“More like a banshee,” King Fergus grumbled, rubbing his ear as if he still heard it.
In his defense, it had been…bad.
“Ah, that leaves me,” King Venclaire murmured, chortling. “I think the most entertaining incident was when Lily shoved Ezra into the deep end of the pond after that one monstrous attempt at linking.”
Instantly, my cheeks pinked. That hadn’t been my finest moment.
The Kings snorted merrily, probably remembering Ezra dragging himself out of the pond with a catfish stuck under the collar of his shirt, then moving so fast I didn’t see him coming and dropping the damn fish down my top, to which I had probably screamed like a girl.
Alright yeah, I had. It was all slimy and flipping and gross.
Fi sighed heavily, eyeing her mate from under her lashes.
King Kincaid stopped snickering, clearing his throat and holding his glass out straight. “In all seriousness, here’s to our Prodigies.” Warily, I held my glass up for a second time, but only after my friends did so first. “Even though all four of you are lollygagging with your individual choice of home base,” his eyebrows rose at our swift innocent expressions, “which I’m sure we’ll hear the reason for soon enough — even if we don’t want to. Besides that, all of you have done a tremendous job this year.
“The circumstances haven’t been easy with all that has passed, but you’ve prevailed and learned and worked hard, truly impressing us.” We blinked at him, and he nodded. “Yes, you’ve impressed us. I do believe when the four of you become the Kings and Queens that your reign will flourish as none have before. All four of you are utterly remarkable. It has been a pleasure knowing and teaching you.”
All occupants at the table, minus my friends and myself, began clinking glasses, shouting, “Hear, hear!”
I was stunned by his words, but they had been truth to all. I had scented the air halfway through to make sure. My friend’s demeanors showed the same shock I was in, but we quickly got with the program and toasted along with everyone else. Guess the Kings didn’t hate us so much, after all.
Halfway through dinner, King Kincaid received a call on his cell, and he left the room for a few minutes. When he came back, his eyebrows were lowered and his nostrils were flared. Pretty much, he looked pissed. He sat heavily on his chair, flicking his gaze to each of the Kings, and in return they quieted in whatever conversations they were having. King Kincaid closed his eyes for a few moments before turning to me, stating, “Your graduation present has vanished.”
I stared. I had no clue what he was talking about.
“When?” King Venclaire delicately placed his napkin on the table.
King Kincaid’s attention turned his way. “Yesterday. Just gone. His secretary got worried when he didn’t show for work today, and called his house. The housekeeper said he hadn’t been home since early yesterday morning. Elder Farrar knows he went to work that day, but after that his whereabouts are unknown. There’s even been a missing persons report filed.”
King Fergus glowered. “Well,” he rubbed his neck, pausing, “if he’s dead that’s more than what we were going to do.” Another rub. “This could be a blessing.”
Gradually, King Nelson nodded. “If he were dead, it would be blessing.”
King Kincaid’s eyebrows lowered. “I wanted that ass**le behind bars. Not to have someone else kill him for me unknowingly.”
King Venclaire sat back on his chair, crossing his arms. “Missing doesn’t mean dead. Plus, he is a grown man. He could have had an emergency he needed to take care of and hasn’t had time to call his office.” He waved an agitated hand. “We could still get revenge.”
I blinked, finally understanding. “You’re talking about Philip Masterson.” His name came out on a wolf’s growl. After being assaulted by him…well, I hoped he was dead and not just missing or had an emergency. Dammit, the Kings had said they had something special planned for him.
“I’m sorry, honey,” King Kincaid crooned softly, placing his arm around me and pulling me in close. “We had it all arranged. Tomorrow, there’s a Com function in the city. We had a Com woman we know, and trust, who was set to be bait. In a recorded room. After he started trying the same abuse on her he did you — security was going to be close so she wouldn’t really be harmed — she was going to press charges, using the tape. Put him behind bars.” He sighed heavily. “It really was our graduation present. We know how much this meant to you.”
Hell, yes, it did. I wanted that ra**st taken care of. I didn’t give a damn whether it was a Com or Mys he attempted assaulting in the future, the type of person unimportant to me. Point blank, I just didn’t want him doing it to another woman. Not really able to speak because I was too upset, I just wrapped my arms around King Kincaid.
King Nelson leaned over the table and actually touched me, patting my arm and saying softly, “When he resurfaces, no matter what, he’ll eventually be taken care of. I give you my word.” His smile was small. “Even if it takes two bullets.”
King Kincaid, King Fergus, and King Venclaire quickly reiterated his vow.
Nodding, I gently pulled away from King Kincaid, and stared gloomily at my food. It didn’t appear so appetizing anymore. Picking up my fork, I pushed around the remains on my plate more than I ate. I could only hope Philip was dead and not fleeing from anything else heinous he may have done.
Dessert arrived. Even in the crummiest of moods, I always ate my sweets. Especially any type of ice-cream. It was apple pie. With a huge scoop of vanilla ice-cream on the side for those who didn’t like to mix. Dessert was balm for the soul.
Too quickly, I scraped the bottom of my plate, the last of the cinnamon goodness gone.
Ezra asked, “Lily, do you want the rest of mine?”
Attention snapping in his direction, I stared. Nodded.
Rising from his chair, he carried his plate to me, and took my empty one back with him.
I gazed down at the gifted dessert for a good minute, watching the ice-cream melt even further. He hadn’t touched it, and I knew he loved apple pie. Normally, he was a bottomless pit, even more so than me. I blinked, peering up at him, but he was already talking with Gideon. Another blink, and I realized that, even though conversation was being carried all across the table, King Venclaire and King Kincaid were both covertly staring at me.
My eyes darted between them, and I quickly gazed back at the dessert, grabbing my spoon. I sat it back down. Cocking my head, I studied the plate…and had to hold back a grin.