King Tomb (Forever Evermore, #3)(25)
He was quiet for a long moment. “Most women are softer when they become mothers.”
My lips twitched because that was f*cking hilarious. “The answer to that is given.”
He chuckled quietly then finished off the rest of his wine. “I guess it is.” He placed the glass on the bar. “I’ll give you an answer by dawn.”
I nodded, even though I already knew what his verdict would be — as did he. “I’ll be waiting.” He was only playing hard to get, his ego not allowing him to do anything else. “Goodnight, John.”
He smirked, walking toward the tent’s flap. “Goodnight, my Queen.”
I snorted as soon as the flap closed behind him. Condescending bastard. And yeah, I really liked the guy for it. Rubbing a hand over my face, I let my head fall back on the chair, closing my eyes for a moment as I tried to switch gears, readying myself for what was about to come. Antonio hadn’t said anything to disprove what I had deducted. And neither had the other three Elders, each of them quiet as they had eaten their dinner as quickly as King Zeller and I had. Which was all the more confirmatory, but still, it didn’t make sense.
Standing, I lifted Isa and, wanting to test a notion, I walked us into our bedroom, murmuring, “Let’s get changed into something more comfortable, Isa.”
Only ten minutes later, Antonio popped his head past my bedroom’s protective flap, stating, “Everyone’s here, Lil.”
I was in the process of buttoning the jeans I had changed into. “We’ll be out in a moment.” Steadying my nerves was a biggie before I went out there where he was.
Antonio nodded and closed the tent’s flap. Sighing, I tightened my ponytail and lifted Isa from the bed, now in her beetle-decorated pajamas. And as soon as I walked past the tent flap into the front room, I stopped, my attention zoning in on King Zeller where he sat on the chair I had vacated earlier.
His gaze honed in on the grey t-shirt I was wearing, and he blinked. Stared. A soft, rough chuckle escaped him as he muttered, “I wondered where the hell that disappeared to.” He rested an elbow on the arm of the chair, chin in hand, fingers covering his mouth as his gaze lifted to mine. “That was my favorite shirt.” His head tilted on his chin, eyes steady. “Was that a test?”
“Yes.” My head slanted to the Elders who stood frozen around the room. “Since they can’t say shit, I needed confirmation.”
His eyebrows rose, and he stared at Isa. “I would think both of us being mind raped at the same time, and your daughter’s looks, was confirmation enough.” He paused, hard gaze lifting to mine. “Correction: our daughter.”
I snorted. “I could have f*cked any Vampire to have broken that Law. Yes, she looks damn near identical to you and not many Mysticals have your skin tone and green eyes—”
“My mother was Caucasian,” he interrupted me. “I got the green eyes from her, and I suppose somewhere down the road,” he spoke the name brusquely, “Elder Zeller had to have the gene also.”
“Anyway…” I gritted my teeth. “It could have been someone else…since under Law Six Zero Zero Two we never should have met again.”
He lifted his index finger from his mouth, pointing it at me. “And that is the question of the hour.” He rested back against the chair, eyes flittering down to my hands. He stared, then peered back up to my eyes. And completely surprised me by asking, “May I hold my daughter while we have this discussion?”
I blinked, an odd feeling of protectiveness and possessiveness churning inside my belly. This man, a man more powerful than me, since his Vizoac had been gifted to us, possessed a definite threat to my relationship with Isa. If he wanted, he could rightfully and fairly rip her from me and have her grow up with him instead. Without realizing, I had maneuvered my body so I was between the two of them, my eyebrows puckered furiously in frantic worry.
Instantly, he held his hands up in the air in supplication. “I only want to hold her.” His voice was soft, like he was talking to someone who was ready to run. And yeah, that fit pretty damn well with how I was feeling. “I would never,” he paused, then amended, “as long as she is being loved and well cared for by you, I would never try to take her away from you permanently.”
My mind froze. “Permanently?” I was pretty sure I took a few steps toward the front flap of my tent…and instantly masked my power.
King Zeller’s voice, if possible, became even more gentle, murmuring, “Would you keep her from me?” He held my gaze, eyes assessing. “That was all I was saying. I will want time with her.” His gaze flicked toward the tent flap, steel entering his tone. “You need to stop and think before you make a mistake, because I won’t be kind if you try to steal her from me.”
I froze and blurted the first thing that came to mind. “How the hell did I have sex with you?” I shook my head hard, my gaze roaming up and down his frame. “I hate you on a level I can’t even begin to explain.”
He hummed quietly, eyes taking their own journey up and down my body. “If it makes you feel better, I’m in the same predicament, because I very much despise you. Although, I imagine your hatred for me has a bit to do with the fact that I had you in silver cuffs a week ago.” He gestured up and down my body. “That, and I tortured you with a silver knife over and over again.”