King Cave (53 page)

I snorted and then popped my back, watching as Bonnie and Clyde jumped from the back of the SUV, still appearing in their poodle form, as everyone grabbed their duffle from the back. Ezra had our two over each of his shoulders as he leaned back against the SUV, lighting a cigarette, his eyes steadfast on me. When the others were inside the building, and I could see them through the glass door stepping into an elevator, I whispered quietly, “I’m always going to be prepared, Ezra.”

My gaze met his. “After I asked him to, Antonio worked those IDs up for me before we did the Awakenings. I never planned to run from you or Jack or Pearl. I’m not planning to now, nor will I ever run from you. But I will always be prepared as long as what I am is a death sentence.”

Ezra took a long pull off his cigarette. Silent. Eyes slowly roaming my face, he finally spoke. “What else haven’t you told me?”

My lips pinched. “Ezra, don’t ask this.”

“Tell me.” Simple, quiet words before he took another drag of his cigarette.

I inhaled deeply through my nose, then out calmly through my mouth. “Some of this was done when my mother was alive, some I did when I moved in with Elder Kincaid, and the rest was done when Antonio resurfaced in my life.” I inhaled again, then spoke on the exhale, “I own five different homes all over the world under different names, most of them spelled so other Mysticals can’t find them. I have safety deposit boxes in all five of those locations, containing a variety of visas, all aliases, and cash. I have a highly spelled PO Box in New York where I keep all of my important mail. I’ve strategically placed three trucks throughout the United States in long-term parking garages in case I ever need another vehicle in this country, not counting the ones I have at my other homes. And all of my money is spread in different banking establishments under those aliases, and a few others, worldwide.” I placed my hands in my pockets. “And after saying all that, I promise I’ll never run from you, but if I have to survive, whether you go with me or not, I’m prepared.”

Ezra appeared made of stone, he was so still. “If that’s true, then why haven’t you ever told me any of this?”

“Sometimes, it’s best for the ones you love not to know.” I firmly believed that.

His nostrils flared, and he jerked his head away, and very damn slowly, he stated, “I do understand that reasoning. My dad has taught me many ways to retrieve information from others. Most of the methods cruel.” Again he sucked in a deep breath, his jaw clenched, still speaking as if he was deliberately and carefully choosing each word before voicing it. “But I’m still pissed, so it would be best if you walked away right now before I start yelling at you for keeping this from me.” His eyes flashed bright green, lighting the area where he was staring as his control faltered. “Because it’s fucking me, sweetheart. Me, you kept this information from.” His Vampire growled. “Go.”

I waited one more moment to explain, “Please understand, I didn’t want it to get to the point where only someone as strong as you could keep the information quiet.” Rubbing my face when he didn’t say anything, I turned and walked inside, Bonnie following me, giving him the space he needed. I know it hurt him, but I had been protecting him, so that in the beginning if he was ever questioned, his answers would be simply the
truth
, any inquiry stopping there…but at the same time — in his mind — it was me deciding that he could be broken for the information. Honestly, I didn’t think he could be broken. He was the type of individual who would kill himself before he would harm someone he loved, but I hadn’t wanted it to get to that point. An easy ‘no’ would be better than torture.

Vivian let me into the room, instantly scanning the hallway behind me. “Where’s Ezra?”

“He’ll be up in a few,” I murmured, slipping past her into the craphole of a room, feeling wrecked for upsetting him.

Vivian slammed the door shut and blurred so she was directly in front of me. “I don’t trust you.” Her fangs bared as she scanned my person. “And if you ever hurt my son—”

A quick finger over her lips shut her up, Antonio and Cahal both silently watching. My wolf growled. I was tired, upset, and
very
thirsty. And not in the mood for this bullshit. “Think before you threaten me in front of witnesses.” My eyes glowed softly, unable to control it. “And yes, I know. If I ever break your son’s heart, you’ll kill me.” I bowed my head slightly, but didn’t take my eyes off her. “And if I ever do, I’ll give you a fair fight.” Deliberately, I took my finger away from her mouth. “But don’t ever threaten me in front of others.” I lifted my hand, showing her my Ruler’s ring, my smile full of self-condescension. “After all, I am Queen Ruckler now.”

