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.”
