Master Niallan flicked a quick glare at the lord. “I am not a dictator, as you seem to believe, and my people are not all ‘fucked in the head’ as you said before. I merely have different laws for druids, compared to the severe laws that govern your people. Druids are allowed more freedom than yours—as they should have.”
“We all know that’s the way you feel,” Lord Belshazzar countered. He stepped over a root—the root I had tripped over before—without pointing out his vigilance versus my previous lack of it. The lord shook his head. “There is a difference between being a kind ruler and being a careless ruler. Your people have been running amok and creating chaos. Surely you can see that.”
Hell, even I’d witnessed the druids’ brazen behavior.
“I don’t care what my people do to the humans.”
“You should when their actions are thoughtless. They’re becoming increasingly bold.”
Master Niallan sighed heavily. “I’m also not afraid of a war between our people if it ever comes to that. We would win. Humans are no match for vampires and druids, despite their large numbers.”
Lord Belshazzar wasn’t even out of breath from our tramp through these woods—again. “You’re correct. We would. But we would lose good people during the fight. And, in the end, we’d have to accommodate the humans, so that wars wouldn’t continue to erupt needlessly. Druids and vampire citizens alike would find fault in that.”
The Original druid snorted. “We could annihilate them.”
That was an old conversation. We all knew that.
We could wipe humans out. If we wished.
But not everyone wanted them gone…
“And take away our pleasures?” One of the lord’s black brows lifted. “It would be akin to no longer having a cellphone. How would your people like that? About as well as mine would, I’d presume.”
Master Niallan swatted a branch aside and stayed quiet. Because, deep down, he had to know all this already.
“You need to take control of them,” Lord Belshazzar stated calmly. “Now. While we’re here. I don’t give a fuck how you do it, but take care of your people before it’s a shit storm you can’t control. They need to compose themselves before they make things even worse.”
His green eyes clashed with the lord’s icy blue gaze. “Do not tell me what to do with my own people.”
Lord Belshazzar shook his head slowly. “That attitude will be your downfall. And make my life harder in the long run.”
Master Niallan turned his attention to where he walked. “I wonder, Lord Belshazzar. Do you know that your ego is as big as mine?”
“I do.” The Overlord’s lips lifted into a small, cruel smile. “But I also know I’m the biggest motherfucker here too. I have the balls to back up my ego, where you do not.”
The Original druid snickered. “Fuck, you’re just like him.”
My brows puckered in confusion. I glanced back and forth between them, hoping for a tidbit of information while they argued.
Lord Belshazzar’s smirked. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“You would,” Master Niallan grumbled under his breath. He stopped as we crested the hill again and spread his arms wide, our coats still dangling over one of his arms. “We’re here. It looks better than the crumbling decoy, don’t you think?”
I damn near swallowed my tongue. “Uh…yes.”
Deep in a valley lay a city of gold. No border surrounded it, as the druids had no need for one. Tiny, adorable buildings lined pebbled streets, lights still lit inside businesses and homes, even in the middle of the night. The scents of bread and sweets already wafted on the breeze—bakers up early and working. And in the middle of their sanctuary sat a castle, alargegolden castle that glimmered under the moonlight.
Master Niallan tilted in my direction, pointing a finger, and fake whispering, “Don’t forget, your majesty. The tallest tower is where my room is.”
I lifted my brows and laughed—disgusted and reluctantly amused. “My god, do you ever stop?”
His lips twitched. “Only when we’re both exhausted and ready to pass out.”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
He’d fallen asleep after our bout of sex.
I sure as hell hadn’t.
