Oh, God. It took every ounce of willpower I had learned over the past year not to crack a smile in the silence that had trickled into our group. I mean, damn, he was good. Not only had he inadvertently threatened Elder Nelson with multiple weapons, but he had also put the Elder in his metaphorical place in the hierarchy. Although Elders had just as much clout in our society as Kings and Queens — most of the time more so — the Kings and Queens were the individuals to take the brunt of any current blowouts, and as such they were the true heads of our people…not to mention this camp.
“Are there any other immediate issues you wanted to discuss?” Ezra asked in his deep rumble, his tone pleasant as he held Elder Nelson’s gaze.
A golden eyebrow rose slowly. “No, I don’t believe so.” He glanced at Elder Zeller, then Elder Venclaire, murmuring, “It appears you two trained him well. My congratulations to you both.”
“I assure you, Elder Nelson, I’m well past my training-wheel days.” Ezra placed his weapons back into his duffle, zipping it up. “And, although they did teach me plenty, I think you’ll find I have a unique style all my own they had nothing to do with.”
Golden eyes watched him, intelligent gaze evaluating. “You’ll have to excuse me while I reserve my judgment on whether your unique style is to be taken seriously or not.” After that cool putdown, he lifted the files Ezra had tossed on the table before him. “And if Elder Fergus and I agree with what you and Queen Ruckler have decided is best for King Shadow, then I’ll handle the details of having them transferred.”
I bristled at that, my attention honing in completely on him. “Put the files down.” I had two guns aimed at him instantly. “Now, Elder Nelson.” When he only froze, again raising that eyebrow at me, my grin was pure icy bitch as I stared at him. “The gun in my right hand has silver bullets.”
And…the files were slowly set on the table.
I put the gun in my left hand away, which didn’t appear to make him too happy as he stared at the one with the silver bullets still aimed at his heart. “Now, while that whole little battle of testosterone was really entertaining, I have to admit that, even though I do respect you as an Elder, I’m even more intrigued by the fact you think that you have final say over signed documents by the two ruling individuals of King Shadow, which, if you aren’t aware, are myself and King Zeller.” I raised my own eyebrows. “I would love to hear your explanation because, if you are also unaware, King Zeller and I — again, the ruling individuals of King Shadow — are fully within our power to reject anyone in this camp if we see them unfit for any reason, such as insubordination…not excluding Elders.” A few ticks of silence went by, and I nodded my head at him. “Please, don’t let me stop you.”
Oh. He was mad. Or maybe more like enraged as he stared back at me, his cheeks rosy red. I even began to feel the tingle of Mage magic prickle at my skin.
My eyebrows rose even further. “You are not that stupid.”
He stood with such force his chair fell to the rug behind him, but I did feel the intimidating Mage magic retreat as he leaned over the table, fists supporting his body as he inched forward. “I had heard the runner-up Queen Shifter had become a frigid bitch, but I hadn’t believed it until now.”
My lips twitched even as I saw a few of the men stiffen at his words. “If you were meaning that as an insult, then you need to work on it since I am the runner-up Shifter Queen, and I am a frigid bitch to those I don’t like.” I pointed at the files with my free hand. “I want a simple yes or no from you. Are you going to handle the transfers regardless of what you think of our picks?”
Fuck, the man could really glare. “If I say no?”
Simple. “Then King Zeller and I will discuss your importance here at King Shadow and decide whether you’re really needed.” I paused, then stated truthfully, “If you hadn’t pulled that higher-than-thou bullshit, I never would have questioned your loyalty to us…in fact, I would have probably asked for your input for any future recruits. But you did test us, so now one of the two Rulers with the final say — not you — is asking you a damn question, and she wants a f**king answer.” I paused. “Please.” A little sugar with the spice never hurt.
His reply was seriously a long time coming, in fact, it was so long my trigger finger began to cramp in the hostile quiet, but eventually he stated, “Yes, I’ll handle these four transfers as you and King Zeller have designated, despite any misgivings I may have.” Truth. I nodded once and watched as he picked up the files, moving woodenly. “And I…apologize for acting as I did,” borderline truth, “It will take some getting used to not being in charge as the four of us have been for the past year at our previous camp.” Truth.
“Thank you, and I accept your…apology,” I stated evenly, holstering my gun.
He turned to leave, but suddenly I felt a wave of Mage magic brush along my right side, floating out from Antonio’s lazy position on his chair, and Elder Nelson froze in mid-stride. He visibly flinched, held his position for a few moments, then glanced over his shoulder as the pulse of magic abruptly stopped. His gaze found mine while he said steadily, “And I’m sorry for that little stunt I started to pull.” Truth.
I nodded once, watching as he glanced at Antonio before exiting the conference room. I tilted my head in Antonio’s direction, our gazes meeting, and his lips curved cruelly, belying any of the laziness he was pretending so beautifully. “Do I want to know what that little tingle of magic would have done to me?”
He shrugged a careless shoulder. “It wouldn’t have done a thing.” Truth. Again, his lips tilted at the edges just the barest bit.
“Well,” Elder Kincaid stated, breaking the silence everyone else was still under, “now that the fun time of redirectional reigning is over, how about we try to figure out why the f**k Elder Harcourt is placing so many damn chiefs under this one roof, which as was just shown is never a great f**king idea.” He spread his arms wide. “Why the hell bring us all here? It doesn’t make sense to have so much power in one place. And Kansas? Did I miss the memo where this state became a huge threat to the worldwide war?”
Elder Jacobs blinked a few times then held up an envelope. “I may have the reasoning for that right here.” Again he blinked, then he glanced at Ezra and me, ignoring how everyone else was staring at him avidly. “That was very nicely done, you two.” He nodded a few times. “I’m pleasantly surprised with how you both handled him.”