And only getting a few hours’ sleep made for a definitely grumpy Elder Merrick, kind of like the way Leric was now with a—barely—hidden expression at the breakfast table after training.
Leric’s gaze was hooded, sitting lazily at the table, one arm over the back of Roselle’s chair, but he interjected between other’s conversations, like he hadn’t even known they were talking, to state gruffly to me, “I had thought you’d…call…me last night after our day.”
I calmly ate my oatmeal understanding his code talk, ignoring how everyone sputtered off at his rude interruption. “My mind was at ease.”
His eyes narrowed the barest bit. “What did you do to alleviate your worries?”
My own narrowed. “Boundaries, Leric.”
His gaze instantly flicked to Sin next to me, then silver hard eyes came back to mine. “Answer me.”
I went still inside, just watching him. And I watched him. Watched him some more.
His tiger growled quietly.
“I don’t answer to you,” I stated slowly, patiently, even though I was irked. “Treat me with the respect you once did, and this would be going a hell of a lot smoother.”
He stared for long moments. “This is not easy for me, either.” He ran his hand over his face, and it appeared he tried to calm himself, and his tone was—somewhat—pleasant. “So, my Chosen, what did you do last night?”
I gifted him with a small smile. “I went on a bike ride, then watched movies.”
Instant, and backtracking. “Alone?”
I sighed heavily. “You know Sin and I were together. You were the one to come up with the idea.” That covered that well. For him. Not so much for Sin. Under the table I placed my hand on his leg when he ate his food more slowly, rubbing soothingly, attention still on Leric.
Silver eyes stared for a moment, then his forehead crinkled the barest bit, and he sat forward and began eating. “I’m glad my advice helped.” It…didn’t sound like it, but he was trying.
“It did,” I pushed through our bond. “Thank you.”
He only grunted in my mind, but his forehead unwrinkled a bit with the bond connection.
King Collins quickly murmured, “You do seem better today.”
“I am.” I nodded once, still rubbing Sin’s leg, feeling him relax from the news I had left him in bed to deal on my own, which I knew he would understand I had wanted him to rest.
Leric peered up to me, biting off a piece of bacon. “I forgot to tell you.” He was going for business-like, but his eyes glistened mischievously. “Dad called, and told me there have been a few…issues…arising at the Temple with the rumor of you reaching them.” White brows lifted a smidge. “We need to go and make a united front with what’s occurring in my absence. Let them know just because my Chosen is here, the Prodigy Elemental, it in no way means we are divided.” His lips quirked a bit as he sat back on his chair. “It would be an excellent time for you to pick your Lajaks.”
The room became silent.
I eyed him. “It’s needed now?” I had thought I would have some time to consider my options.
His eyes turned serious, but they still twinkled a bit at the challenge in the room. “Yes, it would be wise to bring them.”
“You’ll have yours with you?”
He shook his head once. “I’ll have the Guardians. If I brought my Lajaks with me, it might be too much for our people.” Lord, “our” people. “But, it will be the right balance if you did, and it will show we’re together, side-by-side, even with our differences.”
I tapped my fingers on Sin’s leg in thought. “When do we go?”
“Soon, would be best.” He ate another piece of bacon, but I could hear the touch of urgency in his tone. “I was thinking tomorrow morning, so you could have the day to figure out your choices.”
“Do we need to go sooner?”
“Currently, my father’s handling it in my stead, so tomorrow will be fine.” He paused. And blinked. “Oh…and whoever goes needs to know how to ride a horse, since that appears to only be a “sport” here.”
I snorted. “I don’t even like to ride a horse.” But I had learned after going to the Temple the first time—Sin had taken lessons with me when we could, realizing they didn’t have cars there, a much more medieval era. “But I understand.” In other words, we would be traveling to one of the surrounding cities. “Anything else I need to consider?”
He hummed quietly, eyeing me. “No. I believe you understand what a Lajak needs to be.” In my mind he stated, “At the Temple…and here.”
