A poking on my arm in my half dozing slumber had my eyes shooting wide open in fright…staring blurrily into spring green eyes an inch from my face, and I screamed bloody murder, my arms wrapping like death’s grip around Cain’s throat. Instantly, Cain woke, his head trying to lift, his wolf already snarling furiously inside his chest as he threw his arm out blindly in the direction I was staring, since he couldn’t see past me hanging on to him as I was, his power erupting down his palm, the pulse of furious wild animal zapping the air, shoving the intruder away with his strength, tossing the individual through the air easily.
A deep grunt, “Fucking shit!”
And…I blinked…rubbing my eyes…seeing King Zeller—oh, no—hit the privacy spelled far wall, plaster and paint fall down around him as he tumbled to the couch with a groan. I quickly grabbed Cain’s arm, yanking on it, since he was still sending his power, muttering hurriedly, “Stop! It’s King Zeller!”
No longer strangled inside my hold, he shook his rumpled curls out of his face, eyes glowing in fury, peering off to the side, and instantly dropped his arm, relinquishing his powered hold on the King who was trying to get up, his fangs extended in fury, face…beautifully sharpened…but with that much-aged magic against him…well, it had to hurt like a son of a bitch, not to mention, it sounded as if Cain had broken bones.
An arm waving in my peripheral caught my attention, and my head darted that way around Cain, but Elder Farrar stated loudly, and clearly, “Don’t attack. It’s only me.” I stared wide-eyed even as Cain jerked the blanket over us even further; apparently, making sure everything was covered now that the threat was gone, even as Elder Farrar waved an irritated arm at King Zeller, muttering, “I told you not to do that. One day you will listen to me, dammit.” He started marching toward him. “Now, I’m going to have to fix your ribs, and no one’s here to offset the pain.”
King Zeller was standing now, but shaking his head hard. “Jesus,” more head shaking, fangs still extended, “Christ.”
“Yes, yes,” Elder Farrar mumbled, hands glowing over King Zeller’s ribs. “Just be happy he wasn’t trying to kill you since he wasn’t sure who you were.”
Cain tucked my head down against his chest, holding it there so all I could see was his olive skin, soft black curls tickling my cheek…even as he tucked the blanket around my damn head, burying me under him and the blanket, barking gruffly, clearly pissed, “What the fuck, Farrar?”
“Just a moment.” Elder Farrar’s voice sounded, since I couldn’t see a damn thing, Cain’s hold on me unbreakable under him. “I’ve got to fix,” bones cracking sounded harshly, “my goddamn, pain in the ass son-in-law,” more cracking with a deep grunt, “since he doesn’t listen to older and wiser reason.”
I stopped trying to move out from under Cain at that bit of knowledge…realizing he meant Queen Ruckler and King Zeller were married. “Huh.”
Elder Farrar snorted. “Please, Ms. Jules, as if you didn’t wonder. You were romantically involved with their daughter for close to a year, and you figured out who her parents are.”
Cain froze over me this time until he peeked under the cover, pulling my head back a bit, asking gruffly, “Isa was the woman you were in a committed relationship with?”
“Yeah,” and, apparently, Cain did, in fact—not assuming, know of the dynamics of the current Rulers, not to mention, remembered my explanations from years past, “A few years ago.”
He stared for a long moment, an unreadable expression on his face, then grunted, tucking me against his chest, stuffing the sheet back over my head, to once again bark hostilely, “Now, what the hell?”
King Zeller—also, sounding pissed—stated gruffly, “I arrived here first from the hospital. Found Elder Farrar snoozing outside the door, came inside, and found you two as you are. I improvised, and intercepted everyone at the front door of the hotel, and took them to lunch explaining Ms. Jules was sleeping and we shouldn’t wake her. I left early—they’ll be up here any minute—to make sure you were awake by now, which you were not, and against Elder Farrar’s,” a quiet growl, “advice I tried to wake Ms. Jules.” It sounded as if he was moving away. “And now that I have,” another growl, “I’m leaving since no damn good deed goes without fucking pain somehow.” A pause. “And take the privacy spell down. It’s too obvious.” The door opened, and slammed shut.
“Dammit, Farrar,” Cain growled, and I felt him leaning, fumbling for something, crushing my face against his chest more, pushing my head back into the pillow, he paused, then the sound of plastic slamming on wood. “You got here two and half hours ago with her.”
Elder Farrar’s voice was snippy and irritated. “I wasn’t the only one to fall asleep. I told you both you had an hour.” A popping sound. “Not to mention, you got a warm body and damn bed while I got a cold breeze and a hard floor.” I heard odd sounds, and felt the touch of Mage magic, mystical dreams sizzling softly through the air. “And even though I knew you wouldn’t appreciate being woken, I didn’t expect you to hurt Ezra. I expect you to apologize to him for breaking five of his ribs, and then properly thank him for saving both your asses.” The magic stopped, and I heard him stomping across the room muttering curses under his breath. “He may be my headstrong son-in-law, but he is still my daughter’s husband, whom she loves dearly,” the door opened, “so make it fucking right.” It slammed shut.
