“I don’t want to touch you. And I don’t want you touching me,” I clarified further. “I am still highly furious with you. Until I start getting some fucking answers from you, it’s hands-off time.”
The king stared. “I think you’re serious right now.”
“That’s because I am!” I shrieked, and threw my hands up into the air, my cool mien vanishing. “I killed Lord Otto to save our people. I still don’t know why the fuck you killed Lord Pippin. So I am mad at you! You’re not communicating with me, Bel. I need words that make sense to come out of your mouth at some point. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Lord Xenon groaned loudly. “Quit fucking arguing and get the job done.”
King Belshazzar cast a glare over his shoulder. “Shut it. She’s upset.”
Lord Xenon groaned and turned to my father, bemoaning deeply, “My god. They are going to take forever. We’re going to be sleepless zombies in a war, and they’ll still be arguing in a faraway land. Do something about your daughter. I beg you.”
Lord Cato snorted. “She has a point. And I’m not stepping into that shit.” He scratched at his cheek. “Unless King Belshazzar hurts her. Then I’ll step in.”
The king growled under his breath in irritation and then turned his head back in my direction. He tempered his voice, speaking softly, “Gwen, I understand you’re upset. I would be, too, if I were in your shoes. But I’m not sorry that I killed Lord Pippin, and you’ll eventually understand why. I give you my word of honor.”
I nibbled on my bottom lip and placed my hand on his shoulder. I sucked in a large lungful of air, and stated, “I’m touching you to get a job done. I’m not touching you because I’m happy with you. Understand?”
He lifted one black eyebrow. “That’s something, I suppose.” The king looked over his shoulder again. “You two should go into another room for this. You won’t be able to handle the power either.”
The Overlords grumbled quietly, but stepped outside into the Royal hallways and shut the front door behind them.
King Belshazzar instantly chanted under his breath, and the Original vampire amulet glowed blood red as he started forming a circle in the air, making it wide enough for us to fit through side-by-side. Red flickers flew out of the air wherever the Original vampire amulet went, like the sparks from a welding machine.
He grinned at his work when he was done, approving of the size.
I gripped his shoulder tighter with my small hand.
As one, we stepped through the portal.
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Firth of Forth
THE PORTAL CLOSED BEHIND US.
King Belshazzar’s ice blue eyes surveyed the terrain while he pocketed the Original vampire amulet in his pocket.
I dropped my hand from the king’s shoulder and scanned the area the same way he was. Trees. Many trees, big and beautiful. And not a human, vampire, or druid in sight. I murmured absently, “I wonder if I kicked one of those amulets in your pants pockets if your dick would blow off. What do you think?”
“I think you’re a dangerous woman when you’re pissed off.” King Belshazzar marched forward through the underbrush. “Keep up, Gwen. It’s a hike from here.”
I put my feet into motion, his legs much longer than mine. “Yes, sir, Mr. Secret Keeper, sir.”
He groaned low in his throat. “Are you going to be doing this the entire way?”
“Maybe. I haven’t decided yet.” I shrugged my shoulders. I stepped over a fallen log. “So you weren’t saying all that shit about not being able to tell me yet because the Overlords were in the room with us?”
“No. I really won’t tell you yet.” His lips curved up into a sexy smirk. “It’ll ruin the surprise, little one.”
I huffed. “I don’t like surprises.”
“Yes, you do. You haven’t taken off that necklace I gave you since the day I clasped it around your sweet neck.”
I scowled. “Well, it is pretty.”
“You think it’s so pretty that you hide it under every top you wear.” Bel chuckled quietly, his tone intimate. “You like having a secret with me.”
My cheeks heated, a pink blush staining my skin.