I nodded once, and then flicked my gaze around to the table’s occupants, everyone silently watching, and I ran my free hand over my face before stating, “There are only seven spots available as I’m sure you all know by now. I know this seems a bit…condescending…considering your positions here compared to mine, but I would like to treat this like an interview process. So, for anyone who would like to be one of my Lajaks, I will need,” my head teetered in thought, “a file on your most impressive accomplishments in battle that you wouldn’t mind me knowing—only for my eyes, because, let’s face it, there a shit ton I don’t know about what you did in the wars, or even outside them, that you keep hidden.” I nodded, feeling good about that decision, wondering if these Royals around me really understood what I was looking for in a Lajak. “I’d like to have those by lunch to review them. I’ll be in a conference room waiting.” I held up a finger. “And if you don’t want to be a Lajak, I will not be offended, just as if I don’t pick you, I hope you are not offended. It is a lifetime duty…to me…as a guard, and I know not everyone will want that.” They continued to stare, so I cleared my throat. “That’s it. I’ll make my decision by nightfall.”
The scraping of chairs were instantaneous as every single Royal calmly stood—bolted—from their seats with the decorum innate to them before they walked—dashed—from the room, expressions calm as could be, some grabbing their plates or a muffin or a juice, not done with their breakfast, no one saying a damn word, except for, maybe, a grunt or a hiss or a growl when they bumped each other to get out the door to complete the task I had mentioned.
Sin blinked, and then started chuckling hard as the last one—Elder Farrar—sedately walked from the room, munching on an apple. Sin’s green eyes twinkled, just at Leric’s and Roselle’s, and even, Reese’s were across from me, my guards peeking their heads into the room, small grins on their faces. Through his hilarity, Sin muttered, “Damn stampede of Royals.” His eyes glowed a bit. “Wish I had gotten that on film. I could have made a fortune.”
I imitated King Zeller’s voice, trying not to laugh. “There had better be no damn videos!”
Leric grinned, chuckling gently. “It appears knowledge outweighs a lifetime of servitude to you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Or their curiosity.” I shook my head, sitting back on my chair. “I’ll just have to distinguish which one it is.” Because who I picked, I wanted them to have the knowledge, the trust, I would need here, exactly as Leric had mentioned. But…that wasn’t all I was looking for.
King Collins poked his head back into the room, stating hurriedly, but gruffly, “This doesn’t mean you get out of your power training with your guards, my Prodigy.” His head disappeared.
I sighed, staring where he had been. “I’d hoped he’d forgotten.”
Picking Lajaks…was exhausting.
Physically, I was starting to wear down from my few hours of sleep, plus two hours of training this morning, so when I entered the conference room—by myself—around ten o’clock with a sandwich and a few cookies, I had hoped to be able to catch a few winks. Which, I did. For, maybe, an hour, only to wake and see three files already sitting beside where my head rested on the table, each one color coded for their faction or Element. And they weren’t thin. Fat…damn…files sat there. Although, intelligently as I drank a Coke a house staff member had grudgingly brought me, and started in on the first one, I realized the Elder was intelligent
enough to make it easy reading with bullet points—and a few bloody photos I could have done without, but definitely gave me insight to his handiwork—to make the reading easier, the file also beginning with a simple reason for his wanting to be a Lajak…also with swift instructions to “disintegrate” the file—not the photos, he wanted those returned—as soon as I was done.
Lord.
Elder Farrar strolled in with a file that was twice as large as the others, not saying a word, flopping it down on top of the others, but I stopped him, asking, “Elder Farrar, can you tell me something?”
He turned around, brows quirked. “I was told you didn’t want outside interference.”
Yes, but…I waved an absent hand. “Who is the most powerful Shifter?” Their strength was a given.
“He’s old. Too old for what you need.” He chuckled quietly, appearing mighty amused. “And an ass.”
“Aren’t they all?” I drawled, because Shifters were notoriously cocky. “The second most powerful, then?”