“Jesus,” Cain muttered after a moment, then leaned back pulling the blanket from my head…and glared down at me. “I told you to wake me in ten minutes.”
Um… “Sorry?” When he only glared further, I decided to scowl right back. “I just fell asleep, dammit. I’m sorry, alright?” I thumped his chest once, and feeling a little guilty, I properly turned fault on him. “And you were suffocating me under there. They couldn’t see anything with your body on top of mine. And yet, you damn near mummified me.”
He continued glaring, and his wolf huffed quietly. “You look all disheveled and adorable from a proper fucking and a decent nap. I didn’t want them seeing you this way.” His wolf huffed again, and he lifted, maneuvering over me. “Now, help me get rid of these sheets, then go get in the shower.”
I blinked, and call me a damn girl, but hell…Cain, the badass wolf man, had called me adorable, so I mumbled, “Alright.” No argument from me, plus, it was partly my fault we were in this frantic-paced situation. “If you get the shower going, I’ll get rid of the sheets.”
His gaze flicking down my body, then back up, stalling at my neck. His wolf huffed quietly before he turned on his heel, striding fluidly with a lethal ease, his body striking built for the killer he was, but after a moment, he barked curtly over his shoulder, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” I murmured vaguely, blinking after him, but when he disappeared into the bathroom, moving as quickly as I could, I lifted from the bed, sore as hell now, even from that gentle lovemaking, my stomach pinching a bit with my motions, I moved through the ache, using a bit of my power to get rid of the sheets stained with our sexual fluids, then made my way slowly to the bathroom.
Cain walked out, apparently having taken a thirty second shower, wiping his glistening body off with a towel. “I’ll put sheets on the bed, and get your clothes for you.” He smacked my ass lightly as he walked past. “And hurry your injured ass up.”
I growled quietly, but did walk faster, hurrying to take my shower, and when I stepped out of it, I paused, my eyes flying wide, glancing at myself in the mirror for the first time. I had an enormous damn hickie on my neck, which covered, like, a fourth of it. My powers had been pretty much offline for the last three weeks, except for today’s events, which meant that it wasn’t going to go away very quickly. Drying off as swiftly as I could, I kept staring at it in the mirror, remembering his reaction to it…and it slowly dawned on me, he had kind of marked me in a sense, in an animalistic way. Tossing on the clothes he had brought me, oversized black velour pajama bottoms—ones that didn’t hug my waist too tightly—and a soft cotton, gray turtleneck, I moved outside, only to have fingers snapped at me, and navy blue’s glaring at my hair, with a barked exasperation, “You washed your hair?” More snapping. “Dry it, dammit.”
I quickly moved back into the bathroom to rapidly dry my hair, not because I was ordered to do so, but because I didn’t want to get caught…and, possibly, just maybe…have the surly ass taken away from me. When I exited a few minutes later, I stopped his gruff movements to the door to tell Elder Farrar to get rid of the privacy protection on the wall with a gentle hand on his stomach, and reached up, standing on tip toe, pulling his face down to mine, and kissed him gently…then nipped his bottom lip sharply, whispering, “My badass wolf man.”
Even as his wolf huffed quietly, he straightened, and brushed his gray t-shirt with rough motions, then grunted. “Yes, well,” he moved around me, speaking sternly over his shoulder, “don’t forget, you’re my spirit bitch.” And that was the first time he had said it, and it sounded, and felt, like an endearment.
After lying in bed with clean sheets, I snuggled up and watched Cain with concealed amusement. He had sat on the recliner with his book after speaking with Elder Farrar, who was also now back in the room, but he had kept glancing over at me, wearing his sexy as hell worn jeans again, his bare foot tapping with whatever he had been thinking about. He had gotten up after five minutes, Elder Farrar also watching him covertly with twitching lips as he started swiftly, methodically, and damn professionally, moving each trundle bed just the barest half foot in toward the king-sized bed this large suite had, even moving the bags perfectly next to them…so no one would notice the fact he moved his trundle within reaching distance to the bed Sin and I shared. He glanced at me with narrowed eyes, ordering gruffly, “Not a peep, honey.” Then, proceeded to test his theory, lying on his bed, reaching an arm out, touching me, then rolled off it, glanced at each of the beds with an approving air, then went to sit back on the recliner, kicking his feet up, lifting his book, muttering to Elder Farrar next to him on the couch, “Don’t even start.”
Elder Farrar flipped a sheet on the magazine he hadn’t even glanced at, but studied now like it held life’s secrets, stating casually, “I wouldn’t even know where to begin, old friend.”
“Oh, fuck off,” Cain muttered, his wolf growling quietly. “I’ve kept your secrets, you can keep mine.”
Interesting.
“That’s always been much appreciated, and, of course, I’ll return the kindness.” More studying of a page. “Did you know one of the ways a couple continues to have a successful, happy relationship is to sleep next to each other every night?”
