King Hall

by Scarlett Dawn

King Kincaid, King Fergus, and King Venclaire quickly reiterated his vow.

  Nodding, I gently pulled away from King Kincaid, and stared gloomily at my food. It didn’t appear so appetizing anymore. Picking up my fork, I pushed around the remains on my plate more than I ate. I could only hope Philip was dead and not fleeing from anything else heinous he may have done.

  Dessert arrived. Even in the crummiest of moods, I always ate my sweets. Especially any type of ice-cream. It was apple pie. With a huge scoop of vanilla ice-cream on the side for those who didn’t like to mix. Dessert was balm for the soul.

  Too quickly, I scraped the bottom of my plate, the last of the cinnamon goodness gone.

  Ezra asked, “Lily, do you want the rest of mine?”

  Attention snapping in his direction, I stared. Nodded.

  Rising from his chair, he carried his plate to me, and took my empty one back with him.

  I gazed down at the gifted dessert for a good minute, watching the ice-cream melt even further. He hadn’t touched it, and I knew he loved apple pie. Normally, he was a bottomless pit, even more so than me. I blinked, peering up at him, but he was already talking with Gideon. Another blink, and I realized that, even though conversation was being carried all across the table, King Venclaire and King Kincaid were both covertly staring at me.

  My eyes darted between them, and I quickly gazed back at the dessert, grabbing my spoon. I sat it back down. Cocking my head, I studied the plate…and had to hold back a grin.

  Written with apple pie sauce — probably with his spoon it was so terrible — on the side of the plate in teeny-tiny scrawl was: Fair. I had once said life wasn’t fair as I donated my blood as a treat to him and drank bagged blood to compensate, being a best friend. He was doing the same now. At a prime time when I needed it, too.

  I picked up my spoon once more, peering at him through the veil of my hair.

  His eyes met mine, and I nodded my head slightly. Thank you.

  He blinked slowly. You’re welcome.

  Then, he looked away, and I dug in.

  Christ, I was running late. I had been doing so much better at being on time, too. Go figure, the big day of graduation and Awakenings, I had overslept. Luckily, my friends were taking their own cars today. The graduation was going to be held on the back lawn of King Hall, instead of the gym where it normally was, thanks to the size of today’s crowd.

  As for the crowd, they sure weren’t helping my tardiness.

  Tapping my fingers on the steering wheel, I waited in the long procession of cars to get through the gated front entrance. I was almost there, but “almost” in traffic easily meant another twenty minutes. Sighing heavily, I considered the view before me, regarding the impressive grounds of King Hall. After today, I wouldn’t be back here for some time, like, roughly twenty years.

  I couldn’t say I was too disappointed, but there was something about seeing the place that had been such a monumental part of my life changing. If I had never gone here, I wouldn’t have met my mate. If I hadn’t gone here, I wouldn’t be the Prodigy Shifter. If I hadn’t gone here, I never would have met my best friends. So, yeah, the place I had dreaded had altered my life, but not in all bad ways, so I gave it a good perusal for memory’s sake as I eventually bypassed the valets, who waved me on when they saw the bodyguard detail in front of and behind me.

  I parked in my normal place at the back of the parking lot under a large oak, the spot empty. No one ever parked there. They knew it was mine. There were some perks to my position.

  Grabbing my large duffel bag with my graduation gown, ceremonial gown, dress and heels, and make-up, I slung it over my shoulder and started hauling ass to the entrance. I swerved in and out of parked cars and, mostly, tried to keep my head down so I wasn’t noticed and stopped. I didn’t have time to chat or let Shifters touch right now. I needed to hurry and change clothes to meet with the Kings, my friends, and their families, who were visiting before graduation began.

  However, I stalled on the sidewalk, doing a double-take of the next couple pulling up to the curb a few feet away. My guards also stopped, but I waved a hand, murmuring, “Give me a second.” All obeyed, backing away a few feet to line the school building as I shoved through the mass of Mysticals congregating on the sidewalk just as the car stopped, a smile curving my lips. I knew I had correctly recognized them, because it was them.

  Ezra’s parents.

