There were bulletproof vehicles in front and behind us holding our guards and our “elite” guards — the Kings had decided it was time to introduce them to the world. Felix was one of them. I hadn’t spoken a single word to him since I had found out what he was, though I was pretty sure my friends had. Especially because of the first day afterward, when he had arrived in class, bloody, bruised, and sopping wet. He had left me alone after that but, unfortunately, still stayed close, doing his job.
As the limo began moving, Jack’s head thumped onto my lap and he yawned so big I thought his jaw would break, then Pearl’s head landed on Ezra’s lap next to me, her golden hair flying over Jack’s head, which he didn’t even bother to brush away.
I patted Jack’s shoulder, my own head falling against Ezra’s shoulder, his head falling on top of mine. I closed my eyes to the Kings’ chuckling and high-fiving. Whatever. One day, we wouldn’t be babysitting New York’s finest brats, and we would be wreaking havoc again.
“What do you really think of the precious children?” King Nelson asked, snickering.
I opened one eye, muttering, “Babysitting is the best birth control ever.”
Pearl and Jack nodded.
Ezra grunted.
The Kings thought that was just too funny. He, he.
I barely withheld a snarl.
Ezra readjusted himself, sinking lower on the seat and throwing an arm over my shoulder, allowing me to snuggle up while Pearl and Jack flat out put their feet up on the long bench seat and were snoring within thirty seconds. Ezra rested his head back on mine, and I wasn’t sure who fell asleep faster, me or him, as we listened to the Kings laugh it up.
It was a long drive to Washington, DC, and I was proud to say we slept the majority of the trip, only waking at lunch to eat enough food to feed a small army, which the Kings watched in wide-eyed amazement, then we promptly fell back asleep, sprawled all over one another.
“Wake up, you unruly Prodigies!” King Venclaire barked loudly.
We groaned, snuggling further against each other.
“Watch this,” one of the asshats whispered.
A funny feeling tickled the bottom of my feet, waking me more, but the power-driven shock that zapped each of my toes had me screaming right along with Jack, Ezra, and Pearl, and then we were falling onto the floor in a big pile of arms and legs.
Pearl lifted her head off my stomach, blinking tired eyes at the laughing Kings, and the pretty golden doll bared her teeth, growling, “I will hurt you.”
“And, they’re up. In their finest form.” King Kincaid bumped fists with King Nelson. “That was a nice one.”
“Thank you.” King Nelson nodded regally, sporting a huge grin.
King Venclaire chuckled. “I remember you doing that to our history instructor when he fell asleep during his own lecture.” Snapping fingers. “What was his name?”
“Mr. Knetter.” King Fergus laughed. “That was priceless. His chair tipped over.”
“And you tell us we’re not following the rules?” I griped, waiting for everyone to get off me since I was at the bottom of the pile.
King Kincaid bent over, staring me in the face. “We might have caused a few issues here and there, like any adolescent, but the four of you together…” He lifted to recline on the seat, shaking his head. “You four are a whole other breed.”
“Thank you,” Ezra stated dryly, grabbing my hand and yanking me up. “We do try to excel at every challenge.” He smiled. There was a little fang in there.
King Venclaire waved an irritated hand, even though his eyes were crinkling in merriment. “Put those away, Ezra.”
Ezra sighed, and they disappeared. “I’m thirsty.”
Jack grabbed his neck, joking, “Don’t even think about it.”
Ezra rolled his eyes. “A water Elemental tastes,” he cracked his neck, “watered-down.” He missed Jack’s jaw dropping as he stared out a window, pointing at tourists walking by. “Think you can let me out here? I’ll catch up at the next light.”
“You’re serious?” King Venclaire asked, and Ezra nodded. “Just because you didn’t drink as you should, you want us to let you out, in Washington, DC, so you can have an illegal Com snack?” He shook his head. “Think again, Prodigy.”
“I didn’t have time with the babysitting,” Ezra ground out, his fangs descending again.
“I think we should let him drink,” Jack stated, now serious, staring at the fangs.
Ezra hardly ever showed them. It didn’t appear like he was in much control of them. A thirsty Vamp — not to mention, one as powerful as him — wasn’t a good example to bring to a meeting with United States officials, much less with the President.
I certainly wasn’t volunteering, not with my blood.
“Christ,” King Nelson muttered, glaring at King Venclaire. “You should’ve known this.”
“Do you keep track of everything Pearl consumes?” King Venclaire spewed.
No response, because that was just ludicrous.
Holding up her wrist, Pearl mumbled, “Here. Bon appétit.”
Silence.
Pearl rolled her eyes, shaking her wrist. “Seriously. You’re not going to be able to find a legal donor in the timeframe we have, and if you go in smiling at the President with fang showing that’s not good PR.” Another shake of her wrist. “Just don’t make it hurt.”
King Nelson’s lips thinned, but he didn’t stop his Prodigy from doing this, her offer within our Laws.