During training the next morning I could tell Elder Merrick was tired.
He was back to being an Elder asshole in front of the others, his tone frigid again—although it wasn’t as bad as the previous day—and he repeatedly kicked my ass, unrepentant and merciless, never helping me stand when I lay sucking oxygen on the ground, hurting and—sometimes—bleeding. But I had seen him stifle a yawn twice. And he did this odd thing with his shoulders, not a roll like some do to relieve tension, but like a half roll/half trying to pop his back motion, which had his cotton t-shirt stretching quite nicely over his chest, which I had glared at plenty, getting irritated and pissed I still managed to notice after he, or Elder Zeller, slammed…knocked…shoved…smacked…thumped…bashed…jostled…or tripped me repeatedly onto my damn back, my own body now aching.
His back issue problem probably roused from an empathic memory of the middle of the night. We had watched one movie silently, pleasantly. After it had ended, he had grabbed the remote when I hadn’t moved to go to bed—still untired and worried about closing my eyes—and found some ancient shoot ‘em up movie I had instantly cringed from, seeing all that carnage like the damn battlefield of the Barren, so I had snuck my hand out, grabbed the remote back and found another happy-sickening movie to watch, pleasing me immensely. After inhaling heavily, he had only grunted, not complaining…then fell asleep against me during the first half of it, his head tilting in his sleep so his eyes were shaded against my neck, his breathing even and soft, but the positioning hadn’t appeared all that comfortable for him, which he had demonstrated it, indeed, hadn’t been when I had eventually woken him—as much as he would be, standing and bending backward, all types of bones popping before he left the room, all sleep rumple…and carrying my damn Vizoac, damn near sleep walking. Isolde, the traitor wolf, I believe had slept with him, only appearing when he had to sit and watch me get my ass handed to me, growling at them, but staying still after I had ordered her to.
And only getting a few hours’ sleep made for a definitely grumpy Elder Merrick, kind of like the way Leric was now with a—barely—hidden expression at the breakfast table after training.
Leric’s gaze was hooded, sitting lazily at the table, one arm over the back of Roselle’s chair, but he interjected between other’s conversations, like he hadn’t even known they were talking, to state gruffly to me, “I had thought you’d…call…me last night after our day.”
I calmly ate my oatmeal understanding his code talk, ignoring how everyone sputtered off at his rude interruption. “My mind was at ease.”
His eyes narrowed the barest bit. “What did you do to alleviate your worries?”
My own narrowed. “Boundaries, Leric.”
His gaze instantly flicked to Sin next to me, then silver hard eyes came back to mine. “Answer me.”
I went still inside, just watching him. And I watched him. Watched him some more.
His tiger growled quietly.
“I don’t answer to you,” I stated slowly, patiently, even though I was irked. “Treat me with the respect you once did, and this would be going a hell of a lot smoother.”
He stared for long moments. “This is not easy for me, either.” He ran his hand over his face, and it appeared he tried to calm himself, and his tone was—somewhat—pleasant. “So, my Chosen, what did you do last night?”
I gifted him with a small smile. “I went on a bike ride, then watched movies.”
Instant, and backtracking. “Alone?”
I sighed heavily. “You know Sin and I were together. You were the one to come up with the idea.” That covered that well. For him. Not so much for Sin. Under the table I placed my hand on his leg when he ate his food more slowly, rubbing soothingly, attention still on Leric.
Silver eyes stared for a moment, then his forehead crinkled the barest bit, and he sat forward and began eating. “I’m glad my advice helped.” It…didn’t sound like it, but he was trying.
“It did,” I pushed through our bond. “Thank you.”
He only grunted in my mind, but his forehead unwrinkled a bit with the bond connection.
King Collins quickly murmured, “You do seem better today.”
“I am.” I nodded once, still rubbing Sin’s leg, feeling him relax from the news I had left him in bed to deal on my own, which I knew he would understand I had wanted him to rest.
Leric peered up to me, biting off a piece of bacon. “I forgot to tell you.” He was going for business-like, but his eyes glistened mischievously. “Dad called, and told me there have been a few…issues…arising at the Temple with the rumor of you reaching them.” White brows lifted a smidge. “We need to go and make a united front with what’s occurring in my absence. Let them know just because my Chosen is here, the Prodigy Elemental, it in no way means we are divided.” His lips quirked a bit as he sat back on his chair. “It would be an excellent time for you to pick your Lajaks.”
The room became silent.
I eyed him. “It’s needed now?” I had thought I would have some time to consider my options.
