A woman off-screen muttered, “They’re coming.”
Judge straightened, grinding out his joint, and the camera swung in the direction of a golden door — the entire room was golden and resembled an office of sorts. King Zeller and I entered through it, both of us wearing white robes, our hair brown, King Zeller with the dark beard of the pictures earlier, but neither of us was wearing the fake glasses.
I curled up on the couch as I watched myself get married onscreen, unable to access this memory, only view it as if it was someone else’s life.
Onscreen, King Zeller and I wore identical expressions of complete and absolute love and happiness as we stared at each other, King Zeller every so often whispering softly, instructing me on what to do, since even now, in the present, I didn’t know the Mystical way of marriage ceremonies, the events just a bit different than a Com wedding. I barely noticed when Elder Jacobs and Elder Merrick woke from their short ‘naps’, both only moaning quietly before standing to glare at King Zeller then stare at the screen. Sometime during watching the ceremony, Antonio moved behind me to rest his hand on my shoulder, squeezing it gently, keeping it there as we watched my past, which still felt unknown, like it was an out-of-body experience.
I could not remember ever being that happy. Not as joyful as I appeared onscreen. Even when I was mated, I did not remember being that filled with pleasure. Eyebrows puckered, I glanced over to King Zeller, the man who had apparently made me that foolish in love. I analyzed his expression, his hard features. Nothing of that man on the screen was visible, nothing of that joy and love was there. Instead, he was like me, cold and hard.
Green eyes flicked to mine, and they held when he saw me staring.
We eyed one another, our gazes slowly wandering over each other’s faces before reconnecting, staring just as coldly as before.
Feeling my eyebrows pinch further, I was the first to glance away to the screen, to a couple that didn’t exist anymore, a strangers’ wedding. A couple who had been ignorant enough to get caught in their love for each other, and have all that goodness ripped away, every memory together that made them who they were…gone.
Left cold and alone.
My breath caught — maybe in a bit of jealousy or disbelief — as I stared at my onscreen self mouth to King Zeller, “I love you.” I watched as he mouthed, “I love you, too.” I had to keep my jaw from gaping as, onscreen, King Zeller lifted me straight off my feet at the end of the ceremony and placed his lips on mine. I stared without blinking as we embraced, kissing as if our lives depended on each other, like we were each other’s life force. Jesus, seriously, I had to blink, wondering how long it was going to last.
Elder Merrick glanced at his watch. “That would be two minutes.”
Still, I stared as our onscreen selves kept…going at it…King Zeller’s hand in my hair, holding my face close, both my hands fisted in his hair, doing the same.
Elder Merrick grunted, glancing at his watch again. “Three minutes.”
I damn near jumped when Judge started to take a step forward on the screen, his mouth opening to obviously break us up, but King Zeller’s hand blurred from my hair — my onscreen self completely oblivious to this — as he grabbed Judge’s throat, squeezed, then shoved him back, before his hand returned to me, placing it gently on my neck to tilt my head the other way, and I definitely saw tongues involved there as we altered our head positions.
Elder Merrick actually chuckled and muttered, “Fuck it. It’s over four minutes. Longest wedding kiss I’ve ever seen.”
Every single Elder in the room grunted in agreement, my cheeks flushing. I swear to fucking God, I could have taken a decent nap during the damn embrace it was so long, and when we pulled apart onscreen I saw my face lit up, flushing brightly, that kiss not meant to be seen by anybody but the two of us.
Antonio cleared his throat. Squeezed my shoulder once. Patted it. Cleared his throat again, and growled at King Zeller, “If you ever do that to her in front of me, don’t expect to wake up for a damn week.” Then he was marching to the bar, muttering, “I need a real fucking drink.”
“Bring the bottle,” King Zeller mumbled, and from the corner of my eye I saw him run a slow hand over his face, the first emotion-filled action I had seen him make since the videos began. “Fucking shit.” His head fell back on the chair. “I’m married.” A pause. “To the Queen Shifter, the woman I tortured only a week ago. And I have a daughter with her, a hybrid, a highly illegal being.” He made an odd noise in his throat. “Yes, please bring the whole fucking bottle.”
