King Cave (Forever Evermore, #2)(99)

Antonio made an odd noise, then groused, “Well, why the hell not?” Ezra’s mien didn’t change at Antonio’s outburst into the tense silence. “Come on in, Ezra.” Antonio laughed, sounding frazzled. “Join the party.”

Instantly, I held up my hand. “Actually Ezra, why don’t you go?” I flicked my wrist. “I’ll see you later.” I was already in it neck-deep. He could still run. “At dinner.” Hopefully.

His response was to step inside the room, shut the door, and lock it behind him.

My chest heaved. The man seriously didn’t know how to run. “Remember that nifty trick Antonio did that one night before our trip to the zoo?” It was best to give him a heads up if he wasn’t smart enough to get out.

His feet didn’t even falter as he stalked through the room. “Yes.” And, dear God, was he ever stalking, not just walking, his strides showing his rigidity while nothing else about his expression, or even his heart rate, did.

“Well,” I nodded around, “this happens to be Antonio’s office. All four of them were in it earlier while we were.”

He hummed.

That was all he did, stepping beside me with his hands in his pockets, directly between me and his dad.

No lips thinning. No heart faltering. No fainting.

Just that hum as he trained his eyes directly on his dad.

And they stared at each other with utterly blank faces…for what seemed like forever.

And finally, as before, Cahal started speaking, going through the same questions he had asked me, only this time, to his son. “You lied to me.”

Ezra’s answer was short and simple, like mine. “Yes.”

“Ms Ruckler has confirmed you two share a bedroom.”

Ezra shrugged. “And a bed.”

Cahal’s eyebrows rose. “How long has this been going on?”

Ah, a little deviation.

Ezra’s head cocked. “The first time we shared a bed was in December.”

My head dropped, realizing he was talking about the camping trip last year.

Cahal glanced to me, then back to his son. “Was that when your sexual relations began?”

Ezra’s lips lifted. “That was the first night I kissed her,” he shrugged, “she ended up naked on top of me by morning.”

I stilled, realizing he was taking the fall. Exactly as he said he would do in that supply closet.

Cahal glanced at Elder Merrick, who shrugged, stating, “Truth.”

“We didn’t actually have sex that night as he’s implying.” I wasn’t about to let him do this.

Cahal ignored me, asking Ezra, who also ignored me, “You were the father of her twins?”

His lips did pinch. “Yes.”

“How did you know their genders?”

Ezra’s head tilted back and forth. “It’s only an assumption.” He also didn’t look at Elder Merrick at the lie.

Cahal placed his elbow on the arm of the chair, chin in hand, watching his son avidly. “Who knows of your relationship?”

“Other than the people in this room?”

“Yes.”

Ezra shrugged. “No one who will ever mention anything.”

Cahal’s lips lifted on one side. “Enlighten me.”

Ezra sighed heavily, stating, “King Venclaire.”

Goddamn, what a f*cking duo of liars we were.

Cahal lifted one eyebrow. “Who else?”

Ezra’s eyebrows came together. “No one else.”

“And how did King Venclaire find out?”

Ezra’s lips twitched. “He asked for a cigarette.”

Cahal’s dark eyes moved back and forth between us. “Outstanding.” His eyes continued evaluating. “You’re both lying in there somewhere, but you both do it so damn well.” He tilted his head toward Elder Merrick. “Shall I ask him where you both lied?”

We both shrugged, heart rates normal. If Elder Merrick really wanted to rat us out, he would do so whenever he chose to. It was no longer in our hands.

Cahal grunted. “Simply incredible.”

Ezra also grunted. “Are you finished? We’ve done nothing illegal, so we can’t formally be charged with anything, and you can’t do anything other than question us.”

After an extended silence, Cahal stated, “Just a few more questions.” Oh, goodie. His gaze landed on his son. “Did anyone in this room other than you two know of this affair before today?”

Ezra shook his head. “No one in this room knew we were having sex.”

Cahal glanced at Merrick, who stated, “Truth.”

Dark eyes found mine, Cahal watching me intently. “Same question, Ms Ruckler.”

I shook my head. “No one in this room knew we were having sex.”

Again, Cahal glanced at Merrick.

But this time, Merrick lowered his head, choking, “Lie.”

I quickly pulled my eyes from him, in complete disbelief he would contradict me. I was saving his ass, goddamn it. I felt Ezra stiffen next to me, not knowing this. Both of Cahal’s eyebrows rose as he stared at Merrick.

And, oh, so damn slowly, his face turned to me. “Who?”

My lips pinched shut, not knowing what the hell to do.

“I did,” Elder Merrick stated gruffly, again earning Cahal’s attention. “I knew Ezra was the father of her twins. I originally had my suspicions about their relationship, but when he reacted almost like a Shifter when King Kincaid began using his power on her when she became ill, I knew for sure.” He snorted. “I thought I was going to have to save the King’s life there for a few moments, and Ms Ruckler saw this.”