I eyed his strong profile. My lips curved up into a slow grin. There was genuine excitement in his eyes. “What’s this called?”
“A duranki,” he whispered. “They’re showing their gratitude to the world around them for all that they are. The good and the bad.”
I watched the druids move with different eyes, enchanted. “It’s terrifying and exquisite.”
Lord Belshazzar nodded. His blue eyes shone from the fire. The Overlord took another step forward, and his chest heaved with a decision made. “Fuck it. I’m going in. Stay with the others until Master Niallan comes for you.” He basically bounced on his toes, ready to charge into the fray.
My lips twitched. “Have fun, my lord.”
He tore his shirt over his head and dropped it on the dirt, ignoring the other lords who watched him like he’d lost his mind. The Overlord bent over and removed his shoes and socks, and his black belt went too. Lord Belshazzar stood in a loosely fitted pair of dress slacks that hung low on his lean waist. The muscles in his stomach rippled as he twisted and smiled at me—full of fang and exhilaration.
He purred, “Fuck yes.”
“Wait.” I grabbed his wrist over his thick, black leather bracelet and pulled him close for a moment. I lifted on my tiptoes, and whispered too quietly for anyone—or the dolls—to hear, “The Original druid amulet. Do you think it’s in his room? I can’t feel it…and I think you probably can.”
Lord Belshazzar wasn’t completely like us.
Not like a vampire or a druid.
He was somethingother.
I knew without a doubt that was true now.
The Overlord pressed his mouth against my ear. “How do you know I can feel it?”
“Not the time,” I replied. My hooded gaze swung over the crowd while I stood absolutely still. I stopped searching, my prey found. “Answer me. He’s coming.”
He chuckled softly, his breath puffing against my ear. “You should have told me your exact reasoning for your liaisons with him earlier. It would have saved us an argument.” The Overlord pressed his heated body against mine. “We thought coming here would give us answers. Because you’re right. I should be able to feel its exact presence. Instead, it’s still everywhere that fucker goes and it’s not anywhere on his body. Try to figure out why.”
Fuck.
This was a game changer.
I needed to come up with a different plan.
Right. The. Fuck. Now.
I brushed my cheek against his. “Okay.”
Lord Belshazzar smirked and pulled away from me. He walked backward and stared into my eyes, heading for the duranki. The lord stopped at a wooden bowl and placed his palms inside it. When his hands lifted, they were covered in a mixture of white chalk. He ran the tips of his fingers down his face, from forehead to chin, leaving many small trails of white on his skin. Then he slammed his hands down on his bare pecs, two handprints now there.
The lord never stopped watching me.
I shooed my right hand and laughed. “Get going, my lord. Life waits for no one. And fun is even more elusive.”
“True enough.” Lord Belshazzar spun and disappeared into the celebration, no longer visible in the throng. He was simply part of the arms and legs and bodies, all pulsing together to the base beat of their existence.
His spy doll hopped on his lone leg after him.
Master Niallan’s side brushed mine as he stopped beside me. Neither of us spoke while we watched the gathered crowd in their beautiful, chaotic celebration. His arms crossed and his sparkling green eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled in contentment.
I murmured, “You can go in there too, Master Niallan. Don’t let me stop you.”
The stunning druid shook his head with his gaze still on his people. “I’m content where I am for now.”
The Overlords stayed silent. Watchful.
I tipped my head up and examined his profile. “May I ask you a personal question?”
