His head cocked, and he lifted his hand slowly, still glowering, and ran a single finger gently across my cheek. “I believe having you here at camp will be,” he hummed quietly, pulling his finger back, “interesting.”
My lips were pinched; I was hating that I hadn’t been strong enough right now to jerk away from his touch, and it was slowly dawning on me that I was still half-naked lying on this floor. “I want my clothes.” An afterthought. “And my phone and weapons.”
A single eyebrow raised as he placed his elbows on bent knees. If I wasn’t feeling the peace his dad was giving me, I would have been pissed when his eyes flittered down my body, pausing at all of my private bits. “You’re a Shifter,” he murmured quietly, talking to himself as he continued his perusal. “Why would this bother you?”
My eyes snapped to Antonio. “Give me your shirt.”
“Just a sec, Lil. I’m almost done.” Antonio didn’t even glance at me.
And fucking King Zeller was still staring at my body, doing it on purpose, obviously trying to figure out my reasoning.
“There,” Antonio muttered, taking his hands away.
So did Elder Zeller.
I wasn’t quick enough, the lingering pain disturbing my effectiveness to work the ice back into my veins. Embarrassment at being viewed as I was flooded my system in a heady tide. “Shirt,” I stated harshly, feeling my cheeks flood with color. “Now, Antonio.”
King Zeller’s nostrils were flared, and he had an elbow crooked on his knee, his hand over his mouth as he stared down at me. Bizarrely, even though he was definitely scenting, and seeing, my emotions, he made not one comment as Antonio stripped his shirt off and gently pulled it over my head, dressing me, the material covering me to mid-thigh. Instead, King Zeller stood, stating, “I’ll get Queen Ruckler’s things.”
Elder Zeller stared at his son. “After that, you and I are going to talk.”
King Zeller snorted, turning his back to his dad, moving toward the opened tent flap. “Are we? Somehow, Elder Zeller, I doubt that.” I knew that tone well. He didn’t like his dad much.
Damned, meet damned.
Chapter Five
“We’re late,” Antonio growled, his narrowed, irritated eyes flicking to me, then back to the tents of King Shadow. “Do you know how rude it is—”
I held up a stopping hand. “Antonio, I’ve had enough. I know we’re late. And I don’t give a flying fuck.” I met his glare with one of my own. “Besides, having this ‘meet and greet’ dinner is absurd after what happened last week.” My gaze went to the red tent. “I think I know everything I need to about King Zeller.” Asshole.
He growled again. “This was scheduled for our first night, so we are going to attend as if the events of last week never happened.” He jerked my arm, tugging me forward. “Think of this as a fresh start.”
My eyes widened on him as I let him pull me forward. “That’s it. You’ve officially lost your damn marbles.” I messed with my outfit, which consisted of hip-hugging black leather pants and a blue — like my eyes — tight cashmere sweater with a wide neck, hanging off one shoulder, and a long, hooded, black fur coat that almost swept the ground. “That comment was just about as crazy as you wanting me to wear a dress for this ridiculous dinner.” Of course, when he had actually suggested that earlier at the hotel, I had flicked him the middle finger and worn what I wanted.
Antonio glanced at me, surveying my attire, ignoring my commentary. “Although it’s not what I wanted you to wear, you do look beautiful.”
Pure sarcasm. “I’m thrilled you approve.” He was yanking on me awfully hard, moving at a fast clip. “Mind the merchandise, Antonio.” I jiggled my arm, but he didn’t release me.
In fact, he pulled me along faster, again muttering, “We’re late.”
Bindi, Felix, and Aros had gone with the Shifter who had taken our bags to where our tents were set up. This was a formal dinner for only Elders and the King and Queen, a meet and greet, which was just ludicrous now, but it didn’t appear I was getting out of it. Antonio had filled me in a little more on Elder Zeller since he was part of his four, telling me that the man knew Antonio had raised me, and so I had reread the file on him. He was a badass. There was no other way to describe it. The gene had obviously been passed on to his son — I had also reread the file on him after our encounter. Both equally vicious when they needed to be.