Lord Cato grinned in delight, a little fang showing. “My daughter just beat you, my lord. How did that feel?”
Lord Otto tossed him a saucy glance. “Please. Your daughter apparently has a pussy straight from heaven.” He tapped at his chin. “I wonder how I can rub against those pearly gates?”
Lord Cato’s head snapped back. His cheeks flamed.
I lifted my eyes to the ceiling and sighed heavily. I didn’t even bother to look down. “Well, you’ve succeeded, Lord Otto. You’ve made Lord Cato uncomfortable and regret his words. Will you please stop talking about my vagina now?”
“I suppose so,” Lord Otto hummed. “For now.”
“Wonderful,” Lord Belshazzar hissed. His patience was shattered and nowhere to be seen. His frigid gaze hit every one of the lords. “How about we actually do what we came here to do?”
Lord Pippin griped, “I’m all for that.”
Lord Cato sneered. “I bet you are.”
Lord Belshazzar pointed a sharp finger at the front of the plane. “Everyone, get the fuck out. Master Niallan’s friends have arrived by now, and our guards are waiting for instructions. Try to act like the damn lords you are. We are united while we deal with this. No arguments. No personal shit.”
I ran my fingers through my sleep tossed hair, attempting to look presentable. It would be hard since my clothes were wrinkled from a full day of travel, our only stop today to have our jet refueled.
The lords started walking to the stairs.
Except for one.
Lord Belshazzar was seemingly our current herder. He jerked his head to the front of the plane. His eyes were still narrowed. “You, too. Get going.”
My lips thinned. He was really angry.
I grabbed my coat, and grumbled, “I’m hurrying.”
He licked his teeth in irritation, his features pinched, while he watched me shove my arms into my jacket.
I flicked a cross look his way as I fiddled with my zipper, the damn thing stuck.
With the plane now emptied, he stepped right in front of me. His tall stature towered over my small height. His words were only for my ears, demanding, “Did you love him?”
I ground my teeth together and then kept my voice at the same level as his so no one else would hear this conversation. “I wanted to marry him. What do you think? Of course, I loved him.”
“And now?” His head cocked. “Do you want to stop our interaction together? Do you want to try being with him again?”
“No. To all those questions.” I jerked on my zipper hard. It still didn’t move. I dropped my arms to my sides and stared right into his eyes. “But if I did want to stop with you, what would you say?”
His cold eyes were so frigid, while a horrible little smile lifted his lips. Not a peep from him. He loomed even closer, his hard body pressing against mine.
I tilted my head way back and held his gaze. “That, my lord, is what I thought.” I lifted a black brow and showed some fang in my ill-humor. “So quit being a jackass and help me with my freaking zipper.”
Lord Belshazzar mirrored me, lifting his opposite eyebrow. A bit of fang showing too. “Say please.”
I licked my bottom lip and then growled, “Please.”
His eyes dipped to my mouth, and his hands slid between our bodies. My coat was zipped before I even took a breath. The lord’s blue eyes lifted to my blue eyes, his regard still ruthless and cold. Mysteries and truths lay hidden beneath that hardened gaze.
His stare wholly captured mine. “Work fucks are different than personal fucks, Gwen.”
My head snapped back in shock. What?
I babbled, “We’re going there?”
He scratched at the stubble on his chin. “I think so.”
“You think so?” I blinked.
He hissed, “Work with me here.”
I stood in stunned silence.
He waited. Patient. Or as patiently as he could.
“Um…” I shook my head slowly and tried to comprehend the magnitude of what he wanted and what it would mean. He would not be an easy lover. He already wasn’t. There was no doubt about that. But, damn, did he ring my bell just right. My black brows puckered. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“And it would go both ways?”
“Yes.”
I swallowed hard. Was I really going to do this?
My blink was as slow as the dawning of a new day.
I mumbled, “All right.” This would be interesting.
He lifted his right hand and ran his knuckles gently over my cheek. Sweet and soft. “If you touch Lord Pippin again—with affection—I’ll kill him right there. And no one will ever say a word.”
Definitely not an easy lover.
I raised my brows. “I told the truth. I don’t want him that way.”
“That doesn’t change the outcome.”
I was sure it wouldn’t.
I tipped my head to the front of the plane. “We should probably go. If we take any longer, they’ll be wondering what’s going on in here.”
“True enough.” He stepped back and peered down to button his suit jacket. His eyes trained on his working fingers. “You’re wearing the necklace I gave you?”
“Yes.”
Lord Belshazzar grabbed his own winter jacket, and his blue eyes touched mine. “Good. Let’s go.”
*
The forty minute drive from Qikiqtarjuaq to Cape Argent was quiet.
Except for Devin and Ysander.
Inside our limousine, Master Niallan’s best friends tossed files at him left and right, struggling to catch him up on the most important business he’d missed while being away. They were my entertainment. I watched their interaction with the Original druid and tried to decide which one he was going to kill during his final Challenge. The Overlords never confirmed TERMINATE was an actual Challenge for a King Novitiate, as it had been for the Queen Novitiate, but it was.
I kept a firm grip on my delight the entire drive.
One of them would be dead soon.
I’d have sweet dreams that night.
Master Niallan knocked his knuckles on the thin barrier separating us from the chauffeur. “This is it. Stop here, please.”
The human driver’s eyes flashed in the rearview mirror, squinting in confusion. “Are you sure? There’s nothing here.”
“I’m sure. Stop the car.”
The limo slowly rolled to a stop, and the driver opened our door. A gust of freezing wind rushed inside, and the scent of fresh snow tickled my nose. Fat, freezing white flakes swirled into the interior of the vehicle like they were rushing to us for their quick death.
I shivered inside my thick jacket.
Canada was fucking cold this time of year.
I yanked my hood up and followed our group outside into the frenzied weather. I tilted my head down as another gust of wind blew a flurry of flakes into my face. My hands were deep in my pockets, barely warm, and crashing waves beat at a shore, ricocheting in the darkness surrounding us.
The cliff we perched on overlooked the Atlantic Ocean. If it wasn’t white-out conditions, it would have been beautiful. This coastline was even more striking in the summer though. And during the day.
Blindly walking around during the middle of the night, when I couldn’t see through the snow, in enemy territory, wasn’t my idea of a safe bet.
I deliberately shuffled to stand next to Lord Belshazzar, hoping no one noticed. He’d said no harm would ever come to me if I was by his side, and when the advantage turned against you, you played smart. I wasn’t about to get taken out by a damn druid hiding in the snow piles surrounding us.
Plus, the lord was a tall barrier against the wind.
He shifted his stance—blocking the wind even further—and muttered, “Where the hell are we, Master Niallan. I don’t find this amusing.”
“We are exactly where we’re supposed to be, Lord Belshazzar. This vehicle won’t be able to drive on the roads we’d need to take. Get your bags. It’s a hike from here.” A wicked grin curved his lips. “But I forgot to mention one little fact.”
Lord Otto snorted. “What now?”
The Original druid cast his eyes behind us to the black SUVs pulling to a stop. “Your guards can’t come.” He shrugged his shoulders, and his green eyes returned to our stony expressions. “You didn’t allow me any guards in your stronghold. I won’t allow you any in mine.”