I bit my lip as Cain glared at him, his wolf growling quietly.
“What?” Elder Farrar asked innocently, holding up the magazine, pointing to it. “It’s in the column.”
Cain flipped him off.
“I believe you could learn a lot from this article,” Elder Farrar stated steadily, voice even and pleasant, turning his attention back to his page. “It also has a lengthy segment on how to transform your surly ass ways into a loving, caring individual.” Elder Farrar ducked the decorative pillow thrown at him, and continued pretending to read. “Ah, rule one…always be kind to your oldest friends…aka don’t throw shit at them when they’ve just made it possible for you to get laid.”
I snickered quietly, keeping the sheet pressed to my mouth, muffling the noise, watching Cain drop the other pillow he had been ready to throw, muttering grudgingly, “I won’t hurt you since I know you already are.”
Elder Farrar grunted. “Six weeks is a long damn time to go without.” He flicked a scowl at me before his eyes went to his magazine. “And it’s only going to be longer since your honey was careless enough to get stabbed with her own damn sword.” He shook his head slightly, muttering quietly, “That’s fucking humiliating.”
I don’t believe he even saw the pillow that time. His head whipped back with the impact, and he muttered, “Goddammit!” He wiped at the dab of blood that had formed on his nose, glaring at Cain. “Was that really necessary? It had fucking ornaments on it!”
Cain grunted, opening his book. “Yes.” He tilted his head to the basket of odds and ends next to him on the ground, even as he found the page he had been previously reading. “And there’s more where that came from if you verbally bash her again for something she’s already ashamed of, and knows she needs to work on.”
I smiled quietly under the sheet, kind of…liking him sticking up for me.
Elder Farrar scowled for a long moment, and then rolled his shoulders, sitting back on the couch grouchily, staring at his own magazine. “Asshole.”
Cain hummed quietly, his lips twitching, his foot tapping. “I’ll refrain from commenting.”
Elder Farrar’s lips twitched, too. “Cunt.”
Cain chuckled quietly…and all was right between them, apparently, as they went silent, seeming to actually read from their materials, but their conversation had given me an idea, so when the others came in ten minutes later, I sat up in bed gingerly, and viewed everyone who eyed me warily—seriously, I wasn’t that damn bad at the hospital—and smiled pleasantly to them, stating, “I have a gift for all of you.”
As one, they appeared…almost…frantic with anxiety, but trying to mask it.
I waved a hand. “It’s not bad.” I cleared my throat, stating delicately, keeping a straight face, “I realize it’s been six weeks,” everyone here was a Mystical, highly sexual in nature, “since any of you have spoken or seen a loved one, and it’s only going to be,” a glance to Elder Farrar, then back to the others, “longer because of my unfortunate mishap, putting a standstill in our travels. So, I thought I would,” straight face, straight face, “open a channel so you can…talk…with someone you may be missing from home.” God, it was hard, but I kept my face blank. “I thought Elder Farrar could spell the bathroom, so each of you might have some privacy.”
Elder Bridges, ever one for delicacy, blinked slowly, and then asked bluntly, “You’re going to give us access to phone sex?”
I had to hold still for a long moment, or else laugh my ass off, but I eventually cleared my throat, murmuring demurely, “It’s more like video, since you’re able to see and hear them, and vice versa.” I glanced at them with clear eyes. “Also, you should know the silencing spell will work if you try to divulge anything about spirits, and what you’ve learned here, since you will be speaking to someone outside the Temple, and my lips will be sealed for whomever you wish to speak with.” I placed my hands on my lap calmly. “Is anyone interested?”
King Collins jerked forward, already heading to the bathroom, barking over his shoulder, “Get your ass in here, my Prodigy.”
Yeah…I had expected him to go first.
After the bathroom was spelled, in went like this…
King Collins had me contact Queen Cooper. He spent two fucking hours in the bathroom, which finally earned King Zeller banging on the door, cursing at him to hurry up. He came out a half hour later…appearing all types of refreshed.
King Zeller obviously went next. First, he had me contact Isa to whom he spoke with for a half hour, then peaked his head out the door, asking for me. He then had me contact Queen Ruckler, to whom he spoke with for over an hour, which had Elder Bridges banging on the door, cursing for him to hurry up, the Vampire King practically grinning when he left the bathroom.
I wasn’t sure who the Vampire woman was Elder Bridges had me contact, but I quickly hustled out when her clothes started coming off the moment she saw him. My eyes had been a bit wide when I exited, but I had walked slowly, and carefully, holding my stomach, back to the bed. I had gotten an hour’s worth of rest before he came out…cheeks flushed and refreshed.
Brann had asked for one Shifter woman, which ended up being three in bed, and he had only grinned, not surprised, so I had shuffled on out of the bathroom, shaking my head in amusement as I waddled back to bed. And Elder Samson had been damn edgy by this point, banging on the door not even forty-five minutes later, which produced Brann fifteen minutes later, stretching and lazy as a damn cat, lounging on the couch.
