus’s house for an early dinner. Graduation was planned for the next morning. Very early, so we were all going home directly after our meal to get a good night’s rest. The Kings had switched it up this year, not having graduation for the seniors the same night as the last day of school with the Awakenings directly afterward. Because of the four of us. For this year, the change was worldwide, every scheduled Awakening happening tomorrow to coincide with our schedule.
Instead of the normal short evening graduations and Awakenings, it was going to be a full-day event, starting early because an influx of Mysticals was coming to our big day. Mysticals from all over the United States of America, and even several from other countries, would be in attendance, endeavoring to see the Prodigies’ “first” Awakenings and, generally, there to ogle us. Since there were going to be so many attending, the Kings decided it would be advantageous for us to be introduced to those in attendance with a small celebration between our graduation and the Awakenings. Even though I couldn’t be happier with what I had pulled off today, tomorrow’s event wasn’t entirely a pleasant thought.
King Kincaid couldn’t be more cheerful about it, though, which he expressed for, like, the third time before the salads were even placed in front of us. Somehow, he knew it hadn’t worked out between Broderick and me, the wolf drifter having been booted from the mansion that night, so he was hopeful I would meet someone tomorrow. I couldn’t say I disagreed with his eager thought, but I was hopeful for a different reason than him. He thought I was having lots of no-no sex with a Vampire, when — in the land of reality — my reason was I wasn’t having any sex, and hadn’t for way too long for my needs.
Pearl and Jack found King Kincaid’s behavior entirely entertaining as he said, “It’s truly delightful so many Shifters will be there tomorrow.” For the fourth time. Fi gave him an odd look, but he didn’t seem to notice, taking a sip of his wine and peering at me, smiling grandly. “Don’t you think so, Lily? Imagine all the Shifter alphas you’ll meet.”
Since he had actually brought me into this, I deadpanned, “It’ll be a real marathon.”
Jack, Pearl, and Ezra choked on their drinks.
King Kincaid merely patted my hand, his grin widening, even as he muttered under his breath, “Let’s hope so.”
King Venclaire coughed hard — Vamp hearing — while glancing at Ezra, who was studiously wiping his mouth with his napkin (when he hadn’t eaten anything yet), his eyes crinkled with mirth as he hid his grin. King Venclaire quickly raised his glass as everyone eyed King Kincaid strangely, saying, “Let’s have a toast.” Everyone obediently raised their own glasses. “To our Prodigies. Even though they only broke one of our records,” he smirked as the other three Kings high-fived each other over the table, “they did fantastic.” His grin widened. “Let’s have each King say their favorite part of the Prodigies’ training.” A nod toward King Fergus. “Feel free to go first.”
King Fergus rubbed his chin, and then sniggered. “My favorite would have to be watching them fly through the air for the first time. Their expressions were incomparable.”
The Kings nodded, all smiles.
Lowering my glass, I rolled my eyes. Here we go again. Kings and their pleasures.
My friends followed suit, glaring or looking bored or picking at their nails.
King Nelson said, “I think the high point was seeing Pearl tackle Jack after their first attempt at linking in preparation for funneling.” He chuckled, bowing his head to Jack. “You can really take a hit.”
The Kings snickered.
King Kincaid cleared his throat, offering, “My much loved part was when Jack tackled her in return.” A head bow to Pearl. “You don’t scream at all like a girl.”
“More like a banshee,” King Fergus grumbled, rubbing his ear as if he still heard it.
In his defense, it had been…bad.
“Ah, that leaves me,” King Venclaire murmured, chortling. “I think the most entertaining incident was when Lily shoved Ezra into the deep end of the pond after that one monstrous attempt at linking.”
Instantly, my cheeks pinked. That hadn’t been my finest moment.
The Kings snorted merrily, probably remembering Ezra dragging himself out of the pond with a catfish stuck under the collar of his shirt, then moving so fast I didn’t see him coming and dropping the damn fish down my top, to which I had probably screamed like a girl.
Alright yeah, I had. It was all slimy and flipping and gross.
Fi sighed heavily, eyeing her mate from under her lashes.
King Kincaid stopped snickering, clearing his throat and holding his glass out straight. “In all seriousness, here’s to our Prodigies.” Warily, I held my glass up for a second time, but only after my friends did so first. “Even though all four of you are lollygagging with your individual choice of home base,” his eyebrows rose at our swift innocent expressions, “which I’m sure we’ll hear the reason for soon enough — even if we don’t want to. Besides that, all of you have done a tremendous job this year.
