Chosen Fool (Forever Evermore #5) (21 page)

Chapter Twenty

I shoved away from the table, bumping Tristan’s snoozing head in the process, unable to play it cool any longer. I ran a hand through my hair as I paced back and forth, tripping over Tristan a few times. I muttered at him to move, shoving at his enormous bulk. That only earned me more rubbing on his part, his antics just as sweet as what I remembered five years ago. I stopped before he made me fall, my head dropping back.

Go figure, Tristan sat motionless next to me then.

I spoke to the ceiling in the completely still room, “Fine, it’s mortifying on my part, but I want that name. I plan to kill the bastard when I find him.” I scrubbed at my face before peering off to the side. My voice was a blistering breeze of demise. “I was the target although I refuse to believe it’s because I’m the weakest link in the chain—and I
know
I’m missing something in the equation.

“Anyway, Leric targeted me specifically. He played the perfect role. Somehow he knew I was the girl in the One’s bedroom five years ago, and he played off that from the very beginning. We…” I gagged, grabbing at my throat before pounding on my chest, choking to keep the bile down. “Sex…we had sex.”

I shook my head and started pacing again. My words were breathless. “Although not really. I later found out that penetration didn’t occur because he couldn’t physically get it up. He had to fucking mind-spell me into thinking it had happened. He played my emotions, played my attraction to him…he just flat out played me.”

I sucked in a heavy breath as I continued pacing, not caring I was tripping over Tristan. I just needed to keep moving. “And I swear, no one had better say a word on how big a fool I was on that one, because I already know.” I halted, physically locking my muscles. “That’s it. My fucking nightmare in a nutshell, truth fully unloaded.”

My chest heaved from actually having to say that all aloud. Knowing my gaze was as haunted as I fucking felt, I turned my attention directly to Mr Damon’s shocked features. I didn’t gaze anywhere else but at him. “I want that fucking name now.”

He inhaled heavily, his lids hooding his penetrating eyes. He glanced toward the One only for the barest moment before coming back to me, and he stated in a soothing voice, “That experience could be traumatic for anyone. Why don’t you sit down and give yourself a moment to relax, Ms Jules?”

My nostrils flared wide, and I whispered on a harsh breath, “I just wanted to come and tell you about the Walkers. You deserve to know. And I need help finding the bastard who did this. Find out why the fuck he targeted me and give him the most painful death I can imagine. But I cannot…” I sucked in a sharp lungful of air. “I cannot sit here in the same room with,” my hand shot toward the One, “
him
and pretend everything is fine, when it is so clearly not.”

Tristan started rubbing around me again, his soft huffing purr loud in the room of God-awful silence. A shaky laugh escaped me at the ridiculousness of the damn loving tiger. I glanced down at him, shaking my head while I ran my fingers through his soft fur. “Yes, I’ve missed you too, Tristan. It’s been five years too long without seeing your
real
handsome face.” I spoke whisper-soft. “I don’t have any chocolate for you. I’m sorry.” He only tilted his head up and licked my palm before nuzzling his head back against my hand.

I chuckled quietly, oddly feeling better.

One minute the tiger was a menace. The next minute, he was my salvation.

Go animals!

Mrs Damon charmed with an easy cadence I had never heard from her Walker. “You’ve met Tristan before?”

“Yes,” I stated clearly, my eyes only on her. “And not just his Walker. When I was here five years ago for that month, he and I met when he stole my chocolate bar right out of my hand. After that, every day I was here he found me somewhere, making my day a little brighter.” I rubbed his head affectionately. “He’s always been a sweetheart.”

“You were only here for a month?” Mrs Damon asked, continuing in her soft tone and gesturing where I had been sitting before. “Please, Ms Jules, sit down.” Her brows lifted in a private challenge. “You were doing so well before.”

My gaze ran over her face, her expression kind-hearted. “You’re hardly anything like your Walker.”

A slight curve of her lips. “I wouldn’t imagine any of us are, with a complete psychopath running the actions.” Another gesture at the chair. “You were only here for the month before you decided you didn’t want to stay?”

