“It shows truth. There is no mind-trip about it.”
My brows furrowed. “Do all druids go through the Arch of Sight to enter your stronghold?”
He nodded, unrepentant. “Yes.”
Lord Belshazzar grunted. His tone was furious. “No wonder your people are so fucked in the head. They go to a place of sanctuary, where they should be protected, but are met with cruelty before they’re allowed to enter?” His blue eyes lashed the druid. He spoke with vehemence shaking his tone—the first time I’d truly ever seen him livid. “That shit won’t fly if you’re crowned king of my people. Don’t even think of trying your tactics with them. I will fucking crush you.”
Master Niallan’s green eyes twinkled. “Promises. Promises. I think I heard that one a long time ago, and, yet, here I still stand.” His blond brows lifted at the lord’s narrowed gaze. “Are you coming with me or not?”
Lord Belshazzar took a large step forward and placed his face right in front of that of the druid. His lips curved up at the edges when the Original druid flinched. The lord stated quietly, “The promise I gave you long ago, and the promise I gave you just now are two separate promises. I am nothing but a patient man. You will pay for your crimes, all in due time.”
The Original druid smiled. It was malicious and harsh. “Perhaps. Perhaps not. And in the meantime, you will continue to grieve for your former life. I do enjoy watching you suffer, Lord Belshazzar.”
I held my breath. If a fight were ever to start…
We all held our collective breath.
Unexpectedly, Lord Belshazzar barked out a laugh. Right in the Original druid’s face. Rich and deep, full-bodied. He simply kept laughing like the druid’s words were the funniest thing he’d ever heard in his life.
He laughed. And laughed. Andlaughed.
I stared and wondered if he’d lost it. Truly. My brows puckered in worry. It wouldn’t do to have the most powerful vampire in the world lose his shit right now. I placed my luggage down, and stated quietly, “Lord Belshazzar, maybe we should take a break before we go in. The last few days have been exhausting—”
The lord lifted one of his bags in my direction, cutting me off, even while he continued to snicker in the druid’s face, his blue eyes never leaving a scowling green gaze. In his deep voice, he sputtered, “Master Niallan, do you really think I’ve been suffering all this time? If you do, you haven’t been paying attention. I mean, goddamn, your ego still astounds me. I fuckinglovemy life.”
All right. He wasn’t losing his shit.
With relief, I lifted my heavy bags back up.
The Original druid took a step aside and clenched his jaw. “Unless you like standing out in this snow, then I suggest you continue to follow me.” He turned on his heel and marched down the other side of the hill.
Ysander and Devin tossed Lord Belshazzar a vile glance, and then both men followed after their ruler, their feet moving carefully through the snow.
“Well, that was fun.” Lord Otto snorted. His shoulder brushed mine as he passed, walking in the druids’ footprints for an easier trek. He called over his shoulder, “I’m sure he’d love to leave us behind now, so we should probably hurry.”
I put my feet into motion—because that was true.
We had to walk faster now. The Original druid wasn’t wasting any time heading for the Arch of Sight. His long legs walked at a fast clip, seemingly unbothered by the snow. The man didn’t even look back once to see if any of us had lost view of him. He probably hoped we would so we’d concede to his great power—all to make himself feel better after that verbal smack-down.
The Arch of Sight rose higher into the air the closer we traveled. It was much taller than it had appeared from the hill. The top reaches of the arch were at least four stories high.
I dropped my bags when we halted in front of it.
Those fuckers wereheavynow.
“Bring too many shoes, your majesty?” Ysander chirped. “I’ll carry one for you. If you ask nicely.”
“Fuck you.” He wasn’t touching my bags.
“That’s a no,” Devin said. “Hey, maybe she wants to go through the Arch of Sight first? How about that, instead, your majesty?”
I eyed the archway. There was nothing else around it or behind it except for the snow. It looked very innocent.
“That’s a fuck you, too.” I waved a frozen finger at the asshole duo. “You go first. We’ll follow after you.”
“No, Lord Belshazzar goes first.” Master Niallan turned his impressive green eyes on the lord. “There’s nothing to it, and no physical harm will befall you. Just walk right under the arch.”
Lord Belshazzar grunted. “No physical harm?”