Elder Samson had surprised me, though, and had me call his mother directly, whom I had seen on screen, and quickly left…shocked and surprised not even close to what I had felt as I lay back down in bed, grabbing a book, knowing it was going to be awhile, not glancing to anyone…because that was just personal, and heartfelt, as hell, and it was safe to say when he exited he instantly went to the bar, stepped out on the balcony, and proceeded to drink alone.
Elder Farrar cleared his throat, brows pinched, glancing away from the balcony, stating slowly, “Guess it’s my turn.”
I walked into the bathroom…and the next thing I remembered was stepping outside it.
I blinked…glanced back at the door…and fury erupted inside me. I quickly shut my power down, turning to the door, crossing my arms…and waited.
The door flung open, and golden eyes stared into mine.
I didn’t say a word, only continued to stare back.
“Faulty connection?” he drawled, his lids hooding.
My brows rose slowly. “Apparently.” I tilted my head to the bathroom. “Shall we try this again?”
His nostrils flared and he opened the door wide, stating softly, “Come into my lair.”
I flicked him a glance, and then stepped inside easily, waiting until he shut the door. “Do that shit on me again, and you will soon be forgetting things, too.” I continued when he opened his mouth. “All it takes is you all nice and comfortable, peacefully unaware, like in your sleep, and you won’t know I was even there.” I pointed a finger at him. “I like you, too, and people don’t do that shit to who they like.” I glared as his mouth shut slowly. “Now, who do you want me to contact…again?”
He stood frozen for long moments, eyeing me closely, a slow perusal, and then he stated evenly, “Elder Zeller.”
I blinked ever so slowly. “Huh.” That was all I said, face neutral, then turned my back to him, and did as requested, seeing Elder Zeller on screen in a darkly furnished room, but laced with gold here and there, pacing, appearing all types of put out, then I turned to Elder Farrar, stating, “Like I said, don’t do that shit anymore.”
“Tony?” Elder Zeller’s voice instantly behind me, his deep tone worried.
Elder Farrar’s eyes flicked behind me. “Just a moment, precious.” Golden eyes came back to mine, and hardened…like I had never seen before on him…and I saw my own death hanging in the balance as he hissed, “I do like you, Ms. Jules, but like will only get you so fucking far. I will know if you ever breathe a word of this to anyone, and if you do, I will hunt you down…even here…and I will kill Sin right in front of you…then the other you care for…then leave you in a shallow grave, with them, for the rest of your damn life, buried in the darkness with their rotting corpses where no one will ever find you, not even your One since you have that lovely protection over you…and I’ll spell it just right, so anytime you try to use the diamond…it will instantly pull you back.” Golden brows lifted the barest bit. “Understand, Ms. Jules?” Golden eyes flicked between mine. “Or do you wish to forget?”
I swallowed slowly, and asked carefully, and evenly, “Did you give me the choice before?”
“No.”
I stared at him, feeling low. “I realize it’s practically hereditary, but Royals don’t always have to be such assholes.” I moved to the door. “Of course I won’t tell.” I glanced to the screen. “It’s good to see you, Elder Zeller. Enjoy your time together.” My gaze flicked to Elder Farrar, held for a moment, then, decision made when he remained silent, I stated clearly, “Elder Samson will be taking your place as point guard. You obviously haven’t learned a damn thing I’ve been trying to teach you.”
One slow word. “What?”
“Not even touching on the fact I’d considered you a respected friend, and mentor, you threatened those I care for when I had not done the same. I only threatened eye for an eye, even after you had already violated my trust in you. You automatically assumed, and I thought we were past that.” I held his furious gaze steadily. “My decision stands.” Hand on the door handle, I murmured, “I do realize individuals can become stuck in their ways, but do try to learn something while you’re here.” I walked out and shut the door behind me softly.
I was pouring a small glass of water for my antibiotic when the bathroom door opened across the room, and Elder Farrar poked his head out, stating, “I’m sorry.”
I waved an absent hand, ignoring how everyone was staring. “Thank you for the apology, but my decision stands.”
“Ms Jules,”
“No.” I interrupted him, taking my pills stiffly before glancing to him, my gaze as cold as I felt for him. “Finish your call, Elder Farrar. There are others waiting.”
He held my gaze, jaw clenched, then nodded once, closing the door.
“Love?” Sin asked casually from our bed, lying his crossword puzzle down.
All I had to do was meet his gaze.
Instantly, his own hardened, just as cold as mine.
This was where everyone underestimated us. Sure, we were entertaining. Absolutely, we were spontaneous. Unfortunately—sometimes, we had the misfortune of in-your-face fighting. But…when we knew of a real threat ahead of time…we calculated, waited…watched…and planned.
And he knew only one thing could put this look in my eyes, and vice versa.
His head cocked slightly, emerald green eyes cold as frosted baby grass. “Probability?”
My own voice was void. “Slim to none.” After all, there was always the possibility I could be spelled for the information, even if I would never freely speak of it.