  Having seen that one photo on his desk, I saw that they looked exactly the same. His dad was Native American and his mom was Caucasian. Both were imposing and beautiful, and as his dad got out of their car, I could see where Ezra had acquired his bulking muscles. The man was enormous.

  Quickly stepping forward, I offered my hand. “Hello! You’re Ezra’s parents. It’s a pleasure to meet you both.” Ezra’s mom quickly glanced at me, smiled, nodded once, then peered away as Ezra’s dad lifted his hand to mine. “I’m—”

  “Don’t scratch her,” he ordered, cutting me off. “She’s new. Make sure you park her in the shade.” He released my hand.

  In my palm was a set of keys and a ten-dollar bill.

  I blinked, glancing from side-to-side, and saw the valets were wearing a similar outfit to me. Black pants, black shirt, and a black ball cap. The real valet’s eyes next to me went wide — he, obviously, knew who I was, and he quickly handed Ezra’s dad a numbered ticket. I was pretty sure my jaw was still hanging as they walked past, not glancing at me again, and his mom leaned toward his dad, linking her arm with his.

  I heard her whisper, “They’re letting Coms on the grounds today? Unbelievable.”

  Delicately, the valet took the keys from my motionless outstretched hand, mumbling hastily, “Keep the money. You earned it.” He quickly hightailed it away from me.

  I was left standing there blinking, wondering how that had gone so wrong, when Aros and Felix stepped on either side of me. As of this morning, they were officially part of my detail, with school now out. Aros patted my shoulder, offering, “Your hair’s back in a ponytail, hidden under a ball cap. They probably couldn’t see you properly.” Also, I was masking my power, which I did normally now.

  Felix snorted, but stated factually, “You’re late. Remember?”

  “Shit,” I breathed, and turned, trucking it inside. I really needed to hurry and, besides, I would get the chance to meet them again in, like, ten minutes, or something like that. Pretty much however long it took me to finish getting ready in the locker room.

  Hiking up the red graduation robe I wore, which was identical to the black ceremonial robe, thrilled I was able to wear clothing under this one, I raced to the administration building, heading for Mrs. Jonas’s office where the familial meet-and-greet was located. I had taken a little longer than I had wanted to in getting ready — fifteen minutes more — so I really was officially late, not just going to be late, like I had been before.

  My guards chased after me across the lawn. The mad dash probably appeared like a twisted version of a children’s tale, since they wore black fatigues while I resembled a frantic madwoman, red robe fluttering about in the breeze. At least in this situation I was the wolf.

  While they stopped, waiting outside, I slammed through the administration building’s front doors. A quick wave to the receptionist, then I was stopping to take in a few calming breaths before I hit Mrs. Jonas’s office. Running a hand through my hair, I rolled my shoulders, and dug into my pocket before entering. The office was packed.

  By some means, I still managed to see King Kincaid sniff the air, then glance in my direction with a demeanor of exasperation. Smiling sheepishly, I maneuvered my way along the edges of the room to stand next to him. He bent to my level, whispering, “Did anyone see you run across the lawn?”

  Probably the entire mass of people behind the main building seated for graduation.

  “I’m sure they were looking the other way.” At least, the ones with the cameras had been, since they were aimed at the stage. In my opinion, those were the
most important.

  King Kincaid sighed heavily, then glanced behind me over my head, staring, only to sigh deeply all over again before straightening to his full height and running his hands down his suit jacket, smoothing it down when it was already so.

  At my back a few beats later, King Venclaire murmured, “Lily, how nice of you to finally join us.” A pause, and I could have sworn he chuckled. “I’d like you to meet Ezra’s parents.” He said, probably to them, “As you know, Lily Ruckler is King Kincaid’s Prodigy.”

  As they murmured something or another to King Venclaire, I saw Ezra advancing from the side. It looked like he was coming from where a table full of breakfast foods had been set up in the corner because he had two croissants in hand. I really wanted one, but I refrained from going there now to turn and meet his parents. Again.

  Both physically jerked when I faced them.

  They stared.

  His mom’s jaw flat out dropped while his dad’s jaw clenched.

  “Mom. Dad.” Ezra stopped beside me. “This is Lily. I’ve mentioned her to you guys before.” He held a croissant out to me, biting into his own and grinning evilly at them. “It’s rude to stare. At least, that’s what you’ve always told me.”

