Chosen Thief (20 page)

Brann’s lips tilted on one side
as he regarded Leric, and he murmured, “I can honestly say I’ve never formally met whom you speak of.” He shrugged one of his massive shoulders. “He could be resting, though. Didn’t you all travel a long way to get here?”

I blinked slowly, realizing he was more than likely telling the
truth
, and that he smoothly rebounded with distraction together with a bit of prying.

Leric’s eyebrows rose
the barest bit as he continued watching him, and his eyes darted to me before sliding coolly back to Brann. “It was a journey.” He then rested further on his chair and turned his head to ignore Brann, stating to Roselle, “I’m sure he’ll reappear when he’s done resting.” Silver eyes then moved to Queen Cooper at one end of the table where she sat next to London, while soups and salads were placed in
front of each of us. “Queen Cooper, your necklace is utterly enchanting…practically spellbinding to view.”

Queen Cooper instantly placed her hand over her sapphire necklace while dipping her spoon into the soup. Her response took a second longer than I thought natural as she stated, “Thank you. I cherish it dearly as I’m sure you do your jewelry.”

Leric’s lips curved as he obviously remembered
something particularly attractive in its revolting nature with that smile. He glanced down at his arrowhead diamond ring, respectfully touching it. “Yes, I do cherish it and the many fond memories it has afforded me.” He placed his napkin on his lap absently, his eyes roaming the table to land on King Collins at the head of the table. “King Collins, I wanted to tell you…congratulations.” Pausing,
he rearranged the napkin on his lap. “The way you have helped increase the unity between the four Rulers in so few years is truly remarkable.” He paused, head tilting as he held fixed eye contact with King Collins. “Just as it is for the other Rulers at this table,” a graceful shrug of his massive shoulder, “sometimes twice over.”

I sipped at my soup slowly, watching carefully as King Collins
nodded his head dutifully, but there was the slightest tick on the right side of his jaw. I wasn’t sure anyone else noticed as they ate, talking quietly amongst themselves, plus his blue hair hid it decently. “That’s very kind of you to say. Change is never easy on anyone…much less the entirety of the Mystical people.”

I watched silently as Leric nodded, lifting his spoon from the table. “No,
it’s not. Too much revolution at one time can be detrimental to a society.” His eyes flicked back up to King Collins. “Not unlike the type of impairment I would feel, should my second in command not wake fully rested by morning.”

King Collins’s lips tilted at one side, a slim, unpleasant grin as the table quieted a bit from that comment, one which Leric hadn’t even tried to say softly. “As I’m
sure that would be a great personal injury to you, it would be a tragedy we won’t allow under our roof, not as our guests here. Come breakfast, I’m sure he’ll be eating with us, hardy and hale.”

Leric glanced at Roselle, eyes wide. “Exactly what I said, was it not?”

“As always, sire.” Roselle’s head dipped, and I saw her lips curve slightly as Leric turned his attention to his appetizer, dipping
his spoon into his soup. “It’s clam chowder.”

Leric’s spoon stilled in his soup. “Fish?”

“Yes, it is,” Queen Ruckler stated, staring down at her soup bowl. “It’s not what I asked to be prepared for tonight’s meal,” she glanced up at Leric, and I noticed her eyes were frosty in her regard, “but it is delicious, nonetheless.”

“Oh,” I lifted my full spoon, gaze swinging between Queen Ruckler and
Leric with innocent eyes, “I called the kitchen staff a few hours ago and informed them Leric’s favorite dish is fish.” I took my bite, smiling around it as I started to flat out lie, murmuring softly, “At least, that’s what I remember the cooks saying at the Temple.” Really, I just remembered from years ago a dish that had been left on his desk, everything eaten on it but the fish. I blinked innocently
at Leric. “That is correct, isn’t it? I would really hate if I got it wrong.”

Queen Ruckler’s chin trembled the barest bit, but no one was paying attention to her, everyone pausing in their meal to glance at Leric.

Staring across the table at me, Leric stayed mute for a beat too long, so I picked up the slack, stating, “You know. A kind gesture.” I pointed at myself with my spoon. “Anytime I
go to someone’s house for a political dinner with King Collins, they always serve this dreadful food.” Well, sometimes they did. “And yet it’s terribly impolite to ask for something else or not eat it, so I always have to suffer through eating food I absolutely detest.” Well, again, that was sometimes. I opened my eyes wide. “Sometimes I wonder if they do it to…you know,” I waved my spoon in circles,
whispering quietly, “to cut out all the political bullshit and plotting that inevitably ends up happening when too many powerful beings are under one roof. We’re way too busy keeping the food down to really participate in the political games.”