Running a hand over my face, I decided that a little more giving on my part would go a long way to getting that name. I moved back to my chair, tilting it a bit so I wasn’t facing the One straight on, and I grunted when Tristan lifted on his hind legs and sprawled his entire upper half over the top of the chair’s arms. His weight wasn’t really on me, but his flank shoved at my chest. Pretty much caging me in the chair. Knowing when I was fighting a losing battle, I placed my hands on his back and rubbed at his muscles. “Yes, I was only here for a month when I was eighteen. A few spirit Elementals found me on the streets one day, or I bumped into them, but anyway, they kidnapped me and brought me here when they realized I had never been to the Temple. Being young and freaked out, I wanted to go home. The One’s dictates wouldn’t let me, and I didn’t understand why at the time—I was young and dumb—so using a bit of ingenuity I left after a month.”

“Hmm.” She nodded a few times. “And why weren’t you brought to the Temple as a baby, even if your parents did choose to live outside the Temple? Any spirit knows it’s for the safety of their own child, and others, to do so.”

“I don’t know who my biological parents are. I assume they’re dead. Sin and I were brought up in foster families, none of them good.”

She blinked. “Sin?”

My lips curved. “A very good friend of mine.”

White brows lifted. “Interesting name.”

I chuckled quietly. “Many say that, but it doesn’t do him justice…or he doesn’t do the name justice. I never know which way to go with that.” Out of nowhere, or not so much out of nowhere, I felt the One’s power start to trickle from his mute position across the table, pouring over me. My smile instantly fell and I flicked a hand at him, not looking in his direction. “Please don’t do that. The sensation is very uncomfortable.”

The power abruptly cut off without any questions.

I flicked my eyes toward him, making it to Roselle before I looked back to Mrs Damon, but I stated, “You won’t be able to feel my power. I’m protected somehow from Mysticals testing me.”

Mr Damon blinked. “That makes sense why you weren’t found earlier in life than eighteen, and even then it was only by accident.”

“Yes, I know the One knows when baby spirits are born outside the Temple, and I know that the protection over me is why I wasn’t purposely found. The teachers here explained that.”

Mr Damon’s head cocked. “Do you not think it odd that you are somehow protected from the One finding you to make sure you won’t become a Ruler, and you’re one of the few Mysticals who do become one?”

“I think I’m exactly where I need to be, no matter how I got in the position.” I may never know what the hell happened. “I’m there for a reason, whatever it may be. And in the end, I am the next Queen Elemental.” I held his gaze. “I’m not sure if you know this information yet, but the Prodigies received Vizoacs. There’s another time of unrest coming, and whether it is internal or worldwide, I’ll be there fighting it. Just as I am trying to do now…” My brows lifted. “With a name, possibly?”

I froze when the One spoke, his deep tenor…humbled. “You were very brave to come here to see me after what was done to you.”

“Thank you.” I stared down at Tristan’s body, picking absently through one of his black streaks. “Are you going to help me?”

“Yes.” Simple, quiet words. “It may not be how you want it though.”

My chuckle could have rivaled an old Com’s. “There’s always a catch.” More picking of Tristan’s fur. “Your deal would be?”

His words were unpretentious and without fanfare. “Quite simply, that mother-fucking bastard—who is going to die—actually managed to pull one over on the most powerful Mysticals both inside the Temple and outside it. In fact, he beat us to the punch. Roselle, Reese and I were speaking on leaving the Temple for a few days to meet the current Prodigy Elemental—you—to try to figure out how you were missed for my protection and also to get to know you better. We considered possibly working on political ties, since you’re one of us and we can actually have a normal conversation with you. We also wanted to speak with the current Rulers and the other Prodigies to get to know the people who were going to be around the spirit I wasn’t able to protect, and make sure they understand the restraints you’re under for silence.”

Through all his pretty words, I understood the truth. I chuckled anxiously, staring blindly at Tristan’s fur. “You want to go there in exchange for the name.” Here we go all over again.

“Somewhat…yes.” He was quiet, until he drawled, “And I plan to help you find and kill the bastard who did this.” He sniffed—entirely arrogant. “You do know that a Walker holds only a bit of the power from whom it was stolen, correct?”

“Yes.” I waved a hand. “You’re much more all-powerful than the Walker Leric.”

Dry words in a lazy tone. “I can be of help to you.”

I licked my lips. “I’m not sure anyone will want you there. It’s not my choice to make, and your Walker wasn’t exactly
liked
even before the truth came out.”

I heard his thumbs tapping. “That bad?”

