“Enough!” I snapped. “You are supposed to be here to help, not rile up the ranks,” I pointed at Soren. “And you,” I transferred my stare to Killian, “are supposed to be an ambassador, not a high school jock. The both of you need to get over yourselves. Today is about the elves, and we cannot show up on their doorstep with the two of you bickering like a couple of roosters fighting over a hen.”
“Especially when this hen belongs to a much larger cock,” Conri called out. “As in dragon-sized.”
“Conri!” I glared at him.
“What?” Conri tried to look innocent, a feat which should have been impossible, but being a bargest gave him the ability to do puppy dog eyes really well. “A cock is another word for a rooster.”
“Yes, Conri, I know what a cock is,” I huffed.
Killian chortled. I glared at him.
“And Raza is big,” Conri added.
“I know,” I ground out.
Killian laughed harder, but I was too busy glaring at Conri.
“And black.”
“Yes, Conri.”
“He's like that card that trumps all others in Cards Against Humanity,” Conri went on.
“Do not say-” I started, but he cut me off.
“A bigger, blacker dick,” Conri quoted the card with a satisfied tone. “King Raza will win every time.”
We all groaned.
“You have an interesting team,” Soren noted.
“They're my personal Guard,” I said. “Closer than a team, and potentially more irritating.”
“Thanks,” Conri smirked.
“I have no wish to cause more irritation,” Soren offered his hand to Killian. “Shall we put aside our differences, for the time being, Ambassador Blair.”
Killian grudgingly shook Soren's hand. Then we headed to our vehicles. Soren and his team would be taking their own van. I was a little relieved we wouldn't have to squish them in with us. I didn't think Killian and Soren's truce could withstand close quarters.
“Now you know how you make Tiernan and Raza feel,” I whispered to Killian as we crossed the parking lot.
“Am I really that annoying?”
“Oh yes,” I chuckled.
“Excellent,” Killian smiled broadly.
Chapter Seventeen
The ride out to the elven enclave, which was a few miles away from Vik i Myrdal, was tense. At least for me. I could feel Killian looming behind me, his gorgeous muscles... I mean his linebacker bulk, just pushing into my aura with its own... pushy one. Ugh. I could barely think. It was dark, cold, and there had been no coffee! How was I supposed to be diplomatic without coffee? It just wasn't right. Then came Soren, riling Killian up, using his silver tongue to prod at our relationship like a sore tooth. And Killian had the nerve to look all chipper and sexy in his leather hoodie. I wanted to smack him. I just couldn't decidewhereI wanted to smack him.
Hrafn parked the van, turned off the engine, and pointed to the nearby woods, “The path is just there.”
“You're not coming?” I asked.
“Honestly, Princess,” he looked uncomfortable, “there are two reasons why I don't want to go. The first is, I need to be here should you not return. Then I can notify the Councils.”
“What's the other reason?” Conri asked.
