Chosen Fool (Forever Evermore #5)(38)

“Show-off,” I whispered breathlessly against his jaw as my eyes shut in exhaustion. I was not really able to move yet. “I killed them all.”

“Yes, you did,” he drawled as he stood, still holding me easily. He propped one of his hands conveniently on my ass to balance me since my legs weren’t gripping very tightly around his waist. My arms were like limp noodles over his shoulders while my head rested in the crook of his neck. My eyes were not about to open anytime soon. “And I did notice my dad floating in the air, and that very lovely sword in their protective wall.”

“It’s my sword,” I griped. “You know, Leric, one of those f*ckers actually stole it while I was fighting. I didn’t even know they could do that.” I yawned. “It was trying to slaughter that deer up on the wall.”

Leric’s chest started shaking. “They’re not all the brightest.”

I growled on a slur, “So I chopped his head off instead.” I snorted. “Got my damn sword back.”

“Sounds like a fair trade to me,” Leric murmured on a dry chuckle, still gripping my ass with one hand while petting my hair with his other. He eventually began walking somewhere when I was quiet for a minute, almost dozing. “King Collins, you can let the shield down now.”

I heard King Collins hum just as quietly, and then he spoke softly. “I do appreciate you bringing my Prodigy back from the brink of what appeared to be insanity, but I think we’ll keep the wall up if you think you’re going to take our memories of this.”

I groaned, “King Zeller tattled.”

King Collins muttered, “I still didn’t understand a damn thing she just said.”

“She’s tired,” Leric growled quietly. “Leave her alone. After all, she did just save all of you.” He gripped the back of my neck, gently massaging. “Moreover, she stated unmistakably that King Zeller apparently spilled the news, which I would imagine he overheard with those f*cking ears of his.”

“Your dad,” I muttered, my words more of a yawn.

Leric snorted.

I blinked. “Have you talked to Lissa recently?”

“No,” he whispered softly. “Quiet now.”

“It still stands: we won’t allow you to take our memories, however we found out,” King Collins explained. “We’re not really fond of that method.”

“Jesus,” Leric muttered, growling quietly under his breath. “God, I hate the overly sensitive sometimes.” He was walking again, and he growled quietly when he stopped, “Dad, you’re taking care of this crowd and their issues since you apparently forewarned them.” Then he was instantly moving again, muttering over his shoulder and away from my head, “Don’t give me that look, and make sure you get her swords. She seems attached to them. I’ll get Sprite into bed, and perhaps next time you’ll keep your mouth shut.”





Chapter Fourteen

I glared at Leric inside Elder Farrar’s spelled privacy suite the next morning, where everyone was congregating for a meeting. I didn’t see my property anywhere. “Where are my swords?”

Brann answered my question. “I have them. I’ll give them back when we have a free minute.”

I nodded in agreement. “Thank you.” They were mine.

Leric muttered a curse, his eyes jerking to his dad. “You couldn’t have picked them up as I asked?”

“Don’t take that tone with me, young man,” Mr Damon griped. “I was a little busy, seeing as you ordered me to f*cking take care of them. By the time I was done, the swords were gone. I thought they had been stolen.”

I blinked at their candor in front of everyone. I stared at Mr Damon. “You were supposed to…you know…” My finger twirled about, since I wasn’t able to speak of it. “What the hell happened? Did they take you down or something?”

Leric growled quietly, “My father informed me that Elder Farrar apparently put a memory spell on all the Elders, Kings and Queens, and Prodigies before my dad could break through the protection spell.” A white brow lifted. “They still know, and I’m fairly sure the spell can’t be broken if my dad couldn’t push past it.”

I blinked at him. “Okay.” That was weird…and not technically against any spirit Law.

King Zeller cleared his throat. “About that. We should probably thank you for killing all of those…” He stalled in his speech, glancing at King Collins. “What did you call them?”

King Collins answered evenly, “Shadows is what the book accounted for.”

My gaze was huge on their faces. Where the hell did he get this book?

Actually, I didn’t want to know. Some things were better left to the unknown.

I shrugged, keeping it cool. “No problem.”

Mr Damon and Mrs Damon nodded their heads respectfully.

But not another thank you was said. Everyone was silent.

Really, King Zeller’s gratitude wasn’t even a real thank you.

Leric muttered a foul curse quietly then stood abruptly. “One day, you will all understand the importance of a spirit Elemental, and you will show the proper respect due. Until then, I feel bad for all of you. Your ignorance is hindering your growth as a community.”

I blinked repeatedly as he and the rest of the spirit Elementals left the room.