King Hall (41 page)

That was all. It was enough. The letter rested in my pocket now and, as soon as I got home, I was going to put it in the scrapbook in my closet that she had started years ago of us. The only thing, other than her money, I had left of her.

Sighing quietly, I rested further on my chair, ignoring the gazes I felt on me from the audience. When Pearl, Jack, and I had gone across the stage at our separate times there had been freaking standing ovations. Nothing like a little early sucking up from Mysticals who don’t even know me, or them. Ezra’s name was about to be called, and I cringed, ready.

“Ezra Zeller, Bachelor’s Degree of Political Science,” Mrs. Jonas stated loudly.

Boom
. The applause was almost deafening as he began sauntering across the stage.

I stood, clapping right along with everyone else, mine less polite than the roar, since I also blew through my index finger and thumb, whistling loudly, just as I had for Jack and Pearl.

In due progress, the ceremony was over. In Commoner school, the graduates threw their caps in the air but, since Mysticals wore robes with hoods, that didn’t even cross anyone’s minds. Instead, we cheered with our hands in the air as the fire Elementals of our class shot sparkling fireballs above our heads from their palms, the air Elementals blowing them high into the air, and then the water Elementals putting them out, keeping us safe. Not too shabby, and pretty damn cool to witness.

Afterward, we only had a half-hour to talk with each other and celebrate.

Following that, we were to go inside and get changed into our snazzy attire, then return to the field to mingle.

I went straight to my friends where they were already standing together to the side of the stage — away from everyone — and I kicked the grass a few times, mumbling, “I’m sorry. Really. It won’t happen again.”

“Damn straight,” Pearl grumbled, arms crossed over her chest.

Ezra’s lips were thinned, but he finally nodded.

Jack took a step closer, and bent to peer straight into my eyes, hissing, “Why the hell didn’t you tell us?” His blue eyebrows were together, like he was trying to solve a puzzle.

Glancing away, I asked, “Haven’t you ever had a secret you were ashamed of?”

A quiet pause, then he softly whispered, “Yes.” Another break, then a gruff command, “Ashamed, or not, you tell us in the future so we can rip his head off. Alright?”

I nodded, glancing to the side. Nikki and Gideon were heading our way, so I quickly said, “Ezra, I’d like to have that conversation tonight that you offered before.” The one about us sticking together. Living under the same roof, or whatever his idea was. Just so we were all close. Looking away from Nikki and Gideon, I peered up into his spring green gaze. “I’m in, if you’re serious.”

Unhurriedly, he nodded, his spikes styled wildly chaotic today.

“Me too,” Pearl whispered softly, sounding nervous.

The three of us turned to Jack.

He was rubbing his chin, blue eyebrows lowered, and right before Nikki arrived at his side, he stated, “I’m in.” No nerves. Just resolute calm.

Ezra crossed his arms, saying simply since Gideon and Nikki were now with us, “We’ll discuss it tonight after the Awakenings, but before the dinner King Kincaid is holding for us and our families.” This was desirable, because I still hadn’t met Jack’s or Pearl’s relatives. After what they had witnessed this morning in Mrs. Jonas’s office, they probably thought I was a barbarian Prodigy Shifter, and I would like the opportunity to prove I wasn’t. At least, not all the time.

We nodded. Decision set.

“Henry?” Pearl asked, reading the name on the tiny slip of paper.

“Toss,” I muttered, silently reading the name on the top paper I held.

“Jasper?” Jack asked, eyeing a scrap of paper.

“Toss,” I muttered, throwing down the top slip I had read.

“Love doctor?” Nikki asked with a snicker, eyebrows raised and holding up a napkin.

“Does it really say that?” Gideon asked, yanking the napkin out her hand. He nodded, chuckling. “He’s probably compensating for something.”

I agreed. “Toss.”

“Here you guys are,” Ezra griped quietly, ducking behind the tree line where we hid from the onslaught of Mysticals vying for our attention. “I’ve been looking everywhere.” He appeared haggled, his black dress shirt cockeyed, spring green eyes wide, but he asked calmly enough, “What are you doing?”

Pearl waved her wad of papers as I tossed another one of mine on the ground, and she explained, “Going through the numbers passed to Lily.”

He blinked, then reached into his pockets, pulling out fistfuls of tiny papers. “Guess I’ll go through mine, too.”