His eyes turned serious, but they still twinkled a bit at the challenge in the room. “Yes, it would be wise to bring them.”
“You’ll have yours with you?”
He shook his head once. “I’ll have the Guardians. If I brought my Lajaks with me, it might be too much for our people.” Lord, “our” people. “But, it will be the right balance if you did, and it will show we’re together, side-by-side, even with our differences.”
I tapped my fingers on Sin’s leg in thought. “When do we go?”
“Soon, would be best.” He ate another piece of bacon, but I could hear the touch of urgency in his tone. “I was thinking tomorrow morning, so you could have the day to figure out your choices.”
“Do we need to go sooner?”
“Currently, my father’s handling it in my stead, so tomorrow will be fine.” He paused. And blinked. “Oh…and whoever goes needs to know how to ride a horse, since that appears to only be a “sport” here.”
I snorted. “I don’t even like to ride a horse.” But I had learned after going to the Temple the first time—Sin had taken lessons with me when we could, realizing they didn’t have cars there, a much more medieval era. “But I understand.” In other words, we would be traveling to one of the surrounding cities. “Anything else I need to consider?”
He hummed quietly, eyeing me. “No. I believe you understand what a Lajak needs to be.” In my mind he stated, “At the Temple…and here.”
I nodded once, and then flicked my gaze around to the table’s occupants, everyone silently watching, and I ran my free hand over my face before stating, “There are only seven spots available as I’m sure you all know by now. I know this seems a bit…condescending…considering your positions here compared to mine, but I would like to treat this like an interview process. So, for anyone who would like to be one of my Lajaks, I will need,” my head teetered in thought, “a file on your most impressive accomplishments in battle that you wouldn’t mind me knowing—only for my eyes, because, let’s face it, there a shit ton I don’t know about what you did in the wars, or even outside them, that you keep hidden.” I nodded, feeling good about that decision, wondering if these Royals around me really understood what I was looking for in a Lajak. “I’d like to have those by lunch to review them. I’ll be in a conference room waiting.” I held up a finger. “And if you don’t want to be a Lajak, I will not be offended, just as if I don’t pick you, I hope you are not offended. It is a lifetime duty…to me…as a guard, and I know not everyone will want that.” They continued to stare, so I cleared my throat. “That’s it. I’ll make my decision by nightfall.”
The scraping of chairs were instantaneous as every single Royal calmly stood—bolted—from their seats with the decorum innate to them before they walked—dashed—from the room, expressions calm as could be, some grabbing their plates or a muffin or a juice, not done with their breakfast, no one saying a damn word, except for, maybe, a grunt or a hiss or a growl when they bumped each other to get out the door to complete the task I had mentioned.
Sin blinked, and then started chuckling hard as the last one—Elder Farrar—sedately walked from the room, munching on an apple. Sin’s green eyes twinkled, just at Leric’s and Roselle’s, and even, Reese’s were across from me, my guards peeking their heads into the room, small grins on their faces. Through his hilarity, Sin muttered, “Damn stampede of Royals.” His eyes glowed a bit. “Wish I had gotten that on film. I could have made a fortune.”
I imitated King Zeller’s voice, trying not to laugh. “There had better be no damn videos!”
Leric grinned, chuckling gently. “It appears knowledge outweighs a lifetime of servitude to you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Or their curiosity.” I shook my head, sitting back on my chair. “I’ll just have to distinguish which one it is.” Because who I picked, I wanted them to have the knowledge, the trust, I would need here, exactly as Leric had mentioned. But…that wasn’t all I was looking for.
King Collins poked his head back into the room, stating hurriedly, but gruffly, “This doesn’t mean you get out of your power training with your guards, my Prodigy.” His head disappeared.
I sighed, staring where he had been. “I’d hoped he’d forgotten.”
Picking Lajaks…was exhausting.
Physically, I was starting to wear down from my few hours of sleep, plus two hours of training this morning, so when I entered the conference room—by myself—around ten o’clock with a sandwich and a few cookies, I had hoped to be able to catch a few winks. Which, I did. For, maybe, an hour, only to wake and see three files already sitting beside where my head rested on the table, each one color coded for their faction or Element. And they weren’t thin. Fat…damn…files sat there. Although, intelligently as I drank a Coke a house staff member had grudgingly brought me, and started in on the first one, I realized the Elder was intelligent enough to make it easy reading with bullet points—and a few bloody photos I could have done without, but definitely gave me insight to his handiwork—to make the reading easier, the file also beginning with a simple reason for his wanting to be a Lajak…also with swift instructions to “disintegrate” the file—not the photos, he wanted those returned—as soon as I was done.
