Elder Farrar flipped a sheet on the magazine he hadn’t even glanced at, but studied now like it held life’s secrets, stating casually, “I wouldn’t even know where to begin, old friend.”
“Oh, fuck off,” Cain muttered, his wolf growling quietly. “I’ve kept your secrets, you can keep mine.”
Interesting.
“That’s always been much appreciated, and, of course, I’ll return the kindness.” More studying of a page. “Did you know one of the ways a couple continues to have a successful, happy relationship is to sleep next to each other every night?”
I bit my lip as Cain glared at him, his wolf growling quietly.
“What?” Elder Farrar asked innocently, holding up the magazine, pointing to it. “It’s in the column.”
Cain flipped him off.
“I believe you could learn a lot from this article,” Elder Farrar stated steadily, voice even and pleasant, turning his attention back to his page. “It also has a lengthy segment on how to transform your surly ass ways into a loving, caring individual.” Elder Farrar ducked the decorative pillow thrown at him, and continued pretending to read. “Ah, rule one…always be kind to your oldest friends…aka don’t throw shit at them when they’ve just made it possible for you to get laid.”
I snickered quietly, keeping the sheet pressed to my mouth, muffling the noise, watching Cain drop the other pillow he had been ready to throw, muttering grudgingly, “I won’t hurt you since I know you already are.”
Elder Farrar grunted. “Six weeks is a long damn time to go without.” He flicked a scowl at me before his eyes went to his magazine. “And it’s only going to be longer since your honey was careless enough to get stabbed with her own damn sword.” He shook his head slightly, muttering quietly, “That’s fucking humiliating.”
I don’t believe he even saw the pillow that time. His head whipped back with the impact, and he muttered, “Goddammit!” He wiped at the dab of blood that had formed on his nose, glaring at Cain. “Was that really necessary? It had fucking ornaments on it!”
Cain grunted, opening his book. “Yes.” He tilted his head to the basket of odds and ends next to him on the ground, even as he found the page he had been previously reading. “And there’s more where that came from if you verbally bash her again for something she’s already ashamed of, and knows she needs to work on.”
I smiled quietly under the sheet, kind of…liking him sticking up for me.
Elder Farrar scowled for a long moment, and then rolled his shoulders, sitting back on the couch grouchily, staring at his own magazine. “Asshole.”
Cain hummed quietly, his lips twitching, his foot tapping. “I’ll refrain from commenting.”
Elder Farrar’s lips twitched, too. “Cunt.”
Cain chuckled quietly…and all was right between them, apparently, as they went silent, seeming to actually read from their materials, but their conversation had given me an idea, so when the others came in ten minutes later, I sat up in bed gingerly, and viewed everyone who eyed me warily—seriously, I wasn’t that damn bad at the hospital—and smiled pleasantly to them, stating, “I have a gift for all of you.”
As one, they appeared…almost…frantic with anxiety, but trying to mask it.
I waved a hand. “It’s not bad.” I cleared my throat, stating delicately, keeping a straight face, “I realize it’s been six weeks,” everyone here was a Mystical, highly sexual in nature, “since any of you have spoken or seen a loved one, and it’s only going to be,” a glance to Elder Farrar, then back to the others, “longer because of my unfortunate mishap, putting a standstill in our travels. So, I thought I would,” straight face, straight face, “open a channel so you can…talk…with someone you may be missing from home.” God, it was hard, but I kept my face blank. “I thought Elder Farrar could spell the bathroom, so each of you might have some privacy.”
Elder Bridges, ever one for delicacy, blinked slowly, and then asked bluntly, “You’re going to give us access to phone sex?”
I had to hold still for a long moment, or else laugh my ass off, but I eventually cleared my throat, murmuring demurely, “It’s more like video, since you’re able to see and hear them, and vice versa.” I glanced at them with clear eyes. “Also, you should know the silencing spell will work if you try to divulge anything about spirits, and what you’ve learned here, since you will be speaking to someone outside the Temple, and my lips will be sealed for whomever you wish to speak with.” I placed my hands on my lap calmly. “Is anyone interested?”
King Collins jerked forward, already heading to the bathroom, barking over his shoulder, “Get your ass in here, my Prodigy.”
Yeah…I had expected him to go first.
After the bathroom was spelled, in went like this…
King Collins had me contact Queen Cooper. He spent two fucking hours in the bathroom, which finally earned King Zeller banging on the door, cursing at him to hurry up. He came out a half hour later…appearing all types of refreshed.
King Zeller obviously went next. First, he had me contact Isa to whom he spoke with for a half hour, then peaked his head out the door, asking for me. He then had me contact Queen Ruckler, to whom he spoke with for over an hour, which had Elder Bridges banging on the door, cursing for him to hurry up, the Vampire King practically grinning when he left the bathroom.
I wasn’t sure who the Vampire woman was Elder Bridges had me contact, but I quickly hustled out when her clothes started coming off the moment she saw him. My eyes had been a bit wide when I exited, but I had walked slowly, and carefully, holding my stomach, back to the bed. I had gotten an hour’s worth of rest before he came out…cheeks flushed and refreshed.
Brann had asked for one Shifter woman, which ended up being three in bed, and he had only grinned, not surprised, so I had shuffled on out of the bathroom, shaking my head in amusement as I waddled back to bed. And Elder Samson had been damn edgy by this point, banging on the door not even forty-five minutes later, which produced Brann fifteen minutes later, stretching and lazy as a damn cat, lounging on the couch.
Elder Samson had surprised me, though, and had me call his mother directly, whom I had seen on screen, and quickly left…shocked and surprised not even close to what I had felt as I lay back down in bed, grabbing a book, knowing it was going to be awhile, not glancing to anyone…because that was just personal, and heartfelt, as hell, and it was safe to say when he exited he instantly went to the bar, stepped out on the balcony, and proceeded to drink alone.
Elder Farrar cleared his throat, brows pinched, glancing away from the balcony, stating slowly, “Guess it’s my turn.”
I walked into the bathroom…and the next thing I remembered was stepping outside it.
I blinked…glanced back at the door…and fury erupted inside me. I quickly shut my power down, turning to the door, crossing my arms…and waited.
The door flung open, and golden eyes stared into mine.
I didn’t say a word, only continued to stare back.