I shrugged, tilting my head. “But, since I’m not a fan of food torture,” I pointed at his soup, “I thought I would show how hospitable we can be, and I
told the kitchen staff what to cook for dinner.” I altered my pointing spoon to his salad, lifting a little on my chair to see down onto his plate better. “Yes, it appears they put the shredded pieces of shrimp on the salads.” I pointed at my mouth. “Honestly, I don’t know about you, but those tend to get stuck between my teeth, and I find only an hour of flossing can remove them, but our cook insisted
on it once I phoned her. Apparently, it’s one of her specialty salads.”

I put up a stopping hand, even though Leric didn’t appear like he would be talking for a while, sitting frozen as he was. “But don’t worry. I fought long and hard with the chef between her choice of seared salmon and my own personal favorite fish dish for our entree.” I smiled grandly. “Of course, I won.” I opened my eyes
grandly with pseudo excitement. “So we’ll be having,” I held up the stopping hand again, waiting a few beats, the silence drawing out, “sushi.” I nodded grandly, watching as a tick started thumping at the corner of Leric’s left eye. “That’s right. We’re having raw fish, and fully aware of your love of it as I am, I requested the chef leave the wasabi off yours so you can receive the maximum flavor.”

I leaned forward a moment later, tilting closer to him, very much enjoying myself. “It’s perfect, isn’t it?” No response came, and my sparkling eyes darted to each of the Rulers as I placed a hand over my smiling mouth. “Oh, he’s speechless. I knew he’d love it.” I waved a hand at Queen Ruckler. “You can thank me later for changing the meal.” I pointed at his soup with my spoon. “Now, come on,”
I purred softly. “Don’t be shy. Take your first of many bites of tonight’s fine meal prepared especially with you in mind.”

I held his steel gaze, his silver eyes now hard. And I was happy to do so, because either way, he was stuck eating the meal. Even if he called me a liar, it would still be vulgar — which he hadn’t blatantly been yet — to ask for something else to eat from the Rulers table.
So now he was going to have to eat the food before him. It was a win-win for me since he had challenged me earlier in a battle of wits, and since it was so obvious he was subtly threatening the Rulers with something he had over them in his covert, polite conversation to make sure Reese was returned alive and well.

Win-win for me, and this household…and we were going to be even when he ate it.

I raised my eyebrows slightly in the extending silence, and I watched his jaw clench. Slowly he tipped his head to me, murmuring, “Thank you, Sprite. I’m positive you took great delight in arranging this meal, and I will finish every bite of it in likewise respect of your…gracious hospitality.” He slowly scooped a huge spoonful, eyes darting to it then back to me. “Fish is definitely a delicacy
that requires a certain individualized appreciation.”

Oh, bravo on your word choice.

I lifted my drink in mock cheers in his direction before settling back on my chair to sip at it, as the whole table not so covertly watched as he opened his mouth and placed the spoon inside, closing his lush lips over it. My own lips trembled as I saw his mouth pinch for the briefest moment when the soup must
have made contact with his tastebuds, but I tapped my wine glass against my lips to hide my reaction. He rotated the spoon, slowly pulling it out of his mouth as he licked it clean, face stoically pleasant, his silver hard eyes not leaving mine for one moment.

This was how the meal progressed for the next forty-five minutes, casual conversation floating around us. Leric was absolutely mute as
he slowly, and yeah, manfully downed each and every bite of his soup, even scraping the bowl’s edges. Then he started on the salad, which I realized with great humor he truly did not enjoy by the way his eyes began to glisten, almost watering as he continued staring at me, eyes unwavering. And, Christ, I damn near lost it when he took his first bite of the sushi. His mouth stalled mid-chomp, his
nostrils flared, and he actually silently gagged before he outright jerked his head back, probably swallowing it whole. Conversation around the table vanished for a moment, everyone still not so secretly watching him, but he kept on, doing exactly as he had stated and eating every last bite.

When it appeared his plate was empty, I tapped the corner of my lip, and I watched as his dramatic, darkly
shaded eyes narrowed and his pink tongue peeked out. I…well, I kind of zoned in on the action as he leisurely licked along his full bottom lip to the edge where he caught a piece of rice, pulling it back into his mouth, his lips closing slowly, the column of his tanned throat flexing as he swallowed it down.

