“One, she technically already handed over any goods she may have stolen from your bedchambers five years ago. Today I believe she found an item, not stole it, unless you have proof of purchase.” He shrugged a nonchalant shoulder. “Two, I’ve gotten her off death row before. It won’t be difficult to clear her of a minor theft charge even if she was found guilty. In that case, you still wouldn’t have the Primal Diamond since she said even you can’t pluck it from her, and she would be free of jail time. Any charge would be a waste of time.”
Silver eyes stared calmly at King Collins for very long moments. The time seemed to stretch, a silent tension filling the air as we waited to see what he would say, or more importantly, do, because he was more powerful than every single person in this room combined. The truth was he could kill all of us with barely blinking an eye, and Elder Jacobs, King Collins, and I knew this. Time slowly ticked onward, dragging almost painfully. Until in a soft drawl—surprising us all—he murmured, “It’s about time you backed your Prodigy.” Fingers tapped on his mouth. “All I had to do was argue a decent case yesterday and you gave me the diamond without hesitating.” He dropped his hand and stretched his legs out in front of him, slouching his bulky frame more comfortably on his chair. “Moreover, I respect the counteroffer even if the bias behind it is unflattering, and I will agree to it.” Silver eyes flicked to mine, holding steadily as I sat frozen in place. “But, so you know, Ms Jules, I will have my diamond back eventually.”
I gave an instant reply, even if I was more than shocked. “My diamond.”
His lips twitched. “I believe this is what they call a stalemate.” Silver eyes returned their gaze to King Collins. “The Guardians will be here by morning, which should satisfy your demands.”
There was no hesitation on King Collins’s part. “That will work for us.”
“I should think so,” the One stated before he stood fluidly, showing no signs of his earlier injuries. He glanced to Reese and Roselle. “Watch over them while I’m gone.”
In a blink, he had left, going to the Temple in search of Guardians.
Chapter Twenty-Five
More than dead tired and doused with bad dreams for at least half the night, I did not appreciate King Collins knocking on my door early in the morning. I was still in my damn towel as two Guardians entered the room behind him. I was not expecting them, and my eyes popped wide. I quickly held up a hand and scurried into my bedroom, leaving them in the retiring room. “Give me two minutes.”
Fifteen minutes later, I hurried outside the bedroom. King Collins was glancing at his watch with an exasperated expression, stuck entertaining the Guardians. From the sound of it through my bedroom door, his entertainment had been more of an interrogation. When I entered he stood and gestured to the Guardian on the right. “Caro, this is Farley.” A gesture to the left. “And Frost. Your new additional guards.” Both of them were wearing probably more clothing than they were used to, being dressed in white leather pants and simple white cotton button-ups. “Gentlemen, this is Caro Jules, the Prodigy Elemental.”
I dipped my head to Frost. “Thank you for coming, Frost. Your protection is appreciated.”
His own head dipped, and he replied in a baritone, “You’re welcome, Ms Jules.”
That left the other one.
My eyes slowly slid to him, and I eyed him carefully. “Are you going to try to chop my head off again, Farley?”
King Collins instantly stiffened, his attention snapping to the Guardian who had stopped me from climbing the stairs to the throne the One had been sitting on at the Temple.
Farley stared over my head, at attention, but damn if his lips didn’t curve the barest bit. “Ms Jules, I was only warning you, otherwise you would be headless.”
A deep, unexpected laugh rumbled from my chest. “Now wouldn’t that suck?”
Deadpan words from the staid Guardian. “If you were headless, I don’t believe you would care.”
I continued chuckling and nudged King Collins, whispering, “I like him. Calm down.”
King Collins grunted but did not calm much, hearing that his Prodigy had been threatened.
I did ask King Collins seriously, “Did Queen Ruckler give them her scent approval?”
The Guardians didn’t even flinch at the question, and King Collins nodded once.
“All right.” I turned my attention to Farley, dipping my head toward him. “Thank you for coming, Farley. Your protection is appreciated.”
His head dipped toward me. “You’re welcome, Ms Jules.”
I clapped my hands once. “Now that’s completed, I want to do something. I was trying to figure out a way to make sure I’ll always know you two are you, since I can’t smell what the Shifters do. I came up with a simple but effective idea.” I pulled out the two items from my jeans I had been searching for in my bedroom, the reason I had been longer than the two minutes. “Since almost all spirit Elementals would never wear one of these, I’d like each of you to wear one.”
Both pairs of eyes flicked to what I was holding…and instantly their faces weren’t so blank, scrunching before they could hide it. They quickly stared above my head again.