Lord Cato lifted a black eyebrow, bored, and responded with much sarcasm. “I’m sure it’ll be thrilling.”
Master Niallan started strolling toward the back of the plane. His light laughter grated on my nerves. He barked with the dramatic gift of the bold, “Come! Show me to my seat, Lord Cato. Cape Argent awaits us.”
Lord Cato’s nostrils flared before a pleasant mien shrouded his form, his face, and his shoulders relaxed. He walked toward the rear of the plane to do what needed to be done.
My attention casually swung to the Overlord sitting next to me. I spoke calmly, but firmly, “My lord, I would appreciate the next time you’d like to have a pissing match with the Original druid that you make sure I’m not sitting between you two.”
Lord Belshazzar’s frosty eyes met mine, holding for a long second. His plump lips ultimately smirked. “Afraid of a little cat fight?”
“There would be nothing ‘little’ about a fight between you two.” I stared. “No shit slinging around me, please.”
Across from us, Lord Xenon snorted.
Lord Belshazzar’s amused smile held my attention.
I wanted to bite his lips. Lick them.
He leaned on his armrest and slanted into my personal space. Too quietly for the druid—with vampire power running through his veins—to overhear in the back of the jet, the Overlord alleged, “Master Niallan will never start a fight with me. He may be many foul things, but he is intelligent. You have nothing to fear if you’re by my side, your majesty.”
I lifted my left brow to hide any of my true thoughts on his words. “You’re very full of yourself today, my lord.”
“That doesn’t mean it’s not true,” Lord Xenon interjected into our conversation as he pulled out his phone that buzzed in his pocket. He stared at the screen and typed with his thumbs, his digits moving in a blur. “I’ve never seen Lord Belshazzar lose a battle.”
I turned my regard back to the lossless warrior. “Is Lord Xenon right? Have you never lost a fight?”
Lord Belshazzar’s head teetered back and forth in thought, still bent over his chair into my space. My hands twitched. I wanted to run my fingers through his dangling black hair. The soft strands brushed against my right arm like a caress.
He eventually stated, “I have been bested a few times in my life. My brother and I would fight, like siblings sometimes do. I would win. He would win. I’d say it was a tie, in the end, if you added up all of our squabbles.”
No one moved around me.
The Overlords were doing a shit job of eavesdropping in their shocked states. Lord Pippin froze in place while picking up a flute of champagne, and Lord Xenon’s eyes were wide on his face, his thumbs motionless over his phone. My father stumbled to a complete stop behind me on his way back to his seat.
I simply cleared my throat, still looking into his eyes. “I didn’t know you had a brother.” No one fucking knew that, my words redundant, the lord overly private about his life. My lips pursed as an awful thought occurred. I delved delicately, “Is he still alive?”
Lord Belshazzar snickered, completely tickled with my worried expression. His eyes tracked over my features in slow increments. “He’s as big of a bastard as I am. He’s not dead.”
Stunned, I muttered, “Why don’t we know about him then?” I was asking for the whole group, since they still hadn’t moved an inch, not wanting to stop this rare moment of insight. “There’s no record of you having a brother.”
Both his black brows lifted. “Should I be flattered or wary that you’ve done your research on me.”
I waved an irritated hand. “Everyone knows about you. Not to mention, I made it my business to know all about the royals during my training. Quit avoiding my question, my lord.”
His lips curved up at the edges, still entertained by my line of questioning. “I’ve never spoken about him before because I haven’t seen him in a long time.” He tapped a finger to his right temple. “But I’d know here if he was dead.”
My eyes darted between his, mumbling, “I’m inclined to believe you. Is he your twin?” Twins were occasionally linked. It could sometimes be eerie being around them if they were.
He nodded. “We’re two halves of a whole.”
Interesting. “What’s his name?”
Lord Belshazzar chortled quietly. “I think that’s enough for today. You’ve weaseled enough information out of me.” He leaned back in his chair and stretched his legs out again. His left hand twirled in the air. “Lords, you can stop endeavoring to be invisible. Pathetic attempt, really.”
The lords instantly morphed back into life.
Lord Cato flopped down into his chair. “It wasn’t great acting, but it wasn’t heinous either.”
I snorted. “The wishful thinking of that statement makes me embarrassed for you.”
