King Hall (Forever Evermore, #1)(89)

King Fergus had a pebble raised, as if he had been in the process of throwing it at us, but lowered it seeing I was awake.

Oh, well thank you for waking me, so I could see death stalk me.

Antonio was there too, sitting on the railing and swinging his legs back and forth merrily, appearing entertained. They had trespassed in the damn zoo. Stuck us in this exhibit.

What the hell?

One day I would…I didn’t know, but I would get payback.

Ten, maybe a hundred, fold.

Over the animal’s threatening calls, King Kincaid decreed, “This is your challenge for funneling.” My jaw dropped, and he paused, his eyes on mine as he shrugged. “Stop them from killing you.”

My friends were starting to stir, their reactions the same as mine when they saw what was headed our way and, still not moving, my eyes on my King, I hissed stridently, “I’ve never controlled a wild animal. Only Shifters.”

Surprise showed on the Kings’ faces, their attention swinging to King Kincaid.

Chortling this time, he shrugged once more. “You better hope you’re a quick learner.”

“Oh. My. God,” Pearl whispered, fear straining her voice. “They can’t be serious.” She was beginning to back-pedal on her hands and knees, but she quickly hit the sand wall.

“Have you all lost your damn minds?” Ezra shouted, furious, his glowing eyes on the Kings and his fangs extending. Apparently, he didn’t know you weren’t supposed to make all that racket around wild animals. They roared or growled or hissed even louder. He didn’t seem to care. “She just said she doesn’t know how!”

Jack ignored all this, though his face was pale, and he asked, “Where are our mates?”

“Sleeping peacefully and safely back at King Venclaire’s home,” Antonio chirped, and pointed down to the left. “What’s in that shadowed area over there?”

“Gorillas,” King Nelson stated, cracking his back. “They were harder than the bears to get down there.”

“Hello!” Ezra yelled, jumping to his feet, but lowered to a crouch as the animals went wild. “Did you crazy f*cks hear me?”

“Oh, we heard you,” King Kincaid murmured, glaring, his voice dryer than the sand under us. “We’re choosing to ignore you.” His gaze leveled with mine. “I can’t believe you let some,” his wolf growled low, “Vampire dissuade you from your initial instinct. You’re a Shifter! You knew something was wrong, and you let him persuade you everything was fine.” He paused. “For that, I added,” he pointed down to the right, “them.”

Ezra’s attention snapped to me. His eyebrows lowered and his wide lips pinched. He didn’t say he was sorry, but I could tell by his gaze he felt — somewhat — apologetic.

I turned my head to where my King was pointing. Saw alligators coming out of a small body of water. Huge freaking alligators.

“They’re hard to control,” King Kincaid stated factually, then chuckled quietly. “Kind of like Vampires.” He clapped once. “Enjoy.”

Without warning, we were swiftly doused. In blood. Pig’s blood from the smell of it.

Pearl shrieked, her golden hair plastered to her face and shoulders, red rivulets running down into her cleavage, her golden pajamas not so golden anymore.

Jack gagged, wiping the blood from his eyes, and glared up at the Kings.

Ezra and I just scowled at King Nelson and King Fergus as they lowered the previously full buckets they had just dumped on us.

Not even bothering to wipe his face, Ezra asked through clenched teeth, “Why couldn’t I hear your heartbeats earlier? And what was that explosion?”

“What explosion?” Jack asked, choking as blood ran off his hair into his mouth.

Antonio waggled his fingers, sitting easily on the railing. “Just a little specialty of mine I learned a long time ago from one hell of a sneaky devil. It blocks every Mystical’s senses but a Shifter’s. To them,” his head teetered in thought, “it makes them anxious. Nervous. They can scent who’s inside the magic, but it’s dull and off base, a scent not right.” He paused, thoughtful. “Plainly, it freaks them out.”

King Kincaid sighed. “Honey, behind you.”

My friends froze, their eyes widening on their crimson, damp faces, staring over me.

Not a good sign.

A roar sounded directly behind me, and I instinctively rolled, barely missing being swiped by deadly grizzly-bear claws. The brute of a bear rose on its hind legs, roaring again, drool dripping from the corners of its mouth. Thank you God that my wolf didn’t let me go out a wimp.

My wolf growled back as I sprang to my feet.

Jumped with a bit of my Shifter strength.

I clocked the grizzly right on the side of its gigantic, frigging furry head, landing in a crouch, again, barely missing a wayward paw full of claws as it stumbled back, a funky whimpering sound eliciting from the beast.

My wolf growled as I gradually straightened.

The bear didn’t come back.

Yet again, King Kincaid sighed. “Lily, don’t harm the animals, just keep them from attacking you. Get control of them by funneling.” He paused. “You’d better hurry up. I think they like the smell of the blood.” A merciless chuckle.

“This is seriously more twisted than mine,” Jack hissed, standing to his feet and moving behind me. “I don’t think we’re getting out of it, though.”