  Accepting the proffered croissant with one hand, I offered his dad what I had dug out of my pocket before coming in here with the other. “Here’s your ten-spot back.” I bit into my gifted croissant, and smiled sweetly as I chewed.

  His dad sucked in a breath, making his enormous chest even more impressive, and gently took the money, his eyes hard on me.

  Ezra groaned, “Do I want to know why they gave you money?”

  “We thought she was the valet!” his mom confessed, appearing mortified.

  I pointed around my croissant. “And a Com.”

  Eyes closing, her face flushed prettily.

  Ezra protested gently, “You two have seen her on television.”

  Her hand fluttered about her head. “She had on a hat.”

  I chuckled, extending my hand again. “Let’s do this right. I’m Lily Ruckler, soon-to-be badass Queen Shifter.” I cocked my head. “I’ve seen the picture of you guys, but I don’t know your names.” Hint, hint. I’m trying here. Take my damn hand.

  His mom did take it after a hefty sigh, saying, “I’m Vivian Zeller. Please accept my apologies for being utterly uncouth earlier. It’s lovely to meet you.”

  After reciprocating, I held my hand in his dad’s direction. In the picture, he had been happily smiling with his son and his mate but, right now, he was scrutinizing me pretty hard. By degrees, he raised his hand, and took mine in a crushing grip, so much so that if I weren’t a Shifter and able to squeeze back, it probably would have broken my fingers. Casually, he asked, “Badass?”

  “That’s me.” I smiled, and crushed his hand just a smidge more.

  He grunted, sounding a hell of a lot like his son. “I’m Cahal Zeller.” He smiled, same as me. I think it meant the same as what mine had subtly conveyed. “What picture were you referring to?”

  I blinked, discerning that if I said, Oh, you know, the one in your son’s bedroom, that might not go over too well, so I stated, “One of the pictures on his cell.” My heart didn’t even stutter at the lie. Go me.

  “You must have a good eye, noticing us as you did earlier,” he murmured, unrelenting on his punishing grip. Not only was he abnormally strong for a Vampire, like his son, he was also powerful. It kind of leaked off him, he had so much.

  Cocking my head, I tried gauging his age. “Yes. I’m good with faces.” I had a bad feeling I should probably know who this man was. I thought back through my history books.

  When it clicked a second later, I about dropped. Goddamn!

  Faces, yes. Names, obviously, not so much.

  Zeller.

  And…my last name should be moron.

  I had skimmed past that part on him, because I had thought it a fluke — surely, Ezra would have told me — and studied up on…ah, it never failed. He arrived. The object of my focus in that colossal section of coursework.

  Antonio stopped behind Cahal, thumping a heavy hand on his shoulder. “Cahal, you trying prick, it’s good to see you!”

  Cahal didn’t release my hand, watching me still, but his lips thinned, saying, “Hello to you, too, Antonio. I’m just meeting the soon-to-be badass Queen Shifter.”

  Jesus, I had to have said that to him.

  Ezra placed a hand on top of our joined ones — they were both turning purple — and I felt a spark of his power pulse from his palm as he said quietly, “You can let her go now, dad.”

  I didn’t jerk at the feeling. I was too used to it by now, even if awkward.

  But his dad’s eyebrows lowered at the action, and he peered directly at his son. One lowered brow rose, cocking. God, Ezra had gotten so much from him. Except for the eyes. Ezra’s eyes were all his mom. His dad’s dark brown orbs were staring hard into his son’s spring green gaze when I jerked, hearing a familiar voice to my right.

  Well, why the hell not? Let’s just make it a real party.

  Releasing his dad’s hand, I turned. I had no clue how the man had gotten in here, but King Kincaid’s wolf was already growling. Formally, I nodded, saying, “Uncle.”

  “Hello, Lily,” he stated curtly. Eyes never leaving mine, he held up a piece of paper as King Kincaid started to maneuver around me. “This is Law.”

  Still, King Kincaid’s wolf growled quietly, but he did stop advancing and grabbed the paper from my uncle’s hand, quickly skimming it.

