Unbelievably, his expression actually turned even more furious as he shouted, “No, it’s not alright! That fucker lived how long past his expiration date? And never once did you tell—”
King Venclaire, abruptly next to us with glowing eyes, jammed his hand on Ezra’s shoulder, stopping him. No words emitted from his pinched lips — the room had gone silent — but the warning stare he gave us was enough.
Ezra and I glared at one another for a moment longer before we jerked on our heels, turning from one another and stalking away.
Bumping against someone in my haste, I muttered a half-hearted apology, but the person placed a huge hand on my bicep, stopping me from moving along. Instantly, I stepped back from the hold, and had to blink a few times until the red haze disappeared.
Ah, perfect.
Cahal Zeller, himself. Daddio. I wasn’t in the mood. “You know, don’t feel bad you didn’t know who I was before, because I didn’t realize who you were, either.” My wolf growled a bit. “Your son never mentioned that one, and yet, he gets all pissed when I keep a secret?” Belatedly, I realized I was wildly swinging a loaded gun with silver bullets in a room full of Mysticals. Staring at it a second, I quickly lowered it. “Anyway, sorry we had to meet with me offing someone not ten minutes after I shook your hand.” I shrugged. Nothing I could do about that.
Mutely, he was still staring with his hard gaze as his wife held out…my envelope.
I quickly snatched it from her hand, mumbling, “Thank you.”
She nodded, silent.
They stared, their heads cocking.
Well, alrighty then.
Antonio slung an arm over my shoulder. “You like the gun?”
Huh? Oh. I nodded. “It fires straight. That’s what important.”
“It’s yours.” He smiled. “I spelled the clip. It’ll never run out of silver bullets.”
My eyebrows rose. “You know, Antonio, I always thought for graduation I’d get, like, a car, or a vacation to someplace warm, but no, instead, I get a letter willed to me from the grave and a gun that always fires.” I paused. “I am a woman. Chocolates or roses…” I trailed off as he pulled Rolos and a small, single red rose out of the inside pocket of his suit jacket. I bit my lip, taking the gifts when he held them out.
He kissed my forehead softly, whispering, “Your mother would have been so proud to see the woman you’ve become. I am too, Lil. So very proud of you.”
Vivian deigned to speak, instead of ogling. “You two know each other?”
Antonio nodded. “I raised her, with her late mother.”
Cahal blinked, also deciding to speak. “You raised her?” He paused. “Then, how did she end up with that asshole?”
Keeping his arm firmly around me, Antonio stated, “Before her mother passed away, I left. I had to search for someone who was lost. You might know him. His name’s Ezra.”
I knew that was why he had left me. The timing fit perfectly.
Vivian jerked, her mouth thinning, but, little by little, she bowed her head to him.
Cahal’s eyes narrowed. “What are you really doing here? I haven’t seen you since we passed on our reign to our Prodigies.” Yeah, that was the history lesson I hadn’t put together. Ezra’s dad had been a scary-ass King during the war, right alongside Antonio.
Antonio jostled me inside his side. “Watching over this one. She can be a handful.”
Cahal grunted, his narrowed gaze finding mine. His eyes didn’t soften, either. “She appears to like trouble. It figures you had a hand in raising her.”
Antonio grinned.
Cahal’s attention returned to him, and his brown eyes ran over Antonio’s face, his words slow. “Since you’re here, I may stay awhile. See what happens.”
Antonio nodded. “Might as well.”
They stared at one another.
Mrs. Jonas called loudly, “It’s time for the Prodigies to head out. Once they’re gone, you’ll all want to take your seats down the hill. There’s a special area reserved for you behind the students.”
I twisted under Antonio’s arm, hugging him. “Wish me luck so I don’t trip and fall in front of everyone.”
“You won’t trip and fall, Lil.” He kissed my forehead again, squeezing me tight. “Besides, even if you do, you’re going to be Queen soon. Blame it on the person who put the stage together.”
I chuckled, swiftly pecking his cheek, and inserted my rose in his lapel buttonhole for safekeeping before covertly opening a drawer to Mrs. Jonas’s desk and placing my new gun at the back. I couldn’t exactly carry it down the school hallway without worrying people. This was a happy day, after all. I would just jump through the window later and get it back when it was time to leave after the Awakenings.