Chosen One (Forever Evermore #6)(74)
Absently, I folded an edge of a sheet, watching my work. “While we’re there I’ll want nightly meetings and will expect your complete and absolute attention, even with,” my eyes flittered on each of them, pausing a moment on King Collins, then moving on, “any issues you may be having in your current life.” I paused, eyes tracking back to King Zeller and King Collins. “I don’t expect us to be gone for an overly extended amount of time, but it could occur. I’ll give you the option right now to step away, because while we’re there, I may need you and won’t be able to risk bringing you back.”
King Zeller instantly shook his head. “I’m in. Elder Zeller and Elder Venclaire can handle business while I’m away.”
I nodded, and then met my King’s brown eyes. His were hooded, his expression utterly blank. I waited. Queen Cooper was pregnant. I couldn’t say picking him hadn’t been a toss-up because of this fact. I hadn’t not picked her because she was, my decisions on the Mages firm, but I had stumbled a bit with him, and whether he would be able to leave her…and possibly miss the birth of what appeared to be their first child.
“King Collins?” I prompted gently when he stayed quiet.
His lips pinched the barest bit. “I believe I’d never hear the end of it if I didn’t go.”
My head cocked. “That’s a yes?”
“That’s a yes,” he stated quietly. “But, hurrying has its advantages too.”
I chuckled quietly. “I’ll see what I can do.” Peering back to my notes, I yawned, covering my mouth with a hand, speaking through it. “And lastly, I’ll need you each to…appear intimidating.” There were a few snorts and chuckles, because they already were, but I waved a hand, rubbing my eyes. “We all know image can be a useful tool. If you scare the shit out of them by just your appearance, it may keep the weak at heart from attacking. You’ll already be the oddity of the Temple, you’re already going to be stared at no matter how hard you would try to blend, so just work it fashionably however is needed to get your point across your impenetrable.” Sitting back, I grabbed my Coke. “Any questions I may be able to answer?”
Brann instantly asked, “How will we be traveling to the Temple?”
“I’ll be taking all of you.” That was all I could say.
King Zeller flicked a hand, a scowl on his face. “The One said we would be bound to never communicate what we see. How is that handled?”
“With a simple star.” My eyes flicked to Elder Farrar. “Don’t try to stop this from happening as you did with their memories. There are reasons why spirits are silent, which I’m sure you will eventually hear while at the Temple.”
He stared for long moments, his gaze hardening to a rare side of him I hardly ever saw. “As I’ve said, I can’t see our path on this, but I can tell you I despise being bound to silence.”
I inhaled with aggravation, and opened my mouth…only to choke. Instantly, false loving caresses flittered across my neck, my hair fluttering in a breeze of the unseen tender touch, an arm delicately around my throat. Fear instantly pulled on me, every single man in the room jumping to their feet, eyes glowing, but I held up my hands in a stopping gesture as I tried to push the fear back, to calm myself. I had slipped, the one tie that literally bound a spirit, the only thing we couldn’t willingly say I had been, apparently, about to speak on. Everything was a choice for a spirit, whether we wished to speak on our secrets and have our powers taken, except for this one. This one couldn’t be communicated at all outside the Temple.
I closed my eyes, inhaling, shuddering at the gentle caresses, and after a moment, they disappeared as I calmed, my heart rate slowing, hair fluttering down, the unseen gone. I cleared my throat, and slowly opened my eyes. Everyone was watching with their glowing gazes, damn near on the balls of their feet, and I waved. “Sit down. It’s gone.” Slowly they did one by one. The Shifters sitting first, then Sin, grabbing my hand instantly, then the others. I cleared my throat once more, and opened my mouth, testing if I was about to say anything wrong, but when it didn’t occur again, I stated to Elder Farrar, “Some would believe us Gods, and use us as such, while we are not. The silence is a necessary evil to keep the balance.” I shrugged a shoulder. “It’s something you will have to trust me on, and if you do not, and do not allow me to do as needed, I will not allow you entrance to the Temple.” It was a simple statement of fact.
His expression turned a bit smug, eyebrows lifting the barest bit. “You would choose another Mage over me?”
“In a heartbeat.” My own brows lifted. “Be careful, Elder Farrar, you wouldn’t want to turn out like those other two powerhouses you spoke of earlier.”
His eyes narrowed for a moment, then he rolled his shoulders, relaxing on his chair. “You’re right. Excuse me, that was rude.” He glanced to Elder Merrick. “Was she telling the truth during all that?”
“Truth to all,” Elder Merrick murmured, his own brows lifting to Elder Farrar. “What the hell?”
He waved an irritated quick hand. “I want to go to the damn Temple, but I hate that silence shit.” He pointed at his head. “I’ve never been able to see it and it pisses me off.”
Elder Merrick grunted, brows still raised. “You sounded like a damn prig.”