Chosen Fool (Forever Evermore #5)(54)
Tristan started rubbing around me again, his soft huffing purr loud in the room of God-awful silence. A shaky laugh escaped me at the ridiculousness of the damn loving tiger. I glanced down at him, shaking my head while I ran my fingers through his soft fur. “Yes, I’ve missed you too, Tristan. It’s been five years too long without seeing your real handsome face.” I spoke whisper-soft. “I don’t have any chocolate for you. I’m sorry.” He only tilted his head up and licked my palm before nuzzling his head back against my hand.
I chuckled quietly, oddly feeling better.
One minute the tiger was a menace. The next minute, he was my salvation.
Go animals!
Mrs Damon charmed with an easy cadence I had never heard from her Walker. “You’ve met Tristan before?”
“Yes,” I stated clearly, my eyes only on her. “And not just his Walker. When I was here five years ago for that month, he and I met when he stole my chocolate bar right out of my hand. After that, every day I was here he found me somewhere, making my day a little brighter.” I rubbed his head affectionately. “He’s always been a sweetheart.”
“You were only here for a month?” Mrs Damon asked, continuing in her soft tone and gesturing where I had been sitting before. “Please, Ms Jules, sit down.” Her brows lifted in a private challenge. “You were doing so well before.”
My gaze ran over her face, her expression kind-hearted. “You’re hardly anything like your Walker.”
A slight curve of her lips. “I wouldn’t imagine any of us are, with a complete psychopath running the actions.” Another gesture at the chair. “You were only here for the month before you decided you didn’t want to stay?”
Running a hand over my face, I decided that a little more giving on my part would go a long way to getting that name. I moved back to my chair, tilting it a bit so I wasn’t facing the One straight on, and I grunted when Tristan lifted on his hind legs and sprawled his entire upper half over the top of the chair’s arms. His weight wasn’t really on me, but his flank shoved at my chest. Pretty much caging me in the chair. Knowing when I was fighting a losing battle, I placed my hands on his back and rubbed at his muscles. “Yes, I was only here for a month when I was eighteen. A few spirit Elementals found me on the streets one day, or I bumped into them, but anyway, they kidnapped me and brought me here when they realized I had never been to the Temple. Being young and freaked out, I wanted to go home. The One’s dictates wouldn’t let me, and I didn’t understand why at the time—I was young and dumb—so using a bit of ingenuity I left after a month.”
“Hmm.” She nodded a few times. “And why weren’t you brought to the Temple as a baby, even if your parents did choose to live outside the Temple? Any spirit knows it’s for the safety of their own child, and others, to do so.”
“I don’t know who my biological parents are. I assume they’re dead. Sin and I were brought up in foster families, none of them good.”
She blinked. “Sin?”
My lips curved. “A very good friend of mine.”
White brows lifted. “Interesting name.”
I chuckled quietly. “Many say that, but it doesn’t do him justice…or he doesn’t do the name justice. I never know which way to go with that.” Out of nowhere, or not so much out of nowhere, I felt the One’s power start to trickle from his mute position across the table, pouring over me. My smile instantly fell and I flicked a hand at him, not looking in his direction. “Please don’t do that. The sensation is very uncomfortable.”
The power abruptly cut off without any questions.
I flicked my eyes toward him, making it to Roselle before I looked back to Mrs Damon, but I stated, “You won’t be able to feel my power. I’m protected somehow from Mysticals testing me.”
Mr Damon blinked. “That makes sense why you weren’t found earlier in life than eighteen, and even then it was only by accident.”
“Yes, I know the One knows when baby spirits are born outside the Temple, and I know that the protection over me is why I wasn’t purposely found. The teachers here explained that.”
Mr Damon’s head cocked. “Do you not think it odd that you are somehow protected from the One finding you to make sure you won’t become a Ruler, and you’re one of the few Mysticals who do become one?”
“I think I’m exactly where I need to be, no matter how I got in the position.” I may never know what the hell happened. “I’m there for a reason, whatever it may be. And in the end, I am the next Queen Elemental.” I held his gaze. “I’m not sure if you know this information yet, but the Prodigies received Vizoacs. There’s another time of unrest coming, and whether it is internal or worldwide, I’ll be there fighting it. Just as I am trying to do now…” My brows lifted. “With a name, possibly?”
I froze when the One spoke, his deep tenor…humbled. “You were very brave to come here to see me after what was done to you.”
“Thank you.” I stared down at Tristan’s body, picking absently through one of his black streaks. “Are you going to help me?”
“Yes.” Simple, quiet words. “It may not be how you want it though.”
My chuckle could have rivaled an old Com’s. “There’s always a catch.” More picking of Tristan’s fur. “Your deal would be?”