We gaped.

Gideon asked carefully, “You’re not going to keep all of them?”

Ezra glared at the polite question, waving a fistful of papers, some of them blowing away in the breeze, which he didn’t seem to notice. “I’m turning over a new leaf.” He peered down at his first slip. “Try not to be such a,” a glower at me, “man-whore.”

I shook my head, going back to my own papers. “Don’t blame that title on me. I just call them like I see them.”

He grunted, tossing a slip on the ground without further comment.

“BJ?” Jack asked, head cocked, staring at a pink paper.

“Confused or an idiot,” Pearl mumbled, answering for me. “Toss.”

He tossed.

As a pile grew around his feet, Ezra slipped a torn scrap back into his pocket before continuing to examine the rest.

Huh, perhaps he was serious.

“Tiffany?” Nikki asked nonchalantly, face almost blank. I merely glanced at her and she tossed it, mumbling, “I’m so happy I’m not single anymore. This is ridiculous.”

Jack kissed her cheek, then asked, “Ivan?”

“Oh…” I nodded, holding out my hand. “That one’s a keeper.” I smiled. “He hardly speaks any English.” I slid the paper into my purse for safekeeping.

Pearl snorted hard, shaking her head. “You’re bad.”

“And, he looks oh-so-good.” I wiggled my shoulders, winking. “Powerful. Hot. No English. Equals perfect.”

Ezra blinked at a slip. Chuckled. Tossed it.
Didn’t want to know.
The next one went in his pocket, which made two out of, like, twenty.
Not bad.

Gideon asked, “The Twins?”

I blinked. “They’re vulture Shifters.”

Without looking, Ezra reached out a hand and grabbed Gideon’s slip. Tossed it.

“
Squawk
,” Jack teased quietly.

“Whatever. I learned my lesson.” I shuddered. Ugh. I still had nightmares.

We all paused, hearing a song start on the sound system. Music. They had finally gotten the DJ set up for dancing. Each of us glanced at the other, then hurried through the rest of the papers. It was time to boogie.

I ended up with five numbers and Ezra ended up with seven. Go figure. Even being picky he still ended up with more than me. Oh well. At least, I had some choices.

Brushing my hands down my bright red dress — it matched my hair — I made sure there were no lingering leaves or dirt on me from trekking there, and followed my friends out from behind the tree line.

We tried to stay inconspicuous, but we were who we were and some noticed. Mainly, the Kings, Antonio, and a few of the parents. The Kings’ expressions were cross, but also amused, at seeing us hiding from everyone. Most of the parents appeared curious.

Antonio just pointed at me, then his hair, a video camera in his free hand.

I quickly found a stick in my hair where he had pointed.
Seriously?
I was the shortest one of the bunch. How did I end up with a stick in my hair? I tossed it, sighing in defeat, and then was hauled by Nikki toward the makeshift dance floor. The organizers had put it there so the grass wouldn’t become mush.

We stuck close in a tight circle on the edge of the dance floor so no-one would try to barrel into our group, and I was quickly tossed in the air by Jack. I squealed, laughing as he caught me then twirled me with a dip. I had no clue how he and Nikki still stepped on each other’s feet because he was a fine dancer.

Shaking my body to the beat, I spun to Pearl, and we started bumping hips, generally making fools out of ourselves, incorporating fifties-style moves to the funky retro music. I twirled her, imitating what Jack had done, which was a little awkward since she was so tall, but when I dipped her, my strength held her easily. She laughed, her golden hair dangling to the flooring before I lifted her with one arm.

Ezra cocked an eyebrow at me as he twirled Nikki to Jack. Invitation clear. Shaking my hips like a belly dancer, with my hands in the air, in answer, he chuckled. Rolling up the sleeves of his dress shirt, he wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me close. He and I moved like we always did, even as he spun me and placed his chest to my back. His warm, strong hands ran down my sides to my hips, gripping tight as we partied on the dance floor.

Reaching up behind me, I brought his head down to my level, so I could whisper near his ear, “Should we mess up? Nikki’s looking at us again.” She seemed envious.

His eyes rose in her direction before lowering. “No. Jack needs to quit being safe with her. Be a little daring. If she gets upset, maybe he will.”

My lips curved against his cheek. “Nice thinking.”

