Chosen Fool (Forever Evermore #5)(100)

The rest nodded.

Elder Fergus allowed me to sit first, only to push me as he sat. I had to scoot quickly or risk getting squashed. But I slammed into Elder Kincaid, who had snuck in the other way. Elder Nelson sat next to him, with Elder Venclaire sitting down last, on Elder Fergus’s other side. A bit breathless, and squashed again, I murmured, “That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

“Apparently not,” Elder Venclaire muttered dryly, sliding menus over the table to everyone, his blue eyes meeting mine. “I’m seriously riding next time.”

“The cabbie was f*cking hilarious,” Elder Fergus stated, a small chuckle bubbling past his lips before he cut it off. He rumbled a decent impression, “Yes, ma’am. Yes, ma’am.”

Elder Nelson snorted. “I still think her best work tonight was getting all of those prostitutes’ real names.” He shook his head. “It was like watching dog shit turned into pure, rose-smelling gold.”

I laughed outright. “Thank you.”

“No, the best of the evening was that she managed to pass his test with flying colors.” Elder Kincaid lifted dark eyebrows. “She even managed to get him, a Mage, to hit on her in front of us.”

My lips twitched. “You heard that, huh?”

He nodded, his smile cunning.

I added to the conversation, “What I found amazing was four Royals who flew completely under the radar as they used the owner’s game against him.”

“He’s an ass,” Elder Fergus grunted, peering at his menu. “The first night we went there, he tried that shit on us, and we let it fly.” A shrug. “Just so we could come back and work him over a few times.” Amber eyes flicked to me. “Would you like to share what you’re up to with him? He’s obviously your main target.”

My head teetered back and forth. “No, it’s probably not a good idea.”

He hummed quietly, not pressing any further, and turned his eyes back to his menu.

“Actually, I’ll tell you what the most fascinating feat of the night is.” Elder Venclaire drummed his fingers on the table, staring directly at me, his eyebrows slowly rising. “It would be the Mystical who could pass for a Com—if her hair wasn’t neon red. Because we can’t feel your power, Ms Farrow.” His eyes flicked down to my right wrist. “And that bruise has been on your arm since you exited the cab.” Slow words. “You’re not healing like a Mystical, even a weak one.”

I tilted my arm. There was a nasty bruise on the side of my wrist peeking out from under the edge of my sleeve, the colors garish. I must have hit my arm on the steering wheel. I silently cursed his damn Vampire sight. Even though the action was useless, I tucked my arm under the table quickly as my gaze darted to each of the Elders staring at me with carefully blank expressions. “I’m not a Com. I’m a Mystical, an Elemental.” I let my eyes glow, glancing at each of them before I shut off my power. “And let’s skip past the topic of what you just saw.” There wasn’t really anything I could say as an excuse. “I am protected magically from others feeling my power, and I’ll warn you up front that if you try testing me, it feels like sandpaper running over my skin, so please don’t.”

When I stopped speaking, Elder Nelson’s eyes flew to Elder Kincaid.

The Elder Shifter nodded once, stating, “Truth to all.”

“All right, Ms Farrow,” Elder Fergus stated with a serious tone. “As the Prodigies, we’ll trust you. For now.”

Well, that answered that question. Prodigies.

I grinned. “I wouldn’t expect any less. And call me Sadie.”

“Okay, Sadie.” His head teetered in thought. “You can call me Fergus.”

I snorted and held my stomach as I laughed.

He shrugged a shoulder, a corner of his lips lifting. “We’re not sleeping together.”

I held up a pointed finger. “Very true.” I stared at the men in this booth. “I think I’m going to like being friends with you guys.” I paused, quirking a brow. “If you can keep up.”

Their wicked smiles informed me that they most certainly could.

The next morning, Saturday, I woke to a soft knock at my door. Although I had only been asleep for a few hours, I still felt refreshed, smiling from my previous evening and rolling out of bed with pep. All four Prodigies had insisted—politely—after a covert glance at my car, that their limo follow me home to make sure I arrived safely. It had been unnerving having the limo follow me. It was like a cop was tailing me and almost as if I needed to follow each driving rule. My trusty car made it fine. The Prodigies had been in superb spirits from their ride, half lit after raiding the limo’s minibar, so I had asked them if they wanted to come inside and watch television. They had stayed and sobered up before being dropped at each of the Kings’ homes. They were much more intriguing and complex than they had let on in 2035.

And with them, I didn’t feel so lonely.

As I peered through the peephole, my grin only grew. I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to fix my bed hair. I unlocked and opened the door. “Don’t you four sleep?”

All four Prodigies grinned then stormed inside, practically running me over. They were dressed casually in athletic pants and t-shirts and held brown grocery sacks.

Venclaire mumbled, “Good morning to you, too.”