Chosen Fool (Forever Evermore #5) (5 page)

Not in sickness but in hunger. Hell, it was parmesan fries with ranch dipping sauce. I licked my lips, pointing vaguely as I ogled. “Did you get any more of those?”

He glanced down at his food, chewing his bite with his mouth closed, then swallowing before lifting the round tin in my direction, his eyes back on the show. “No, but feel free.” Not needing to be offered twice, I took the gift from him and carefully tested taking a bite as he dug through the bag again. Leric lifted out a white square container and plastic fork before settling back to watch the show, chuckling quietly at its silly capers.

Decided the fries were going to stay down, I started munching quickly.

But a sweet aroma flittered across my senses, and I glanced at his container.

I spied apple cobbler.

My eyes widened and I asked around a mouthful of fries, “How about that? Did you bring another one of those?”

He nodded absently, pointing at the bag with his fork while chewing, engrossed in the show. I started rummaging through the bag, finding the apple cobbler along with a bunch of other goodies I ended up placing on the bed between us, unsure of what he had brought for himself or for me. As it happened, we each ate a little from all the containers, sharing silently as he laughed quietly, watching the show. I tried my best to watch.

Eventually when the food was gone, I put the trash in the bag and set it on the floor next to the bed, my stomach utterly stuffed. I hesitated for many moments, then thinking to hell with it, I rested my head on the crook of his arm, blinking sleepily at the television. I felt his arm shift under my head, his muscles tightening then relaxing, before his hand landed on my back. His thumb ran slowly back and forth over the crook of my hip while he rested his cheek against my forehead, murmuring softly, “It’ll be all right, Caro.”

I huffed. “Yeah, well, it sucks right now.”

“I’m sure it does.” He went quiet, watching the show again, laughing in his deep tenor every once in a while, the tone just as soothing as Tristan’s purr.

I fell asleep curled up to the sound of his sturdy breathing.

A sliver of peace found.

Chapter Six

Hot pink earbuds in and zoning out to a favorite tune, I walked as calmly as I could down the large stairs of the lodge’s main foyer. I had woken wrapped inside Leric’s muscled arms, the television still playing softly—apparently he had fallen asleep last night with it turned on. While I had been getting ready in the bathroom, attempting to fake my way into thinking I was all right, he had left without saying a word. No awkward morning after.

As I passed a Com couple who were going up the stairs, I noticed a spirit Elemental—it was seriously rare to ever see one away from the Temple—casually talking with the clerk at the reception desk. He was covertly glancing at his watch as he listened to whatever the Mage was saying, the woman clearly impressed as she wasn’t hiding her perusal of him at all.

Taking my earbuds out, I let them dangle over my black hoodie—it was halfway zipped to show my hot pink tank top underneath, with black leather pants and black boots to complete today’s ensemble. My attire was very much unlike the semi-normal spirit apparel of this gentleman, who appeared to be in his early forties in Com years. He wore a pair of white trousers, white sandals, and a white button-down shirt, the sleeves rolled up his muscled forearms. He had an olive colored complexion—he wasn’t fair like me—and his white hair was cut in rugged chunks about his head, a crazy hairstyle that seemed to suit his extremely large physique. He was well over six feet tall and very broad. I understood why the woman—even if a Mage—was staring at him like she was, though the man had a wedding ring covered with dazzling diamonds on his finger.

My thoughts were muddled in wondering if he was here to see Leric, since that made the most sense for him being here. I started toward him as I stepped into the lobby, but instantly my heart leapt into my throat when I saw Tristan race around a corner, a furious, wildcat-like sound tearing from his throat as he sprinted right at the stranger. The man jerked around at the sound of the oncoming threat.

“Shit.” My feet were already moving, my boots pounding the wooden floor.

Tristan pounced on the man, his huge paws landing on the guy’s shoulders and knocking him back against the desk, his teeth bared in the man’s face.

“Tristan! No!” I shouted, ramming into his furry side as hard as I could…which ended with me on my ass and Tristan still pinning the guy. My breath knocked out of me, I panted but jumped to my feet. I grabbed Tristan’s collar, gave him a good tug and set my feet, ordering on a growl, “If you want chocolate again, get off him!”

Instantly, Tristan’s mouth shut and he swung his big, furry white head in my direction, his tongue lolling out.

