With a chuckle and a pat on my back.
It had beenmortifying.
Master Niallan’s brows lifted during his thoughts, and then his head tipped back up. The Original avoided looking at me, his attention wholly on the overlords. In a casual tone, he murmured, “How about you come down here with me? This is a little rude. Especially after I worked so hard to get here.”
Devin and Ysander cast him a glare.
His lips twitched, peering at them outside. “You guys can go. I’m in full control of myself now.”
Devin lifted a hand and tapped a finger on the invisible barrier. “Really?”
The Original shooed his hands at them. “Fine. Go down to the village and fuck your frustrations out or something. Drink beer. I don’t give a damn. I’ll call and let you know if I need you.”
After a few more words, his friends did leave.
Then he peered back up to us. “Coming down or not? Apparently, we have something to discuss.” A glance in my direction, then back to them. “Because I am interested in the position of King Novitiate to the vampires. I already rule one race, so what’s another, right?”
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
~ GWYNNORE ~
My ass was firmly planted in the seat farthest away from the Original druid. And that was saying something in the cavernous jail—lots and lots of empty chairs between us. The overlords and the druid were on one side of the room, and I was on the other side. I had done my job getting a possible candidate for king here. Now, I was just snooping—out in the open— to hear what the overlords said to him.
And I didn’t want to get any closer.
My best friend probably had the right idea.
She’d run off as soon as we’d walked downstairs.
Exasperated, Lord Cato turned in his seat to face me. He called from across the room, “Are you sure you don’t want to join us?”
“No. I’m just fine sitting here.” I shrugged, not bothered by my bad behavior. “I can hear you just fine.”
His brown eyes rolled. “Are you positive?”
Without even turning to look at me, currently in a stare down with the Original, Lord Belshazzar barked, “Gwynnore, get your ass over here right now.”
My lips pinched. Dammit.
I pushed off the chair and walked toward them.
I wasn’t pouting.
No, I was glowering at the Original.
I crossed my arms and sat next to the overlord who had demanded I join their group. “I’m here. Not willingly.”
His eyes never left the Original. Lord Belshazzar groused, “So I’ve guessed.”
Master Niallan sat forward on his chair. He smirked at the lord, but his gaze…was wary. If I wasn’t mistaken, he appeared guarded around Lord Belshazzar. But, with his grin still in place, he asked, “Miss me, old friend?”
The lord chuckled. “Like I miss a case of lice.”
His lips curved even further, and he motioned at his own face, fluttering his fingers over his features. “What about this face? Do you miss that?”
Lord Belshazzar’s jaw clenched. “Shall we move on to our business,old friend? Or would you rather talk about how handsome you are? If memory serves me correctly, you’ve only given a shit about yourself your entire life.”
I snapped my fingers and pointed at the Original. “That is a fine point, my lord. He definitely shouldn’t be king. So if all that is settled, we can just go try that spell—”
