Lost in our own thoughts, we both jerked at the knock on his door. Our heads snapped in the direction of the offending sound. My lips trembled as the door swung open, and my father could be heard outside—and his threat.
“I will fucking castrate you, Orin, if you don’t get out of my way. I swear to fucking God, I’ll do it too. I’ll have one of your women do it while you’re getting a blowjob. Just imagine that fun. You’ll never be fully relaxed while you’re getting pleasured because you’ll be too worried if she’s the one I sent to cut you up.” A scuffle erupted in the hallway, and then my father darted inside Bel’s bedchambers, slamming the door and locking it behind him. His brown eyes scanned the room, while he jerked at the bottom of his suit jacket to remove the wrinkles. He grunted, seeing us sitting peacefully. “All that work for nothing. I guess I didn’t need to come in here after all.”
With a bored tone, Lord Belshazzar stated, “I would appreciate it, Lord Cato, if you didn’t threaten my bodyguard’s balls in the future. I’m pretty sure he’d appreciate it too, my lord.”
My father shrugged and walked in our direction. “He was being a pain.” He flicked his thumb over his shoulder at the door. “You didn’t hear what was going on out there. Me threatening the removal of his balls was nothing compared to the shit flying out of his mouth. What’s been taking so long for you two to rejoin us?”
Lord Belshazzar hooded his gaze.
I did the same.
We had sort of zoned out in our own world.
Not very vampire of us. Embarrassing, really.
We’d been too wrapped up in each other.
My father grunted again. His brown eyes leapt back and forth between us as if watching a tennis match—one that ended in death. He didn’t comment. Instead, he placed his left hand on my shoulder. Lord Cato asked, “I needed to check if you were all right, your majesty. When you didn’t return in a timely fashion, I was worried.”
I barely kept from rolling my eyes. I dipped my shoulder casually and slid out of his gripping hand. “I am fine.” I narrowed my eyes, unable to let it go. “Don’t touch me again. Blood does not make us a family.”
The edges of his mouth started to turn down, but it was gone so fast it may have never been. He chuckled with malicious humor lighting his gaze. “Deny it all you want,sweetling, but I’m the only blood family you have left. If you’d stop fighting that losing battle, you might find that you actually like me. We’re more alike than most family who spends every day together.” His chest puffed with pride. “My genes run strong in you.”
If I had a sledgehammer in my hands right now, I’d deflate his swollen head. “Jesus, just stop talking.”
“Actually, it’s not just your personalities that are alike,” Lord Belshazzar added, not helping matters. He pointed a finger between us, seeming to take great pleasure in his words—he did enjoy poking at me. “You look similar too. Like, your pert noses are the same as is your black hair.”
“I know,” I hissed in anger at the same time my father stated with pride, “I know.”
Lord Belshazzar’s lips trembled at our responses, each one differently implied than the other. His ice blue eyes found mine, twinkling with wit. “I apologize, Gwen. I couldn’t stop myself.”
I growled under my breath and speared him with a special look. “You are aggravating, my lord.”
Lord Cato ignored my earlier warning and patted my shoulder again. “If you two are done talking, our asshole king is done with the shield and is waiting in the conference room for us.”
Annoyed, I shoved up from the couch. “I presume we’re just supposed to come running now that he’s ready?”
My father grinned—slowly. “Actually, I thought that we should stop by the kitchen and have a bite to eat first. There’s no need to rush.” He pointed at my stomach. “I could have sworn you stated you’re so hungry you were feeling faint.”
“Actually…I believe you’re right.” I lifted my black brows and rubbed my belly, which was still full from my breakfast. “I am starving. I wouldn’t want to faint in the conference room.”
Lord Belshazzar chuckled where he was still sitting on his chair, glancing back and forth between us. “So, so alike.”
I flashed my fangs at him. “Enough from you.”
Lord Cato’s phone buzzed. He pulled it out of his pocket and glanced at the screen. “Hmm. Well, King Niallan’s put a hold on the meeting, so we can stop with the starving charade. Apparently, he has druid business he needs to take care of since we weren’t fast enough. We meet in two hours back in the conference room.”
I snorted. “By druid business, I’m sure it’s more like him going to his room to be alone so he can start planning an assassination.” I snapped my brows together. “Which one of you Overlords do you think he’s going to try to off?”
Without hesitation…
Lord Belshazzar pointed at Lord Cato.
Lord Cato pointed at himself.
“Really? That easy to decide?” I snickered.
Lord Cato shrugged. “The druid’s too afraid of Lord Belshazzar. The next on his hate list is me. I’m who he’ll try to take out so he can become an Overlord and get his hands on the Original vampire amulet.”