Lord.
Elder Farrar strolled in with a file that was twice as large as the others, not saying a word, flopping it down on top of the others, but I stopped him, asking, “Elder Farrar, can you tell me something?”
He turned around, brows quirked. “I was told you didn’t want outside interference.”
Yes, but…I waved an absent hand. “Who is the most powerful Shifter?” Their strength was a given.
“He’s old. Too old for what you need.” He chuckled quietly, appearing mighty amused. “And an ass.”
“Aren’t they all?” I drawled, because Shifters were notoriously cocky. “The second most powerful, then?”
He hummed. “You know, I’ve never thought about that.” His brows quirked. “So, you’re looking for power?”
“It’s one of the things I’m looking for,” I stated elusively. The Temple was almost always peaceful, but if there was ever an uprising, power would be needed. “Any clue?”
“Just a moment.” Instantly his eyes glowed, and his head cocked very slowly, staring up into something I couldn’t see. It wasn’t instantaneous, which meant it wasn’t easy for him to assess through the vision of individuals. His brows eventually slammed together, his eyes widening, saying dreamily, “Well, damn.” He blinked, coming back to himself, and he appeared a bit wide-eyed, muttering, “Fuck, if I shouldn’t have already known that.” He shook his head, and turned on his heal. “It’s Elder Merrick. Go figure. He always controls it so well. Now I know why.”
I blinked slowly. “Elder Farrar?”
“Hmm?” he asked, still appearing pensive at his own lack of knowledge, standing at the edge of the door.
“What about a Vampire and an Elemental?”
“Oh.” He nodded once. “That’s easy. King Zeller’s your pick for power, even though he’s second because of his youth.” He stared pointedly. “If you can believe it, the Vampire with the most power is even more of an ass than the Shifter powerhouse, and the Elemental would be Elder Lincoln.” He nodded once solidly. “Now, he’s a good man who didn’t let his power go to his head, and he’s young enough to be what you need.” And with that, he left the room.
I had no clue who Elder Lincoln was, so that didn’t help a damn bit, not really wanting to bring in those who were strangers…not to mention an Elemental who was already a decent man.
Sighing, I went back to my reading, making my own notes periodically about Royals on a pad of paper, Royals coming into the room, silently handing their file over, each varying in thickness, which I learned the thickness had no indication on their skills, one of the smallest files the most gruesome and deadly.
Elder Merrick arrived somewhere in the fray, quietly putting his file next to the others when it appeared my tower-of-killing reading was about to tip, although, he stalled at the door, glancing over his shoulder, his lips parted.
But, his mouth slowly shut.
I waved a hand. “Go ahead.”
His lips pinched, and he nodded once, and he stated simply, “You know I’ll do my job.”
My own lips thinned. “Yes, I do know that.”
He left, and I went back to reading in the silence until Queen Ruckler placed her file on the desk, not letting go of it, and she stated brusquely, but on a whisper, “I know another spirit.” Her head tilted to the file. “It’s in there, and I’d appreciate you making sure the information doesn’t get out.” A pause. “To anyone.”
I hid my shock. Barely. “It won’t get out.”
She nodded once, and released the file, leaving.
And so, I read…and read…made notes…took two very interesting phone calls…read some more. Ate my dinner at the conference table, my ass long ago numbed to the chair I sat on. Reviewed my notes. Drank a pop while leaning back to debate my options.
Eventually, I destroyed the files—minus any pictures, more than one Royal had included those—and then started writing letters on my pad of paper, my decision set finally well into the dark of night. After sealing them in envelopes—with any photos they wanted returned, I had a house staff member, a Mage I knew Sin trusted here, spell each one—one for each of the Elders and Rulers and Prodigies who had asked for the position, plus Sin—and sat back on my chair. Waiting, cracking my neck, hoping those who received my heartfelt, grateful, but so-sorry-I-didn’t-pick-you letters weren’t upset. The few that I had chosen, I had asked to meet me in the conference room.
Sin was the first to arrive with Isolde trotting after him, green eyebrows lifting, squeezing my shoulder before sitting next to me. “You’ve chosen?”
“Yep.” I yawned, and I knew I appeared as beat as I was. “It’ll be interesting.”
He appeared extremely entertained. “I’m sure it will be.”