He hummed. “You know, I’ve never thought about that.” His brows quirked. “So, you’re looking for power?”
“It’s one of the things I’m looking for,” I stated elusively. The Temple was almost always peaceful, but if there was ever an uprising, power would be needed. “Any clue?”
“Just a moment.” Instantly his eyes glowed, and his head cocked very slowly, staring up into something I couldn’t see. It wasn’t instantaneous, which meant it wasn’t easy for him to assess through the vision of individuals. His brows eventually slammed together, his eyes widening, saying dreamily, “Well, damn.” He blinked, coming back to himself, and he appeared a bit wide-eyed, muttering, “Fuck, if I shouldn’t have already known that.” He shook his head, and turned on his heal. “It’s Elder Merrick. Go figure. He always controls it so well. Now I know why.”
I blinked slowly. “Elder Farrar?”
“Hmm?” he asked, still appearing pensive at his own lack of knowledge, standing at the edge of the door.
“What about a Vampire and an Elemental?”
“Oh.” He nodded once. “That’s easy. King Zeller’s your pick for power, even though he’s second because of his youth.” He stared pointedly. “If you can believe it, the Vampire with the most power is even more of an ass than the Shifter powerhouse, and the Elemental would be Elder Lincoln.” He nodded once solidly. “Now, he’s a good man who didn’t let his power go to his head, and he’s young enough to be what you need.” And with that, he left the room.
I had no clue who Elder Lincoln was, so that didn’t help a damn bit, not really wanting to bring in those who were strangers…not to mention an Elemental who was already a decent man.
Sighing, I went back to my reading, making my own notes periodically about Royals on a pad of paper, Royals coming into the room, silently handing their file over, each varying in thickness, which I learned the thickness had no indication on their skills, one of the smallest files the most gruesome and deadly.
Elder Merrick arrived somewhere in the fray, quietly putting his file next to the others when it appeared my tower-of-killing reading was about to tip, although, he stalled at the door, glancing over his shoulder, his lips parted.
But, his mouth slowly shut.
I waved a hand. “Go ahead.”
His lips pinched, and he nodded once, and he stated simply, “You know I’ll do my job.”
My own lips thinned. “Yes, I do know that.”
He left, and I went back to reading in the silence until Queen Ruckler placed her file on the desk, not letting go of it, and she stated brusquely, but on a whisper, “I know another spirit.” Her head tilted to the file. “It’s in there, and I’d appreciate you making sure the information doesn’t get out.” A pause. “To anyone.”
I hid my shock. Barely. “It won’t get out.”
She nodded once, and released the file, leaving.
And so, I read…and read…made notes…took two very interesting phone calls…read some more. Ate my dinner at the conference table, my ass long ago numbed to the chair I sat on. Reviewed my notes. Drank a pop while leaning back to debate my options.
Eventually, I destroyed the files—minus any pictures, more than one Royal had included those—and then started writing letters on my pad of paper, my decision set finally well into the dark of night. After sealing them in envelopes—with any photos they wanted returned, I had a house staff member, a Mage I knew Sin trusted here, spell each one—one for each of the Elders and Rulers and Prodigies who had asked for the position, plus Sin—and sat back on my chair. Waiting, cracking my neck, hoping those who received my heartfelt, grateful, but so-sorry-I-didn’t-pick-you letters weren’t upset. The few that I had chosen, I had asked to meet me in the conference room.
Sin was the first to arrive with Isolde trotting after him, green eyebrows lifting, squeezing my shoulder before sitting next to me. “You’ve chosen?”
“Yep.” I yawned, and I knew I appeared as beat as I was. “It’ll be interesting.”
He appeared extremely entertained. “I’m sure it will be.”