“The circumstances haven’t been easy with all that has passed, but you’ve prevailed and learned and worked hard, truly impressing us.” We blinked at him, and he nodded. “Yes, you’ve impressed us. I do believe when the four of you become the Kings and Queens that your reign will flourish as none have before. All four of you are utterly remarkable. It has been a pleasure knowing and teaching you.”
All occupants at the table, minus my friends and myself, began clinking glasses, shouting, “Hear, hear!”
I was stunned by his words, but they had been truth to all. I had scented the air halfway through to make sure. My friend’s demeanors showed the same shock I was in, but we quickly got with the program and toasted along with everyone else. Guess the Kings didn’t hate us so much, after all.
Halfway through dinner, King Kincaid received a call on his cell, and he left the room for a few minutes. When he came back, his eyebrows were lowered and his nostrils were flared. Pretty much, he looked pissed. He sat heavily on his chair, flicking his gaze to each of the Kings, and in return they quieted in whatever conversations they were having. King Kincaid closed his eyes for a few moments before turning to me, stating, “Your graduation present has vanished.”
I stared. I had no clue what he was talking about.
“When?” King Venclaire delicately placed his napkin on the table.
King Kincaid’s attention turned his way. “Yesterday. Just gone. His secretary got worried when he didn’t show for work today, and called his house. The housekeeper said he hadn’t been home since early yesterday morning. Elder Farrar knows he went to work that day, but after that his whereabouts are unknown. There’s even been a missing persons report filed.”
King Fergus glowered. “Well,” he rubbed his neck, pausing, “if he’s dead that’s more than what we were going to do.” Another rub. “This could be a blessing.”
Gradually, King Nelson nodded. “If he were dead, it would be blessing.”
King Kincaid’s eyebrows lowered. “I wanted that asshole behind bars. Not to have someone else kill him for me unknowingly.”
King Venclaire sat back on his chair, crossing his arms. “Missing doesn’t mean dead. Plus, he is a grown man. He could have had an emergency he needed to take care of and hasn’t had time to call his office.” He waved an agitated hand. “We could still get revenge.”
I blinked, finally understanding. “You’re talking about Philip Masterson.” His name came out on a wolf’s growl. After being assaulted by him…well, I hoped he was dead and not just missing or had an emergency. Dammit, the Kings had said they had something special planned for him.
“I’m sorry, honey,” King Kincaid crooned softly, placing his arm around me and pulling me in close. “We had it all arranged. Tomorrow, there’s a Com function in the city. We had a Com woman we know, and trust, who was set to be bait. In a recorded room. After he started trying the same abuse on her he did you — security was going to be close so she wouldn’t really be harmed — she was going to press charges, using the tape. Put him behind bars.” He sighed heavily. “It really was our graduation present. We know how much this meant to you.”
Hell, yes, it did. I wanted that rapist taken care of. I didn’t give a damn whether it was a Com or Mys he attempted assaulting in the future, the type of person unimportant to me. Point blank, I just didn’t want him doing it to another woman. Not really able to speak because I was too upset, I just wrapped my arms around King Kincaid.
King Nelson leaned over the table and actually touched me, patting my arm and saying softly, “When he resurfaces, no matter what, he’ll eventually be taken care of. I give you my word.” His smile was small. “Even if it takes two bullets.”
King Kincaid, King Fergus, and King Venclaire quickly reiterated his vow.
Nodding, I gently pulled away from King Kincaid, and stared gloomily at my food. It didn’t appear so appetizing anymore. Picking up my fork, I pushed around the remains on my plate more than I ate. I could only hope Philip was dead and not fleeing from anything else heinous he may have done.
Dessert arrived. Even in the crummiest of moods, I always ate my sweets. Especially any type of ice-cream. It was apple pie. With a huge scoop of vanilla ice-cream on the side for those who didn’t like to mix. Dessert was balm for the soul.
Too quickly, I scraped the bottom of my plate, the last of the cinnamon goodness gone.
Ezra asked, “Lily, do you want the rest of mine?”
Attention snapping in his direction, I stared. Nodded.
Rising from his chair, he carried his plate to me, and took my empty one back with him.
I gazed down at the gifted dessert for a good minute, watching the ice-cream melt even further. He hadn’t touched it, and I knew he loved apple pie. Normally, he was a bottomless pit, even more so than me. I blinked, peering up at him, but he was already talking with Gideon. Another blink, and I realized that, even though conversation was being carried all across the table, King Venclaire and King Kincaid were both covertly staring at me.
