Chosen Fool (Forever Evermore #5)(61)
He opened his mouth wide…and yawned.
Damn cat.
The One lifted Isolde in front of his face while she bared her teeth. “You’re kind of cute for such a bitty thing.” His words didn’t stop her growling.
I ignored them, focusing on the issue.
“I’m going back over there,” I stated firmly to Tristan. “Don’t you try and stop me.”
When he started scooting on his ass to sit directly in front of me, I stared at him like the crazy tiger he was being. “What the hell’s gotten into you?” I shook my finger over his head. “I’m seriously going over there, so cut the shit out.”
I held my hands up to the One, waggling my fingers for Isolde, but I kept a wary eye on Tristan. There was an ornery gleam in his eye. “You may want to tell him to behave,” I murmured as the One sat Isolde in my hands. I tucked her close to my chest but pointed a finger at Tristan. “He’s got a look about him.”
Dry words. “I already told him to behave before we came inside.”
“Huh…well, all right.” I started to step around the tiger, but he instantly countered. And I swear to God he was playing with me, swaying a little and wagging his tail. “That’s not behaving.”
“Tristan,” the One growled in quiet reprimand, snapping his fingers. “Get over here.”
Tristan’s head darted toward him then quickly back to me when I lifted a leg to move around him. I calmly put my foot back down and muttered, “Dammit.” Glancing around, I gave up. The stubborn cutie was not going to let me pass. And he wasn’t listening to the One. “Fine…for now.”
His mouth opened in what looked like a grin.
“Oh yes,” I mumbled. “That’s precious.” I spoke in a high, childlike tone. “Look at me, I’m so cute,” then in my firm voice, “I don’t listen to my damn owner.”
I huffed in aggravation and peered up with irritated eyes to King Collins. He was staring at me oddly. “Sorry about that.” A glance at the One’s nose. “And thanks for catching us, although next time don’t expect Isolde not to bite you if you try to pet her.”
“It was no hardship,” the One drawled slowly, and his hand…well, he moved much faster than I had seen him do before. I was pretty sure his arm actually blurred for a second because I blinked and suddenly Isolde was out of my hands and in his. Isolde yapped at him then growled again. But she didn’t bite him as he petted her back softly with his other hand. “As you can see, she won’t bite me. If she was going to, then she would have after I caught her and didn’t release her.”
I blinked slowly in the mute room. My gaze went to King Collins, my brows furrowed. “You once gave me a conundrum to figure out…and I think I got it wrong.” My head swung back to the One’s hands. I lifted her out of his hands. “I’m thoroughly confused.”
King Collins snorted.
Brows furrowed—and not about to unfurrow anytime soon—I peered in his direction, waiting for King Collins to make his next move. The greeting, and side show, was over. But King Collins and many of the others were wearing extremely perplexed expressions. They weren’t so quick to alter them as they stared at the One. King Collins eventually cleared his throat, stating, “Would you care to have the meeting now, or would you prefer to be shown to your rooms first?”
The One’s head cocked, and he held up a finger. “I’m sorry, just a moment.” He glanced out the opened door, staring out into the hallway.
As one, we all turned our attention toward the opened door, wondering what captivated his attention. But the hallway was empty. I kept staring because he was. About a minute into the silence, a handsome man I had never met before—a Shifter with black hair and a few white streaks—turned the corner down the long hallway, reading from a book. He stopped in his tracks, turned the page, and continued reading a second before taking three more steps. Not looking up, he fumbled for a doorhandle halfway down the hallway, got the door open, entered, and shut it behind him. The hallway was deserted again.
Like an ancient wind-up toy, the One gradually straightened from his slight tilt. He ran his fingers through his hair, his gaze on the ground, before he lowered his arms. He peered back up to King Collins, everyone’s attention back on him. “It’s not irregular for me to become…distracted. I ask you to please excuse any disruption this may cause while we’re here.” His thumbs tapped on his silk covered legs. “And to answer your question, we can go ahead with the meeting. Reese, Roselle, and I will need to retire to our rooms after that, though.”
King Collins worked smoothly with the eccentricities unique to the One. “Thank you. We appreciate it.” It sounded like the gratitude was actually genuine.
We moved from the Shifter section of the building to the Elemental side. I sat inside a large conference room, the colors a splendid mix of the five elements. My own chair was neon blue, and the inlaid tile conference table was a rainbow of colors. The three other Prodigies hurried to arrive after their King or Queen had phoned them. To their credit, each one handled seeing the newcomers well, although Aria stared at their eyes overly hard and Brann sniffed them. But there was also a moment when Brann shook hands with the One, and Brann stiffened, blinked, then a small smile curved his lips. Their handshake was definitely a little too rough. Eventually though, we were all seated around the table. King Collins sat at the head of the table to my right, as was normal, and he gestured for the One to take the floor.