Then the damn Original druid arrived.
Master Niallan strolled into the jet. His sharp green eyes constricted on all of us, fire lighting his scrutiny. “I know vampires are normally assholes, but you left me alone in the damn terminal! Do you forget we’re headed tomystronghold? Did you think you could get in without my permission?”
I swallowed down my laugh.
None of us opened our mouths, silent.
Like a bunch of school kids, we’d left him while he’d been in a bathroom. We hadn’t even discussed it. All six of us had stared at the bathroom door he’d disappeared through—without a word from him about security issues from deviating off course. Then we’d immediately continued on our way without him, all in silent agreement that he was a douche bag and deserved whatever happened to him.
Though, sadly, he appeared healthy and whole.
I stared at his broad shoulders.
Why the heck did the druid have to be so damn attractive? It was rather annoying. The outside shell was hot as fuck with his sexy looks, but the gooey inside was ruined with his cockiness. He left a spoiled taste in my mouth every time I talked to him about anything remotely serious. It still shocked me I’d enjoyed his behavior during our sexual encounter…
I sniffed and turned my attention away from him.
The man really shouldn’t look that good.
Master Niallan’s feet stomped toward us, the druid in a huff. “What? Now you’re all ignoring me?”
As if everyone should pay attention to him.
All. The. Time.
Lord Belshazzar lifted his hand in a stopping gesture, his attention finally moving from the window. “You are not allowed to sit with us yet, as you haven’t passed your Challenges. Only royalty sits in this section.” He flicked a finger toward the back of the jet. “You’ll sit with our guards during this flight. Andifyou pass your Challenges, you may sit with us on the flight back.”
Master Niallan’s green eyes narrowed. “Are you being serious right now? I had to deal withhumanstrying to find this plane.”
I scratched my nose, locking my muscles down.
It was so, so hard not to laugh in his face.
“Next time, you won’t break security procedures,” Lord Belshazzar stated, then another flick of his finger to the back of the plane. “And you breaking the rules has nothing to do with your seating arrangement. As I explained already, only royalty sits here. And you are not royalty.”
“I am royalty here. Or have you forgotten that, Lord Belshazzar?” Master Niallan ground his teeth together. He quirked a blond brow. “I somehow doubt that’s slipped your mind, though.”
Lord Belshazzar smiled, baring his teeth—no fangs. “Vampire royalty. You are not that.”
I did squirm in my chair.
I was currently between the most influential vampire and the Original druid, neither of them in good humor. I’d withstood just a sliver of Master Niallan’s power before, and it had almost brought me to my knees. And I’d seen firsthand Lord Belshazzar’s speed. I’d rather not be caught between them if they got physical. I was good, but I wasn’t that good. I’d end up as a mush of blood and gore on the ground if they went at each other’s throats.
As I’d told Harmony, a person needed to know when they were beaten and when to bring in reinforcements.
I cleared my throat and looked over at my father. “Lord Cato, why don’t you show Master Niallan where he can sit?” I turned my attention to the druid next. “I checked out the jet when I first boarded. The seats are all the same. You’ll be just as comfortable back there with the guards, and I’d wager a guess you’d enjoy their company more than ours.”
Master Niallan stared down at me, and then he suddenly laughed, his gleaming white teeth showing. “Fuck, you’re charming.” He bent at the waist and placed his face right in front of mine, only an inch between our noses. His brilliant green eyes sparkled. The druid purred, “But you won’t be back there with me. I’d prefer your company over all these men.”
I held his gaze. Didn’t look away.
I quirked one side of my mouth, whispering as if only he could hear me, “You should be focusing on your upcoming Challenges. Not on me.”
The Original druid placed his hands on the arms of my chair, boxing me in with his muscled frame. He brought his face a smidge closer. “I assure you, your majesty, I am well equipped with multi-tasking.”
“Yep, that’s enough of that,” Lord Cato spat. He shoved up from his chair and grabbed Master Niallan’s shoulders in a firm hold. He pulled him up and away from my person. Then he patted his back with a hard smack and pointed toward the rear of the plane. “Her majesty has enough media buzz right now. She doesn’t need to add any more to the mix. I’ll just show you to your seat, candidate.”
The druid chuckled and locked eyes with my father. “I can’t wait to see you enter my stronghold. Though I doubt you’ll have any issues with my people. You’re the most crooked bastard I know.”
