King Tomb (Forever Evermore, #3)(6)
Isa bounced in my arms, clapping her hands because we were outside, staring up at the Mage-spelled protection dome over our encampment.
Not bothering to ask for entrance, I barged inside Antonio’s tent, which was almost identical to mine if you disregarded all of the golden spells lingering throughout. He was lying on the couch, relaxing while reading a book. Again, as normal, the very sight of him made my blood run cold. When his startled gaze met mine, I demanded, “You’ve taken my first word! You’re not supposed to do that!” I pointed at my chest, riotous anger flooding my veins, melting a bit of the ice. “It was supposed to be mine!”
Isa quieted in my arms, her gaze watchful with her eyes darting back and forth between the two of us. She was extremely intelligent for a child, and that wasn’t just my hopeful wish as her mother. She watched everything with a keen eye, cautious like me, but extremely intuitive when the situation called for it. I was pretty sure that was caused by her strong Vampire genes; it was almost as if she was already scenting emotions, which she couldn’t yet do, though it sometimes seemed like it. And yes, I was a proud mommy.
Antonio sat up, carefully placing his book on the coffee table. “Lil, I don’t understand what you’re accusing me of.”
I huffed, glancing down at Isa. Smiling gently, I kissed her forehead to loosen her from her quietness, bouncing her a little, then I asked in a soothing voice, pointing at Antonio, “Isa, who is that?” I bounced her again, laughing lightly, almost completely faking it, but not wholly because she grinned at me. “Can you tell me who he is?”
She giggled and opened her arms wide in Antonio’s direction. “Pa.”
My wolf growled, my attention slamming to Antonio.
He tried to hide it, I could tell he really did, but a huge, flashing grin still graced his handsome features, and he was instantly on his feet, lifting her from my arms. Hell, he even twirled her while she giggled and squealed in excitement.
My wolf huffed, irritated…but, at the same time, I loved seeing her so happy.
Still, I grumbled, “She was so close to saying mama.”
Antonio chuckled, but he quickly coughed to cover it and held Isa close. “I’m sure she’ll say it next.”
I pointed at myself. “I was supposed to be first.” My eyes went to Isa, and I nodded, whispering, “Can you say mama?”
She giggled, tucking her head under Antonio’s chin. “Pa.”
I groaned, throwing my hands up in the air because there was absolutely no fighting that face. “Fine.” I tilted my head back and forth in time to the sounds. “Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa.” She giggled, so I did it again. I sighed in motherly resignation, taking her back from Antonio, but complained to him, “It doesn’t mean she loves you more. It’s just easier to say.”
His lips twitched. “I know.”
I bared my teeth, but I stalled and blinked when an official, spelled letter with my name on it appeared directly in front of my face. It continued to hover there, not moving. I growled softly but handed Isa back to Antonio, then I plucked the letter from the air. I cracked the seal and pulled the sheet of thick paper out of the envelope.
Unfolding it, I read its contents.
Reread it. “What the f*ck?”
“What does it say?” Antonio asked, maneuvering to read over my shoulder.
I turned toward the light, hearing Antonio exhale heavily when he didn’t get a chance to snoop. Peering at it closer, I made sure I was reading it correctly. I shook my head, seriously confused because we were doing so well here in Australia. In the three months since I had gone back onto the battlefield, we had almost reached the northern area where the Royal Australian Army bases were. Not that it was because of just me, but still, only three months.
I waved the letter. “It’s from Elder Harcourt. He’s relocating us to the US. Says he’s moving some of the Elders, Kings, and Queens around, trying different Mysticals in power together, attempting to find a better fit. He hopes it will benefit our efforts in the war.”
Antonio grabbed the letter from my hands, scanning the contents. It looked like he read it twice, like I had, then he shrugged a shoulder. “There’s nothing else to do except for what he says. He’s the senior Elder and runs the show.” He actually smiled. “I can’t wait to get back to the States.”
My jaw clenched, the familiar iciness overtaking my limbs. “But we’re almost to the north. Our goal here is almost accomplished. I don’t want to leave this behind.”
Again, his shoulder shrugged. “We’re needed elsewhere.” He handed Isa back to me. “And we don’t have a choice.” He rustled the letter in his hand. “This is war, Lil. We don’t always get to pick what we’re doing. We just go wherever we’re needed.”
Breathing heavily through my nose, I eventually nodded. “These Coms were beginning to bore me, as of late. They’ve been breaking too easily in interrogations.” I smiled, and it was feral as I thought of the new Com blood that could be spilt in North America. Even with Isa, my mind was still in chaos. Only her joyful attention and the fighting in battle kept me from going completely insane, my heart only melting in unconditional love when around her and my veins only melting in anger from their frozen state when slicing Coms’ heads off with my short swords — my Cizano. Any other time, I was still that block of ice. I nodded once curtly, turning to the door. “A distraction, a new challenge, sounds interesting.”