My eyelashes fluttered as I stared. Dammit.
Adelie’s mouth gaped, and then she whispered, “Think they heard us?”
All five overlords were standing far away.
Directly next to my car.
A couple of them even leaned against it, their bodies relaxed. A couple of arms crossed over muscular chests. A few heads cocked. One even sat on the parking garage floor with his legs crossed. Each was dressed in simple black slacks and dark button-down shirts.
And all were staring straight at us.
I swallowed on a dry throat. “Yes, they heard us.”
Adelie and I stood in place, unsure what they were planning to do.
Or what they wanted us to do.
They took the decision out of our hands…
Moving as one unit, they turned away from us.
And walked up the incline.
I bit the inside of my cheek. “Fuckers.”
Lord Xenon glanced back while still strolling away. He merely raised an arrogant eyebrow. The look told the whole story. Even if I became queen, they would still be above me. They had done their time as rulers, and I hadn’t done shit except exist long enough to be called on as a possible candidate for rule. He turned his attention back to where he was walking, all five of them disappearing around the corner.
My fangs descended. I shouted, “Fuckers!”
They may be egotistical. But so was I.
Perhaps we would be a perfect match to work together.
Adelie bumped my shoulder as she groaned, turning back around to start our trek to the elevator once more. She muttered softly, “Try to keep yourself somewhat under control, Gwen.”
I snorted. “If they had been close enough, I would have punched one of them.”
“That’s quite Queenly of you,” she grumbled, full of sarcasm. “You might as well not unpack if you go in with that attitude. You’ll be leaving sooner rather than later.”
I turned and trudged behind her, attempting to catch up. “Fine. I’ll keep my fists to myself—as much as possible.”
“I really should have stuck a therapist in with that group.” She sighed.
“Live and learn, my friend. Live and learn.”
Adelie bent at the waist and used her nose to press the button for the elevator.
My eye twitched. “I think we both have a few things we could work on.”
Her laughter softened my heart. “Oh, Gwen. There aren’t enough lessons in the Bible to help us.”
The elevator dinged, and the door opened.
It was full. Of overlords.
I blinked in confusion, not moving.
Then the door shut after Cato—my father—pressed a button.
Adelie choked on air. “Oh, this is going to be fun.”
I dropped all my bags and banged on the elevator doors as it traveled up…and up. “You motherfuckers! That was not funny!”
My friend snorted. “It kind of was.”
“Traitor,” I hissed.
She merely stared up at the numbers. Patient. “You should probably start picking all that stuff up. The elevator isn’t that slow. It’s actually relatively fast.”
I bent and started grabbing items off the dusty concrete. “I’m pissed.”
“Yes, I caught that.”
I grumbled and wobbled to my feet, trying to hold all of my goods again.
It took five minutes for the elevator to come down.
Why? Because the numbers danced up and down. Up and down. Up and down.
Only fifteen floors above us. Still in the enormous parking garage.
I was seething at the overlords’ antics. My fangs glistened in the horrid lighting.
Adelie barely contained her mirth as we—finally—entered the elevator.
She blinked. And then burst out laughing.
“Goddammit!” I shouted.
Every single button had been pushed, the numbers glowing red.
Like multiple vampire eyes staring at us, fully powered.
Adelie murmured, “Well, you get to see every floor. Reacquaint yourself.”
I slumped back against the wall. And relaxed myself.
I couldn’t make a scene on my first day here. Too many vampires about. Vampires who would be my people if I became queen.
I sighed after we stopped for the sixth time. “Tell me they gave me a room that’s halfway decent. Please.”
“If they didn’t, I’ll give you mine,” she reassured. “The last thing you need to be worrying about is your room. I won’t have that. You have—we have—worked too hard to prepare you for this. Keep your head on straight, and you’ll be fine.”
Easier said than done. But I would give it my all.
Finally, when we entered my room first, I breathed a sigh of relief. It was a full apartment. Separate rooms for entertaining—personal and business.
“See?” Adelie stated with a smile on her face. “This is nice.”
“It is,” I conceded. I dropped my bags and luggage onto the plush carpeting. “I can do this, Adelie. I can. I know it.”
That crown would be mine. My throne. My people.
I would be queen.
I stuck my head out my door and glanced left and right. No one was in sight…not even my best friend. Perfect. I slipped outside my room, done unpacking my many new belongings. I had one person I wanted to see in this rock castle. I just needed to figure out how to find him without alerting anyone else I was looking for him.
I walked with purpose down hallways.
This was the royal section of the castle.
That much I remembered.
Oddly enough, I didn’t have to look long.
I stopped dead in my tracks at a small alcove carved into the rock. The man I was searching for was sitting on a curved bench cut into the mountain. A plush, crimson cushion rested on top of the bench for comfort. And the bench was made for two people, enough room for me to sit down next to him.
The overlord didn’t look up from his book as I walked forward with hesitant steps—even though he damn well knew I was staring at the top of his head. His red hair had grown since I last saw him over two hundred years ago. His locks were unruly around his lowered rugged face— too damn good looking for his own good. I knew a spattering of freckles dotted his nose and the curve of his cheeks.
My last lover. Who had left me for the crown.
I sat down silently next to him.
Only then, did he place his book on his lap and stop reading. He waited silently, neither one of us looking at one another. We both sat face forward with our hands in our laps, quiet in our own thoughts.
Eventually, I stated softly, “You saved a spot for me.”
He hummed under his breath. “I knew you would come. We left a lot unsaid.”
I fidgeted with my fingers in my lap and peered down to them, picking at my fingernails. “I only have one question I want answered by you, Lord Pippin.”
“I owe you that much.” The overlord leaned back against the cave wall, relaxing further. “I probably owe you more than that, Gwen, if I’m honest with myself.”
I cleared my throat and lifted my head. I turned my blue gaze on his brown eyes, not flinching under his heady, direct regard. I’d cared deeply about this vampire at one time—and it still hurt.
But I kept to the matter at hand. I questioned, “Is it worth it? The crown?”
His cheeks puffed out as he released a heavy breath. “Yes. Yes, it’s worth it.”