She swallowed, closing her mouth, but damn, what a woman she was as she still looked down her nose at me. “Don’t hurt him.”

I chuckled, moving past her again. “Mrs Zeller, I love your son, and I don’t intentionally hurt those I love.”

“Intentionally?”

I flopped down on the bed next to Antonio where he lay on the edge of the one closest to the door. “Shit does happen.” I peeked at her from under my arm, my eyes still glowing I was so out of sorts. “I don’t know how much Elder Zeller has filled you in, but Ezra was the father of my twins. They died. He and I were both hurt by this. Their death wasn’t intentional.” I placed my arm back over my face, seeing the shock on hers, knowing Cahal hadn’t told her that little tidbit of information. “But, like I said, shit does happen.” Understatement.

There was a heartbeat of silence, then Antonio stated, “You should probably go to sleep, Lil.”

“Yeah,” I muttered, knowing that was the truth, before I said anything else I couldn’t take back, but I was beginning to feel a little delirious, and starting to worry. I rubbed my face hard, then, with a shove, I literally flew off the bed, landing directly in front of the window. I pushed the curtain back, scanning the parking lot. And saw Ezra, walking from the SUV to the door, Clyde following. Turning, I muttered, “I’ll be back.”

I stomped out of the room. I couldn’t sleep without him. I needed him next to me, his warmth and his breathing and his scent surrounding me. I ran to the elevators and paced back and forth in front of them. He was what I wanted. What I needed.

Hearing the elevator ding, the doors opening, I launched myself at him as soon as he stepped out. Even hindered with the bags he was carrying, he didn’t wobble, one arm wrapping around my waist, the other threading into my hair, keeping my face close to his neck. Clinging to him like a monkey, I tightened my legs around his waist and hugged his throat tight, scenting him deeply. My wolf huffed in contentment, settling down just as I did, sighing heavily. “I’m sorry, baby. I just wanted to protect you, but I’ll write everything down. All of it. Promise.”

“Hush, sweetheart, I know,” he whispered, running his hand up and down my back, soothing me with the repetitive motion. He began walking. “I’m not mad anymore.” A pause. “But I would like that list.”

I yawned against his neck. “And you’ll have it tomorrow.” I snuggled into his embrace, sighing as his very being calmed me. “I love you, baby.” My eyes closed, and I felt myself going limp in his hold, complete exhaustion flooding my system.

“I love you, too,” he whispered, tightening his hold.

Time must have passed because when I next I opened my eyes, I was sitting on the countertop in the bathroom of our room as Ezra held me while changing my clothes, and I mumbled, “Feet cold. Leave…socks.” My eyes closed again at the sound of his rumbling chuckle.

I blinked again when my head hit a pillow, staring up into green. “Come to bed.”

“In a minute,” he whispered, kissing my nose, and then moving away.

I growled a little, closing my eyes, and rolled…into a warm body. I sniffed. “Antonio, what the hell are you doing in our bed?”

“It was either you two…or them.” He patted my head. “And I chose you two.”

I growled, “Floor.” Never mind how I snuggled against his familiar warmth.

“Showing the love there, Lil.” He snorted. “Bonnie and Clyde won’t even sleep on this floor.”

Eyes still closed, I patted the bed behind me drunkenly. When I found nothing there, I whined loudly, “Ezra!” My wolf growled. “
Ezra, it’s been a minute!
”

“Dear, get out of the bathroom so we can all go to sleep!” Vivian called loudly.

“Hold on, goddamn it,” I heard Ezra gripe from the bathroom, and my wolf huffed in contentment hearing his growly voice. Twenty seconds later, I felt a rush of wind, then warm arms were circling me, pulling me away from Antonio and lying me almost completely on top of his warm, half-bare body. Feeling him adjust the blankets around us, I sighed happily, whispering, “Better.”

“Much,” he murmured, kissing the top of my head. “Goodnight, sweetheart.”

I yawned, his scent seeping into my pores. “‘Night, baby.”