My eyes darted between them, and I quickly gazed back at the dessert, grabbing my spoon. I sat it back down. Cocking my head, I studied the plate…and had to hold back a grin.
Written with apple pie sauce — probably with his spoon it was so terrible — on the side of the plate in teeny-tiny scrawl was: Fair. I had once said life wasn’t fair as I donated my blood as a treat to him and drank bagged blood to compensate, being a best friend. He was doing the same now. At a prime time when I needed it, too.
I picked up my spoon once more, peering at him through the veil of my hair.
His eyes met mine, and I nodded my head slightly. Thank you.
He blinked slowly. You’re welcome.
Then, he looked away, and I dug in.
Christ, I was running late. I had been doing so much better at being on time, too. Go figure, the big day of graduation and Awakenings, I had overslept. Luckily, my friends were taking their own cars today. The graduation was going to be held on the back lawn of King Hall, instead of the gym where it normally was, thanks to the size of today’s crowd.
As for the crowd, they sure weren’t helping my tardiness.
Tapping my fingers on the steering wheel, I waited in the long procession of cars to get through the gated front entrance. I was almost there, but “almost” in traffic easily meant another twenty minutes. Sighing heavily, I considered the view before me, regarding the impressive grounds of King Hall. After today, I wouldn’t be back here for some time, like, roughly twenty years.
I couldn’t say I was too disappointed, but there was something about seeing the place that had been such a monumental part of my life changing. If I had never gone here, I wouldn’t have met my mate. If I hadn’t gone here, I wouldn’t be the Prodigy Shifter. If I hadn’t gone here, I never would have met my best friends. So, yeah, the place I had dreaded had altered my life, but not in all bad ways, so I gave it a good perusal for memory’s sake as I eventually bypassed the valets, who waved me on when they saw the bodyguard detail in front of and behind me.
I parked in my normal place at the back of the parking lot under a large oak, the spot empty. No one ever parked there. They knew it was mine. There were some perks to my position.
Grabbing my large duffel bag with my graduation gown, ceremonial gown, dress and heels, and make-up, I slung it over my shoulder and started hauling ass to the entrance. I swerved in and out of parked cars and, mostly, tried to keep my head down so I wasn’t noticed and stopped. I didn’t have time to chat or let Shifters touch right now. I needed to hurry and change clothes to meet with the Kings, my friends, and their families, who were visiting before graduation began.
However, I stalled on the sidewalk, doing a double-take of the next couple pulling up to the curb a few feet away. My guards also stopped, but I waved a hand, murmuring, “Give me a second.” All obeyed, backing away a few feet to line the school building as I shoved through the mass of Mysticals congregating on the sidewalk just as the car stopped, a smile curving my lips. I knew I had correctly recognized them, because it was them.
Ezra’s parents.
Having seen that one photo on his desk, I saw that they looked exactly the same. His dad was Native American and his mom was Caucasian. Both were imposing and beautiful, and as his dad got out of their car, I could see where Ezra had acquired his bulking muscles. The man was enormous.
Quickly stepping forward, I offered my hand. “Hello! You’re Ezra’s parents. It’s a pleasure to meet you both.” Ezra’s mom quickly glanced at me, smiled, nodded once, then peered away as Ezra’s dad lifted his hand to mine. “I’m—”
“Don’t scratch her,” he ordered, cutting me off. “She’s new. Make sure you park her in the shade.” He released my hand.
In my palm was a set of keys and a ten-dollar bill.
I blinked, glancing from side-to-side, and saw the valets were wearing a similar outfit to me. Black pants, black shirt, and a black ball cap. The real valet’s eyes next to me went wide — he, obviously, knew who I was, and he quickly handed Ezra’s dad a numbered ticket. I was pretty sure my jaw was still hanging as they walked past, not glancing at me again, and his mom leaned toward his dad, linking her arm with his.
I heard her whisper, “They’re letting Coms on the grounds today? Unbelievable.”
Delicately, the valet took the keys from my motionless outstretched hand, mumbling hastily, “Keep the money. You earned it.” He quickly hightailed it away from me.
I was left standing there blinking, wondering how that had gone so wrong, when Aros and Felix stepped on either side of me. As of this morning, they were officially part of my detail, with school now out. Aros patted my shoulder, offering, “Your hair’s back in a ponytail, hidden under a ball cap. They probably couldn’t see you properly.” Also, I was masking my power, which I did normally now.
Felix snorted, but stated factually, “You’re late. Remember?”