I still did not move.
Not even when Elder Jacobs started to slip a hand down to one of the videos — I could guess which one — and King Zeller suddenly had a gun in hand, aiming it directly at Elder Jacobs — even though the Vampire still had his damn eyes closed, lost in his own thoughts. Smartly, Elder Jacobs moved away, going to the bar, and only then did the gun disappear back to wherever the fuck he had blurred it from. I tilted my head on the couch and leaned heavily on it, eyes still glued to the screen…only to be utterly shocked when Elder Zeller snuck up next to me and bent to give me a hug, which encompassed my entire body since I was hugging my knees again. Eyes wide, I stared at him as he bent his head and ever so gently kissed my forehead.
When he pulled back, my gaze flew to his dark orbs. He tried to speak, but made that gurgling noise I was used to, and his Vampire growled softly, but I held still, completely shocked as he ran the back of his fingers lightly down the side of my face, affectionately, before turning and pounding his hand on King Zeller’s shoulder a few times, also kissing his son’s forehead before moving toward the bar and grabbing a bottle of whiskey. Eyes still wide, I turned my gaze to King Zeller.
He met it and shrugged, muttering, “Apparently, he’s happy for us.” He grunted, eyes closing again as he tilted his head back on the chair. “Too bad we aren’t.”
I snorted, letting my head fall back on the couch. “Understatement.” I stared at the Elders who were still wearing blank expressions where they stood at my bar, making themselves at home as they fixed overly large drinks — a few made two drinks. My head cocked as I watched them…and I could have sworn they had a bit more bounce to their actions. “They’re celebrating!” Bewildered, I gawked. “They’re fucking celebrating this!”
Antonio lifted his drink to me in silent cheers, which was odd with his blank expression, but sure as fuck, he then toasted with the other three Elders before they took large swigs of their drinks.
King Zeller had cracked one eye open, watching them, and he grunted. “I might be too if I were them.” His eyes closed as he groused, “Seriously, I need that fucking bottle.”
I stared at King Zeller, shaking my head. “Do you really think a drink will fix this?”
His eyebrows lifted even with his eyes closed. “So says the woman who downed half a bottle of wine not even an hour ago?”
I scowled, not really able to comment since I was very much guilty of that.
His eyes snapped to me, his expression turning serious. “The other King and Queen need to see that first video.” A pause. “And possibly the second one, if we can edit out that last bit of us.”
I nodded once, attempting to be civil with him since he was making the effort. “Antonio can do that easily enough.” Resting my head back on the couch, I eyed King Zeller, still unable to process that the man on those videos had been him at one time…with me. “Do you know who’s able to perform a spell like this on us and them?” I tilted my head toward the celebrating Elders. “I’ve asked Antonio plenty of times, but he could never speak of it.” I knew the Law inside and out, but heaven help me if I knew who actually performed the punishments.
King Zeller’s eyes were tracking over my features as mine were his, but he still answered evenly, “Honestly, I have no clue. That is usually kept private for the Mysticals’ safety.” He ran his hand up and down Isa’s back soothingly, the action appearing second nature.
My lips thinned as I realized he already loved her, which I knew I should be thrilled about, but in a way I was jealous. Jealous that she had another parent now who was going to get half of her attention, half of her love. It was selfish, I knew that, but the emotion — another damn emotion — was there nonetheless.
His eyebrow lifted as he watched me, silently questioning whatever he was seeing on my face, but he didn’t verbalize his questions, continuing with our current conversation. “It’s definitely a Mage, that much is obvious. And one more powerful than Elder Farrar.”
I tapped my fingers on my legs, pushing aside the unwanted emotions coursing through me that were trying to derail my focus. “The individual’s older then. They would have to be because Antonio’s crazy powerful.”
“Thank you,” Antonio chirped from across the room, tilting his head at me as he poured himself another drink.
