I took a step to the side, putting space between us.
Lord Belshazzar’s lips thinned. He grabbed my elbow and gently pulled me back over—our strides never faltered.
I wiggled my arm and tossed a foul squint in his direction, yanking my arm free from his gentle hold when he didn’t immediately release me.
He grunted, watching me, the man obviously unaccustomed to not getting what he wanted. A sour expression graced his own features, dragging his black brows down over his intense blue eyes. The lord hissed quietly, “Dammit. I’m sorry. I just don’t want to discuss it.”
My eyes narrowed. “Why?”
“Because I’mold. I don’t like talking about it, even if I do plan on living forever.” He scratched at his whiskers, his scowl matching mine. “I already apologized for the manner in which I spoke to you. Can’t we be done with this conversation?”
I didn’t respond—yet. He obviously felt strongly about this. I held his irritated gaze, digesting his words with a calmer mind.
Eventually, I sighed long and hard. My expression softened, and my shoulders relaxed. Behavior like this was typical for the eldest of the vampire and druid races when their age was brought up. Always was a long time to live, even with Rests. I opened my mouth to speak, but a door swung open behind us with a violent thud. I snapped my mouth shut, and the lord and I swung around immediately.
My eyebrows rose as the lord took a half step in front of me. I blinked and stared at the back of his shoulder for a beat, and then I cleared my throat in amusement and stepped beside him. The Overlord knew I could take care of myself, had said so merely a few minutes ago. Though, inherent protectiveness wasn’t a bad trait to have in a powerful lord, thank fuck.
Gold mist poured out of a room at knee level.
I visibly shivered. I knew how cold that mist was.
It was Master Niallan’s room.
I whispered under my breath,“These hallways were paved in hell. I know it.”
Lord Belshazzar grunted. Agreed.
“No, that is not what I said!” Master Niallan’s powerful voice boomed from inside his room. “You aren’t listening to me, Ysander. You need to get your shit together before—”
Quiet for a few beats. The mist swirled angrily.
“Dammit, yes, I’m hungry. I swear, they’re trying to starve me around here. But that’s not why I’m pissed.” Another pause…must be on a phone call. His best friends hadn’t been allowed in the stronghold, so one of them certainly wasn’t here. “I am. I am. But I can’t find my damn pants.”
If the Overlord and I didn’t want to discuss each other’s sexual partners, then confronting a half-naked man I’d fucked not too long ago wouldn’t be…helpful.
As one, like we were in agreement with my internal thoughts, the lord and I started walking backward. Away from the druid’s guest room, our eyes avid on the open door, watching for any movement. Our steps quickened when we heard Master Niallan rustling into a pair of pants, still bitching on his phone. Then we both swiveled and dashed around a corner, our guards discreetly following behind us. It was a different route to the lord’s bedroom, but it would take us away from the royal kitchen area where the druid was sure to go in his grumpy-hungry state.
My chin started to tremble in restrained humor.
I peeked up at the Overlord.
“That was unfortunate,” he muttered softly, as to not be overheard, not bothering to glance down at me. My chin quivered more fiercely. He cleared his throat, attempting to choke down a laugh. “Just keep walking, your majesty.”
“Planned on it, my lord,” I whispered.
* * *
I pounced on the Overlord. That was the only word for it.Pounced.The lord’s bedroom door was in sight, and I was done waiting—perhaps a bit overzealous. I wrapped my body around him like I was a freaking monkey, my legs snug around his waist and my arms hugging his neck. No heartbeats or other rooms were around—other than the lord’s other guard protecting his room—so I had no fear when I slammed my lips against his and managed to surprise the most calculating vampire in history.
“Christ.” Bel stumbled to a stop, and his muscular arms wrapped tight around me, our heartbeats now linked. His grunt reverberated deep inside his chest, vibrating against my own. Those long legs of his got with the program, and moved at a fast clip toward his door, his plump lips finally crushing mine in return. He panted against my mouth, “Just give me a second. I have to get us in there.”
I squirmed against his muscular frame and gripped his long hair in my fists, a fire of desperation for this man pounding in my chest. I’d wanted to fuck him again since the last time I’d had him inside me. I whined a complaint when he removed one of his arms from around me and tried to dig into his pants pocket under my left leg. I bit along his jaw down to his earlobe while he worked to get his key out of his pocket. My tongue darted out to flick his earlobe, and then I sucked on it hard.
“Fuck,” he groaned. Lord Belshazzar jerked his hand out of his pocket and slammed his palm against Orin’s chest, his key in hand. He growled, “Get the damn door open.”
A second later, both of his palms gripped my ass, his lips back on mine and focused on devouring my mouth.
The click of a lock echoed, and the door swung open. I hardly noticed when his shoes and socks went flying into the room, along with the key, from his guard’s hands. I leaned my head back long enough to order, “Phoenix, disappear.”