“Shit,” I breathed, and turned, trucking it inside. I really needed to hurry and, besides, I would get the chance to meet them again in, like, ten minutes, or something like that. Pretty much however long it took me to finish getting ready in the locker room.
Hiking up the red graduation robe I wore, which was identical to the black ceremonial robe, thrilled I was able to wear clothing under this one, I raced to the administration building, heading for Mrs. Jonas’s office where the familial meet-and-greet was located. I had taken a little longer than I had wanted to in getting ready — fifteen minutes more — so I really was officially late, not just going to be late, like I had been before.
My guards chased after me across the lawn. The mad dash probably appeared like a twisted version of a children’s tale, since they wore black fatigues while I resembled a frantic madwoman, red robe fluttering about in the breeze. At least in this situation I was the wolf.
While they stopped, waiting outside, I slammed through the administration building’s front doors. A quick wave to the receptionist, then I was stopping to take in a few calming breaths before I hit Mrs. Jonas’s office. Running a hand through my hair, I rolled my shoulders, and dug into my pocket before entering. The office was packed.
By some means, I still managed to see King Kincaid sniff the air, then glance in my direction with a demeanor of exasperation. Smiling sheepishly, I maneuvered my way along the edges of the room to stand next to him. He bent to my level, whispering, “Did anyone see you run across the lawn?”
Probably the entire mass of people behind the main building seated for graduation.
“I’m sure they were looking the other way.” At least, the ones with the cameras had been, since they were aimed at the stage. In my opinion, those were the most important.
King Kincaid sighed heavily, then glanced behind me over my head, staring, only to sigh deeply all over again before straightening to his full height and running his hands down his suit jacket, smoothing it down when it was already so.
At my back a few beats later, King Venclaire murmured, “Lily, how nice of you to finally join us.” A pause, and I could have sworn he chuckled. “I’d like you to meet Ezra’s parents.” He said, probably to them, “As you know, Lily Ruckler is King Kincaid’s Prodigy.”
As they murmured something or another to King Venclaire, I saw Ezra advancing from the side. It looked like he was coming from where a table full of breakfast foods had been set up in the corner because he had two croissants in hand. I really wanted one, but I refrained from going there now to turn and meet his parents. Again.
Both physically jerked when I faced them.
They stared.
His mom’s jaw flat out dropped while his dad’s jaw clenched.
“Mom. Dad.” Ezra stopped beside me. “This is Lily. I’ve mentioned her to you guys before.” He held a croissant out to me, biting into his own and grinning evilly at them. “It’s rude to stare. At least, that’s what you’ve always told me.”
Accepting the proffered croissant with one hand, I offered his dad what I had dug out of my pocket before coming in here with the other. “Here’s your ten-spot back.” I bit into my gifted croissant, and smiled sweetly as I chewed.
His dad sucked in a breath, making his enormous chest even more impressive, and gently took the money, his eyes hard on me.
Ezra groaned, “Do I want to know why they gave you money?”
“We thought she was the valet!” his mom confessed, appearing mortified.
I pointed around my croissant. “And a Com.”
Eyes closing, her face flushed prettily.
Ezra protested gently, “You two have seen her on television.”
Her hand fluttered about her head. “She had on a hat.”
I chuckled, extending my hand again. “Let’s do this right. I’m Lily Ruckler, soon-to-be badass Queen Shifter.” I cocked my head. “I’ve seen the picture of you guys, but I don’t know your names.” Hint, hint. I’m trying here. Take my damn hand.
His mom did take it after a hefty sigh, saying, “I’m Vivian Zeller. Please accept my apologies for being utterly uncouth earlier. It’s lovely to meet you.”
After reciprocating, I held my hand in his dad’s direction. In the picture, he had been happily smiling with his son and his mate but, right now, he was scrutinizing me pretty hard. By degrees, he raised his hand, and took mine in a crushing grip, so much so that if I weren’t a Shifter and able to squeeze back, it probably would have broken my fingers. Casually, he asked, “Badass?”
“That’s me.” I smiled, and crushed his hand just a smidge more.
He grunted, sounding a hell of a lot like his son. “I’m Cahal Zeller.” He smiled, same as me. I think it meant the same as what mine had subtly conveyed. “What picture were you referring to?”
I blinked, discerning that if I said, Oh, you know, the one in your son’s bedroom, that might not go over too well, so I stated, “One of the pictures on his cell.” My heart didn’t even stutter at the lie. Go me.
