King Cave (Forever Evermore, #2)(121)
He smiled, running a hand through his hair and then placing them in his pockets. The action, and this also surprised me, appeared bashful. “You sure? I haven’t had short hair before.” He rocked back on his heels, watching me eagerly for my answer.
Ah, he was a little vain.
My grin grew. “Don’t worry, you look amazing. The Mages will be falling all over themselves.”
And…he flushed.
I blinked. “Are you blushing?” I couldn’t help but chuckle when his blush grew rosier. “Seriously, Antonio? Are you worried what someone might think?”
“No,” he stated instantly, picking up my bag.
Lie.
My eyes grew large. “Who?” I yelped when he grabbed my ear, hauling me to my feet. “Okay, okay. I’m sorry!” Lie. “I won’t ask again.” Also a lie.
“Let’s go,” he muttered, literally kicking me in the butt toward the door, then dancing away when Bonnie took notice at me being manhandled. “We’re late.”
My lips pinched, and I couldn’t help but ask, “Is it that ‘talented partner’ you were with when you were late for that meeting?”
“What talented partner?” Ezra asked, watching avidly from the couch. “I think I missed that.”
Antonio’s lips twitched the barest bit. “Lil, just get your ass out the door.”
“Oh,” I hummed, eyebrows waggling as I put my hoodie on. “I’m right, aren’t I?”
Antonio sighed heavily, and then griped to Cahal, “Get your son up. We need to go.”
Cahal had been peering back into the depths of our room, but turned narrowed eyes on Antonio, snapping, “Don’t order me.” But he did stand and motioned for Ezra to get up. “We need to get outside instead of fooling around in here. The next Prodigies are more important than figuring out who Antonio’s currently f*cking.”
“Precisely,” Antonio grumbled, shooing me out the door. He pointed at me. “My sex life is not up for discussion.”
That was too big of an opportunity. My eyebrows rose as I crossed my arms, rocking back and forth on my feet. “Then…,” I leaned forward as Ezra and Cahal exited the room behind us, Bonnie and Clyde scurrying out with them, “neither is mine.” I punctuated it by tapping his nose lightly, and added a curt nod when his eyes narrowed. “Fair is fair.”
He growled, “You are…”
“Sweet? Innocent? Adorable? Brilliant? Fantastic? Funn—”
He slapped a hand over my mouth. “All of those things,” he groused. “But definitely more infuriating the older you become.”
I grinned behind his hand. “Ah, I love you, too.”
“Your door?” Cahal ignored us, speaking with Ezra. He pointed at Ezra’s door next to mine. “Where does it lead?”
“Same place,” Ezra stated, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me away from Antonio so that I was flush against his chest. “It’s also spelled to take us to our room.”
Cahal eyed us before turning a glare on Antonio. “You and I are going to have words.”
Antonio’s smile was only teeth. “No, we’re not, and you know it.” He gestured to Ezra and me without turning his gaze away from Cahal. “You can see it as well as I can. They’re damn cute and endearing together.” It didn’t sound like a compliment.
Cahal growled a little, also not looking in our direction.
Well, that was enough of that. “Prodigies…remember?”
They both grunted, but eventually did stop their staring contest.
Chapter Eighteen
Fun time was over.
We didn’t talk as we wound our way through the tunnels, Ezra and I both trying to come to grips with what we were about to do even as we dealt with our ecstatic emotions for each other, while Clyde and Bonnie walked close together without touching, as we had originally instructed them, in front of us, uncannily going the way we needed to. People passed us staring oddly at us for a moment since our appearances were altered, but after a glance at the cubs then back to us, their eyes widened and they silently made room.
Minutes later, Ezra and I snuck a glance at each other before exiting the cave. Only love and fear for each other shone in our eyes, so it was a good thing we were taking to heart Cahal’s advice about not looking at each other, since we were having serious issues hiding our emotions right now.
Nostrils flared, and hovering a smidge closer so I could feel his body heat, Ezra whispered, “Be careful out there.”
My gaze flying over his face, I nodded jerkily. “I know how to handle Coms.” My eyes held his steadily. “Make sure you don’t try any rash barbaric shit out there.” Many emotions warred inside me as I watched his lips lift into a soft, loving — and slightly amused — smile at my demand, but my fear for him…God, the fear I felt knowing he would be out there in the chaotic, vengeful shithole the world had become was riding me the hardest, making my hands tremble.
“Seriously, Ezra. No funny business.” Dear Lord, I had tears welling in my eyes. How far I had fallen. Firmly sniffing back that show of girliness, I whispered, “I’d like for you to come back alive and in one piece, you know?”
I heard Cahal and Antonio both sigh in annoyance/exasperation, but they both took a few steps away, turning their backs to us and giving us privacy, and also conveniently blocking anyone outside from seeing our goodbye.