King Hall (Forever Evermore, #1)(5)

King Venclaire’s lips pinched, and he leaned toward Ezra, whispering.

Ezra shrugged a shoulder, lifting the sunglasses on top of his head. Expressive, almond-curved, glaring green eyes stared out at the audience as he tilted to the microphone, stating in a deep voice, “I’m Ezra,” a nod of his head. “Pleasure.” Fluidly, he turned, walking away from the podium to stand beside Pearl.

King Venclaire appeared completely exasperated until he pivoted fully to face the crowd, smiling charmingly, and said evenly, “He’s a man of few words and firm decisions. Let this be a reminder to the Vampires who’ll be under his rule.” He nodded once then left the podium to stand next to the other Kings, who had all raised their brows in silent question.

Trouble in paradise? I probed.

There’s always one, Dominic grumbled, glancing down the line at Ezra, who placed his shades back down as more flashes erupted, all four of them now standing side-by-side.





Chapter Two


Dominic growled, Where are you? They’re pairing everyone up!

Coming, I replied, running down the empty green hallway. I stayed late going over the reading list with Mr. Jarvis.

Dominic mentally sighed. You’re gonna get stuck with someone you don’t want. They’re going in alphabetical order. I’ve already been called and so has Elly.

Wonderful. I was going to get my butt kicked before lunch.

I ran into the girls locker room and jammed everything inside my locker before quickly stripping down to change into the black sports bra and black shorts we had to wear for these classes. I grabbed a ponytail holder then slammed my locker closed and raced out of the room and down the back hallway to the gym I had been in merely an hour ago. The bleachers were pulled back. Instead of an audience and press, my classmates were situated throughout the gym, paired off, standing on round blue mats.

I scanned the room and saw Dominic sigh in exasperation as he stared at my feet. I glanced down and realized I had forgotten to put socks and tennis shoes on. My black-painted toenails gleamed under the hideous lighting. I groaned, and started to turn around, but was stopped by a loud voice. “Ms. Ruckler! It’s so nice of you to join us!” It was Mr. Bertrand, my teacher for this hour of torture. “Get over here!”

Sighing in resignation, I jogged his way. “I need to get my shoes.”

Mr. Bertrand glanced at my bare feet and chuckled, shaking his head. “You’ll be fine without them. I don’t imagine they would help you much this time.” He gestured to his right. “Mr. Zeller is going to be your partner.”

I gaped, turning my attention to where he pointed.

Ezra Zeller was leaning against the closed bleachers with his huge arms crossed over his equally massive chest. He wore only black-knit pants, cut off below the knee like every student who was male, so I got a close up view of my impending death with all that bare flesh. He was enormous. It would be like taking on Dominic. Ezra shoved off the bleachers, gradually examining me from head to toe.

In unison, we muttered, “You’ve got to be kidding.”

Mr. Bertrand shook his head. “That’s what you get for being late, Ms. Ruckler.” He smiled like the evil teacher he was. “In the future, be on time to my class.”

“I will seriously hurt a Com,” Ezra stated bluntly, striding to stand directly beside me, glaring at Mr. Bertrand. “Pair me with someone who’s not a Mys wannabe.”

I choked, scowling. “I’m not a Com!”

He snorted, looking me over again. “Yes, sweetheart. You are.”

“Actually, she’s not,” King Venclaire countered, breaking away from where he and King Kincaid were talking quietly. Each King stayed with their Prodigy the first day, going to their classes to get an idea of what their Prodigy’s day consisted of. “She’s a Shifter.”

Ezra’s arched eyebrows lowered and he turned from the King to me, again giving me a once over, but this time with the gentlest brush of his power. It was dark and seductive, probing, feeling my Shifter magic in verification before he pulled it back. “Shift.” It was a command.

I snorted this time. Flipped him off. He wasn’t my “to be” King.

Mr. Bertrand’s jaw gaped.

King Venclaire only smiled. “You remind me of someone, Ms. Ruckler.”

I bit my lip. It wasn’t wise to attract the attention of the Kings. Not that I hadn’t already a month ago, when all four had been dressed in their eerie, hooded robes for this year’s Awakenings. Mine had taken over ten minutes. A normal Awakening only takes a few seconds. I rolled my shoulders, shaking my head. “That’s surprising.” Truth.

He nodded absently, his head cocking in his quiet perusal.

“What do you shift into?” Ezra asked suspiciously, closely watching the King’s interaction with me…and his almond eyes weren’t merely green. They were more a spring green, light and piercing, vivid against his mocha coloring. The simpering women here would fall at his feet.

“A wolf,” I grumbled in irritation, then turned back to Mr. Bertrand. “Seriously. I can’t fight him.” I waved a hand up and down Ezra’s frame, even poking his bicep — hurt my freaking finger. “He will murder me.”

Mr. Bertrand actually laughed. “The mat in the corner’s free. Good luck.”