“You must have a good eye, noticing us as you did earlier,” he murmured, unrelenting on his punishing grip. Not only was he abnormally strong for a Vampire, like his son, he was also powerful. It kind of leaked off him, he had so much.
Cocking my head, I tried gauging his age. “Yes. I’m good with faces.” I had a bad feeling I should probably know who this man was. I thought back through my history books.
When it clicked a second later, I about dropped. Goddamn!
Faces, yes. Names, obviously, not so much.
Zeller.
And…my last name should be moron.
I had skimmed past that part on him, because I had thought it a fluke — surely, Ezra would have told me — and studied up on…ah, it never failed. He arrived. The object of my focus in that colossal section of coursework.
Antonio stopped behind Cahal, thumping a heavy hand on his shoulder. “Cahal, you trying prick, it’s good to see you!”
Cahal didn’t release my hand, watching me still, but his lips thinned, saying, “Hello to you, too, Antonio. I’m just meeting the soon-to-be badass Queen Shifter.”
Jesus, I had to have said that to him.
Ezra placed a hand on top of our joined ones — they were both turning purple — and I felt a spark of his power pulse from his palm as he said quietly, “You can let her go now, dad.”
I didn’t jerk at the feeling. I was too used to it by now, even if awkward.
But his dad’s eyebrows lowered at the action, and he peered directly at his son. One lowered brow rose, cocking. God, Ezra had gotten so much from him. Except for the eyes. Ezra’s eyes were all his mom. His dad’s dark brown orbs were staring hard into his son’s spring green gaze when I jerked, hearing a familiar voice to my right.
Well, why the hell not? Let’s just make it a real party.
Releasing his dad’s hand, I turned. I had no clue how the man had gotten in here, but King Kincaid’s wolf was already growling. Formally, I nodded, saying, “Uncle.”
“Hello, Lily,” he stated curtly. Eyes never leaving mine, he held up a piece of paper as King Kincaid started to maneuver around me. “This is Law.”
Still, King Kincaid’s wolf growled quietly, but he did stop advancing and grabbed the paper from my uncle’s hand, quickly skimming it.
Ezra had stepped directly behind me. I hadn’t told him anything about my uncle, but it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the man wasn’t wanted here. Especially when Antonio maneuvered directly behind him, aiming death’s own glare at the back of his head.
King Kincaid’s wolf abruptly quieted. “He has a letter from your deceased mother, which she ordered by Law for him to hand-deliver to you on your graduation day.”
My heart stopped, and then fluttered frantically. Immediately, I held my hand out. If my mom had willed a letter to me in the event she died before my graduation, I wanted the damn thing.
My uncle stepped closer, pulling a long, thin white envelope from his inner suit jacket pocket. He placed it on my waiting palm, not letting go of it as he lowered his mouth near my ear, whispering softly, “The best thing your mother ever did was die. She used to be my favorite when we were little, the way her bones broke…a pure masterpiece, but when she swallowed all that water and left you to me…let’s just say, you’ll always be my particular desire.” He sighed. “The way you screamed was a symphony to my ears. One day, ah, Lily, one day, I’ll hear it again.”
My heart rate jumped further, and not because I was excited for the letter. Memories of my time at his house flooded me. All those hidden moments. The basement. It was soundproofed. His hands. Jesus, how I hated his hands. I still couldn’t look directly at them.
The sound of Ezra’s Vampire growling snapped me from the downward spiral of my past’s haunting terrors. I had never heard this particular Vampire growl from him before. It was different, low and deep and slow — menacing enough a shiver flittered down my spine.
Ezra pressed against me from behind, his palms landing on my hips, and he, literally, lifted me off the ground, making my uncle jerk backward. My uncle had spoken softly enough for his comments not to have been picked up by anyone’s ears but the Vampires’ nearby. Ezra set me gently on my feet beside him, stepping forward, fangs fully extended.
I slammed a hand against his chest, and whispered gently, “Ezra, stop.” I thought he was seriously going to kill him. This wasn’t his fight. I wanted it. “He’s mine to handle.”
He tilted his head, his fierce, glaring eyes piercing mine. “Then fucking handle him.”
Gazing back toward my uncle, who stared at Ezra with startled, wide eyes, I questioned, “King Kincaid, now that the letter is in my hand, are there any provisions on that sheet of paper for my uncle’s safety?”
Instant. “No.”
“May I?”
“You may.”
“I need three witnesses who can verify he just threatened me.”
“Witnessed,” Vivian said, her tone coarse.
“Witnessed,” Cahal stated, sounding distracted.
