Chosen Fool (Forever Evermore #5)(50)
Ever so gradually, he lifted his hand. As soon as his fingers brushed the paper, I quickly let go, not doing a very decent job of hiding the fact I didn’t want his fingers grazing mine. But at least he took the damned thing, even though he stalled when he noticed my further unease. He rested back on his throne and started to open the sheet right there.
I jerked forward, snatching it out of his hands.
He blinked in a sluggish fashion, his hands still raised. Slower still, his intelligent eyes flicked to mine, and I quickly stared at his nose again. There was a beat of silence, then he drawled, “I’m confused, Ms Jules. You wanted me to take the paper and read it.” He paused, and if I wasn’t mistaken, there was a bit of humor in his lazy tone. “Yet you take it away when I actually do as you unprecedentedly demand.”
I flicked a finger to his shapely accessory. “Not with Lissa reading over your shoulder.”
That was where I quickly realized I made my first mistake. Because even though I wasn’t staring directly in his eyes, I still saw them sharpen further on me. This man was most definitely not the Walker, his aptitude shining brightly in his eyes no matter what he did outwardly to try to mask it. He purred softly, “You’ve met Lissa before, have you, Ms Jules?”
I froze for a few moments, but I quickly recovered. “I haven’t really met her myself, but when I was here at the Temple before, I saw her once and overheard her name.”
He cocked his head slightly on his throne. “And when were you here last, Ms Jules?”
“A few years ago,” I stated offhandedly. I held the paper up, waggling it. “Now, back to business. I want only your eyes on this sheet.” I seriously didn’t care if I offended his shiny accessory.
“You mean the eyes you won’t meet?” He was taunting and teasing me, and this humming tone was not one I knew at all.
There was no point in lying, since I still didn’t have it in me to look him in the eyes. “Yes, those would be the ones.” I lifted my gaze to bright green narrowed eyes and asked on a soft whisper to his pretty-pretty accessory, “If you don’t mind, could you park your ass somewhere else?” My smile wasn’t kind as her face flushed with anger at the—um—somewhat unkind question. “This is Ruler business. I’m sure you’ll understand, hmm?”
“Leric,” she hissed, still a drama queen. My initial thoughts five years ago about her had been accurate. Lissa placed her right hand on his shoulder, squeezing it. “Do something about this unacceptable blemish.”
I couldn’t help but stare for a few ticks at where her hand was, utterly frozen. A rush of jealousy, uncalled for but because of the f*cking Walker, flooded my system. I quickly averted my gaze and decided to keep my mouth shut because, honestly, they could be married for all I knew.
The One eyed me and then patted her hand. “Lissa, be a dear and go stand by Roselle for a few moments while I take care of business.”
“Leric…” she whined quietly.
I sighed deep inside, staring over his chair while waiting patiently for him to take care of the drama queen, which he did expediently, taking her hand from his shoulder. Whatever look he gave her had her moving instantly to Roselle’s side, so I lowered my eyes again to his nose. This time when I handed the paper over, I made sure to hold just the bare edges so he couldn’t touch my fingers. But I was pretty sure my covertness was a lost cause because he, again, watched my hand closely as he took the paper.
The One opened it slowly. He asked dryly, “Is it safe to read now?”
My lips pinched at being as secretive as I was, but it was needed. “Yes.”
More dry words. “Thank you.” He read the names and his eyebrows rose. He snapped the sheet closed, and he asked in a lazy tone, “Is this really needed, Ms Jules?”
“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t.”
His thumbs thumped on his chair. “I’ll grant your request for a private meeting.”
Chapter Nineteen
“Perfect.” I stepped back as he started to stand. “Thank you.”
“Amazing.” He snickered softly. “It actually sounded like you meant that.” Standing next to me, he flicked his finger at Roselle then Reese. “Both of you come with me.”
I followed at a respectful distance when Reese shouldered his way to stand next to the One. Fortunately for me, instead of leaving the way I had come, the One took us out a door directly behind the thrones. I shut it behind me with gentle care, following as we walked down a wide, white sanded hallway lit in a homey nature by stars’ fire instead of light fixtures. The One blew a few breaths in the air, and twinkling stars dangled in the exhales. My brows puckered in confusion until I saw those stars fly away in different directions. It took a second, but I remembered from my time here that the One had many ways of communicating with people. I wondered if that was his way of making a phone call.
After a few twisting turns down various other hallways, the One opened a door to what looked to be his private office. The room, much like his bedroom, was open and airy, with windows all along one wall, and the decor of teaks and white and silver. The bookshelf filled with ancient tomes completely surprised me. I gaped at all of the books for a beat too long, but I quickly averted my attention to where the One was gesturing to the long conference table made of white marble.