“—anyway, even though it wasn’t a complete loss, what have you all learned from this experience?”
My King groaned, pulling a pillow over his head. “Stay away from the vodka here.”
Elder Samson groaned, rubbing at his eyes. “No shit.” He appeared vaguely ill while watching me jump. “That had to be homemade, damn moonshine.” He burped quietly, his face paling, waving a hand at me. “Quit that.”
I only jumped higher. “What everyone learned was…?” I waited, leaping back and forth over Sin’s covered feet.
King Zeller tumbled out of bed, practically crawling toward the window, growling, “That you aren’t sleeping in our room anymore.”
But when he shut the curtain…I only grinned, waited until he was lying back on his trundle, and sent a small pulse wave, opening them back up, and continued my speech. “Try again.” When Cain—the only sober one from last night—even lay back down, snuggling into his covers…although, he was watching me like a ambushing wolf from under his hooded lids, I explained loudly, “What everyone should have learned was you always…always…always need to be at your best here, otherwise, you will get taken.” My lips quirked. “And, every single one of you will need to enact retribution for last night’s actions on the representatives. They will expect this, and be watching vigilantly for it, so it won’t be easy. They will not respect you if you don’t accomplish it, which means, they will think you weak.” I stopped bouncing, a bit breathless. “And my Lajaks cannot be weak. So,” I waved my hands, dipping a bit, “I wish you good luck.”
I jumped from the bed, and started making my way to the bathroom. “And I want to leave within the hour to go shopping in the city, and spend all that cash I did win last night.” I had never had so much cash here at the Temple to spend. “So get your asses,” I grinned, turning at the door, and threw a pulse wave at each of them, tossing them off their beds, “up!” I slammed the door on their furious curses, chuckling quietly, and proceeded to finish getting ready.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Holy…shit…” Elder Bridges mumbled behind me later that day, staring—as I was—at the party taking place in my honor, Leric standing next to me, holding my hand like normal for any gathering we attended. But, this one was…Elder Bridges cleared his throat, asking—almost—respectfully, “Will you be participating, Ms. Jules?”
I choked.
Because…it was an orgy, but large enough to fill an entire ballroom, thumping music playing from the scantily clad—at least, they were dressed—band at the far end of the room.
Elder Bridges continued, keeping his voice steady, “I only ask, so we can formulate our plan for…protection.”
Funny man.
Sin damn near moaned behind me. “Give me the night off, love.” A pause with a hurried poke against my back. “I beg you.”
I scowled at Sin over my shoulder…because it still wasn’t easy with him, and I didn’t care if it showed—I sure as hell didn’t want to see it, and then asked Leric, “What the hell?”
He shrugged, white rolls dipping around his face when he glanced down to me. “Every city is different. This one traditionally respects its Rulers with love from the body.”
I pointed a finger instantly. “I am not going into that mess.” This didn’t really surprise me—spirits are “different”, but I wasn’t about to participate.
His lips twitched, and he tilted his head to the left. “Our seats of honor are over there. Whether we choose to join is completely up to us.”
“Thank God,” I muttered, glancing to the left, seeing indeed, two large throne-like-chairs at the end of the ballroom opposite the band. “Oh, how thoughtful. It’s even raised so we can see…everyone…and their everythings.”
Elder Bridges choked on a chuckle behind me, but quickly went mute as Leric moved us forward, our presence becoming known, those—Jesus—pausing in their actions, bowing, and murmuring, “Chosen. One.” All except for those in the throes of ecstasy, groans and moans coming from them.
Leric stated loudly, his voice booming, “You may arise.”
King Zeller whispered on a choke, “They already are.”
I inhaled, and glanced back to my group of Lajaks when the mass went back to “mass” fucking, and whispered harshly to them all, “Get your fucking acts together, or get the hell out of here.”
Sin pointed a finger covertly at one couple starting to glow, stars flying from their bodies, eyes wide, whispering hurriedly, “Love…do you do that?”
My cheeks instantly flamed. “Stay focused, dammit.”
Emerald eyes instantly flared a bit, but they hooded swiftly. “Hmm.”
“Actually…” Leric murmured absently, but pulled me closer against his side. “That only occurs with someone who a spirit releases themselves to with complete trust.”
Oh…I blinked slowly…now that was damn ironic given the only person that ever happened with…was the one man who had used sex as a weapon against me. I cleared my throat, trying to ignore the man in question directly next to me, so close his side was rubbing against mine, heating my side, and glanced to Leric with blank eyes. “We should probably sit before we’re pulled out there.”
White brows lifted a bit. “Would that really be so bad?”
My mouth flapped a few times, and then I sputtered, “I’m not into groups.” I blinked, because that had probably come out a lie with my previous behavior, and quickly mumbled, “Let’s just sit down.”