He nodded casually once, and picked his crossword back up without another word, and continued working on it.
I placed my glass in the sink, and moved through the silent room, holding my stomach gingerly, ignoring their stares, and opened the sliding door to the balcony and stepped outside, not bothering to close it behind me. Again, since we were still heading north on the coastline, the view was lush and gorgeous, the afternoon sun—not quiet setting—was dangling just over the ocean, the white sand of the beaches sparkling as if mixed with the diamonds spirits loved so well. I moved to the railing, past Elder Samson and placed my arms on it, and stared, trying to see the beauty of it. I hated—more than hated, feeling like a gnawing in my stomach—when I lost all respect for someone I had started to genuinely care for, and knowing they didn’t respect me when I had truly tried. I knew his reasoning for doing it…but I didn’t agree whatsoever.
After a few minutes of staring, I stated quietly, “It should be beautiful.”
I heard the bottle swish behind me, and Elder Samson grunted. “Yes, it should be.”
Continuing to stare, I ran a hand over my face, stating clearly, “You’re taking over Elder Farrar’s position as point guard.” I knew those inside could hear, since they were still silent, eavesdropping pathetically.
He didn’t say anything for long moments until he cleared his throat, and then murmured humbly, “He’s better than me.”
“He’s more powerful than you, not better than you.” I watched as a child played with a kite on the beach, the breeze that was ruffling my hair in irritation also making the child laugh as he stared up at his toy. “There is a difference.”
It sounded like he was tapping his glass bottle on the wooden lounge. “Okay.”
“That’s a yes?”
“It is.”
“Okay.” I continued staring, long minutes passing, the sun just starting to touch the crystal clear blue waters…until I heard…I tilted my head to the side…and a small smile lifted my lips. Music. I heard flavored Cajun music from down at the bar on the beach. It sounded like they were just warming up, but after a few more minutes the spiced flavor of the festive, magnetic music could be heard clearly. I peered back to Elder Samson; my eyes glowing dimly, power still ramped for Elder Farrar’s call, and asked him, “Dance with me?”
He couldn’t have looked more taken aback if I had jumped on him naked.
My brows rose a bit, ignoring his shock. “You do dance, don’t you?”
Golden eyes still wide, he muttered, “I’m not near drunk enough for that.”
“Good, you won’t step on my toes.”
“I don’t want to dance.” He was polite enough to refrain from saying “with an Elemental”.
I started moving toward him. “Neither do I, which is the exact reason why we are going to.”
He blinked, eyes huge, watching as I took the bottle from him. “There is no logic in that.”
I sat the bottle aside, trying not to cringe with the effort as I bent, setting it on the white tiled ground. “The reason is in the very depressing nature neither of us wants to.”
He scowled, but didn’t yank his hands away when I grabbed them, tugging gently. “You’re injured.”
“Quit making excuses, and get up,” I tugged more, “Come on,” more tugs, “it’s not scandalous. It’s just a little dancing.”
He continued scowling, but rose when I tugged again, muttering, “Fine, I could use a distraction.”
“You say the sweetest things.” I intertwined our fingers quickly, and lifted our hands between us, about eye level for me, and started shimmying as much as I could to the zesty beat without hurting myself more, moving my arms with the motion, in effect, making his shoulders move a little. “You can do better than that, Elder Samson. Move those hips!”
He blinked slowly, and then muttered quietly, “I cannot believe I’m doing this.”
Dry words. “You aren’t doing anything so far.”
He sighed heavily…and moved his hips…a little.
“There you go,” I cheered him on, turning us a little with the beat. “I knew you could do it.”
He stared, his lips twitching a bit, body barely moving to the beat. “You really want to dance, Ms. Jules?”
I widened my eyes marginally. “You got more?” Yeah, I was egging him on, and he knew it with that gleam in his eye.
He chuckled quietly. “Just try to keep up, and don’t hurt yourself.” And, with that, he twirled me. I squealed in delight, one arm flying out before I flew back at him as he pulled me in, doing a little shimmy to the beat with me before twirling me back out, then swinging us in a circle, my head tipping back as I laughed, both of us grinning like idiots when we stopped, holding our hands together between us, shaking our hips to the beat.
And we danced, thoroughly enjoying ourselves for three entire songs, using the entire balcony at some points, being utter goofs, managing to do some waltz motions, combined with a tango, and then just grooved the rest of the time to the unique essence of the Cajun melodies.
Breathless, and a bit sore, I raised my hands, muttering, “I can’t do anymore.” My cheeks were flushed and I was grinning so much my cheeks hurt. “But Christ, that was fun.”
He dipped grandly, also smiling, golden hair windblown. “That is was. Thank you, Ms. Jules.”
I also dipped, but much less grandly, holding my stomach. “You’re welcome.” I tilted my head to the door. “Coming inside?” The sun had almost set by now.
He shook his head once, peering out to the ocean. “No.” His smile turned soft. “I see it now. I’d like to enjoy it for a little while.”
