Chosen Fool (Forever Evermore #5)(78)
His right hand that was reaching to pull a twig off my shoulder froze, indeed, his entire body went still. “I’m sorry, Miss. I didn’t hear you right. What did you just say?”
I sighed in frustration. The damn staff had been getting on my nerves lately. ‘Shootings’ and ‘brawl’ and ‘troublemaker’ were comments that were becoming a normal whispered occurrence when I entered any room with a staff member inside. I flipped my hair out of my face, staring up into unblinking golden eyes. “I said, the damn gossiping, gawking, pain-in-my-ass house staff will clean this up.” I glanced downward from who had to be Elder Nelson, the Elder Mage. I shuffled my right foot, toeing some of the debris. “But it’ll give them something else to bitch about.”
I brushed off the twig that Elder Nelson had been reaching for on my shoulder, then I extended my own hand into his frozen one. I hoped he wasn’t the sensitive sort since I had—ahem—cursed. Peering up into his eyes, I stated clearly, “It’s nice to meet you, Elder Nelson.”
He blinked once. Twice.
A masculine throat cleared to my right.
There was an Elder Vampire standing there, who had to be Elder Venclaire.
I glanced back to Elder Nelson. When he only continued to stare, I asked quietly, “Did I offend you?” I was really hoping that wasn’t the case.
“What?” he murmured absently, then he blinked once more before his shoulders shot back, his spine straightening. He finally shook my hand, and he stated a bit gruffly, “No, I’m fine. Just a bit jet-lagged.”
I let go of his hand with a kind smile. “I’m sorry to hear that. I’m positive the Rulers and the other Elders wouldn’t mind if you rested before the meeting.”
His eyes darted back and forth between mine. “How do you know what the Rulers and Elders would want?”
It was my turn to blink, and it swiftly occurred to me that he had no clue who I was…and neither did the others staring at me, whose gazes I could feel on me. I cleared my throat before speaking. “You’ll have to excuse me for not introducing myself. I automatically assumed you knew because I’ve been on television and the internet…” I bit back what I was going to say as his golden brows rose—I remembered they had been in the Third World. The less they knew about my ‘playful’ antics, the more likely this greeting would go well. I waved a hand, a bit of dirt flying from it. “Never mind. You’ll figure that all out soon enough.” I dipped my head to him as a respectful Prodigy should. “I’m Caro Jules, the Prodigy Elemental.”
He stared. “Caro Jules, the Prodigy Elemental?”
I nodded once. “Yes.” I gestured to the mess on the floor. “I’m not normally this ungraceful. I didn’t see the luggage in my rush to meet you.” When he didn’t say anything but only continued to eye me, I moved to the Vampire. I stepped carefully through the wreckage…and quickly jerked a leaf off his shoulder and dropped it on the ground. I extended my hand to him, peering up into his blue eyes. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Elder Venclaire.” My lips pinched under his direct, intense regard. “Sorry I made such a grand entrance. I’m really not a klutz.”
His lips twitched as he shook my hand. “I believe you…Ms Jules, you said?”
“Yes, Ms Jules. Or you can call me Caro if you prefer.”
His smile was handsome as he released my hand, his gaze flicking across my face. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, too.” He tapped his cheek. “You have a little dirt right there.”
“Thanks,” I mumbled, quickly wiping my face. I continued to the right, turning to a black-haired Shifter. I hopped over a large chunk of dirt and held my hand out to him politely. But I promptly reached up with my other hand and grabbed a twig that had somehow made its way into his hair, dropping it on the ground. “Elder Kincaid, I’m sorry if any other debris hit you.”
He huffed gently, his dark eyes penetrating. All of their gazes were intense. He spoke calmly and shook my hand. “No harm done, Ms Jules. And it’s nice to meet you.”
I lowered my hand and kept my features pleasant, deflecting his nice to meet you comment. “Are you happy to be back in the States?”
His lips curved. I was pretty sure I hadn’t put anything past him. “Yes, I’m pleased to be back. Especially since my mate, Fi, will be joining us later this evening.”
An honest question. “You haven’t seen her in two months?”
“No.”
“Well…” I leaned closer, my words quiet. “You may want to have a Mage spell your room for privacy, since there are walking Vamp ears everywhere.”
He chuckled quietly. “Thank you for the advice, Ms Jules.”
I straightened. “You’re welcome.” Watching where I walked, I continued to the right, heading to the last Elder. I placed my feet carefully between suitcases before hopping over one piece of luggage. Being as dignified as I could, I brushed hair out of my face and stared for a moment at the brown cashmere sweater in front of me. I composed myself, since this was the Elder Elemental. Inhaling subtly, I extended my hand then peered up into amber eyes. “It’s nice to meet you, Elder Fergus.”
The tone of his voice was the soft cadence of a self-assured man: a deep rich tenor. He spoke steadily, “The pleasure’s all mine, Ms Jules.” He paused as I cleared my throat, and he watched as I quickly bent down to right some of the luggage, giving my hands something to do. “May I enquire if Caro is short for Caroline?”