I did roll my eyes at him before turning my attention back to King Zeller. “What Elders are still alive, Mage-wise, that have that kind of power?”
King Zeller’s jaw clenched and unclenched, his eyebrows furrowing. “There are plenty older than Elder Farrar, but there are only a few still living that have been known throughout history to do remarkable things. That doesn’t mean we should rule out the others. I could put a list together, starting with the Mages with the most recognizable powers, and we could work our way from there.”
I stared. I couldn’t help it. He was being very amenable, extremely helpful. Slowly, my eyes started to narrow, because I wasn’t the naive woman we had watched earlier on the screen. “And what would you want in return for this?” Nothing was ever free in life, especially someone’s knowledge.
Gradually, his lips lifted into that cruel smile I was used to. “No arguments from you when I spend time with Isa.”
Ah, point blank, he wanted me complacent to him being her father.
My jaw clenched because I sure as hell wasn’t complacent where my daughter was concerned. “Wouldn’t you help just to know who did this to us?” I eyed him hard. “Open the option to possibly getting your memories back?” Possibly by force, if needed.
He returned my regard. “Honestly…I’m currently undecided. I really don’t know if I want them back.” No flinching, only brutal honesty. “We did this to ourselves. We broke the Law. It was no one else’s fault but our own.” His chilling gaze touched each part of my face. “You were obviously a weakness to me, and I became reckless while I was with you.” Green eyes stopped roaming my features to meet my gaze straight on. “So no, I’m not positive I want to remember you, or our time together.”
Golden light erupted across the room, glass shattering.
My attention snapped in that direction, and I quickly held up a hand at what I saw. “Antonio, no!”
Antonio’s expression was no longer blank, all the bottles of liquor at my bar having exploded. He wore the wrath of impending death on his features, King Zeller’s death, his exposed skin glowing dimly as he scowled across the room.
“Don’t go all daddy protective on me now.” Keeping my gaze firmly on Antonio, I jabbed a finger at King Zeller. “I don’t disagree with him. I feel the same way.” I amended, “But I absolutely want the option to have my memories back if I eventually choose to have them.” I waved a finger at the mess he had made at my bar, going for distraction. “Now, clean that up, since I think it’s time for you four to leave.” All four stared at me, Antonio slowly gaining control of himself. “You four don’t need to be here for this conversation and you’re only a disruption right now.”
I could tell none of them wanted to leave, but after Antonio waved a glowing hand and everything at my bar was back to normal — enough full bottles of liquor to drown anyone’s worries — they began filing out of my tent.
Quickly, remembering I had something I needed to say which couldn’t wait, I said, “Antonio, can you wait outside for a few minutes? I’d like to talk with you once we’re done in here.”
He held my gaze, nodded once, then exited the tent, his eyes staying clear of King Zeller since his jaw was still clenched tight, his brows furrowed as he kept a tight rein on his emotions. I was pretty sure he was silently debating ways to torment the asshole King for his blunt comment.
When the flap closed, the last Elder gone, I stared at it, stating, “I’ll talk with him for a while after this, but you should probably call a few guards to walk you back to your tent tonight.” My frank gaze turned to King Zeller’s. “He could take you down in a heartbeat.”
One black eyebrow quirked. “Are you worried about me,” a slow drawl, “wife?”
I was pretty sure I didn’t move for a couple of seconds at the term — the true term — then I snorted and shook my head. “No, not at all.” My own eyebrows rose. “But if anyone is going to hurt you,” a slight shrug, “it’ll be me.”
King Zeller and I held each other’s gaze. Time ticked by sluggishly, neither one of us speaking, only quietly assessing one another and our situation. That I had gotten myself mixed up with this man, the King of Vampires, had to have been the poorest decision I had ever made, even if I couldn’t remember it. The consequences of our actions, and I knew without a doubt we were both too intelligent not to have known them, were just too grand to have tossed over our shoulders without a care in the world.
A slight shake of my head. “We were so foolish.”