I patted his shoulder, moving passed him. “Suit yourself.” Running a hand through my messy hair, I was still grinning when I stepped inside, shutting the sliding glass door behind me. And came to a stop, staring. “You have got to be kidding me.”
Sin shrugged, lowering his camera. “I just followed their lead.” Everyone in the room—including Cain—had damn cameras out, some still aimed at the balcony, standing a few feet in front of me. Another shrug from Sin. “They all started running around the room when you two first started dancing, bumping and plowing into each other, digging through their bags. I thought they were going for their weapons, some type of an attack imminent.” His lips trembled fiercely, “But, no. They were all grabbing their cameras.”
My brows lifted, and I crossed my arms, staring at them mutely.
Brann broke first, muttering, “That was damn priceless. Everyone knows he’s the biggest stick in the mud with other factions.” He shrugged a shoulder. “We won’t use it against him.”
Cain grunted, hooding his gaze, tucking his camera in his pocket protectively.
Elder Bridges’s eyes gleamed, placing his camera behind his back.
My eyes narrowed on them, but King Zeller turned his camera, grabbing my attention, pointing at the lit up screen. “Look at this shot! He’s actually laughing!” Jabbing pointing motions. “With you in his arms!”
“I got one of him glowing a little,” King Collins muttered, leaning toward King Zeller showing him the shot. King Zeller leaned in, then instantly scowled. King Collins chuckled, pointing at his screen, “You can tell that glow is from joy, but he’s still glowing.” More pointing. “That is fucking epic material.”
I inhaled heavily, glancing at each of them, lingering on Cain and Elder Bridges before stating slowly, “If any of you use those pictures to harm his credibility in any way, I will find a way to return the favor.” I was dead serious. “None of you are here to dig up dirt to harm one another. You are here as my Lajaks. Individuals I handpicked to protect me, and to showcase the integrity of what I have chosen, which is to live outside the Temple. If I feel any of you are here with undue malicious intentions toward me, each other, or any spirit living at the Temple, I will send your ass’s home in a heartbeat.” I glanced toward the bathroom door, wondering if I was going to have to do just that. Rubbing a hand over my face, I muttered, “Now, hide those damn things before you ruin the good mood I managed to put him in.”
They did, a few mumbling their excuses for taking the pictures, but Cain and Elder Bridges only glanced to each other, staying mute, keeping their cameras on their person—so I couldn’t get to them—and sat where they had previously, everyone situated about the suite well before Elder Samson returned inside.
Eventually, Cain rose about forty minutes later, and started banging on the bathroom door. I observed, wondering who he would want to call, watching him put on the show all the others had—Sin had waved him on, telling him he wasn’t interested in calling anyone. Elder Farrar came out ten minutes later, and I instantly shut my power down as I had every other time. Appearing refreshed, he sat heavily on the couch, arms behind his head, closing his eyes, ignoring the covert glances everyone was giving him, since he had been flat out demoted for actions that had happened behind closed doors, I was sure they were all curious about.
I got up without being asked—like normal, and walked stiffly to the bathroom, my stomach aching now with all of my movement from today, and ducked under Cain’s arm holding the door open, turning as he shut it behind us.
He leaned back against the shimmering golden door, crossed his arms, and an eyebrow quirked in silent question.
I waved a hand. “I don’t want to talk about it.” I wasn’t worried about Cain, since Elder Farrar must have forgotten that even though he was the second most powerful Mage on Earth…Cain was also the second most powerful Shifter on Earth, even if Elder Farrar did have a bit more power—eagles were their Vizoacs, but Cain had his strength…a damn even match in my book. “But just watch your back if he ever seems really pissed at me.”
His expression was bored. “So, you know.” He scratched his chin. “I’m surprised he left you with the memory.”
Ah, now it made sense about their “secrets” business earlier. “He didn’t the first time.” I rolled a finger. “But he did after I cut the connection once I realized what he’d done.”
Black brows lifted a bit, speaking calmly. “It’s a long story, but it ends with them so in love they will do anything to protect what they have. He obviously threatened you with Sin and I, and more than likely, did it well, and also meant it at the time…which he shouldn’t have done. It was a premature action made from fear.” He shook his head slightly, tapping his fingers on his biceps. “But putting Elder Samson as your point guard, instead of Farrar is not a wise tactical move. Not that Elder Samson’s not, but Farrar is powerful and fierce and protective, and has more combat experience.” He flicked an absent finger to me. “And, he apologized for the threat, so he knows he made a mistake, since he only does so when he truly means it.”
I shook my head. “My decision stands. I know he did it out of fear, but still, his initial reaction was to violate my trust, and the next, to intimidate me instead of talking things through rationally.” Another shake of my head, and I turned, swiping a glowing hand in the air, a screen of the cosmos appearing in front of me. “He lost a lot of my damn respect with that move.” I sighed heavily, running a glowing hand over my face. “I really don’t like those I care for being physically threatened. And he knew that. Used it.”
