His jaw clenched and his eyes narrowed. “It’s mine and I want it back.”
My eyes flared wide in mock sympathy. “I understand it hurts when you’re stolen from.” I slanted my head. “Give it more time. The pain of loss, and the reality the object is no longer yours, will eventually settle deep in,” I pointed at my heart, “here.”
His nostrils flared.
Suddenly the room shook worse than a damn earthquake.
As most grabbed the table, I just spread my feet and braced my legs hard. I rested back on my chair and crossed my arms, riding out the chaos and staring evenly at his nose. Thirty seconds later, when he had regained control of himself, the room stilled.
Over the panting breaths of those stunned, I mocked, “Temper, temper.”
His nostrils flared again, and I was pretty sure everyone bore down on the table. But he didn’t lose control again. “It’s mine.”
“No, it’s mine.” I grinned slowly as it was the first time I said aloud I still had it. “And where is the one place on a spirit Elemental the One can never access, hmm?”
His jaw clenched even further, his lips thinning.
“Oh yes, it’s mine.” My grin wouldn’t die. “You see, Brann had it right. It takes a criminal to catch a criminal, most times. And you, the One, hid your Primal Diamond—clearly a prized possession—in a pair of socks.” I shook my head, chuckling. “Socks! You don’t even wear them. How obvious could you get?” I waggled my eyebrows, my words deliberate and taunting. “Mine. Mine. All fucking mine.”
He stared at me steadily, not scowling, then he cracked each of his thumbs. “If you think we’re done with this conversation, you’re fucking wrong.” He peered to King Collins. “But if you have a name, then the Primal Diamond can transport you to wherever you ask so you’ll be able to find them.”
I jerked my head to King Collins. “If you think I’m placing that diamond in anyone else’s hands, you’re crazy. It’ll be me who goes.” When his eyes started to constrict, I shrugged a shoulder. “Simple recon. Flash in, flash out.”
The One instantly countered, “If that diamond gets in the wrong hands…”
I snorted, glancing back at him. “I thought we clarified that even the One can’t touch…” I left the sentence unfinished, letting everyone extrapolate that the diamond couldn’t be taken from me. My gaze flew back to King Collins. “I did all the work on this, and like I said, simple recon. It’s my damn diamond. I deserve to do this. Not to mention, Jacob Angel hurt me in ways I can’t even describe.”
The One’s retort was immediate. “Jacob Angel hurting her is the exact reason she should not be doing this. She will not be thinking clearly if she has to confront him.”
“I will blow his head off if he’s directly in front on me.”
“And what if she encounters both Philip Masterson and Jacob Angel? What if they’re together? Or worse yet, what if she ends up getting speared to a goddamn wall again?”
My head snapped to him. “That was fucking cheap. I didn’t even have my powers then.” I paused. “And you’re using the memories you took from me today. Somehow that doesn’t seem right when you were looking because of him.”
His lips went crooked. “What was it you said about criminals owning what they take?”
I snorted. “Whatever, Sock Man.” Eyes back to my King, I pleaded with my gaze. I asked the one question bound to tie him up. “You trust me, don’t you?” I waited a moment then bent forward, whispering, “I’ll tell Queen Cooper what you don’t want her to know.”
I sat back and rested comfortably. Done. Pow. I kicked ass.
The One still debated, “Trust has nothing to do with it. It’s about sending the most experienced against a man who started MCWWII.”
I only cocked a brow. I was pretty sure I heard King Zeller snickering next to my King, having heard with Vampire ears of what I had threatened.
King Collins rubbed his forehead. He peered up under his hand to Elder Merrick and asked, “Has he been telling the truth the whole time?”
“Truth to all.” Elder Merrick nodded.
I sucked a breath, realizing my King was about to vote against me.
I indicated, “I guarantee I’ve had the most recent battle experience. If push comes to shove, I can take care of myself.” I lifted my hand and started listing my experience. “I broke out of jail, and I can’t even begin to tell you how many people I shot accurately that day trying not to kill them. I stole the wallet of King Zeller—the fast-ass Vampire King—from under his nose without him realizing it. I eluded the four Rulers for three months. I took down MSA agents and helped bury them in a wall. And I shouldn’t even have to mention that you saw my skills in Colorado.” I threw my hands up. “Not bad for a supposedly peaceful existence.”
When no one said anything, the One asked, “No one can beat that?”