Ezra waved sharply for me to hurry up. “Witnessed. Fucking kill him already.”
“Uncle, under Law 671 you’ve just been judged and found guilty.” I cocked my head as Antonio stepped out from behind him. “I think we’d better go outside, so we don’t get blood everywhere.” Rucking up my robe, I kicked my uncle as hard as I could straight against his chest.
I felt, and heard, his ribs break. I knew that sound intimately since he had done it to me so many times. The force of my blow had his body flying backward, right at the window. He hit it hard, and the shattering of glass was loud as he flew through it. I accepted the offered gun Antonio held out, and sniffed it. Silver. Shoving off the ground, I jumped through the broken first-storey window. Glass crunched under my shoes as I landed.
My uncle was trying to crawl away — pathetic.
Easily kicking him onto his back, before I shot him I had to ask, “Why the hell did my mother name you as my guardian?” It was a burning question inside of me.
He coughed, and a bone must have nicked his lung because he spat up blood. Grinned with it all over his face, his voice breathless. “She knew you’d like it.” He laughed softly, more blood spilling from his mouth.
No hesitation, only relief, as I lifted the gun.
Pulled the trigger, my ears ringing from the discharge.
Head shot.
Over too quickly, but so be it.
Guards in black fatigues had already surrounded us. Luckily, cutting off any view the people down the hill might have had where they waited for graduation to begin. Speaking to the guard on my right, I ordered quietly, “Get rid of him.” She nodded, instantly moving to do as ordered, so I turned and walked back to the window.
Ezra was there with Pearl and Jack on either side of him, filling the space. They must have been swiftly informed, because they looked as furious as he did right then. Ezra knocked the rest of the glass away from the window, and then leaned outside, picking me up and pulling me back through to set me down inside the office.
He glowered, his body actually trembling.
Pearl and Jack didn’t offer any support, either.
I pointed the gun out the window. “I killed him. As you can see, he has a hole in the middle of his forehead. The situation has been taken care of.”
“You should have fucking told us about him,” Jack hissed, so furious he threw his hands out and stalked away, spewing curses the whole while. I felt bad for Nikki.
“I’m so bloody upset with you right now,” Pearl said through clenched teeth. “I…I need to walk away before I say something I’ll regret.” She pivoted, and started marching, taking three steps. Stopped. Clenched her hands, and put her feet into motion again, going clear across the room from me. I felt for Gideon.
Gazing after her, I really didn’t want to look at Ezra with that soft Vampire’s growl emanating from his chest. This one wasn’t as chilling as the one before, but he was ticked. If any of my besties had hidden an abusive, adoptive relative like I had…well, I wouldn’t be pleased with them, either. I would have wanted blood for them. Lots of it.
I peeked up. Quickly glanced away. Christ, he was upset.
“Sweetheart,” he snarled on a mere breath, which sounded more Vampire than not and almost hypnotic in tone, but not quite there, his predator only peeking, “you keep something like that from us again, and I will—”
“Goddamn it! I fucking killed him! Alright?” I shouted, interjecting, done with the verbal attack from my friends after shooting my bastard uncle dead.
Unbelievably, his expression actually turned even more furious as he shouted, “No, it’s not alright! That fucker lived how long past his expiration date? And never once did you tell—”
King Venclaire, abruptly next to us with glowing eyes, jammed his hand on Ezra’s shoulder, stopping him. No words emitted from his pinched lips — the room had gone silent — but the warning stare he gave us was enough.
Ezra and I glared at one another for a moment longer before we jerked on our heels, turning from one another and stalking away.
Bumping against someone in my haste, I muttered a half-hearted apology, but the person placed a huge hand on my bicep, stopping me from moving along. Instantly, I stepped back from the hold, and had to blink a few times until the red haze disappeared.
Ah, perfect.
Cahal Zeller, himself. Daddio. I wasn’t in the mood. “You know, don’t feel bad you didn’t know who I was before, because I didn’t realize who you were, either.” My wolf growled a bit. “Your son never mentioned that one, and yet, he gets all pissed when I keep a secret?” Belatedly, I realized I was wildly swinging a loaded gun with silver bullets in a room full of Mysticals. Staring at it a second, I quickly lowered it. “Anyway, sorry we had to meet with me offing someone not ten minutes after I shook your hand.” I shrugged. Nothing I could do about that.
Mutely, he was still staring with his hard gaze as his wife held out…my envelope.
I quickly snatched it from her hand, mumbling, “Thank you.”
She nodded, silent.
They stared, their heads cocking.
Well, alrighty then.
