Come on. Come on. Come on. Yes! Shannon answered, and I told her that I was deathly ill and staying with a friend—which she didn’t seem surprised by given how bad off I’d been the last time she’d seen me at the center. I also told her where to find my hidden house key and Bentley’s supply of food and treats. I then texted my parents, lying to them too about having the flu, and added a Facebook post to seal the deal with my friends. I bought myself a few extra days before anyone started really worrying.
After about two hours, I heard a light knock on the door. Unsure of who it might be, I didn’t answer.
“It’s me, Theodora. They’ve all left now,” said a King-sounding voice.
“How do I know it’s really you?”
“You were wearing a brown potato sack and running in the mud the first time I killed you.”
Yep. That’s King. I went to unlock the door, and he pushed his way in, not pausing to look at me. A man on a mission.
“I found out who Mack traded the chalice to,” he said, and began pacing by the window, rubbing that strong stubbled chin of his between his thumb and index finger. Why did he have to look so much like original Mack?
Nature was a cruel teasing bitch to make double.
“And?” I said.
“It’s not good. Her name is Talia, and our relationship is less than optimal for a trade of any sort.”
“English, please?”
King sighed, and it struck me as odd. He was the sort of man who didn’t sigh, whine, whimper or do anything that could possibly be construed as a weakness. He was all about decisive action.
He has really changed. It still shocked the hell out of me that I had the power to do that.
“Talia and I used to be partners,” he said. “That didn’t suit her, so I cut ties.”
“Oh.” I nodded knowingly. “Scorned lover.”
“Scorned non-lover. She’s vowed to never do a favor for me again until I do one for her.” He gave me a look.
“Ah. That kind of favor.” These 10 Club women were manipulative, needy sickos.
“Yes. And considering she’ll have heard about my escapades with you this evening, she’ll be less inclined to change her mind and trade for the chalice.”
“Because you slummed it with me, it’s a double slap that you wouldn’t slum it with her?” I asked sarcastically.
“Precisely,” he said, missing the fact that I’d been joking.
“You and I need another dance,” I retorted. “Possibly a cha-cha.” He needed more of my Seer nice-juice.
He gave me a look. He didn’t get it.
“Never mind,” I said.
He did just that and continued, “Unfortunately, we will still need to go to Talia and try to strike a deal, as futile as the effort might be. Luckily, I have something she desires.”
“More than a chalice?”
“No and yes,” he replied.
“Can you be any more vague?” I asked.
“I’m King. I’ve cornered the market on vague.” I heard a phone vibrating somewhere on his body. He slipped his hand into his tux coat pocket and looked at the screen before accepting the call and holding the phone to his ear. “Hello, Miss Turner,” he said in a silky, deep voice. He then immediately pulled the device away from his ear. Even I could hear the screaming. After several screechy moments, he turned away from me and cupped the cell to his mouth. “Mia, do not be so foolish. I have not been unfaithful and let me remind you all that I endured to be with you.” More screeching and holding the phone from his ear. He then returned it. “Yes. Of course I slept with other women while we were apart. Christ, I was cursed with evil for three thousand years. And I am a man. But this is no reason to accuse me of forsaking my vows.” He listened. “Well, if I listened to everything I heard about you, then I might believe you’re a whining, annoying, overly curious female. However, I am smarter than most and recognize your inquisitive nature for what it truly is: intelligence and compassion.” He listened some more. “Theodora has done nothing more than heal me, Mia. She has taken away my pain and torment.” Pause. “Yes. It’s true. I merely created an illusion to protect her from the 10 Club.” He listened. “Yes, I am wonderful and very strong. You are lucky to have me. Give my love to Arch.”
I honestly didn’t know what to make of the man. He was still King—all cockiness and powerful—but now he had a less edgier edge.
He ended his call and then put away his cell, looking at me. “So are you ready?”
“Yes—ready for what, though?”
“I am told Talia is in Vegas. We will go to her and do our best to barter for the chalice.”
Vegas. Oh goodie. “If you don’t mind my asking, what do you have that she might want?”
He looked at me. “She’s always wanted a Seer.”
“Great.”
“But I doubt it will be enough. The chalice is very rare and can bring anyone back from the dead—no matter how old.”
“How’s that even possible?” I asked, but it was more of a spoken thought. The thing seemed too good to be true.
“They say the great king of the Incas, an expert of the dark arts, used the blood of a thousand priests to mix in with the alloy. He then created a small fissure between our world and the spirit world.”
“You just sounded like an episode of the X-Files.” Yes, I liked the show. Scully was very logical, so it had appealed to the old me.
King shot me a look.
“I’m guessing you’re not a TV man,” I said.