“That’s right. Chocolate, baby. If you want some, get down.”

He huffed a large pant of air but let me tug him off the man.

And then he sat expectantly. Staring.

My jaw set and my hands landed on my hips, my heart still racing against my ribs. “I’m not sure if I should give you any, with you racing around like that and attacking innocent people.” I waggled my finger in front of his cute nose. “That was not nice!” He licked my hand, instantly standing and starting to rub around my legs, knocking me to and fro. “I’m not the one you should be apologizing to, mister. You probably cracked his ribs with the way you landed on him!”

A huff. Another huff.

“I don’t know what that means,” I said as he knocked me to the left, “but it didn’t sound like an apology.” He jarred me to the left again. “In fact, it sounded like a naughty phrase—tiger style.” I squeaked when he bumped me too hard to the left, causing me to fall off balance right against the poor man he had already attacked.

But the man was swift, catching me easily in rock-hard arms.

I blinked, gripping the man’s shirt and staring up into—my eyebrows puckered—dazzling silver eyes. I stated dumbly, “You have Leric’s eyes.”

The man’s lips quirked at the corners, white eyebrows rising slightly as he straightened from catching me, setting me safely on my feet. He explained in a calming, deep voice, “Technically, he has mine.” He held out a large hand as I stood blinking like an idiot. “I’m Francis Damon, Leric’s father. I’m guessing you would be,” those silver eyes flicked down at my clothes, “Caroline Jules, the woman my wife, Tavia, spoke of?”

“Uh…” Okay, this was his dad. I guess it was better meeting him this way than how I had met his mom. But still, it was unnerving staring into those eyes on a face that was, yes, incredibly handsome but not Leric’s. Leric’s facial structure was more his mother’s. “That would be me.” I swallowed then blinked, and I quickly thrust my hand into his, realizing he might think me rude if I continued gawking like I was. “It’s very nice to meet you, Mr Damon.” I glanced at his chest, scanning his person. “Tristan didn’t hurt you too bad, did he?” He wasn’t acting hurt from Tristan’s pounce.

Mr Damon smiled easily, a bit dazzlingly, much unlike his son who hardly smiled. “No. That was Tristan’s normal way of saying hello to me.” He ruffled the fur on top of Tristan’s head when the tiger sat calmly next to us, while tilting his head slightly to me. “It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Ms Jules.”

I waved my hand toward the lodge’s dining area, blinking a little when I saw Leric’s dad petting Tristan, never having seen Tristan let anyone touch him so easily other than Leric or myself. However I stayed on track, saying, “I’m fairly sure Leric’s having breakfast in the dining room. Do you want to join our group?”

Again he grinned with no trouble, but his eyes—those silver eyes—were gradually taking their tour of my person, evaluating me bit by bit. “Yes, we’ll be joining you, but my wife’s still getting ready.” He took his attention away from my shoes and glanced at his watch, before he skimmed back to the toes of my boots, then up to my eyes. “We should be in there before long.”

Honestly, I was glad he had been looking elsewhere—although, his perusal could warrant further evaluation compared to his supposed lax attitude—because I had time to compose my features at hearing Leric’s mom was here. I nodded with a steady dip of my head. “I’ll see you inside shortly.”

Another glance at his watch. “Hopefully shortly.”

I nodded, and I about tripped as Tristan wound around my legs. I steadied myself, scolding him quietly as he walked by my side and rubbed his flank against my right leg. We trekked into the dining room and he continued being the adorable flirt he was, more than likely still waiting on that chocolate I had promised. The furry bundle of joy was doing a damn fine job of keeping my mind occupied from miserable contemplations.

“Please excuse our tardiness,” Mr Damon apologized, at least ten minutes late for breakfast as he and Mrs Damon—dressed in white linen pants, blouse, and thin cashmere cardigan and appearing just as prim and exotically beautiful as she had before—sat on either side of Leric.

Leric’s parents were the guests King Collins had spoken of yesterday.

They were sitting directly across from me.

“It’s not a problem,” King Collins stated, having held up everyone ordering their breakfast for the guests’ arrival. He turned his attention immediately to Mrs Damon. “I trust the amenities here are to your liking, ma’am?”