Antonio slung an arm over my shoulder. “You like the gun?”
Huh? Oh. I nodded. “It fires straight. That’s what important.”
“It’s yours.” He smiled. “I spelled the clip. It’ll never run out of silver bullets.”
My eyebrows rose. “You know, Antonio, I always thought for graduation I’d get, like, a car, or a vacation to someplace warm, but no, instead, I get a letter willed to me from the grave and a gun that always fires.” I paused. “I am a woman. Chocolates or roses…” I trailed off as he pulled Rolos and a small, single red rose out of the inside pocket of his suit jacket. I bit my lip, taking the gifts when he held them out.
He kissed my forehead softly, whispering, “Your mother would have been so proud to see the woman you’ve become. I am too, Lil. So very proud of you.”
Vivian deigned to speak, instead of ogling. “You two know each other?”
Antonio nodded. “I raised her, with her late mother.”
Cahal blinked, also deciding to speak. “You raised her?” He paused. “Then, how did she end up with that asshole?”
Keeping his arm firmly around me, Antonio stated, “Before her mother passed away, I left. I had to search for someone who was lost. You might know him. His name’s Ezra.”
I knew that was why he had left me. The timing fit perfectly.
Vivian jerked, her mouth thinning, but, little by little, she bowed her head to him.
Cahal’s eyes narrowed. “What are you really doing here? I haven’t seen you since we passed on our reign to our Prodigies.” Yeah, that was the history lesson I hadn’t put together. Ezra’s dad had been a scary-ass King during the war, right alongside Antonio.
Antonio jostled me inside his side. “Watching over this one. She can be a handful.”
Cahal grunted, his narrowed gaze finding mine. His eyes didn’t soften, either. “She appears to like trouble. It figures you had a hand in raising her.”
Antonio grinned.
Cahal’s attention returned to him, and his brown eyes ran over Antonio’s face, his words slow. “Since you’re here, I may stay awhile. See what happens.”
Antonio nodded. “Might as well.”
They stared at one another.
Mrs. Jonas called loudly, “It’s time for the Prodigies to head out. Once they’re gone, you’ll all want to take your seats down the hill. There’s a special area reserved for you behind the students.”
I twisted under Antonio’s arm, hugging him. “Wish me luck so I don’t trip and fall in front of everyone.”
“You won’t trip and fall, Lil.” He kissed my forehead again, squeezing me tight. “Besides, even if you do, you’re going to be Queen soon. Blame it on the person who put the stage together.”
I chuckled, swiftly pecking his cheek, and inserted my rose in his lapel buttonhole for safekeeping before covertly opening a drawer to Mrs. Jonas’s desk and placing my new gun at the back. I couldn’t exactly carry it down the school hallway without worrying people. This was a happy day, after all. I would just jump through the window later and get it back when it was time to leave after the Awakenings.
Antonio shooed me off, and I turned, running smack into Ezra’s back. Seriously, I had run into walls that were softer. Ezra grunted and growled under his breath, not even glancing backward as I shoved away from him, rubbing my forehead and growling in return.
Mrs. Jonas gave us a disapproving look. “I know you two aren’t in attendance anymore at this school, but if you both keep up these shenanigans,” she paused, “or if the four of you have planned any pranks for the graduation ceremony—”
“We need to go,” Pearl interrupted from where she stood in front of Ezra, her tone clipped. She was still irritated.
“Now,” Jack said very quietly, which was never a good sign.
Mrs. Jonas glared at the four of us, her eyes roaming down the line until she got to me. She pointed a finger. “You are trouble.”
“You’re the second person to say that to me today, so it’s not really breaking news.”
Her face scrunched in aggravation.
King Nelson cleared his throat quickly, offering, “Mrs. Jonas, I’ll take this unruly bunch where they’re supposed to go. You just relax before you have to go onstage.” He motioned for us to follow him, which we did.
Although, we still heard Mrs. Jonas hollering after us, “There had better not be one person flying through the air, a wet t-shirt contest, wild animals roaming about, or an unwilling flash mob during the ceremony!” She must have paused for breath, because there was a gap of silence, then she shouted, “This is going to be on live television, so don’t ruin it!”
Hell, I had only done the wild animal party once. I’d had to have a little fun with that part of my power, since I knew I could do it now. It wasn’t my fault if one of the pythons was last seen entering the administration building and never found. That could have happened to anyone. The bugger had just slithered away when I hadn’t been looking. Other than the fact the python was hard to control, like the alligators had been, I blamed it on the goat that had been giving me a lot of trouble. It had kept eating everything in sight, including the sandals I’d had on that day, which I had been in the process of pulling out of its mouth for the second time when said python disappeared. At least the python wasn’t that big. Yet.