A quiet grunt. “Yes, we were.” His nostrils flared, green eyes still meeting mine. “It’s truly remarkable two people such as us let this happen.”
My smile was icy. “It happened because we weren’t the same people as we are now.” I rested my head against the couch. “Before the mind rape. Before this war. Before our experiences made us who we are now.”
“That wasn’t quite what I meant, even if also correct.” He lifted his boots onto the table and began running his hand lightly up and down Isa’s back again. “My point was, I can tell we are both of like mind in intelligence and duplicity, and we were that way even before the mind rape.” He stared at his hand’s movements. “The videos showed that plainly enough.” He kissed Isa’s tiny, soft head. “It’s hard to imagine we were irrational enough to get caught.”
I watched his actions with her, practically feeling his love for her vibrating through the air, even if his features were still hard. I breathed softly, again feeling jealous and worried about his potential for wreaking havoc with my relationship with my daughter, but I found myself saying, “I’m pretty sure I put up a fight when the punishment occurred, and possibly you, too.”
Green eyes snapped to mine. He stayed silent. Waiting for me to continue.
I lifted a portion of the grey t-shirt I was wearing where the material was still darker than normal even after so many cleanings, the blood staining it. I pointed at it, fingering the soft cotton. “I was wearing this when I first woke after the mind rape. I had bled on it and it still held the barest scent of one man.” I dropped the material and peered back up to him.
He stared at the small bloodstain. “Was the scent the same as mine?” His eyes lifted, unblinkingly gazing at me.
My lips pinched for a moment before I stopped the action, because there was something else in his gaze I couldn’t quite decipher. I analyzed him slowly, trying to figure out the meaning. I scented the air slightly as he waited, and gradually saw his agitation begin to grow the longer I took in answering him.
My lips lifted condescendingly when I figured it out, even if he was just as brilliant as me at masking his expression. “To be honest with you, the scent was so faint by then I couldn’t tell you if it was yours or not.” I paused, debating being ornery, then decided to be decent with him in the hope it would pay off where Isa was concerned. “You can calm down. I’m an extremely loyal individual when it comes to those I care about, which I’m sure was no different before my mind rape. I’ve also been — unknowingly — faithful to you since then.” It was truly unbelievable to know that this man, who loathed me just as much as I did him,
could still be possessive where I, his wife, was concerned. “Sex has been the farthest thing from my mind.”
His nostrils flared at my words; he was obviously irritated I had figured him out, but after a few silent ticks, he rumbled, “I haven’t been with anyone either since the mind rape.” Truth. Amazingly, he unflinchingly held my gaze giving up that information, which I could tell from his tone it pained him to admit. “I wasn’t in the right place mentally.” He inhaled heavily and exhaled slowly, Isa rising and falling on his chest with the motion.
I nodded once, understanding the issue completely. “Well, now that we know neither of us has gotten laid since we were together last,” my eyebrows rose in an effort to lighten this topic and move along, “I think we should come to an agreement on what we were discussing before the Elders left.” I bent over the arm of the couch to the diaper bag there, seeing Isa was beginning to drool on King Zeller’s chest where his white silk shirt parted, wetting his mocha skin.
I pulled a clean burping rag from the bag, and stood to bend over her. Tilting her face gently, I dabbed at the wetness on his chest, stating, “I don’t see why we can’t come to some sort of an agreement on the knowledge you have of the Mage Elders.” I wiped Isa’s cheek and mouth before placing the blanket under her head and spreading it so it covered his skin before resting her head back against his chest. I pulled the blanket where it bunched a bit by her mouth, a paranoid mother’s instincts riding me as I made sure her airways weren’t blocked by the fabric. “And I could…try…to not put up too much of a fuss with you spending time with her.” Satisfied with the blanket’s placement, I lifted my head to him, saying, “It’s going to take some getting used to…” I trailed off, realizing just how close I was to him, my attention no longer on Isa. Fuck, my neck had been exposed for the taking while I had been concentrating on Isa’s needs.
King Tomb (Forever Evermore) Page 11