Shopping. I loved me some retail therapy.
“They were in the way.” He grunted and dropped his towel down onto the ground. He pointed to his door—the silver security walls up now. “You better get going. We only have an hour before we’re needed.”
I took one last peek of all that naked flesh on display. “I’m going. I’m going.” But I paused. “I had fun last night.”
His lips curved up, cocky and satisfied. “As did I.”
I used my vampire speed to race in his direction, jumping and kissing his lips, and then I was at his bedchamber door and unlocking it, all in the blink of an eye.
His deep laugh followed me out.
*
I put my key in my lock, asking, “Anything I need know?”
Crow shook his head. If he wondered about my oversized attire, he didn’t show it. His dark eyes stared straight forward.
“Excellent. Let Phoenix know I’ll need him in a half hour for Cleo’s ceremony.” I opened the door of my new apartments and slipped inside. “And if a royal couturier comes by, I am never available. Make sure Phoenix knows that too.”
They would send one soon.
I didn’t care. I liked my clothes as they were.
I picked them to my tastes. Not what others said.
Crow nodded.
I shut my door on his silent form.
Time to hurry my ass up.
I took the quickest and most thorough shower ever. My hair dried fastest by running around a room at vampire speed. I grabbed the counter, my vision spinning. I hated doing that—dizzying shit that was. I shook my head, my black hair tumbling around my head. Time to brush it out now, even worse. I wouldn’t fuck with makeup today.
A knock came on my door when I was jumping on one foot to put my other black heel on. I shoved it on my foot and smoothed down my black dress. I only needed my crown and weapons after this.
I slipped my gifted necklace under the neck of my dress and opened my door.
Lord Pippin stood in the hall, his hands in his suit pockets. His lush lips tilted up into a honeyed smile. “Do you have a minute, your majesty?”
I glanced at the clock on the wall. “We both have, like, two minutes available before we need to go. Will that work?”
“That’s more than enough.”
I waved him inside. “Come on in.”
The Overlord shut the door behind him, his gaze darting around my quarters. “I haven’t been in this room in forever.” Not since the last queen—his queen—had lived here. He pointed at the white walls. “They used to be red.”
“I’m sure they’ve been many colors throughout history,” I mumbled, strapping on my weapons. I surveyed his profile as he walked around the living room area. “You didn’t come here to talk about decorating, my lord. What is it you wanted to discuss?”
Though, I would need to get a decorator in here. The place was a blank canvas. Even my bedding was white. All in preparation for the new queen—me—to change it.
Lord Pippin turned in my direction, placing his hands back into his pockets. He rocked back and forth on his heels, his rugged, redheaded good looks just as formidable as they were when we’d dated. He stated simply, “I received a curious call last night. I’m not entirely sure why she contacted me either, instead of you. Or even how she had my private number.”
“Who was it?” My eyebrows puckered.
“Harmony.”
One name. Not even the last name. I didn’t need it.
“Damn. What did she want?”
“To be the Queen’s personal assistant.”
I stared. Blinked once. “And she called you?”
“Yep.” His brown eyes flicked around the room again. “She’s here for Cleo’s death. After that, she’s available to meet with you, if you’re interested in her offer.”
I snorted. “Are you fucking kidding? Text her ass now and tell her she’s got the job.”
His laughter was soft as he pulled his phone out, typing on it. “I thought you’d say that. I’ll let her know to come by your office today. We’ll be leaving for Cape Argent the day after next, so you’ll want to solidify her employment before then.”
My mouth dropped open. “We’re going to Cape Argent?” I shook my head. “Why the heck are we going there?”
His red brows lifted in surprise as he stuffed his phone back into his pocket. “For Master Niallan’s Challenges. I thought you…” He trailed off and shook his head, his eyes returning to mine. “That’s right. You left in the middle of the conversation—with flair if I remember correctly. It was discussed with him the night of the King Challenge. He agreed to it.”
My heart beat heavily in my chest, excited…and frightened. “But no vampires have ever been invited into the druid’s main stronghold.”
“It appears Master Niallan really wants the job.” His lips twitched.
I shook my head in awe. “I have no idea how the fuck you guys talked him into that, but bravo.” I clapped twice. “Seriously. Brav-fucking-o.”
His cheeks pinched as he chortled. “Thank you. But Lord Belshazzar had it all under control. He played him like a virgin on their wedding night.”
I snorted. “I think you need to drink a human who’s younger. Your metaphors are a little dated.”
Lord Pippin brushed his red hair out of his eyes, his smile only growing. “It was funny. Admit it.”
I opened a glass cabinet where my crown was held while shaking my head. “I’ll admit…it was bad.”
“Come on. There are hardly any virgins left anymore on their wedding night, so that means Master Niallan is a liar—”
I held up a stopping hand, cutting him off. “If you have to explain your joke, then it’s not funny.”
He flicked his right hand at me. “Or I misjudged my audience.”
“That too,” I conceded. I struggled to place the crown on my head right. “This fucker is heavy.”
“And it’s crooked too.” Lord Pippin stepped in front of me as he raised his hands and adjusted it on top of my head. He tilted his head, eyeing his work. “That looks right.”
I jiggled my head side-to-side. It didn’t fall off.
“Oh, my god.” Lord Pippin removed his phone from his pocket, aiming it at me. “Please do that again. I want to record that shit.”
Laughing, I shoved his phone away. “Stop it. We need to go.”
He sighed and put his cellphone away. His hands brushed down his black suit jacket, tugging at the bottom of it to remove a wrinkle. When he lifted his head back up, his brown eyes were hard—cold. The Overlord was staring out at me.
I lifted a black brow, murmuring, “I’d wondered where he’d run off to.”
His eyes narrowed. “I can cut off the business behind closed doors if I want to.” Lord Pippin cleared his throat. “And you were doing your Challenges. I had to behave a certain way.”
I decided to use his nickname. “You know, Pippy, I honestly don’t give a fuck.”
Lord Pippin stared. “Will you ever forgive me?”
Good question.
I sighed heavily. “It’ll go away with time. It’s only because I cared about you so much.”
The Overlord’s swallow was audible. He surprised me, bending at the waist to place his mouth against my ear, speaking softly, “Fine. You want the truth? I’ll tell you. I know I didn’t handle it right, but I was afraid to contact you. I was afraid you’d be a distraction to me, to the crown…because I cared about you so much too.” The lord straightened an instant later, brushing his jacket down again as if he hadn’t just blown me away with his honesty. He marched toward the door, barking over his shoulder, “Let’s go, your majesty. Death awaits us.”
Chapter Ten
Gwynnore
Lord Pippin and I stepped into the cavernous royal waiting room. The rest of the Overlords were already here, sitting and talking amongst themselves before the ceremony began. I stopped Lord Pippin before he could walk away, gently placing my palm on his forearm.
His eyes dipped to where my hand rested, then back up into my gaze. “Yes?”