Chosen Fool (Forever Evermore #5) (19 page)

“It is,” the Guardian stated, clear distaste in his tone as he stared down his nose at me, taking in my appearance. “Only upper families are allowed today, and the last just went in with their request.”

I took in another heavy breath and waved a hand, straightening and putting a hand on my aching side. “The One will see me.”

White brows lifted. “You are not upper family.”

I snorted. “Thank God.” I waved my free hand again. “Just tell me when that upper family is through and I’ll tell you my name.” I grinned breathlessly at him. “Believe me…the One will see me.” I turned and rested against one of the walls, running my fingers through my hair and catching my breath.

I waited…

And I waited…

Waited some more…

Just when I was starting to doze on the wall, the door opened and the spirit who had entered, exited, walking past me. He almost tripped over a flower pot he was gawking so badly. I turned my amused gaze to the Guardian and lifted my eyebrows. He sighed, gritting his teeth. “He’s out.”

“How fortunate,” I crooned. I pushed off the wall, walking toward him. I pointed to myself. “Caro Jules, Prodigy Elemental, the next Queen Elemental, wishes a congress with the One.” He stood frozen, I swear to God not even blinking at me for like fifteen good seconds. He finally snapped out of it, nodded, and opened the door for me. I whispered quietly, “Thank you so much.”

I slipped inside the room and tried not to gawk myself, having never actually been in this Royal Hall before. The place was massive, longer than it was wide. Gigantic white pillars lined each side of the whitewashed room, with sporadic greenery and low furniture along the edges. And what might be called courtiers, but dressed more like sultan’s women, pretended to be bored on the furniture or stand against the wall as they spoke quietly with equally lovely spirit men dressed like the Guardians or in white silk pants. They reminded me of Greek gods.

The middle of the tiled floor was free to walk through, and my eyes started to travel to the end of the room. The conversations minutely came to a halt as heads turned toward me.

A spirit man directly on my right asked gruffly, “And you are?”

“Come to see the One,” I said quietly and peered up toward him. “And you are?”

He blinked slowly at my rude retort, and his chest puffed a bit. “I’m the herald.”

This time I blinked. “Are you supposed to announce me or something?” That was what a herald did, I thought.

His chin tilted up. “You’re not upper family.”

“Christ, not this again,” I muttered on a sigh. I leaned over and whispered who I was. When he only stared like the Guardian outside had, I snapped my fingers in front of his unblinking eyes. “Hello. Start heralding. Or whatever you call it.”

Instantly, he stopped gaping. “My apologies.” He cleared his throat, turning toward the room. With a boisterous voice that echoed throughout the room—he was a real damn herald—he stated to all, “Caro Jules, Prodigy Elemental, the next Queen Elemental.”

Chapter Eighteen

Disregarding the further stillness the herald’s introduction got me, I whispered, “Thank you.”

I took the three calm steps down to the main floor and began walking past the beautiful gawkers on my right and left. Quiet murmurs started up, and I finally peered straight ahead. My feet wanted to stall for all of a heartbeat, seeing ahead of me what I did, but I swallowed back any nerves. I hadn’t suffered any nerves so far and decided now was not the time to have them. My walk was smooth as I moved forward to the end of the long hall…where
he
sat.

The One’s throne was made of pure diamond, and three steps above the main level. He was wearing a pair of white silk flowing pants similar to the ones I had seen him wear when I was eighteen, but he also wore a long-sleeved open shirt of thin white silk that would reach to his knees if he were standing, his chest bare.

I tried not to stare at the tribal design black tattoo around his neck, something new since I was here last—and most definitely different to the Walker. The rolls of his white-on-whiter hair were cut at chin level, not longer, and it had sporadic braids, but…everything else appeared the same so far. Everything except his slightly lazy slouch, appearing comfortable on his throne, though it wouldn’t fool a damn person as his silver regard sparkled down on me, intelligent eyes scanning me deliberately from head to toe and back up just as gradually.

I glanced to the One’s left, and God, it kind of felt like deja vu. I tipped my head to Reese where he sat on a throne made of white sand and bordered with pure diamonds. He appeared exactly the same. His bearing was completely neutral as he stared at me, dipping his head in return.