  Ezra had stepped directly behind me. I hadn’t told him anything about my uncle, but it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the man wasn’t wanted here. Especially when Antonio maneuvered directly behind him, aiming death’s own glare at the back of his head.

  King Kincaid’s wolf abruptly quieted. “He has a letter from your deceased mother, which she ordered by Law for him to hand-deliver to you on your graduation day.”

  My heart stopped, and then fluttered frantically. Immediately, I held my hand out. If my mom had willed a letter to me in the event she died before my graduation, I wanted the damn thing.

  My uncle stepped closer, pulling a long, thin white envelope from his inner suit jacket pocket. He placed it on my waiting palm, not letting go of it as he lowered his mouth near my ear, whispering softly, “The best thing your mother ever did was die. She used to be my favorite when we were little, the way her bones broke…a pure masterpiece, but when she swallowed all that water and left you to me…let’s just say, you’ll always be my particular desire.” He sighed. “The way you screamed was a symphony to my ears. One day, ah, Lily, one day, I’ll hear it again.”

  My heart rate jumped further, and not because I was excited for the letter. Memories of my time at his house flooded me. All those hidden moments. The basement. It was soundproofed. His hands. Jesus, how I hated his hands. I still couldn’t look directly at them.

  The sound of Ezra’s Vampire growling snapped me from the downward spiral of my past’s haunting terrors. I had never heard this particular Vampire growl from him before. It was different, low and deep and slow — menacing enough a shiver flittered down my spine.

  Ezra pressed against me from behind, his palms landing on my hips, and he, literally, lifted me off the ground, making my uncle jerk backward. My uncle had spoken softly enough for his comments not to have been picked up by anyone’s ears but the Vampires’ nearby. Ezra set me gently on my feet beside him, stepping forward, fangs fully extended.

  I slammed a hand against his chest, and whispered gently, “Ezra, stop.” I thought he was seriously going to kill him. This wasn’t his fight. I wanted it. “He’s mine to handle.”

  He tilted his head, his fierce, glaring eyes piercing mine. “Then fucking handle him.”

  Gazing back toward my uncle, who stared at Ezra with startled, wide eyes, I questioned, “King Kincaid, now that the letter is in my hand, are there any provisions on that sheet of pape
r for my uncle’s safety?”

  Instant. “No.”

  “May I?”

  “You may.”

  “I need three witnesses who can verify he just threatened me.”

  “Witnessed,” Vivian said, her tone coarse.

  “Witnessed,” Cahal stated, sounding distracted.

  Ezra waved sharply for me to hurry up. “Witnessed. Fucking kill him already.”

  “Uncle, under Law 671 you’ve just been judged and found guilty.” I cocked my head as Antonio stepped out from behind him. “I think we’d better go outside, so we don’t get blood everywhere.” Rucking up my robe, I kicked my uncle as hard as I could straight against his chest.

  I felt, and heard, his ribs break. I knew that sound intimately since he had done it to me so many times. The force of my blow had his body flying backward, right at the window. He hit it hard, and the shattering of glass was loud as he flew through it. I accepted the offered gun Antonio held out, and sniffed it. Silver. Shoving off the ground, I jumped through the broken first-storey window. Glass crunched under my shoes as I landed.

  My uncle was trying to crawl away — pathetic.

  Easily kicking him onto his back, before I shot him I had to ask, “Why the hell did my mother name you as my guardian?” It was a burning question inside of me.

  He coughed, and a bone must have nicked his lung because he spat up blood. Grinned with it all over his face, his voice breathless. “She knew you’d like it.” He laughed softly, more blood spilling from his mouth.

  No hesitation, only relief, as I lifted the gun.

  Pulled the trigger, my ears ringing from the discharge.

  Head shot.

  Over too quickly, but so be it.

  Guards in black fatigues had already surrounded us. Luckily, cutting off any view the people down the hill might have had where they waited for graduation to begin. Speaking to the guard on my right, I ordered quietly, “Get rid of him.” She nodded, instantly moving to do as ordered, so I turned and walked back to the window.

  Ezra was there with Pearl and Jack on either side of him, filling the space. They must have been swiftly informed, because they looked as furious as he did right then. Ezra knocked the rest of the glass away from the window, and then leaned outside, picking me up and pulling me back through to set me down inside the office.