It was late, bedtime late, so more than likely, they had no clue what my answer was, everyone probably having been tucked away in their rooms, hopefully not in bed yet, and it didn’t surprise me when some walked in wearing their pajamas, but still, coming quickly. No one said a word, sitting quietly, eyeing one another calmly, but a bit guardedly, until the last arrived. I stood, and walked to the door, stretching my aching muscles before shutting the door. Instantly, they all went still, their attention swinging about the room…because there wasn’t eight in here, and I knew they thought I was doing a group kiss off, but I yawned and trudged back to my seat, flopping down on it like dead weight before stating, “First, I want to say I appreciate you letting me read into your lives, and I want you all to know my lips are sealed about anything within your files, which have been destroyed.” Again, I cracked my neck. “And, also, look around you, because these will be the individuals you will be working with.” I nodded once at their mute countenances. “I’ve chosen each of you to protect me. You’re my Lajaks.”
Instantly they relaxed, but they did eye one another again, seeing who they would be paired with.
Brann cleared his throat. “Caro, thank you for the opportunity, but…” Black brows scrunched as he glanced at the other occupants.
Yep, the room was two shy.
King Zeller glanced to the door. “Are the others coming?”
Elder Farrar’s lips twitched.
Elder Merrick’s gaze narrowed on the action, navy blue, intelligent eyes swinging to me. “Who are they?”
King Collins’s eyes widened. “Are they…friends…of yours?”
Elder Farrar started chuckling, muttering quietly, “You’ll wish they were.”
I cleared my throat, giving Elder Farrar a pointed glare. “All eight of you will be working together.” Tapping of my fingers. “Peacefully.”
Golden brows cocked. “Just so you know…that other Vampire I spoke of earlier…it’s him.”
I blinked, not knowing that. “My decision stands.” They were who I wanted. Eyes back to those waiting, I stated, “The others joining us will obviously be a Vampire and a Mage, so funneling can be used.” A clearing of my throat. “The Vampire is Elder Bridges.”
King Zeller muttered a curse under his breath, running his hands through his spiked hair, no one appearing too thrilled, except for Sin who glanced at me covertly, his eyes sparkling with mirth, eyebrows cocked, not knowing who I spoke of, just gauging everyone’s reactions.
Elder Farrar muttered, “Wait…it gets worse.”
“Worse than that arrogant prick?” King Collins asked in irritated disbelief.
I held up a hand, bringing the attention back to me. “And the Mage is Elder Samson.”
All stared. Some jaws were even gaping a bit.
I waved a hand, sitting back on my chair. “As I stated, my decision stands. They’ll be here in the
morning.”
“Ms. Jules…” King Zeller murmured quietly into the strained silence, wearing a patient expression. “I know you met them briefly in the past, but while Elder Bridges may,” nose crinkling, “be a wise choice power wise,” he stared pointedly, “Elder Samson,”
I held up a hand. “He’s a prejudice asshole, his mind filled with ancient codes of conduct.” They stared, and my brows lifted. “And all of that aside, he’s managed to work with his group for a very long time, making allowances, and thinking rationally, when he may do so otherwise. He’s intelligent, dedicated, quick to protect, and he wants the job.”
“And…” Elder Merrick drawled slowly, black brows rising. “He’s a respected Elder in the Mage community, and if you can get him on your side, open his eyes…”
I shrugged a shoulder. “All the better for votes.” My brows rose, daring anyone to argue.
“Christ.” King Collin’s rubbed a hand over his face, appearing stressed. “Nicely done.”
My eyes moved to Elder Farrar. “I’d love to know how Elder Bridges and Elder Samson came to know of this opportunity in the first place.”
Elder Farrar shrugged a shoulder. “It wasn’t me. Elder Samson is a Mage. He may have seen it.”
My brows slammed together. “They both received anonymous spelled letters with my phone number in the message.”
His fingers tapped, his own brows coming together, just as everyone went silent. “It could have been any Mage with a vision to send it to them.” He shook his head. “After I left you today, I had a vision of who you would pick, but,” his brows stayed together, eyes glowing a bit as he stared off at nothing, “I can’t see where we’re going…”
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