I hid my snicker at the ‘ma’am’ reference by taking a sip of my water. Everyone’s faces before the pair had arrived had been carefully neutral—Leric had been at the table. The group had politely told me of the arrival of Leric’s parents and the ‘requests’ Leric’s mother had for ‘helpfully altering’ everyone’s activities yesterday to suit her wishes. But a few covert glances had told me Leric’s mom had struck just about each and every one of them with her ‘tenacious’ attitude, beyond her taking over the vacation.

“Yes, thank you.” Mrs Damon dropped her gaze to her menu. She patted Leric’s arm, stating softly to him, “Good morning, dear.”

“Good morning, mom,” Leric rumbled politely, sitting back on his chair and staring over my head through the large picturesque window behind me, his expression clear.

But his eyes unmistakably stated he could already use a drink.

Maybe two.

King Collins lowered his menu after placing his order with the waitress. “Mr and Mrs Damon, I would like to introduce you to my Prodigy, Caro Jules.”

Mr Damon grinned, flashing white teeth. “I actually met your charming Prodigy out in the lobby, and I believe my wife has already met her, too.” He dipped his head to me.

I returned the action before telling the waitress what I wanted to eat.

Leric caught my eye, raising a silent eyebrow in question.

I waved a hand at his dad. “I thought Tristan was attacking him.” My lips quirked when I felt Tristan, hearing me talk about him, move under my legs where he was lying under the table. “Anyway, I came to your dad’s defense, which he apparently didn’t need.”

King Collins peered at me, his blue eyebrows rising. “When did you previously meet Mrs Damon?” His tone clearly indicated he wasn’t thrilled I hadn’t told him about our meetings.

My mouth opened. Shut. “We…uh…” Damn Shifters at the table. “She…that is…” Oh yes. “She arrived unexpectedly while I was speaking with Leric.”

Elder Merrick, sitting two people down from me, quietly cleared his throat.

I glanced in his direction, but he was only taking a sip of his drink.

Definitely a gorgeous oddball that one.

“I actually spoke with her before that on the phone.” There. Damn good not-lying.

Leric choked on his drink, his eyes widening marginally on his empty plate. His dad thumped him hard on his back, earning a glare from his son in return.

But Mrs Damon nodded affably to King Collins, ignoring their actions. “Yes, we did speak on the phone.” Her lips twitched and she winked at King Collins. “She thought I was prank calling.”

The entire table went mute, utterly still.

She waved an arrogant wrist. “While I may have learned a few new phrases to add to my vocabulary, it was nothing compared to her publicly aired conversation with the President of the United States.”

Uh-oh.

She was not only a frightening woman, but she also did her damn homework.

Cheeks flushing, I glanced at King Collins, properly humbled. “I did apologize.”

King Collins ran a hand over his face, giving me a glance under his lashes—conveying that we would be talking later. “Mrs Damon, I’m truly sorry for anything disrespectful she may have said—”

Another flick of her wrist, cutting him off instantly. His mouth snapped shut like a schoolboy’s. “She did apologize, as she just told you, so another apology is unnecessary. I was informed by my son that with the timing of the call and my own influence on the conversation, her assumption of the situation could have been accurate and therefore her actions justified.” Her lips pinched, a quick finger flicking back and forth between her and King Collins. “Do you understand me, young man?”

I stared. I couldn’t help it.

Especially when King Collins quickly nodded, mumbling, “Yes, ma’am.”

A curt nod. “Good.” She gave her order to the waitress while the table was more than quiet, no one wanting to anger this woman by saying something wrong. While handing over her menu, she leaned back casually on her chair. Her attention jumped to Leric. “I stopped by your room after dinner. You weren’t there.”

Leric’s eyebrows rose. “I was still hungry, so I left for a little more to eat.”

Her short fingernails clicked on the table, like a warning for all to run. “I came by an hour later, and you still weren’t there.”

Leric sipped at his water, stating simply, “I was eating the food.”

Fingernails clicking faster. “I then stopped by two hours after that and there was still no answer at your door.”

“I was sleeping.”

“I called your room.”

“I would have answered had I realized that.”

“Well, I guess that’s understandable,” she purred. Her attention swung around the table, everyone—all the scary-as-hell, ruthless individuals—instantly dropping their heads or glancing away. Her gaze landed on me. I followed everyone else’s lead, studying my water glass, spinning it idly, but she still stated, “Ms Jules, you were absent most of yesterday. Were you participating in different activities than everyone else?”