He shrugged and lifted his hand from my hip. His fingers hovered an inch from my cleavage, his palm so hot I could feel it against my bare skin without him even touching. My attention snapped down to where his gaze and fingers were, and he tucked two of said fingers into the top of my bodice…and pulled out a slip of paper that had been barely showing there.

Stunned, I gaped at it.

“Someone was creative,” he murmured, wrapping his other arm around my stomach while opening the piece of paper in front of our faces. “Jett?”

Quietly, I chuckled. “Cheetah. And fast.” Fast enough to stuff his number down my dress without me noticing.

Ezra snorted, tossing the paper. “No woman wants it over too fast.”

I laughed hard because, well, that was true.

“Kings and,” Jack groaned, “parentals headed this way.” He shuddered. “God, I think they’re actually going to dance.”

Ezra and I stilled, and then spun away from each other. It was most definitely too late, King Kincaid and King Venclaire saw everything, but we had to make an attempt at not being glued to one another. It was dancing, yes, but King Kincaid and King Venclaire were relentless when it came to the two of us.

Jack snickered, but widened his and Nikki’s dance area, letting me in with them. That didn’t really help much because, twenty seconds later, I felt a tap on my shoulder, and by Jack’s expression, and the scent, I knew who it was.
Can’t a woman have a little fun?

I sighed, and plastered on a smile, turning.

King Kincaid immediately wrapped me in his arms and twirled us. “Have you met any Shifters today?”

I nodded. “I have five numbers that are keepers.”

He smiled, a small appearance of relief. “Good.” He cleared his throat, and whispered on a mere breath, only for my ears, “I’m just worried about you, Lily. That’s all.”

I knew that. I nodded and jumped, kissing his cheek. It made him —
wow
— blush, but he seemed pleased. “You’re awesome. You know that, right?”

He grinned outright. “An actual compliment. I could get used to that from you.”

I snickered, shaking my head. “You’ve been great to me.” I paused, inhaling deeply and holding his gaze. “Seriously. You’ve been wonderful.”

His smile turned soft, and he hugged me while twirling us. “Even though I lost him, I gained you in return.”

I sniffled, my throat clogging. I couldn’t say anything or else risk bawling. He really was great. Besides Antonio, he was like a father to me. King, yes, and always first, but still a father figure and, with me being unable to tell my biological father who I was yet, our relationship was special to me. He was special to me. Always would be. That was, until he twirled me away when Fi walked over, and I landed smack-dab in Cahal’s arms.

I blinked, barely holding back a groan. Ezra’s dad was kind of terrifying and most definitely intimidating. I wasn’t sure if it was the way he stared at people or the whole leakage of power bit, but add in his huge frame, and he was a smidge too much for me to handle one on one.

He didn’t seem to understand that or, if he did, he didn’t care, because he lowered one of his hands to my waist and took hold of my hand with his other, then began classically dancing with me. Bizarrely, it worked with the slow rock song that was playing.

Again, he stared.

“How’s it going?” I asked, just to fill the void of silence.

“Do you want to know something interesting, Ms. Ruckler?” he inquired, ignoring my question.

“Sure.” Not really, with that look in his eyes.

“Before Ezra left with King Venclaire for New York, my wife took him cellphone shopping.”
Oh, God. Please don’t tell me
. “I remember Vivian specifically complaining when they came back that the cell they’d really wanted wasn’t in stock, so she’d had to get him another barebones cell. One without a camera.”

“Email,” I stated instantly, breathing shallowly to keep my heart rate down. “The picture must have been an attachment on his email.”

A single eyebrow rose. “He doesn’t have email capabilities on his cell. He checks those on his laptop. Again, his cellphone is only basic, and he never asked for another.”

I swallowed hard.
Well, shit.
“Maybe, he downloaded it from his laptop?”
This is what I get for lying.

He cocked his head, spinning us expertly. “Interesting theory.” Not really an answer. His eyes deliberately dipped, then rose. “Cheetah, huh?”

I blinked. This just wasn’t good. Glancing on either side of us, I spied Ezra, but his back was to us as he was dancing with his mom. No help there. Out of options, I sighed and turned my attention back to Cahal, telling the truth, “The picture I saw was in his room. A whole group of us were in there.” I added helpfully, “It’s a very nice family photo.” Clearing my throat, I smiled. Hoped it was sweet enough.

“Hmm.” He stared. “You lied because?”