Ezra’s eyebrows came together. “What?”
Antonio’s lips trembled even as Cahal sighed in exasperation, dropping his forehead into his hands. Antonio’s eyes darted to me. “Mirror?” Biting my lip, I nodded, then he glanced at Ezra, pointing vaguely at his shirt. “You may want to put something over that.”
Ezra blinked, then dropped his head to stare at the shirt. His head cocked. Guess he was just now noticing it. He turned and headed back to the mirror. That’s when Antonio busted up, seeing the back of it.
It was a black long-sleeved thermal with a silver cartoon etching of a Vampire on the front smoking a cigarette, grinning around it. The Vamp looked just like Ezra. At the top were silver letters that said, ‘YUMMY’. Around the Vamp’s foot was a huge shackle with a chain, which hooked around the side to the back…where a cartoon red wolf held the chain in its mouth, teeth bared at anyone looking. Above the wolf’s head, red lettering said, ‘MINE’.
Ezra paused at Antonio’s deep chuckle, even as Cahal peeked up — only to drop his head back in his hands after seeing the back of the shirt, muttering under his breath. Ezra raised an eyebrow at me, but I fluttered a hand at him, saying, “Go take a look. You’ve got the hoodie to put over it.” When he only stared, I said, “It’s cute. Don’t you dare change out of it.” And yeah, my wolf rode my voice a little. “Now, go look.” And I ignored how I had a hand on one hip, boots dangling from my fingers, and tapped a foot as my mother used to do when she was agitated with Antonio.
Ezra’s lips twitched as he watched me. Wisely, he said nothing else as he turned back around to finish making his way to the mirror. I took a few steps backward so I could follow him with my eyes and make sure he didn’t take it off. And I got to see his reaction. He stared, head cocked and lips twitching, then slowly turned, peering over his shoulder to see the back. He grinned.
Nodding once, satisfied he wasn’t going to discard it, I quickly moved back out of his line of sight. “I think we’re about ready.” I stopped in my tracks when Cahal held up a hand, pointed at my shirt, then made a twirling motion. I cleared my throat. “I’ve got a hoodie, too.”
Again, he twirled the finger. “Now, please.”
Lips pinched, I turned, letting them read, Property of Zeller.
There was silence behind me, and then Antonio stated studiously, “Lily’s was more creative.”
Cahal snorted. Dry words. “Of course, you would think that.” A pause as he cursed. “She’s dressed my son, the King Vampire, in damn cartoon characters to make her point!” Another pause as Ezra came back into view. “And he’s f**king wearing it!”
“Yes, I am,” Ezra murmured, a smile playing at his lips. He stopped next to me, and I stilled as he bent, kissing my mouth softly — right in front of Antonio and Cahal. His lips curved as he leaned back a smidge, staring into my startled eyes. “I knew you’d end up getting me something with cartoon characters on it if I let you pick out my clothes.” Again, he brushed his lips against mine. Just the sweetest touch of heat. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”
Breath escaped me in shock and desire, and I barely managed to whisper, “You’re welcome.” My eyes held his gleaming gaze. And that quickly, love and happiness overrode any emotion as we both started grinning. We were together, like, together-together. In love. And goddamn, if I wasn’t as happy as a clam right now.
“Jesus Christ,” Antonio muttered quietly off to my right, and then more loudly, “You two are going to have to cut that shit out before you get caught.”
We both turned to them, trying to regulate our faces.
Cahal began taking up Antonio’s action, rubbing his temples. “Jesus, this is going to be a trial.” He glared at Antonio. “How long have you known this was going to happen?”
Antonio only shrugged, then turned all business. “Which Elder are you taking?”
My head cocked. “Taking?”
His eyes crossed. A heavy sigh. “To find your Prodigy.”
“Oh,” I said, chipper, sitting on the golden chair and placing my arm fully on the floor, Ezra following suit, sitting next to his dad. Clyde and Bonnie instantly moved back together, lying between us, and snuggled around each other as we put our boots on. “I’m choosing you.”
He nodded, smiling, appearing damn pleased. “I thought you might pick Elder Kincaid.”
I rolled my eyes, ignoring how Cahal was glaring at my cute socks before I could cover them with my boots. “You knew I would pick you.”
“Actually, I didn’t.” A pause. “But I had hoped.” Yeah, he looked a little smug.
Ezra elbowed his dad, lacing up his boots. “I’m picking you.”
Blunt words, no fanfare. “I know.” He wasn’t overconfident or anything. “And we were talking with you two. That’s why you’re so late.” Ezra nodded, pulling his hoodie on and zipping it until only the words YUMMY were visible. Cahal glanced back and forth between us. “And try to not look at each other. You two aren’t hiding shit right now.” A direct, gruff order.
My gaze turned predatory as I scrutinized Ezra and his dad. They were too recognizable even if Cahal had put on jeans and layered t-shirts instead of his robe or his suits he usually wore. A quick glance at Antonio. “Can you change Elder Zeller’s hair color to the same as Ezra’s? And maybe make their facial hair grow?” It would hide their features somewhat. Cahal and Ezra both blinked at me in surprise. “You know your pictures have been flashed all over the news.” Any previous Rulers were of high interest in any country right now.
Ezra shrugged his assent, but Cahal glared at Antonio, only finally agreeing when Ezra nudged him. Cahal’s hair was suddenly a boring brown, and both of them jerked and started moving their jaws, their noses scrunching, as their beards started growing.
I waved a hand at Antonio. “Do it slowly. I’ll tell you when to stop.”
Black whiskers shadowed each of their jaws, and I noticed Antonio did an excellent job of keeping them trim and lined fashionably. Head cocked, I watched Ezra’s closely, knowing Cahal’s needed to be longer since his group was at the top of the watch list, thanks to their history in the war. I waved a hand when Ezra’s was just past a quarter of an inch long. “Ezra’s is done.” Staring at Cahal, I waited until his was a half-inch. “Elder Zeller’s is good.”