Sipping on a strawberry milkshake in an old school ice-cream parlor, I said what no one else was willing to say, “My Prodigy’s family have to be fucking idiots.”

Ezra’s lips twitched, but he stayed beautifully mute as he ate his rocky road treat.

“Now, you don’t know that,” Vivian stated slowly, poking at her mint chocolate chip ice-cream as if she had never seen the stuff before. “Sin City’s known for many unique individuals.”

Cahal actually chuckled. “
Unique
.” He seemed to be enjoying his double scoop of vanilla bean on a waffle cone.

“Fucking morons,” Antonio muttered, sipping on his own shake. “Living in plain sight…right now? I mean, come on, who the hell does that?”

“Apparently, the family of the next Shifter Ruler.” I sighed, rubbing my forehead. “An individual I’m going to have to train.”

Ezra rubbed the back of my neck. “The ice-cream was supposed to make you feel better, so quit thinking about the id—” His chin trembled. “Um…the family.”

I chuckled, lightly smacking his stomach. “Nice catch.” After almost four days of hard traveling, my die had led us to Las Vegas, Nevada. We had passed through it…only for the die to pull me back in this direction. Circling the city had the same effect. So, here we were, eating ice-cream after dinner on the outskirts of Sin City, waiting for tomorrow to come so I could begin the more thorough search alone.

“Thank you.” Ezra grinned, his smile satisfied. He tugged on one of my low pigtails, which I was beginning to enjoy wearing, staring at it as he twirled my hair around his fingers. His smile grew before glancing back at my face. Gradually, he lowered his head and purred softly at my ear, “Besides, I want you in a good mood later.”

My cheeks instantly flamed, eyes lowering to the table, knowing his parents could hear.

He chuckled quietly, gently pressing his lips to my ear as he whispered in an intimate tone, “That, too, but there’s something I want to ask you, and I want you in a good mood for it.”

My eyes narrowed. “What question would you ask that I need to be in a good mood for?”

“Nothing bad,” he murmured, kissing my temple softly. “But just try to stay happy.” His green gaze met mine behind our glasses, and I saw a touch of…vulnerability…there.

My eyebrows puckered, my eyes darting back and forth between his in instant concern, and that was right when Antonio jolted…and glowed bright gold, lighting up the entire parlor…his head flying back and a pain-filled shout soaring from his opened mouth.

“Jesus,” Ezra whispered, instantly jumping from his chair, facing the crowd of onlookers.

I felt Ezra’s power erupt throughout the room, so much unleashed that it rocked me, but my heart was still beating frantically as I dove for Antonio when he started convulsing. Cahal and I both caught him when he started to fall. I held his head tight to my chest, feeling time and spells, his power, rush through my system. I grunted, same as Cahal as he held Antonio’s body stationary while he continued convulsing, even as I drew my gun from the back of my pants, physically trembling from Antonio’s and Ezra’s powers whipping around me, and aimed my gun at the onlookers.

No one was watching us. In fact, they were all lined up like ants, filing out the door where Ezra stood, eyes glowing fiercely. I could see his mouth moving, but I couldn’t hear what he was saying, though he was definitely ordering them to leave. And they did, faces slack, their minds defenseless against his will.

“Go into the back rooms and get the tapes,” I shouted to Vivian over Antonio’s screams.

She still sat stunned, motionless, her eyes wide, as if she didn’t realize we needed to leave.

Cahal’s Vampire growled, ordering her, “Now, Vivian. Get the footage.”

She blinked. Nodded hastily, jumping from her chair and blurring into the back room.

Two things happened almost simultaneously.

The first was the sound of a gun firing in the back room.

The second was Cahal’s shout joining Antonio’s, right before his eyes closed, out cold.

The air choked out of me, Cahal falling on top of Antonio and making me take on both of their weight.
Oh Jesus, no.
My knees hit the ground, even as I trained my gun on the door Vivian had gone through, and I heard Ezra roar. As in, his Vampire actually fucking
roared
, rocking the tiles under my knees. The next second he blurred, people still moving outside. I lost track of him, but I did see the back door fly open, then swing shut, where I had my gun aimed.