I stared. “Alrighty then.” I tried to process all of that, and I was pretty sure it was going to take longer than a few minutes to wrap my brain around. “Well, you won’t like the bad news then.” I flicked a finger where the screen used to be. “He’s also got some type of protection surrounding him, so he can’t be found unless he wants to be.”
Leric glowed just a bit brighter, and all of us started to squint. There was a scraping sound at my door, followed by a bitty howl. Followed directly by a loud, snarling wildcat noise. I sighed and started to stand to let Isolde and Tristan inside, but Leric chose that moment to speak, his rage making the room shake furiously as he shouted a demanding order, “Caro, sit the fuck down!” When everyone froze, his voice boomed, “Somebody else get the goddamn door!”
Roselle instantly moved. “On it, sir.”
Leric went mute again, his mouth still behind his steepled hands. The silver glow of his eyes disappeared every once in a while as he stared at the wall, apparently barely blinking while Roselle opened the door to let in Isolde and Tristan. She shut and locked the door behind them. Isolde chose to go around sniffing and growling at everyone, but Tristan instantly jumped on my bed, rolled on it a few moments, then his enormous head dropped onto my lap and he started his huffing purr instantly. Only to stop when I lifted Isolde onto the bed, placing her on my free leg and ordering her to behave. They both watched each other silently while I stroked their heads.
I yawned as I spoke. “What’s the plan to keep the big bad from getting what he wants?”
Elder Farrar flicked a finger at me, eyebrows raised. “Meaning you and Sin.”
I blinked tiredly. “Sin and I can both handle ourselves now, hence the reason I didn’t mention anything before Leric caught me in the lie.” I rested back against the headboard, my head lolling to the side. “But I’m going to go out on a limb and guess no one here believes that now, after seeing that memory, which, by the way, was before either of us had our powers.”
Elder Farrar smirked. “Your guess would be right, especially where he’s involved, since you know,” he waved a brazen hand, “the man did orchestrate MCWWII into happening.”
“Hmm.” I blinked slowly. “You almost had a point there.” Another blink. “You think my food will be here soon?”
Almost everyone blinked right back at me.
Oddly, it was Mrs Damon who snapped out of her funk, brushing Mr Damon away as she wiped at her bloodshot eyes. She stomped across the room, ignoring when Leric’s silver gaze shot across her face, making it glow, to lift the phone on my bedside table. She called room service and barked orders like a deranged military sergeant. I almost felt sorry for the poor schmuck on the other end of the line. She slammed the phone down, nodding efficiently at the mistreated phone while stating, “It’ll be here in a few minutes.”
My head lolled the other way, peering up at her. “You want some of my food?”
“No,” she clipped primly. “But thank you for the offer.” She moved back to Mr Damon, leaning heavily on him as he wrapped his arms around her.
“You know, I’m really tired.” I yawned again, moving to snuggle down on the bed. I placed Isolde above my head on the pillow and used Tristan for a body pillow, tossing my leg over his warm body. “This day has been majorly draining, so do you think maybe you can get to the plan before my food arrives and I pass out?”
King Collins ran a hand over his face before massaging at his temples. He finally stated unhelpfully, “I’d like to sleep on it then talk with the other Rulers privately and, more than likely, a few of the Elders, too, before we come up with a plan to keep you out of his sadistic fucking hands.” He blinked up at me. Stared. Blinked again. “You may want to,” another blink, “call Sin and have him come back where he can be protected.”
“I’m thinking you didn’t hear me.” I yawned again, my jaw stretching huge. “Sin and I can take care of ourselves, even if you don’t believe me.” I sniffed, snuggling against Tristan’s warmth, but my head shot up when there was a knock at the door. “My food.”
Roselle instantly moved. The golden Mage protection disappeared from the walls with a flick of Elder Farrar’s little finger. She asked clearly through the door, “Who’s there?”
The answer was clear. “Room service.”
“Can you repeat the order, please?”
He started rambling a list of my dishes.
I moaned, waving a hand at Roselle. “Let the man in before it gets cold!”
King Collins stared at me for long moments, then he cleared his throat, stating evenly, “Caro, there is going to come a time when you have your own Prodigy. I’ll forewarn you, whoever it is will never be anything like you expected.”
I raised a brow. “Thanks. I think.”