I turned my attention to the One’s right, bowing my head to Roselle, who did not look the same. Her luxurious hair was cut to shoulder length, but she was still just as beautiful, possibly more so because her shorter hair highlighted her features more. When she was done with her own perusal of my person, she dipped her head.

That left the man in the middle. The One.

And his added accessory of Lissa standing over his left shoulder. Her shapely hip rested against the diamond throne as she stared down her fine, beautiful nose at me.

I swallowed, focusing on overlooking her, and peered directly at the One’s nose. I wasn’t ready to stare him in the eyes yet. I specified clearly, “I’ve come to request a private audience with the One.”

There was a slight pause, then his voice, that purring menace, curled through the air as he drawled, “Why would that be, Caro Jules, Prodigy Elemental, the next Queen Elemental?”

My brows lifted at his sardonic tone, which was definitely new. “In private, I will tell you that reason.” I blinked and held up a finger, a thought occurring which was genius. “Actually, I request your presence and a few others’.” I pulled my purse around and dug through it, yanking out the pad of paper. I flipped it a few pages, then scribbled names down. “Just a sec…” I nibbled at my bottom lip, and for the life of me I couldn’t remember some of the guards the Walker had when he arrived at the Manor, so I went with the ones I knew, writing them legibly.

Slow words from above me, stalling my hand. “I haven’t said I would meet with you, Ms Jules, so you can quit writing. Again, I will ask you: why are you requesting my presence?”

My nostrils flared at his coy tone. He was most definitely not the straightforward ‘One’ I was used to. The differences were seriously screwing with me mentally. I knew, but didn’t know, that this was really how he spoke at times. I peered up again, my gaze on his nose, elucidating just as leisurely as he did. “All right.” His lips started to curve just on one side, getting his way. But I continued, enjoying how his small grin faded. “I’m not requesting it. I’m telling you, that you and I, and the few I’m writing down, are going to have a private meeting to discuss why the fuck I’ve come to this place just to talk to you.”

I waited a second, then I stated, “Now if you don’t mind, I’d like to finish, so do try to not interrupt me again. I’d like to get this out of the way so I can go the fuck back home as soon as possible.” I finished writing down the names and tore off the sheet of paper, the sound loud in the cavernous, stunned quiet. I stuffed the pad of paper and pencil back into my purse before I folded the sheet and started to step up the stairs. But I jerked to a stop when a Guardian from the sidelines flashed right next to me on the first stair, his short sword glowing white…and up against my throat.

My eyebrows almost lifted to my hairline as I stayed perfectly still staring at the One’s nose. My tone couldn’t be any drier. “Are you kidding me?”

The One moved from his lazy position and leaned forward to place his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped loosely between them. “It’s custom here at the Temple,” he snorted, “the Temple you seem to dislike greatly, to not approach me past those stairs.”

“Yeah,” I muttered, chuckling, my throat the barest breadth from the deadly blade. “I kind of got that, but I do need to give you this page. And I’d prefer to do it with my head still attached to my neck. Call off the guard dog and let me.”

His thumbs thumped together for a very long moment and my attention altered to the action—yet another action I had never seen the Walker do. “Step back, Farley. Let her proceed.”

I swallowed once as the sword left my throat, and grumbled, “Thank you.” I stepped the rest of the way up, standing in front of him, and held out the piece of paper. “I do appreciate you meeting with me in private.”

Head tilting back to stare up at me, shorter, chin-length rolls resting gently on his harshly handsome cheeks, he murmured, “For someone so young, you definitely have balls coming in here and demanding my time in front of everyone.” His voice quieted to a mere whisper. “Especially someone who won’t look me straight in the eyes, as if they’re ridden by guilt.”

I cleared my throat and shook the paper. “Private meeting, remember?” I sniffed covertly in his direction, realizing his smell was another obstacle the Walker hadn’t achieved. The One’s scent was apparently hard to duplicate, because he smelled of spiced stars—something I hadn’t been able to smell five years ago without my powers. It wasn’t at all an unpleasant fragrance, and it was more than a bit unnerving.

Ever so gradually, he lifted his hand. As soon as his fingers brushed the paper, I quickly let go, not doing a very decent job of hiding the fact I didn’t want his fingers grazing mine. But at least he took the damned thing, even though he stalled when he noticed my further unease. He rested back on his throne and started to open the sheet right there.

I jerked forward, snatching it out of his hands.

