He hummed softly against my skin and kissed my neck once more. Then the Overlord pushed off against the mattress, sliding his body off the bed, and stood to his feet. He grabbed one of his bags but halted as he glanced at the other lords.
They hadn’t moved. They were just…staring.
Lord Belshazzar’s black brows furrowed low over his intense blue eyes. “What the hell are you doing?”
Lord Otto blinked. “Your heartbeats…”
“So?” His brows lowered even more. “You’ve seen possible mates interact before. This is nothing new.”
“But we’ve never seen that—any of thatsappy shit—with you.” He shook his head of blond hair, shaking himself out of his shock. “We really need to keep this quiet for now. I can imagine the headlines already.Overlord versus Overlord: Which one will the Queen sink her claws into next? Check the poll below with your favorite prediction!”
Once again, Lord Otto shook his head. “That is the last PR problem we need right now.”
Lord Belshazzar’s expression cleared. “That’s what I said.” He stalked into the bathroom and shut the door behind him.
Lord Otto started deleting the photos on his phone almost immediately. He muttered obscenities under his breath the entire time. When he was through, he dropped his head back on his chair and glared at the ceiling.
Once again, the lord’s actions had hit their intended audience, playing the people around him. And this time, I’d helped him succeed in one of his goals—our mutual goal.
Get rid of the blackmail material? Goal attained.
* * *
My frown was all-encompassing as I stared at bananas. The yellow fruit was perfectly centered in the middle of the ornate table meant to seat twenty people.
Piles and piles of bananas—and that was all.
Master Niallan peeled one while his evil smirk only grew. He sat at the head of the table with his two friends sitting on either side of him. The druid gestured to our group with the rounded yellow end, stating, “Lunch is served since you missed breakfast. Have a seat.”
I ground my teeth together. Asshat.
None of us moved to sit.
Lord Belshazzar leaned against the back of a tall chair, cool and composed. “Cut the shit, candidate. Where is the real meal?”
Green eyes narrowed and arrowed straight into my gaze. “Other than fucking you, you’re also allowing him to speak for you? I know those are your thoughts coming out of his mouth.”
My nostrils flared. “That’s how you want to play this? Because who I sleep with is none of your business.”
He stood from his chair and placed one of his palms on the table, leaning forward toward me. The druid sneered and continued using his fruit as a pointer. “It’s no different than you playing me. So, tell me something, your majesty. Did you fuck him before you crawled into my bed? Or did you go running to him afterward?”
The Overlords standing around me stiffened—except for Lord Belshazzar. He must not have told them.
My lips pinched. “I wasn’t playing you. I am more than free to sleep with whomever I wish—the same as Lord Belshazzar and you. I cannot help, nor did I even know about, the animosity between you two.” I snapped my right hand through the air in an attempt to salvage this situation to our benefit. I tried not to think of the shock that this would giveallof the Overlords—and hoped one, in particular, would keep his cool at this revelation. “And you can quit pretending you don’t remember me. You knew damn well I found you attractive when you invited me to your room.”
Master Niallan’s blink was extremely slow. He peered back and forth between Lord Belshazzar and me, watching as the lord merely shrugged one shoulder in apparent agreement. And, just as unhurriedly, he sat his ass down on his chair.
A little smirk lifted the corners of Master Niallan’s lips. “Yes, well, that last part is true, at least. I did recognize you when I saw you at the King Challenge. It took me a moment. But I did remember the youth who once tried to seduce me.” He raised a blond eyebrow. “You were too young for me then, but you aren’t now.”
I kept my expression upset—unlike the relief that coursed through my body from his use of the word ‘now.’ All was not completely ruined. I shook my head, muttering, “I fucking knew you remembered me.” I’d hoped he hadn’t, but it was wishful thinking.
His full lips twitched in humor. “If I remember correctly, you tried so hard, too.”
I held up a quick, stopping hand. “Please don’t mention that incident again. I was merely a child, and it was mortifying.”
He winked. “My lips are sealed. I can be a gentleman on occasion.” The druid actually had been, never mentioning it once until I did.
“Thank fuck,” I mumbled. Then I changed topics and gestured at the bananas. “I’d like to remind you, that is not being a gentleman. You can’t starve us here.”