Warm palms landed on my hips, and his solid warmth, and body, nestled up against my back. “I used my knowledge against you, too, and yet, we’re…somewhat…dealing with it.”
My chuckle was dry. “You used sex against me, like a weapon.”
He hummed quietly, fingers softly running back and forth over my hips. “Which is equally as bad as what he used, and again, we’re working through it.” I felt him bend, and place his chin on the top of my head, his voice vibrating like warm honey against the back of my head. “Try to do the same for him. He can better protect you than Elder Samson.”
“I think everyone underestimates him.” It took a cunning, strong man to continue as if nothing was wrong in life when it so obviously was.
“Possibly.” A gentle press of his lips on the top of my head, then he rested his chin back on the top of my head. “But try away.”
“You’re a demanding ass.”
“No argument there.” He dipped his head further, placing his cheek against mine, staring into the cosmos as I was, and his voice turned…hesitant, but brusque. “So, you…” he cleared his throat, warm jaw moving against mine, “…care for me? Since you spoke in the plural a moment ago.”
I stiffened…realizing what I had said too late. “Can you forget I said that?”
Warm arms continued holding me close. “That’s…a negative.” Silence became his tactic.
My cheeks flushed, and I felt my heart rate shoot off, and my feet even started squirming the barest bit between his. “A little.” My words were rushed. “But I still hate you.”
He hummed quietly, not quite frozen around me, but not exactly relaxed, either. “Well,” a harsh clearing of his throat, “it might be possible,” his jaw clenched against mine, gritting through his teeth, “you know…”
I patted his hand, my own body tense. “You don’t have to go there.”
He sighed heavily, exhaling all that pent up breath. “Thank fuck.”
A very slow blink from me as my gut churned, feeling queasy, but also, warmed with anger.
His body damn near lying on my back in relaxed relief, he inhaled…then froze utterly…to ever so gradually turn his face to mine, then bark, his expression clearly upset, “That was a fucking lie! You’ve never lied to me before!”
Of course it was. “You deserved it.” You don’t just ask a woman that, then not reciprocate in any way whatsoever, other than to stutter, then say, “Thank Fuck”, when you’re off the hook. It was the oldest language in the damn book, like, a woman smiling, and saying, Oh no, dear. It’s alright you forgot our anniversary…hell no, it’s not alright…you make it fucking right…in a damn hurry before all the loving you see for a year is by your own hand. And in our case, I wanted a damn answer, even if the truth hurt.
Seriously, who the hell doesn’t get that…other than Cain?
He grunted heavily, clearly irked. “I don’t like you lying to me.”
As if he wouldn’t know when I did, anyway. I stayed silent, plenty irked myself.
“You’re upset.”
No shit.
Another grunt. “I’m not good when it comes to this…genuine…emotional crap.”
No…shit.
A long quiet pause, then dry words. “Really, honey?”
Yeah, really. I flicked him an irritated glare from the corner of my eye, just in case my silence, and scent, wasn’t enough for his thick brain to figure out.
He inhaled heavily, eyes narrowing. His wolf huffed, sounding a half growl. He exhaled slowly, his breath rushing against my cheek. Gritted his teeth, speaking slowly between them. “Alright.” He cleared his throat, fingers digging into my hips, and I didn’t think he even realized it, because it hurt a smidge. His wolf huffed/growled again. Another heavy, gradual inhale, then hurried words. “A little.”
Um…no. Call me the greedy bastard now, but that wasn’t going to work for me.
So, I waited. Mutely, with another flicked glare.
“You have got to be fucking kidding me!” He jerked me to face him, then loomed over me, rising to his full height, spreading his arms wide, voice gravelly. “That’s all you said!”
Actually, it wasn’t, since he had caught me saying “those I care for”, so I crossed my arms, the tiny scowl I wore not disappearing in the face of his angered frustration.
He growled low in his throat, the sound all man as he glared. “Fine.” He crossed his arms, our posturing much the same, his own glare in place. “I care. For you.” His eyes narrowed even further. “A little.” His wolf growled softly. “Good enough for you, my goddamn spirit bitch?”
That, had most definitely not been an endearment this time, but I nodded once. “Yes.” I continued scowling. “I actually suck at this shit, too, since I care for a rare few, but I at least own up to it without having to be prodded.” I “prodded” away at his chest with a pointed finger, still plenty irked. “Don’t ask that crap in the future if you can’t handle reciprocating, even if it is to say you don’t feel the same.” More. Poking. “I. Will. Always. Want. An. Answer.”
He swatted my hand away like I was a pesky fly, his wolf growling quietly. “I think I’ve got it.” A flicked finger between us. “You care. I care.” He crossed his arms again, shrugging a few times like he was brushing something off. He even cracked his neck. Twice. “Only a little.”
One decisive nod. “Only a little.” I flicked a stiff finger at my lips. “I want a kiss now.” I crossed my arms again.
He growled, but bent woodenly, eye level with me, voicing gruffly, “You’re like a damn splinter under my fingernail that no amount of digging will remove.”
