“I know that. I do now, anyway.” I grunted and squirmed out of his arms, muttering, “No touching me. Remember, I am still upset with you—and this situation is the perfect example of why. I need answers, Bel. Real. Fucking. Answers.”
“In time, I will explain.” King Belshazzar scowled as I took another step back at his words. He stated dryly, “You were touching me before. Do you plan to pick and choose when you’re upset?”
“Oh, fuck off. You were hurting before.” I ran my fingers through my black hair, pulling it up into a ponytail, and tightened it brutally. I glowered up at him from under eyelashes. “You’re happy and shit now. You don’t need me.”
His frost-blue eyes ran over my features slowly. “That is a lie, and you know it.”
I huffed, even as the chill on my heart warmed at his rebuke. “Even so, my response is still the same. No touching until you start spilling. I’m done with the guessing games inside my head. I want facts.”
He arched one black eyebrow high on his forehead, an arrogant grin tilting up one side of his mouth—sexy as sin and more powerful than the moon. “We’ll see who falters first. Me or you.”
“Shut up,” I murmured, yanking my gaze away from his lips. I tilted my head to our snooping companions, their silence telling. “They’re dressed. I want to know who the other three are. Have your druid twin introduce us.”
“I only have one twin, Gwen. It doesn’t matter that he’s a druid.” King Belshazzar shook his head in slight annoyance. “Try to be nice. I know you have it in you somewhere.”
“Fine.” I yanked my ponytail even tighter.
Our two groups walked to converge, all properly dressed—even if their attire looked straight-up from a time when I was born, almost a thousand years ago. I hoped it wasn’t an indication of S’Kir’s level of technology. Perhaps they had just come from a bizarre druid dress-up party.
Somehow, I didn’t think I was that lucky.
I wondered if it would be rude if I took out my phone to see if I had cell service here. I actually wouldn’t mind calling my father right now. A little advice would be welcome in this strange land.
But I kept my features perfectly pleasant.
I wouldtryto be nice.
Bel smacked his twin’s shoulder, wearing that happy grin once more. “Who are your friends, brother?”
Dorian’s chest puffed with pride, gesturing with a head tilt to each individual. “These are my mates. Rilen, Roran, and Kimber.”
Roran stared with one blue eye and one brown, his shaggy brown-blonde hair ruffling in the night wind. He grinned playfully, stating, “I’m the best looking of the two of us, just in case you ever get confused by my twin and me.”
Rilen rolled his multi-hued eyes up to the dark heavens. They certainly were identical up close. He grumbled, “For shit’s sake, Roran.”
Kimber dipped her head down respectfully, stating in a reserved tone, “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
I lowered my head in greeting, replying, “And I am Queen Gwynnore, the queen of the vampires—on Earth. It is a pleasure to meet you, too.”
The backs of Dorian’s three mates stiffened.
I evaluated them silently. They did not like my title for some reason. Particularly, thevampirepart. They were druids. Did they have issues with vampires here, as we did with the druids on Earth?
Dorian eyed my person for an extended moment, and then he turned his attention to his brother. “Is it safe to assume you are the king of vampires?”
Bel quietly chuckled, evilly, it would seem. “IamKing Belshazzar, but I do not rule over the vampires. That is solely Gwen’s royal position. I recently took your son’s place. I am the king of the druids on Earth now.”
Dorian’s blond brows lifted high on his forehead. “You must tell me. How did the druids take the news?”
King Belshazzar teetered his head back and forth, his lips starting to twitch with humor. “They do not know yet.”
Kimber cleared her throat. “I do not find the humor in that.”
Oh, sweetie.I rubbed at my forehead.You’re going to learn today.
“My apologies. Was I speaking to you? I do not know you, nor do I care what you think.” Bel stared down his regal nose at her, scanning her features silently—and finding her lacking from his expression. “And if you think to order my brother around again, as you did before, you should check yourself. You have no idea who you’re dealing with. What he does is his choice. Heallowsit to happen. Remember that, girl.”
I cleared my throat pointedly.
