CHESTER WAS KEPT IN THEJAIL WHEN HE ARRIVED. The druid had the entire place to himself—and a shit ton of vampire guards outside the door, watching it. I couldn’t disagree with our inhospitality with what I read about him, nor did I disagree with the way he was captured and brought here. It wasn’t exactly hospitable either, but it got the job done.
Only my father went inside the jail with him.
I didn’t ask how he received Chester’s compliance to help with the spell. I merely saw him leave with copious amounts of blood on his suit, a contract in hand, and a smile on his face.
Although I had hoped that we would be able to kill the insatiable monster once we were done with the spell, his release had been part of the deal my father had struck with him.
Two days after his arrival, bound in spelled chains around his wrists and ankles, Chester wobbled into the stronghold with armed vampire guards surrounding him.
I stood next to Lord Belshazzar, who was back to rights in a tailored suit and looking as sexy as ever, on the winding steps leading up from the colossal foyer. The other lords stood behind us, a different Overlord on each step above us. I surveyed the druid, getting my first view of him in person, not just the stolen shots an idiot had managed to snap of him.
Chester was shorter than I had expected. The top of his head reached five feet nine inches, though the muscles underneath the gifted clothes he had received were large enough to be impressive. His strawberry blond hair, blue eyes, and freckled features lent the man an innocent mien that belonged nowhere on this druid.
He tipped his head back to look at us above him, and his crystal blue eyes ran over the Overlord next to me. Chester chuckled and lifted his red brows. “Here we are again, Lord Belshazzar. All these years later.” He lifted his bound hands. “And it seems you have me at your disposal this time.”
Lord Belshazzar smirked. “I believe you were in cuffs the last time I saw you too, Chester.”
Unprepared for that comment, my brows snapped together, and my lips thinned. I clasped my hands behind my back and attempted to keep quiet. Maybe it wasn’t what I was thinking—
“Yes, you’re correct, my lord,” Chester drawled, a sensual gleam entering his eyes.
Well, fuck.
My fangs lengthened inside my mouth. I kept my lips tightly closed and lifted my cell phone from my pocket. I opened the file Harmony had sent me on Lord Belshazzar’s personal lovers throughout history. I scrolled down the list, all of them from over a thousand years ago—odd that—and I scowled when I saw “Chester” on the screen.
I tapped on his name and the information of their time together appeared. A lethal growl grew inside my chest, but I bit it back. They had only been lovers for a few months, nothing serious, but they hadn’t slept with anyone else at the time either.
My fangs itched to take a bite out of Chester’s neck.
This is what I got for being with someone Lord Belshazzar’s age. Someone who lived that long had many varied lovers throughout time. And the fuckers popped up out of the blue when you least expected it.
The silence weighting the air finally hit me.
I snapped my head up and glanced around.
Everyone was looking at me.
Lord Belshazzar was even tilted to the side and reading the information on my screen over my shoulder.
I quickly hit the button on the side of my cell phone, turned it off, and pocketed it. I cleared my throat, and stated calmly, “My apologies.”
Lord Belshazzar gradually leaned back, straightening to his full height. He lifted a black brow in silent question about what he had read—and how I had gotten it—but only stated, “Chester asked you a question, your majesty.”
Perfect. His ex-lover was talking to me.
I turned my attention to the redhead below me and keeping my tone wonderfully pleasant, I asked, “What was your question?”
If my fangs were still showing a little, I couldn’t help it. The fuckers wouldn’t go away while I looked at the handsome—and criminal—druid.
Chester’s lips twitched. “I asked your majesty if you were enjoying your new position as queen.”
Why the hell were we even talking to this man?
“Yes, I enjoy it immensely.” I peered down my nose at him, but my tone was as sweet as pie. “Tell me, are you enjoying your new position as our prisoner, Chester? I understand Lord Cato gave you a warm welcome. I’m sure we can arrange it again if you’d like? Perhaps I’ll join him this time.”
I smiled.
Lord Otto coughed quietly behind me in warning.