It was late, bedtime late, so more than likely, they had no clue what my answer was, everyone probably having been tucked away in their rooms, hopefully not in bed yet, and it didn’t surprise me when some walked in wearing their pajamas, but still, coming quickly. No one said a word, sitting quietly, eyeing one another calmly, but a bit guardedly, until the last arrived. I stood, and walked to the door, stretching my aching muscles before shutting the door. Instantly, they all went still, their attention swinging about the room…because there wasn’t eight in here, and I knew they thought I was doing a group kiss off, but I yawned and trudged back to my seat, flopping down on it like dead weight before stating, “First, I want to say I appreciate you letting me read into your lives, and I want you all to know my lips are sealed about anything within your files, which have been destroyed.” Again, I cracked my neck. “And, also, look around you, because these will be the individuals you will be working with.” I nodded once at their mute countenances. “I’ve chosen each of you to protect me. You’re my Lajaks.”
Instantly they relaxed, but they did eye one another again, seeing who they would be paired with.
Brann cleared his throat. “Caro, thank you for the opportunity, but…” Black brows scrunched as he glanced at the other occupants.
Yep, the room was two shy.
King Zeller glanced to the door. “Are the others coming?”
Elder Farrar’s lips twitched.
Elder Merrick’s gaze narrowed on the action, navy blue, intelligent eyes swinging to me. “Who are they?”
King Collins’s eyes widened. “Are they…friends…of yours?”
Elder Farrar started chuckling, muttering quietly, “You’ll wish they were.”
I cleared my throat, giving Elder Farrar a pointed glare. “All eight of you will be working together.” Tapping of my fingers. “Peacefully.”
Golden brows cocked. “Just so you know…that other Vampire I spoke of earlier…it’s him.”
I blinked, not knowing that. “My decision stands.” They were who I wanted. Eyes back to those waiting, I stated, “The others joining us will obviously be a Vampire and a Mage, so funneling can be used.” A clearing of my throat. “The Vampire is Elder Bridges.”
King Zeller muttered a curse under his breath, running his hands through his spiked hair, no one appearing too thrilled, except for Sin who glanced at me covertly, his eyes sparkling with mirth, eyebrows cocked, not knowing who I spoke of, just gauging everyone’s reactions.
Elder Farrar muttered, “Wait…it gets worse.”
“Worse than that arrogant prick?” King Collins asked in irritated disbelief.
I held up a hand, bringing the attention back to me. “And the Mage is Elder Samson.”
All stared. Some jaws were even gaping a bit.
I waved a hand, sitting back on my chair. “As I stated, my decision stands. They’ll be here in the morning.”
“Ms. Jules…” King Zeller murmured quietly into the strained silence, wearing a patient expression. “I know you met them briefly in the past, but while Elder Bridges may,” nose crinkling, “be a wise choice power wise,” he stared pointedly, “Elder Samson,”
I held up a hand. “He’s a prejudice asshole, his mind filled with ancient codes of conduct.” They stared, and my brows lifted. “And all of that aside, he’s managed to work with his group for a very long time, making allowances, and thinking rationally, when he may do so otherwise. He’s intelligent, dedicated, quick to protect, and he wants the job.”
“And…” Elder Merrick drawled slowly, black brows rising. “He’s a respected Elder in the Mage community, and if you can get him on your side, open his eyes…”
I shrugged a shoulder. “All the better for votes.” My brows rose, daring anyone to argue.
“Christ.” King Collin’s rubbed a hand over his face, appearing stressed. “Nicely done.”
My eyes moved to Elder Farrar. “I’d love to know how Elder Bridges and Elder Samson came to know of this opportunity in the first place.”
Elder Farrar shrugged a shoulder. “It wasn’t me. Elder Samson is a Mage. He may have seen it.”
My brows slammed together. “They both received anonymous spelled letters with my phone number in the message.”
His fingers tapped, his own brows coming together, just as everyone went silent. “It could have been any Mage with a vision to send it to them.” He shook his head. “After I left you today, I had a vision of who you would pick, but,” his brows stayed together, eyes glowing a bit as he stared off at nothing, “I can’t see where we’re going…”
I sighed heavily, and stared at the table for long moments as he came back to himself, effectively telling me he couldn’t see shit about our journey. “When they arrive, I’ll want you to make sure they’re not spelled. And in the meantime, I’ll think on two others just in case they’re being used somehow.” I rubbed at my forehead, pulling my notes in front of me. “For the time being, I’d like to move forward without these doubts. You’ll each be separately guarding me, but I want you to stay relatively close to your four for funneling, which will be,” I flipped my sheet, reading my scribbles, “Elder Farrar, Elder Merrick, Elder Bridges, and Sin in the first group. Elder Samson, Brann, King Zeller, and King Collins in the second.” I paused, then stared between Elder Merrick and Elder Farrar. “You two will be my point guards while Sin and Elder Bridges do…their thing. I’ll want you near at all times.”
