For the first time, I noticed Elder Zeller’s eyes were dark, unlike his son’s, which meant King Zeller must have inherited that trait from his mother. I met them with my own frosty stare and held out my hand to him. “It’s a pleasure to,” I paused just to annoy Antonio, “formally meet you, Elder Zeller.”

He took my hand, but instead of replying in kind, his head cocked, still staring, and finally he asked, “Why do you have two heartbeats, Queen Ruckler?”

“My daughter’s in a sling on my back.” And I was seriously hoping I didn’t have issues with this man about Isa, because if it came from him, the man with power practically oozing from him, then I might be in trouble. Although, I didn’t think it likely since he hadn’t been anything other than shocked when he had initially heard the news.

He stilled. “You brought Isa with you tonight?”

I nodded. “Yes, I thought it best not to hide her.” My head tilted, and since this Zeller wasn’t half-bad, I added, “But don’t worry, she won’t eat you out of tent and home.” I paused, and amended. “Well, she does drink a lot of formula.”

His gaze snapped to Antonio, his hand still holding mine firmly while his eyes scanned his face. “What is it like being a grandpa?”

Isa chose that moment to pipe up behind me, shouting, “Pa!” She giggled. “Pa!”

“It’s an amazing experience.” Antonio’s lips instantly lifted, and he moved behind me where I felt him begin to unravel the material around her. “Cahal, I want you to meet Isadora Marie Ruckler.” I took my hand back from the frozen Vampire and pulled my arms out of the material hooked over my shoulders to help Antonio, but I kept a watchful eye on Elder Zeller, never completely trusting him. A few minutes later, Antonio tossed the sling over my shoulder and stepped beside me holding Isa in his arms, bouncing her a bit. “Isa, this is Cahal.”

The table’s occupants stared blatantly at her, and Isa’s tiny Cupid’s bow mouth pinched, her large green eyes staring up at Elder Zeller; in my proud mind, she was analyzing him. I reached over and pulled her vivid green knit cap down farther on her head, covering her bitty ears against the chill of the autumn air, the decorative frog eyes jiggling on top. She peered at me, back to Elder Zeller, then back to me, staring.

I nodded, smiling at her cautious expression. “It’s all right, Isa.” I peered at Elder Zeller, gauging him long and hard as he gazed at her with a slowly growing look of adoration, which I was not wholly surprised about since she was that adorable. I was decided. “He’s a nice man.”

Antonio bounced her again when she stayed mute, her attention going back to Elder Zeller. “Isa, smile for me. Show him that stunning grin.” And when Antonio ducked his head and made a monster noise against her throat…she giggled, her cheeks scrunching as she smiled at Antonio, clapping a tiny hand over his mouth as he lifted his head. “There it is,” Antonio whispered, kissing her fingers and glancing at Elder Zeller, his chest puffing proudly. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”

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And I blinked, seeing the badass Elder Zeller…grinning…flashing white teeth down at Isa. Guess he liked the little ones. “Yes, she is.” I watched his hand closely as he raised it, tipping her chin up with a light finger to stare down into her face, smiling at her. He bent, softly saying at her level, “It’s nice to meet you, Isa.”

She grinned, wiggling in Antonio’s arms, clapping her hands, apparently decided that she liked him, too, and enjoyed his attention. I smiled at her, fiddling with her matching green knit coat, making sure it wasn’t bunching at her elbows and bothering her. She hated that. Then, when I was done procrastinating, I turned my attention to King Zeller and stuck my hand out to him, stating, “King Zeller.” I couldn’t say it was nice to meet him because Elder Merrick was behind me, and the man had an incredible nose for truths, half-truths, and partials, and I really wasn’t in the mood to explain why I wasn’t happy to meet King Zeller again.

He shook my hand firmly, his palm warm. “Queen Ruckler.” His grip tightened on my hand. “And unlike you, I will say it’s a,” glacial green eyes held mine, “pleasure to see you.”

Lie.

Damn man. “Oh, rest assured, King Zeller,” asshole, “the pleasure is all mine.”

Lie.

And, a bit pathetically — I’m not even sure who started it — we were suddenly battling in a Mystical macho handshake of strength and will. Our powers crashed into each other where our palms connected, neither of us going easy on the other. Instantly, my wolf growled quietly as his power, feeling like dark and seductive whispers, made contact with my animal’s wildness, and I was pleased to hear his Vampire growl at the same time, both of us going completely still in an effort to hang on and not be the first person to blow us apart in an invisible, magical detonation.

“Huh,” Elder Jacobs leaned against the table, “I haven’t seen a decent showdown in forever.”

“King Zeller…” Elder Zeller sighed, the tone half-exasperated and half-warning.

The air vibrated around me, and I instantly pushed more power down my arm, countering the influx he threw at me. His grip turned bruising in an effort to hold on, even though I could have told him that if either one of us popped the explosion…well, my grip was tight enough that his hand would be coming with me and not with him…Lawfully. Which, I believe, he was just starting to figure out as his glowing gaze stared down at our hands.

And for the second time in so long, I chuckled, the sound just as gravelly as before. “I would suggest you relent, King Zeller,” asshole, “unless you would enjoy a surgery to reattach your hand.” Shifter strength did come in…handy.

Again the air vibrated, and I grinned evilly, my curling lips matching his as I threw even more power down my palm just in time to meet his assault. We both grunted, our bodies beginning to tremble while our predators growled intermittently.

Antonio bent, pressing his lips to my ear and whispering softly, “Lil, there’s no shame in yielding first,” my wolf growled at him, “because you’re not thinking clearly.” He paused, barely breathing loud enough for me to even hear, meaning no one else could either — even the Vamps. “Isa.”

I stilled and, instantly, overpowering fear crippled me. I had thought Antonio would protect her if an explosion occurred, and I still knew he would, but his pseudo threat was enough for all thoughts to hone in completely on my daughter. My power abruptly cut off, and I was consumed by King Zeller’s power. My knees buckled and air escaped me, and all I saw was a mist of spring green, a direct contrast to the dark, seductive power bombarding me.




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