We both ignored how Elder Merrick’s and Elder Jacobs’s attentions swung to Antonio and Elder Zeller.
Green eyes met my blue gaze, and he continued saying, “Besides, some would say there’s a very fine line between love and hate, and that the two sometimes blur together.” He paused a moment. “And I know for a fact that you not only had sex with me, Queen Ruckler, but you also trusted me completely, and loved me wholly, unconditionally, and without bounds.”
My eyes narrowed. He had spoken the truth like it was fact. “How do you know this?” When he stayed mute, my wolf growled quietly, but I tried to barter. “If I let you hold Isa, will you tell me?”
A black eyebrow lifted. “You’ll let me hold her anyway because she’s my daughter.” His eyes flicked to her, and I saw them soften. “Speaking of which, I would like to now.”
Antonio muttered, “Just let him, Lil.” His mouth opened, and he made that odd gurgling noise that happened so often when he tried to say something but couldn’t because of the spell.
I scowled, but after a few moments of contemplation, I figured there was no use trying to keep her from him. I was cruel, I was heartless...I was a bitch. But not where my daughter was concerned. She deserved to know him if he proved to be her father, which I had another way to test. Moving slowly, hating to do it but doing it nonetheless because it was right, I made my way to King Zeller.
His eyes were on me, but when I lowered Isa into his arms, his gaze snapped to her. Again, he instantly held her close, his large, muscled arms wrapping protectively around her and stretching the material of his dark silver robe. She stared at him, pressing away from his chest a bit to get a better view. Then she grinned as he stared at her, remembering him as she ducked her head, getting close to his warmth, patting at his chest.
My heart about melted at her sweet contentment, so I instantly backed away, feeling — actually, feeling — way too fucking much, and I firmly wrapped the protective shell of ice around my heart once again. “Would anyone care for a drink while we figure this out?” Hurriedly, I picked up the cold coffee from the coffee table and the empty wine glass from the bar, then maneuvered behind the bar. “I’ve got a bottle of red open.”
“Already entertaining?” King Zeller drawled.
Content with the frigid chill I had coating me, I peered up to him. And blinked, seeing Elder Zeller leaning over the back of the burgundy chair King Zeller sat on, crooning quietly to Isa and earning a few giggles of joy in response. I blinked again, then glanced back down to the cups I was cleaning out. “I wouldn’t call it entertaining exactly, more of a private meeting.”
King Zeller asked idly, “With one Mr John Smith, an alpha wolf Shifter, infantry under Commander Biel?” I glanced up at him, and his lips twitched. “I’m a Vampire, Queen Ruckler. I easily overheard your conversation in the dining hall.” He shrugged. “I was curious, so I inquired about him.” When I only continued staring, evaluating his actions, his lips lazily lifted — a direct contrast to John Smith — a bit of fang revealed, just a smidge. “This is my camp. I know everything that happens here. Significant or not.”
I breathed once, slowly, then stated, “I do realize this is King Shadow camp, and you and Elder Zeller founded it, but I was under the impression we were to be working together.” I placed my hands on the bar, my head cocking. “Or am I to understand, as you have just stated, this is your camp?” And all that implies. If it was, we were going to have even more issues than we already had, ones I had hoped wouldn’t occur but that I was prepared for nonetheless.
He stared with his intense green eyes, never once glancing away. Complete alpha. Utterly ruthless in his regard as he held my gaze. Everyone in the room had quieted, letting us have our little battle of wills without interruption, which was much appreciated because I seriously needed to know his answer to my question.
Again, he smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “We’ll be working together, as was ordered, but know that nothing happens here without my knowledge.” A pause. “So, if you want to have more private meetings with Mr John Smith,” he snorted at the name, “which last exactly twenty-three minutes and forty-four seconds, or with anyone else, inside your privacy-spelled tent, I will be informed.”