I didn’t trip and fall. Thank God for small favors.
I sat with my diploma for Political Science in my hand as the last of my classmates were walking across the stage. We were in alphabetical order, so I hadn’t been able to sit next to any of my friends. Not that I had really wanted to but, sadly, once I had calmed down during Mrs. Jonas’s droning on — and on — behind her podium onstage, I felt I should apologize again. My abusive uncle had been another secret I had kept to myself, even when they had held nothing back. At times, I definitely acted more Com than Mys.
I had read my mom’s letter while I sat on the slip-covered folding chair, instead of listening to Mrs. Jonas. She hadn’t written a lot of words. But it had made me misty-eyed, and I had quickly blinked back my tears, not wanting mascara tracks staining my cheeks. The gist of it was that she hoped and prayed I forgave her for sending me to her brother, but that there had been no other choice. She wrote that if I was reading this, then it was my graduation day and she was proud of me and my hard work, and she knew in her heart and mind I would go on to do great things and live a life full of happiness and love. Under her signature, she had, once again, asked me to forgive her.
That was all. It was enough. The letter rested in my pocket now and, as soon as I got home, I was going to put it in the scrapbook in my closet that she had started years ago of us. The only thing, other than her money, I had left of her.
Sighing quietly, I rested further on my chair, ignoring the gazes I felt on me from the audience. When Pearl, Jack, and I had gone across the stage at our separate times there had been freaking standing ovations. Nothing like a little early sucking up from Mysticals who don’t even know me, or them. Ezra’s name was about to be called, and I cringed, ready.
“Ezra Zeller, Bachelor’s Degree of Political Science,” Mrs. Jonas stated loudly.
Boom. The applause was almost deafening as he began sauntering across the stage.
I stood, clapping right along with everyone else, mine less polite than the roar, since I also blew through my index finger and thumb, whistling loudly, just as I had for Jack and Pearl.
In due progress, the ceremony was over. In Commoner school, the graduates threw their caps in the air but, since Mysticals wore robes with hoods, that didn’t even cross anyone’s minds. Instead, we cheered with our hands in the air as the fire Elementals of our class shot sparkling fireballs above our heads from their palms, the air Elementals blowing them high into the air, and then the water Elementals putting them out, keeping us safe. Not too shabby, and pretty damn cool to witness.
Afterward, we only had a half-hour to talk with each other and celebrate.
Following that, we were to go inside and get changed into our snazzy attire, then return to the field to mingle.
I went straight to my friends where they were already standing together to the side of the stage — away from everyone — and I kicked the grass a few times, mumbling, “I’m sorry. Really. It won’t happen again.”
“Damn straight,” Pearl grumbled, arms crossed over her chest.
Ezra’s lips were thinned, but he finally nodded.
Jack took a step closer, and bent to peer straight into my eyes, hissing, “Why the hell didn’t you tell us?” His blue eyebrows were together, like he was trying to solve a puzzle.
Glancing away, I asked, “Haven’t you ever had a secret you were ashamed of?”
A quiet pause, then he softly whispered, “Yes.” Another break, then a gruff command, “Ashamed, or not, you tell us in the future so we can rip his head off. Alright?”
I nodded, glancing to the side. Nikki and Gideon were heading our way, so I quickly said, “Ezra, I’d like to have that conversation tonight that you offered before.” The one about us sticking together. Living under the same roof, or whatever his idea was. Just so we were all close. Looking away from Nikki and Gideon, I peered up into his spring green gaze. “I’m in, if you’re serious.”
Unhurriedly, he nodded, his spikes styled wildly chaotic today.
“Me too,” Pearl whispered softly, sounding nervous.
The three of us turned to Jack.
He was rubbing his chin, blue eyebrows lowered, and right before Nikki arrived at his side, he stated, “I’m in.” No nerves. Just resolute calm.
Ezra crossed his arms, saying simply since Gideon and Nikki were now with us, “We’ll discuss it tonight after the Awakenings, but before the dinner King Kincaid is holding for us and our families.” This was desirable, because I still hadn’t met Jack’s or Pearl’s relatives. After what they had witnessed this morning in Mrs. Jonas’s office, they probably thought I was a barbarian Prodigy Shifter, and I would like the opportunity to prove I wasn’t. At least, not all the time.
We nodded. Decision set.