Chosen Fool (Forever Evermore #5)(86)
Hours later, the mission didn’t feel like such a noble cause.
Philip Masterson managed to elude the MSA team who had struck the Miami-based shipping and exporting firm, a front for illegal firearms trafficking. The spirit had sacrificed his sad existence of insanity for nothing except the take-down of an illegal business, which could have happened at any time. But we weren’t shutting any of the businesses down yet in the hope Philip Masterson and Jacob Angel wouldn’t go to ground.
I felt like shit and utterly sick to my stomach at the decision I had made but, more to the point, I was also pained to know I had done the right thing even with the poor outcome.
“I’d like to get out for a little while,” I murmured quietly to King Collins. We sat at the breakfast table, others speaking around us. “You know…just get out for a bit.”
His lips pinched, but he eventually nodded. “As long as your guards go with you, I believe it would be good for you to get out.”
“I’ll be going with her,” Sin added, spreading jam on his toast. “We’re just going to hit a few of the shops downtown and maybe go to the park if she’s up for it.”
King Collins nodded in relief. “That sounds nice.” He blinked. “Wait.” Another blink. “By the term hit, you aren’t implying you’re planning—”
Sin shot a sharp look in his direction, cutting him off. He still wasn’t in the best of moods after diligently putting up with me for the past five days. “No. We’re merely getting out for a little while.”
“You two are awfully cranky this morning,” Elder Farrar murmured, but he held out an envelope to me. “Can you mail this while you’re in town?”
My brows lifted as I took the thick envelope from him, my fingers rubbing…yep, I would know that feel anywhere. “Wouldn’t you prefer to spell this to the recipient than have it travel through the postal system?” Besides, I wasn’t sure it was exactly legal to send what felt like close to twenty grand in cold, hard cash through the mail. And it was incredibly ignorant.
He shrugged, sipping from his coffee. He appeared refreshed, like he might have had a very decent evening with someone special. I wondered which of the house staff he had snagged for one-on-one time. He choked on his coffee and I quickly held up a napkin. The vision of employee faces stopped floating through my mind.
His eyes flared golden, glowing brightly. Everyone at the table froze, except for Queen Ruckler who grabbed his coffee cup, and Elder Zeller who grabbed the napkin from me and handed it to Elder Farrar. Elder Farrar dabbed at his mouth quickly, blinking repeatedly. His eyes stopped glowing…and he actually glared across the table at me. More dabbing of his mouth. “Ms Jules, do try not to think so loudly next time.”
Now I blinked. “Excuse me?”
He sighed heavily, sitting back on his chair and brushing away Queen Ruckler’s helping hands when she blotted at his shirt. “You do know a Mystical’s powers only become stronger as they age?”
I nodded.
He pointed at his head, a sardonic smile lifting his lips. “In the past few years, one of my gifts has accelerated, popping up now and then when someone is thinking about me.”
I stared, and I asked point blank, “You heard my thoughts?”
Golden brows lifted. “Yes.” His lips twitched. “You were correct although, it wasn’t one of the house staff.” He stared at me steadily. “Never do that. The possible problems are endless.” His eyes flicked to Aria then back to me. “Anyway, that envelope is going where it’s needed and going how it’s needed.”
My cheeks instantly flushed, and I hastily stuffed the envelope in my purse. “I’ll mail it.” I cleared my throat. “My apologies on the…thought.”
Slowly his lips curved in a private grin, his mind going somewhere I was positive had nothing to do with breakfast. “And it was more than decent, Ms Jules.”
Sin started choking on his toast.
I waved a hand, mumbling, “Really…too much.” I waved my hand again, trying to erase his pleased expression from my mind. “I shouldn’t have been thinking of you like that.” Realizing how that had sounded as everyone stared and my blush fully alive on my cheeks, I rambled, “That came out wrong. I didn’t mean it like that. I just noticed he looked…” Oh God. “…refreshed.”
Sin chuckled deep in his chest, muttering quietly behind his napkin, “Shut up now, love.”
“Right,” I murmured, brushing hair out of my face. I’d had enough to eat, and I was more than ready to leave. “Let’s go.”
Sin looked grumpily at his still half-full plate. “I’m not done yet.”
“Eat fast or take it with you,” I whispered harshly against his ear. I stood and grabbed my purse over the back of the chair, slinging it over my left shoulder. Sin stuffed as much food in his mouth as fast as possible, while I said goodbye to King Collins.
The One murmured from his place at the table, “Ms Jules, I trust you have my diamond, since it disappeared before I could retrieve it?”
The conversations at the table deflated into stunned quiet.
I cleared my throat while covertly yanking on the back of Sin’s shirt to hurry him up. “I have my Primal Diamond, if that’s what you’re referring to.”