Chosen Fool (Forever Evermore #5)(63)

I scowled. “I was in the zone, man. Why’d you have to go and ruin it?”

He chuckled quietly. “Because it’s the truth. Although, I will say that your deduction of finding out who the individual—and even their motive behind it—was brave and genius. But now we need to figure out where each of them is going to strike next, since there’s no way to track them down.”

The One kept tapping his thumb on his chair. “Sorry to contradict you, Mr Johnson, but there is one way to track them down.”

Elder Merrick argued, “You said you can’t even find Jacob Angel. If there was a way to do so, then why wouldn’t you have done it already?”

“Because the way to track him is through an item that was given to me as a gift one year.” More slow tapping of his thumb, with a lazy tone. “It was stolen from me five years ago.”

I blinked slowly, realization dawning…it could find him, now that I had his true name. It had taken me to Sin, who was also protected, when I was eighteen. Why wouldn’t it take me to them, too?

All right, there are moments when I understand the really complex issues, but simple problems just float on by. But that was when I would plant my fist into someone’s face to compensate for errors in a plan. Right now? Not so much.

And there was the added little fact that I was a criminal at heart.

Even if I was trying to walk the straight path, what I stole was mine.

Like, never-giving-my-shit-away mine.

I pointedly stared straight at the One’s nose, even as a few people glanced at me.

All right, half the room knew I had stolen something from him five years ago.

Leave it to Elder Zeller, with his curiosity, to blab. “Are you referring to the Primal Diamond?”

Roselle’s eyebrows snapped together. “I thought that thing was a rumor.” She glanced at the One. “You even told me it wasn’t real when I asked a few years ago.” Her attention snapped to Elder Zeller. “How would you know what was a rumor at the Temple?”

And dear Lord, she was on a f*cking mission. Because even though he was intelligent enough not to answer that one, her gaze eventually ended up on me. “You. You were there five years ago. And you said you were gone from the Temple once he came back into his room.” Her gaze flicked to the One like a dart. “You lied to me. I’m not happy about that.”

I jumped on that like a f*cking lifeline, remembering the Walkers had asked about the Primal Diamond. “Why would you lie to her about it?”

He shrugged a shoulder. “Because she didn’t need to know.”

My gaze went to Brann, and he stated, “Truth.”

My attention slammed back to a certain nose. “What does the Primal Diamond do? Fake people were also questioning about it.”

“With the barest whisper from your lips, it takes you anywhere you want to go.”

Brann stated, “Truth.”

I continued. “Is that all it does?”

He didn’t answer, still acting laid-back on his chair.

“All right, I’ll take that as a no.” I cleared my throat, tapping my fingers on the table, and a sudden thought occurred. “Is that why you’re here? To get the Primal Diamond back?”

The room hushed to silence, all eyes on him.

His lips curved, and he chuckled very softly. “Nice try to find something wrong in me but, no, my intentions for coming here were not to get the Primal Diamond back. I could have easily figured out at the Temple with you where it might be.” He paused. “Although, I do want it back.” Another pause. “It’s mine.”

No, it’s mine.

Brann stated, “Truth to all.”

I inhaled heavily. “The Primal Diamond is a spelled diamond. Who put the spell on it?”

“Whoever put the spell on it, they did it long ago,” he purred quietly.

“Name, please.”

“You’re all about the names,” he stated softly, and his thumb started tapping again. “Honestly, Ms Jules, I don’t understand why we’re even having this conversation. It’s mine. You stole it. I want it back. Not for any foul intent; in fact, it would greatly help right now. But I just want the damn thing back because it’s mine.”

Elder Farrar, out of nowhere, choked on a laugh and quickly put a fist in front of his mouth. “I’m sorry.” More choking. “But f*ck, you two sound so much alike.”

I flicked him a glare but spoke over him as I leaned forward on the table, clasping my hands together calmly. “In the criminal world, what you steal is what you own.”

A white eyebrow lifted. “This coming from the Prodigy Elemental?”

I tilted forward more. “Don’t let that fool you.” My gaze narrowed on his nose. “If I did happen to have it, it would be mine, not owned by the man who walked out of a room containing an obvious thief.”

He snorted. “Thieving was not exactly what was happening in my room when I slipped outside for possibly three whole f*cking minutes. Don’t even claim it was.”

My brows lifted. “Proof positive is that I did steal it.”

His jaw clenched and his eyes narrowed. “It’s mine and I want it back.”

My eyes flared wide in mock sympathy. “I understand it hurts when you’re stolen from.” I slanted my head. “Give it more time. The pain of loss, and the reality the object is no longer yours, will eventually settle deep in,” I pointed at my heart, “here.”