I placed the pad of paper down, staring at it a moment. “I know none of you know what you’re stepping in to. You’re all extremely excited and can’t wait to see what lies ahead.” I cracked my neck, damn tired. “And the Temple is beautiful. Amazing. Beyond words. Each of you will be dazzled and learn a lot…but,” I ran a hand over my face, “while the Temple is almost always peaceful, I need each of you to be vigilant. You’re going somewhere unknown, their powers mostly unknown to you. Spirits can be…cunning…on a whole different level there because it is so peaceful. While I am making the show with Leric that all is well between us, I’ll need you to do what you do best because I haven’t heard of an uprising in,” I shook my head, staring at the table, “hell, I remember someone saying something like, maybe hundreds of years ago, which means if there are issues, they’re serious and have been building for some time just waiting for a catalyst.” I chuckled quietly, pointing to myself. “Me.”
Dropping my hand, I felt an enormous weight on the shoulder I shrugged. “While there are a lot of spirits who will more than likely want me dead, just because I’m the Chosen and I chose not to accept the Temple, and probably see me as a traitor, I worry more about the individuals behind any type of uprising against the peace, because they will try to kill me just to start conflict between the many who will automatically give me the respect my position affords.”
Absently, I folded an edge of a sheet, watching my work. “While we’re there I’ll want nightly meetings and will expect your complete and absolute attention, even with,” my eyes flittered on each of them, pausing a moment on King Collins, then moving on, “any issues you may be having in your current life.” I paused, eyes tracking back to King Zeller and King Collins. “I don’t expect us to be gone for an overly extended amount of time, but it could occur. I’ll give you the option right now to step away, because while we’re there, I may need you and won’t be able to risk bringing you back.”
King Zeller instantly shook his head. “I’m in. Elder Zeller and Elder Venclaire can handle business while I’m away.”
I nodded, and then met my King’s brown eyes. His were hooded, his expression utterly blank. I waited. Queen Cooper was pregnant. I couldn’t say picking him hadn’t been a toss-up because of this fact. I hadn’t not picked her because she was, my decisions on the Mages firm, but I had stumbled a bit with him, and whether he would be able to leave her…and possibly miss the birth of what appeared to be their first child.
“King Collins?” I prompted gently when he stayed quiet.
His lips pinched the barest bit. “I believe I’d never hear the end of it if I didn’t go.”
My head cocked. “That’s a yes?”
“That’s a yes,” he stated quietly. “But, hurrying has its advantages too.”
I chuckled quietly. “I’ll see what I can do.” Peering back to my notes, I yawned, covering my mouth with a hand, speaking through it. “And lastly, I’ll need you each to…appear intimidating.” There were a few snorts and chuckles, because they already were, but I waved a hand, rubbing my eyes. “We all know image can be a useful tool. If you scare the shit out of them by just your appearance, it may keep the weak at heart from attacking. You’ll already be the oddity of the Temple, you’re already going to be stared at no matter how hard you would try to blend, so just work it fashionably however is needed to get your point across your impenetrable.” Sitting back, I grabbed my Coke. “Any questions I may be able to answer?”
Brann instantly asked, “How will we be traveling to the Temple?”
“I’ll be taking all of you.” That was all I could say.
King Zeller flicked a hand, a scowl on his face. “The One said we would be bound to never communicate what we see. How is that handled?”
“With a simple star.” My eyes flicked to Elder Farrar. “Don’t try to stop this from happening as you did with their memories. There are reasons why spirits are silent, which I’m sure you will eventually hear while at the Temple.”
He stared for long moments, his gaze hardening to a rare side of him I hardly ever saw. “As I’ve said, I can’t see our path on this, but I can tell you I despise being bound to silence.”
I inhaled with aggravation, and opened my mouth…only to choke. Instantly, false loving caresses flittered across my neck, my hair fluttering in a breeze of the unseen tender touch, an arm delicately around my throat. Fear instantly pulled on me, every single man in the room jumping to their feet, eyes glowing, but I held up my hands in a stopping gesture as I tried to push the fear back, to calm myself. I had slipped, the one tie that literally bound a spirit, the only thing we couldn’t willingly say I had been, apparently, about to speak on. Everything was a choice for a spirit, whether we wished to speak on our secrets and have our powers taken, except for this one. This one couldn’t be communicated at all outside the Temple.