He blinked in a sluggish fashion, his hands still raised. Slower still, his intelligent eyes flicked to mine, and I quickly stared at his nose again. There was a beat of silence, then he drawled, “I’m confused, Ms Jules. You wanted me to take the paper and read it.” He paused, and if I wasn’t mistaken, there was a bit of humor in his lazy tone. “Yet you take it away when I actually do as you unprecedentedly demand.”

I flicked a finger to his shapely accessory. “Not with Lissa reading over your shoulder.”

That was where I quickly realized I made my first mistake. Because even though I wasn’t staring directly in his eyes, I still saw them sharpen further on me. This man was most definitely not the Walker, his aptitude shining brightly in his eyes no matter what he did outwardly to try to mask it. He purred softly, “You’ve met Lissa before, have you, Ms Jules?”

I froze for a few moments, but I quickly recovered. “I haven’t really met her myself, but when I was here at the Temple before, I saw her once and overheard her name.”

He cocked his head slightly on his throne. “And when were you here last, Ms Jules?”

“A few years ago,” I stated offhandedly. I held the paper up, waggling it. “Now, back to business. I want only your eyes on this sheet.” I seriously didn’t care if I offended his shiny accessory.

“You mean the eyes you won’t meet?” He was taunting and teasing me, and this humming tone was not one I knew at all.

There was no point in lying, since I still didn’t have it in me to look him in the eyes. “Yes, those would be the ones.” I lifted my gaze to bright green narrowed eyes and asked on a soft whisper to his pretty-pretty accessory, “If you don’t mind, could you park your ass somewhere else?” My smile wasn’t kind as her face flushed with anger at the—um—somewhat unkind question. “This is Ruler business. I’m sure you’ll understand, hmm?”

“Leric,” she hissed, still a drama queen. My initial thoughts five years ago about her had been accurate. Lissa placed her right hand on his shoulder, squeezing it. “Do something about this unacceptable blemish.”

I couldn’t help but stare for a few ticks at where her hand was, utterly frozen. A rush of jealousy, uncalled for but because of the fucking Walker, flooded my system. I quickly averted my gaze and decided to keep my mouth shut because, honestly, they could be married for all I knew.

The One eyed me and then patted her hand. “Lissa, be a dear and go stand by Roselle for a few moments while I take care of business.”

“Leric…” she whined quietly.

I sighed deep inside, staring over his chair while waiting patiently for him to take care of the drama queen, which he did expediently, taking her hand from his shoulder. Whatever look he gave her had her moving instantly to Roselle’s side, so I lowered my eyes again to his nose. This time when I handed the paper over, I made sure to hold just the bare edges so he couldn’t touch my fingers. But I was pretty sure my covertness was a lost cause because he, again, watched my hand closely as he took the paper.

The One opened it slowly. He asked dryly, “Is it safe to read now?”

My lips pinched at being as secretive as I was, but it was needed. “Yes.”

More dry words. “Thank you.” He read the names and his eyebrows rose. He snapped the sheet closed, and he asked in a lazy tone, “Is this really needed, Ms Jules?”

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t.”

His thumbs thumped on his chair. “I’ll grant your
request
for a private meeting.”

Chapter Nineteen

“Perfect.” I stepped back as he started to stand. “Thank you.”

“Amazing.” He snickered softly. “It actually sounded like you meant that.” Standing next to me, he flicked his finger at Roselle then Reese. “Both of you come with me.”

I followed at a respectful distance when Reese shouldered his way to stand next to the One. Fortunately for me, instead of leaving the way I had come, the One took us out a door directly behind the thrones. I shut it behind me with gentle care, following as we walked down a wide, white sanded hallway lit in a homey nature by stars’ fire instead of light fixtures. The One blew a few breaths in the air, and twinkling stars dangled in the exhales. My brows puckered in confusion until I saw those stars fly away in different directions. It took a second, but I remembered from my time here that the One had many ways of communicating with people. I wondered if that was his way of making a phone call.

After a few twisting turns down various other hallways, the One opened a door to what looked to be his private office. The room, much like his bedroom, was open and airy, with windows all along one wall, and the decor of teaks and white and silver. The bookshelf filled with ancient tomes completely surprised me. I gaped at all of the books for a beat too long, but I quickly averted my attention to where the One was gesturing to the long conference table made of white marble.