Chosen Fool (Forever Evermore #5)(47)

Queen Cooper placed her folded hands on the table, asking in a soothing voice, “Are you sure this is the best route?” For you, her golden gaze said.

My head dropped backward on my chair, and I stared blindly at the ceiling. “It’s my only option. We’re up against a powerful Mystical. And the One will know them all. With the right questions, we may be able to track down this f*cker before he attacks us again.” I tilted my head to King Collins. “You all understand that a Mystical was the orchestrator behind both attacks, correct?” I still couldn’t say too much, as no secrets were revealed outside the Temple.

“You mean the Shadows?” My King’s blue eyebrows rose. “Yes, we’ve deduced that much. It was too coincidental.” He smirked, slow and steady. “The Mystical was also the orchestrator behind the…Walkers.”

I blinked at him. “You should probably tuck away whatever book you’ve been reading, because if I came across it…you would no longer have it.”

King Collins’s head jerked to Queen Ruckler. She nodded once for my truth. He muttered, “Well, hell. I’ll have to hide the damn thing then.” He scowled at me a moment. “That would have been nice to know beforehand.”

“I’ve learned to talk in code now.” I took a few bites of my oatmeal. “Anyway, I’ll want that list of questions as soon as possible.”

Elder Farrar cleared his throat, and we all peered to him as he lifted a yellow pad of paper off the breakfast table, handing it and a pencil to me. “I took notes during the meetings, writing down our most important questions, but you may want to add a few of your own.” I held the pad of paper and pencil in one hand, gaping. He merely tapped his temple before shrugging his shoulders. “I knew you were going.”

“Right.” I stared at the pad of paper and pencil in my hand. Seeing the scribbled list made it that much more real. “Thank you.”

“You’ll do fine,” Elder Farrar murmured in a gentle voice. My wide, slightly scared eyes lifted to him. “Just be yourself, tell the truth.” He tilted his head. “Or the truth you need to tell. But ask questions. You won’t faint or throw up or cry or do anything else when you’re in front of him that you’re afraid of.” Slow words. “Even though I can’t see it, I know you’ll be fine.”

Air rushed past my lips, my chest heaving. “I’m not scared.”

His smile was tender. “Anyone would be in your situation.”

My nostrils flared. I tapped my own temple. “Can you tell me why that goddamn mother-f*cker targeted me specifically?”

He shook his head slowly.

I sucked in a shaky breath. “All right.” I stared down at the notes, not even seeing the words. “No time like the present, it appears.” A glance to King Collins. “I’ll be back in a while.”

“If you need me, just…” King Collins’s brows pinched. “Hell, I don’t know where the Temple is, but if you need me, and you have a way to contact me spirit-style, do so. I’ll be there for you.”

Quiet words. “Thank you.” I glanced at Brann. “Do you still have my swords?”

His head shook, amber eyes shining in the morning light. “Actually, I handed it over to Elder Merrick. He requested it…and I agreed.”

I blinked slowly at his wording. My eyes flicked to Elder Merrick. And held.

My problems had escalated to an Elder’s special touch. Wonderful.

Endless navy blue eyes held my gaze unflinchingly. He said not a word.

My lips lifted sardonically, the smile of the f*cked and jaded. But I did trust this Elder. After all, he had nailed the Walker Leric for me and held him immobile until I could end the bastard. “I’ll be back for them.”

A black brow lifted. “They’ll be waiting like they have been.”

I stared. “Damn, you can speak.”

He eyed me. No expression. Grunted.

“Or maybe not.” My lips twitched as I grabbed my purse off the back of my chair, stuffing the pad of paper and pencil in it. I glanced at Brann and stood to my feet. “I’ll see you later, Herculean.”

“Later, Felon.”

I flashed bright white, opening my Core. The galaxies were my vision, my very being, as I floated into the pureness. I whispered to the stars, “Temple, give me access.”

Abruptly, my boots were firmly planted on white sand, a blue ocean behind me.

Ten male Guardians stood in a row to the left of me, and ten more male Guardians stood in a row to my right. All of them were dressed in white silk from their waists to their knees, platinum polished spears in their hands, the deadly ends made of pure diamond. They stared out at the ocean. The sun was just beginning to set over it, casting a magnificent shine on the white Temple in front of me. It still reminded me of Arabian architecture, except it was enormous…and just a front for anyone entering. I inhaled heavily and jerked at the scent.

I had forgotten the smell of this majestic place.

Jasmine floated on a breeze of its own.

It was pure peace on the air.

The guards tried to ignore me—after seeing I was indeed a spirit that had come by way of the cosmos—but their eyes continued to flick toward me, all of them appraising my attire.

I realized too late my clothes were a bit eye-catching here. I was wearing my black leather pants, layered hot pink and white tank tops, and a trendy short black leather jacket. Plus my purse and hot pink streaked hair. I shrugged off their curiosity and moved toward the closest Guardian. “Do you know where the One is today? Or even possibly how I can request an audience with him?”