A slow blink later, keeping a tight leash on my hormones, I lifted my eyes to his, slowly
dipping my head.

We were now even.

King Zeller drawled from my left, “Leric, would you care for dessert?”

I bit my lip and glanced down at my plate, seeing Leric’s eyes widen the barest bit before he gained control. He turned his attention to King Zeller and stated, “Thank you, but no.” A pause as he stood, and I glanced up, seeing him stand utterly still for the barest heartbeat, a hand instantly
going to his stomach. His face amazingly stayed utterly blank, then he lowered his hand, clearing his throat before swallowing hard. “I believe I’m going to retire for the evening.” He dipped his head at each of the Rulers. “I’ll see you all in the morning.” And with that, he turned and walked casually from the room.

Roselle delicately wiped her mouth with her napkin before standing. “I think
I’ll retire, too.” After dipping her head at the Rulers, her green gaze met mine. She said not a word for a few ticks, then a slow, small smile curved her lips, a smile just as malicious as any of the Rulers’, almost surprising on her beautiful face. “And thank you, Caro, for the alteration to our dinner selection. Fish is actually one of my favorite dishes, and your cook prepared them excellently.”
A slow head-dip in my direction. “It was delicious.”

I cocked my eyebrows, wondering at her truthfulness. “You’re welcome.”

Her lips quirked more before she exited the room, and I instantly turned my head to Brann, my eyebrows rising in question. He nodded once in confirmation Roselle had, indeed, enjoyed the food. He stayed silent, his amber eyes moving to Queen Ruckler.

When Roselle’s footfalls
could no longer be heard, Queen Ruckler cleared her throat, wiping her mouth…and her wolf growled quietly. Furious blue eyes slammed directly into Brann’s as she asked his sister, “Brenna, do you know where his second in command is?”

Instantly, Brenna stated, “No.”

Queen Ruckler nodded once, eyes unwavering on Brann’s. “Then I want you and Caro to get the fuck out of here.”

“Now,” Queen Cooper
stated slowly when we stayed seated, her voice growling even as she grabbed London’s hand next to her, studying his nails. “The rest of you are staying.”

I turned and kissed Sin’s cheek, scooting my chair out. “I do think this might be your formal initiation into the household.”

Green eyes danced at me merrily. “Or when they kick me out when they find out where Reese is
literally
holed up.”

“That bad?” I asked, even as Queen Ruckler’s wolf growled again, listening to us.

“You could say that.”

I patted his shoulder, walking behind him. “Well, at least he’s not dead.”

Sin murmured cheerfully, “A possible small blessing.”

Right before Brenna and I exited the room, King Collins stated loudly, “Caro, wait.” I turned my head in his direction and saw him flash a grin. “The dinner selection
was excellent.”

I grinned back him. Brenna grabbed my arm, dragging me out of the room when Queen Ruckler stood, her eyes beginning to glow blue on Brann’s face.

Yep, I was thrilled I didn’t know shit.

Damn it. I was pacing.

I was nervous, like a damn school girl before the big dance.

I had played with Isolde in our bedroom until she had whined to get onto the bed to sleep. I had then laid down next to her, tossing the ball for a bit on my bed, waiting for Sin to come back. He hadn’t, even two hours after dinner. And although the hour was late, and I probably wasn’t in my finest
form with the remnants of the cold I still had, I was antsy.

All right, I was damn needing.

Leric had a way of crawling under my skin. I no longer had to control my emotions in front of everyone, and he was an Elemental — not a certain problematic, off limits Shifter — so, well, I wanted him. Badly. Or more bluntly, I was already fucking aroused just thinking about him. He just…had that effect
on me. Pathetically, it was no different to when I was eighteen.

I wanted him.

Hell, I wanted him enough I had eavesdropped on the damn staff to figure out what room he was in. And now I paced. Right down the hall from his doorway. Peering at it as I squeezed the green stress ball I had brought with me. Stomach tight, muscles clenched, I stared at the damn door, muttering a curse…and turned
and started pacing again.

I really shouldn’t be nervous. At least, if I thought of him only as a man and not exactly who he was within the Mystical world, then I shouldn’t be nervous. Just another experience to put under my belt. A notch in the bedpost. And it would definitely be a one-off. Just something to clear the system.