“And you’re like the damn dandelions in my old garden, pretty, but still a weed that no amount of plucking will ever eliminate.”
He grunted. “Good, we still get each other.” He leaned forward, and brushed his—Christ—soft lips over mine curtly as I had demanded…then…not-so-curtly as our lips lingered for a moment against each other’s. We both growled a little as we pulled away from each other, still glaring at the other. He straightened, flicking his finger at the screen, stating curtly, “I want to speak with Ivory Swift.”
“Alright, I need you to picture her in your mind,” I stated precisely, touching his shoulder with a powered, glowing hand, connecting us. “Got it?”
He nodded once, expression now mildly curious.
I made the call directly with his knowledge, since I didn’t know her…then abruptly ended it, glowering. My body hummed in anger, and I crossed my arms just so I wouldn’t whack him silly. “No.”
A black brow lifted. “She’s my accountant.”
Simple. “Get a new one.”
Patiently, he stated, “She’s very good at what she does.”
Dry, furious words. “I bet she is.” I disregarded the few pops of furious stars sizzling off my exposed glowing flesh.
His full red lips trembled a bit. “I meant with my finances.” He cleared his throat when he saw he didn’t have a shot in hell of me calling her again, and exasperated, navy blue eyes raised to the ceiling, muttering something under his breath, and then he mumbled, “Her assistant, then. Jerome Grayson.”
Flicked agitated finger between us. “If we’re still doing this exclusive bit when we get back, I would suggest you seriously think about finding a new accountant.” And…I wasn’t really kidding, five different ways of how to end her already having entered my mind, the woman a damn goddess of a bombshell Shifter in the bed she had been sleeping on, no one next to her, which meant she may be single. I pointed at his crotch, needing clarification. “Has that been anywhere near her?”
An amused word. “That?” He glanced down to his crotch. “Ah, you must mean my cock.” His head tilted, still staring at his pants, tone utterly entertained. “Let me think…my cock has met so many…” His fingers thumped on his worn jeans. “Maybe…” He nodded once, lifting his head, crinkled eyes on me, lips trembling. “Yes, maybe.”
I blinked slowly, glowing a bit brighter. “Maybe?”
His lips trembled a bit more, but his black brows rose unhurriedly. “Do you really want to have the conversation of everyone we’ve slept with?”
I inhaled heavily, jaw clenched. “No.” I turned my back to him, swiping a glowing star sizzling hand in the dead air, a screen popping up. “We’re not anywhere close to that point.” I paused, glancing over my shoulder with narrowed eyes. “But if,” a finger point at his crotch, “that, maybe, goes anywhere near her while we’re exclusive, you’ll definitely need to find someone who’s still living to do your damn taxes.” I called the Jerome Grayson he wished for after he pictured him in his mind, touching him for the connection while ignoring his quiet, deep chuckling. I nodded once, seeing two young Shifter men lying snug in bed. They didn’t appear to be a problem…or competition, especially since I was fairly positive Cain was only into women. I turned, trying to move around him, muttering quietly, “I mean it.”
“I know,” Cain whispered, brushing the backs of his fingers over my glowing, sizzling cheek, not flinching as everyone else did, his own power floating around his fingers protectively. He glanced to the two men still sleeping, then back to me, bending to kiss my forehead softly, voice still a quiet whisper, “You need to cool down before you go out there. You’re currently a bouquet of possessive ferocity. And although, I like it…” Yeah, he didn’t need to say anymore.
I inhaled heavily, closing my eyes…and leaned in toward Cain, scenting him in soothing gulps. He continued running his finger gently over my cheeks. His thumb brushing my pinched brows until they slowly unfurled, then my thinned lips until they parted slowly for his calming touch. Less than a minute later, I sighed heavily, taking one more whiff of him before I opened my eyes, and glanced down to my arms, which were no longer shimmering, only my eyes still glowing for his call. “Alright, I’m good.”
His fingers curled around my hand softly, holding me next to him, whispering against the top of my head, “Sleep toward the edge of the bed tonight.” I nodded slightly, and he kissed my forehead once more before herding me toward the door. “If they ask, just say I called my accountant first before having you call another.”
That had already been my plan, since we had been in here alone for some time now. “Cain?”
He glanced toward the screen, then back to me with a quiet word. “Yes?”
I stared up into navy eyes, reaching for the door handle. “I like that you’re still wearing my gift.” And he was, having put the scarf around his wrist again, intertwining it through his thick black arm band while I had been in the shower, and hardly ever a day went by—always when Leric was around—that he didn’t have it on. And even though the others had Elder Farrar or Elder Samson clean them magically for when they wore theirs, he had too, except for a few small splotches of blood when I had been injured.
Black curls dangling around his face, he brushed my cheek once more, watching his finger’s action. “It’s perfect.” And his lips gently brushed mine once more, in what appeared to be a spur-of-the-moment gesture, before I quickly, and quietly, exited from the bathroom after warning him of the dangers of the screen.