But when he shut the curtain…I only grinned, waited until he was lying back on his trundle, and sent a small pulse wave, opening them back up, and continued my speech. “Try again.” When Cain—the only sober one from last night—even lay back down, snuggling into his covers…although, he was watching me like a ambushing wolf from under his hooded lids, I explained loudly, “What everyone should have learned was you always…always…always need to be at your best here, otherwise, you will get taken.” My lips quirked. “And, every single one of you will need to enact retribution for last night’s actions on the representatives. They will expect this, and be watching vigilantly for it, so it won’t be easy. They will not respect you if you don’t accomplish it, which means, they will think you weak.” I stopped bouncing, a bit breathless. “And my Lajaks cannot be weak. So,” I waved my hands, dipping a bit, “I wish you good luck.”
I jumped from the bed, and started making my way to the bathroom. “And I want to leave within the hour to go shopping in the city, and spend all that cash I did win last night.” I had never had so much cash here at the Temple to spend. “So get your asses,” I grinned, turning at the door, and threw a pulse wave at each of them, tossing them off their beds, “up!” I slammed the door on their furious curses, chuckling quietly, and proceeded to finish getting ready.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Holy…shit…” Elder Bridges mumbled behind me later that day, staring—as I was—at the party taking place in my honor, Leric standing next to me, holding my hand like normal for any gathering we attended. But, this one was…Elder Bridges cleared his throat, asking—almost—respectfully, “Will you be participating, Ms. Jules?”
I choked.
Because…it was an orgy, but large enough to fill an entire ballroom, thumping music playing from the scantily clad—at least, they were dressed—band at the far end of the room.
Elder Bridges continued, keeping his voice steady, “I only ask, so we can formulate our plan for…protection.”
Funny man.
Sin damn near moaned behind me. “Give me the night off, love.” A pause with a hurried poke against my back. “I beg you.”
I scowled at Sin over my shoulder…because it still wasn’t easy with him, and I didn’t care if it showed—I sure as hell didn’t want to see it, and then asked Leric, “What the hell?”
He shrugged, white rolls dipping around his face when he glanced down to me. “Every city is different. This one traditionally respects its Rulers with love from the body.”
I pointed a finger instantly. “I am not going into that mess.” This didn’t really surprise me—spirits are “different”, but I wasn’t about to participate.
His lips twitched, and he tilted his head to the left. “Our seats of honor are over there. Whether we choose to join is completely up to us.”
“Thank God,” I muttered, glancing to the left, seeing indeed, two large throne-like-chairs at the end of the ballroom opposite the band. “Oh, how thoughtful. It’s even raised so we can see…everyone…and their everythings.”
Elder Bridges choked on a chuckle behind me, but quickly went mute as Leric moved us forward, our presence becoming known, those—Jesus—pausing in their actions, bowing, and murmuring, “Chosen. One.” All except for those in the throes of ecstasy, groans and moans coming from them.
Leric stated loudly, his voice booming, “You may arise.”
King Zeller whispered on a choke, “They already are.”
I inhaled, and glanced back to my group of Lajaks when the mass went back to “mass” fucking, and whispered harshly to them all, “Get your fucking acts together, or get the hell out of here.”
Sin pointed a finger covertly at one couple starting to glow, stars flying from their bodies, eyes wide, whispering hurriedly, “Love…do you do that?”
My cheeks instantly flamed. “Stay focused, dammit.”
Emerald eyes instantly flared a bit, but they hooded swiftly. “Hmm.”
“Actually…” Leric murmured absently, but pulled me closer against his side. “That only occurs with someone who a spirit releases themselves to with complete trust.”
Oh…I blinked slowly…now that was damn ironic given the only person that ever happened with…was the one man who had used sex as a weapon against me. I cleared my throat, trying to ignore the man in question directly next to me, so close his side was rubbing against mine, heating my side, and glanced to Leric with blank eyes. “We should probably sit before we’re pulled out there.”
White brows lifted a bit. “Would that really be so bad?”
My mouth flapped a few times, and then I sputtered, “I’m not into groups.” I blinked, because that had probably come out a lie with my previous behavior, and quickly mumbled, “Let’s just sit down.”
Leric…pouted, tugging on my hand a bit. “One dance.” His head tilted to them. “They’re not all having sex, some are dancing.” He pulled me a step with him. “And I like this music.”
That, I hadn’t known about him, and I actually liked the music, too, but…”I don’t know.” I glared a bit. “You had…friendly…hands last night.”
“I’ll behave, I promise,” he murmured, and I could have sworn…he gave me a very honest expression. “I only want to dance with you.”
I didn’t trust him…but a few others were starting to stare behind his back, even though I wasn’t sure how they had that much attention span, since they were currently…busy. “Fine. One dance.” I let him lead me to the edges of the crowd, my Lajaks finally getting their acts together and spreading out, except for Elder Farrar and Elder Merrick who stayed close, keeping themselves between the crowd and us.
And…I danced with Leric.
And…actually had fun while doing so.
He was an excellent dancer while he twirled me, and brought me in close. It also helped that he truly did behave himself, only placing his hands on my hips, arms, or back, and I noticed we…moved…like one. As we had on the battlefield, our actions fluid and easy, symmetrical. In the heat of battle, it was just something we had…done. But here in the ballroom, it became apparent, truly obvious, that we were paired. Matched perfectly for our jobs.
And, all that aside, when my back was to his chest, his arm wrapped around my waist, my gaze flicked to Cain’s. And held for long moments, staring at complex navy blue…until he glanced away under hooded lids…eyes back on his work, making sure no one came near me.
As the song ended, I smiled softly to Leric. “One dance granted, my One.”
His own smile was small. “Yes.” He kissed the top of my hand. “I really do love to dance.” We moved to our seats…and I noticed his eyes flicking about the room from our heightened positions, my Lajaks flanking me. “Thank you, my Chosen.”
I watched him closely while pretending not to. “You’re welcome.”
His gaze roamed methodically, from one side of the room to the other, squinting at first from his lazy positioning as he peered to the far end of the room, his eyes slowly widening to normal the closer his perusal got.
He paused. Left side of the room. Stayed there, his shoulders tightening the barest bit.
My lips thinned, and I instantly turned my head to the right, and closed my eyes…and floated in the cosmos…and took a star away from my barrier in the wall.
Instantly, I saw behind my closed lids what he did.
Heard his thoughts.
Felt what he was feeling.
Jealousy.
He was inflamed with jealousy, barely keeping it together.
And what I saw was a beautiful Mystical woman with curly blonde hair, dancing seductively with two men, all still dressed, but the men’s hands…Leric zoned in on one hand that landed on the woman’s shapely ass…oh…he was furious.
And hurt, his chest aching with constricting fire.