I closed my eyes, inhaling, shuddering at the gentle caresses, and after a moment, they disappeared as I calmed, my heart rate slowing, hair fluttering down, the unseen gone. I cleared my throat, and slowly opened my eyes. Everyone was watching with their glowing gazes, damn near on the balls of their feet, and I waved. “Sit down. It’s gone.” Slowly they did one by one. The Shifters sitting first, then Sin, grabbing my hand instantly, then the others. I cleared my throat once more, and opened my mouth, testing if I was about to say anything wrong, but when it didn’t occur again, I stated to Elder Farrar, “Some would believe us Gods, and use us as such, while we are not. The silence is a necessary evil to keep the balance.” I shrugged a shoulder. “It’s something you will have to trust me on, and if you do not, and do not allow me to do as needed, I will not allow you entrance to the Temple.” It was a simple statement of fact.
His expression turned a bit smug, eyebrows lifting the barest bit. “You would choose another Mage over me?”
“In a heartbeat.” My own brows lifted. “Be careful, Elder Farrar, you wouldn’t want to turn out like those other two powerhouses you spoke of earlier.”
His eyes narrowed for a moment, then he rolled his shoulders, relaxing on his chair. “You’re right. Excuse me, that was rude.” He glanced to Elder Merrick. “Was she telling the truth during all that?”
“Truth to all,” Elder Merrick murmured, his own brows lifting to Elder Farrar. “What the hell?”
He waved an irritated quick hand. “I want to go to the damn Temple, but I hate that silence shit.” He pointed at his head. “I’ve never been able to see it and it pisses me off.”
Elder Merrick grunted, brows still raised. “You sounded like a damn prig.”
“Oh, fuck off. I apologized,” Elder Farrar muttered, irritated golden eyes swinging to me. “I won’t do anything to stop your silent…star.”
My gaze flicked to Elder Merrick, and he stated, “Truth.”
I nodded once. “Any other questions?”
Elder Merrick’s wolf huffed. “Just go to bed so you’re rested for tomorrow. Anything else can be asked in the morning when Elder Bridges and Elder Samson are here.”
I yawned again, glancing to the others. “Nothing needs to be asked right now?” They shook their heads. “You’re all game?” They all nodded, so I sucked in a large breath, and then blew out quickly, my power flaring, six stars floating from my mouth, heading directly to each Lajak, hovering in front of their startled faces. “Open your mouth and don’t fight it. It’s for the silence.” Yeah, I wasn’t going to give them the option to change their minds about keeping quiet.
Sin instantly opened his mouth. The star sailed inside it in a small flurry. His head flew back with the force, and he instantly choked, but he swallowed heavily, his muscled throat bobbing. “Fuck me,” he groaned, dropping his head forward into his hands, “That was not pleasant.”
I patted his back. “I still need to give you…a breath of air…and by all accounts, that’s pleasant.”
Closed mouth grunts around the table.
“Love,” Sin cleared his throat, shaking his head still in his hands, “I hate to break it to you, but how will it stop them from countering it with their own power?”
I was glad he asked, a small smile lifting my lips as I glanced to those still with their mouths firmly shut. “By accepting it, their power accepts it. Therefore, any time they try to break through it, their own power will fight itself.” I nodded toward them. “Accept it, and you’re truly bound to silence, gentlemen.”
King Collins brows lifted, and he nodded approvingly, the others wearing a slight scowl, and he opened his mouth, the star flying in, choking him until he swallowed it down. He groaned heavily, sinking on his chair, his posture much like Sin, muttering hoarsely, “That…is…awful.”
“Yep.” I waved a hand. “Hurry up, gentlemen. I’m ready for bed.” One by one they opened their mouths, accepting the star, every single one of them grimacing and appearing ill afterward, until Elder Farrar was left. I raised my brows, murmuring, “I’m sure there’s another Mage who would be thrilled to take your place.”
He scowled, but he did eventually open his mouth, accepting the silence, then slumped a bit, appearing like he might puke. I stood, stretching and saying, “It should wear off shortly. No worries. And I’ll see you all in the morning before breakfast back in this room.” I pointed a finger to Elder Farrar. “Don’t forget to check Elder Bridges and Elder Samson for spells.” And with that, I helped Sin from his chair, throwing his arm over my shoulder, and hiked us to bed.