My lips pinched. “Worse.”

More drumming. “I understand your hesitancy, Ms Jules, but I think this is a relationship that could prosper in the long run, if you don’t stifle it in the beginning because of prejudice provoked from a Walker who wasn’t really me.”

I chuckled wryly, the laugh of the cynical, while running a hand over my face. “Nicely done.”

A slow response. “I do try.”

“Fuck.” I rested my head on my hand. “Who and when?”

“Reese, Roselle, and myself,” he stated instantly. His mom cleared her throat and he ground out, “No, you’re not coming.” A pause. “Mom…no way.” Another pause. “Don’t give me that look.”

I chuckled. “The Walkers had that right.”

There was a beat of silence, then the One asked, “Do I want to know?”

“The Walker Mrs Damon showed up in the middle of the night and proceeded to dig through my purse looking for my driver’s license so she could have my name.” I twirled an absent-minded finger, picking at Tristan’s fur with my other hand. “I believe she called it tenacious, instead of overbearing.”

He muttered, “That’s just weird.” Humming quiet. “No way in hell are you coming, so you can stop looking at me like that.” Then he spoke directly at me. “So, Ms Jules, the three of us. And as soon as possible.”

“
Wonderful
,” I grumbled under my breath. I unlocked my Core, sighing heavily as my eyes glowed faintly. I looked up and waved a glowing hand in front of my face, opening a small section of the air in front of me—the rectangular space was like a miniature wide-screen television. This was the method of speaking to those outside the Temple. The ether was inside the screen, and I inhaled, breathing out slowly into the cosmos and calling on King Collins. The heavens disappeared, replaced by the interior of my home.

My brows puckered in confusion at the blue and gold I saw on screen. “King Collins?”

Unexpectedly, I heard what sounded like a banshee scream.

Over the shout, I barely heard the masculine bellow, “Get the fuck out!”

My eyes popped wide, grasping exactly what I was seeing. I mumbled quickly, “Shit…I’m so sorry!” I started to wave my hand in front of the screen to end the call, and I couldn’t help but see a rustling of covers over body parts. I was instantly blushing, the intimate forms of both King Collins and Queen Cooper now ingrained in my mind.

King Collins shouted, “Wait, wait!” A slow word. “
Caro?
”

My hand paused. “Yes.” I cleared my throat. “Behind you.”

My King moved.

Rapid,
rapid
words. “Blanket, blanket, blanket!”

He fumbled for it, but it was too late.

I saw more of my King than I had ever planned to.

I rubbed at my forehead, my cheeks flaming brightly. I was very happy no one else in the room could see this picture from the way my chair was angled. I flicked a finger, pointing behind his kneeling position. “I really don’t care to see that, either.”

Eyes huge on his face, he glanced behind him where Queen Cooper—sans her necklace and very pregnant—was trying to cover herself. He hurriedly yanked the blanket over her upper section before turning back to me. “Are you okay?”

“No,” I said honestly. “I think I’m scarred for life seeing that.” A shudder ran down my spine. “I think this is probably what it feels like when normal kids catch their parents having sex.”

Another shudder—the full-body type.

He waved an absent-minded hand. “Forget what you saw.” He leaned forward, closer to the screen. His eyes were serious, even if his cheeks were still flushed from his sexual bout. “Really, are you all right?” His brown gaze roamed my face, and before I could say anything he muttered a curse. “I knew I shouldn’t have let you go. Is he just as bad as the last?” He blinked then he growled, “If that asshole has touched you, I will personally—”

“Wait.” I held up a hand, cutting him off. “You’ve totally got the wrong impression, not to mention I’m in a room with a group that can overhear you. I’m fine. Really. Absolutely fine.” My white brows creased. “And I’m thinking I should probably call you back, so you can do…what you’re…doing …” I waved a hand. “You know, I’ll talk to you when you’re done.” I tapped my fingers on my lips. “Um…when do you think that might be?” It had looked to be getting near the end, but I wasn’t about to comment on that.

“Just do this again in a few hours. I should be free.” He scowled. “You really are fine?”

I inhaled heavily, rubbing my forehead. Having him ask so many times was seriously not good for the tough image I was barely hanging on to. “Yes. I’m fine. And I’ll talk to you in a few hours. But you might want to have the other Rulers and Elders nearby, because I need to ask you all something.”