Chosen One (Forever Evermore #6)(3)
Fergus’s arm was around my shoulder, amber eyes gleaming evilly. “Come on…who was the lucky he?” His head tilted. “Or she?”
“Give it up already,” I muttered, rubbing at my temple, jostling my bag and purse over my shoulder. “Unless you can remember the name of whomever you slept with last night?”
Lips instantly pursed. “Well…hell.”
“Exactly,” I mumbled, punching Kincaid’s arm lightly when he started chuckling quietly.
“We should probably leave her alone.” Venclaire’s smile was mischievous as we started walking outside. “After all, she does look well rested, and she has some color to her cheeks.”
Instantly, an annoying blush flamed said cheeks.
All four blinked at me, and then Kincaid laughed outright, muttering, “I hope you got the person’s number if it was that good.”
Actually, I did have his number…and yes, it was that good, but I waved a hand, stopping at the limo, my duffle being loaded into the trunk by the driver. “Shut it. All of you. I don’t kiss and tell.” My finger waggled at Nelson. “Unlike you, which, I seriously didn’t need to hear those details.”
He only grinned.
Fergus shook me a little before dropping his arm from around my shoulders, stating to them, “I got fifty says it was a fire Elemental.”
“I’ll take that, and go with earth Elemental.”
“Air Elemental.”
“Well, I got water Elemental for fifty.”
I blinked at them, and then waggled my finger. “I am not to be bet on. You keep that shit elsewhere.” More waggling. “And besides, I’m not telling, so you all lost.” All four of them kind of got this…look…in their eyes, and I knew they weren’t going to let it go, the bet set. “Fine…I,” I licked my lips, thinking quickly, and then pointed at Venclaire, stating, “Blue. Navy blue. The most beautiful blue I’ve ever seen.” They didn’t need to know I was talking about his eyes.
Venclaire grinned when Kincaid cursed quietly, holding out his hand while each one placed cash in his hand, and the four of them started piling into the limo wearing various looks of disgruntlement while one still grinned. Sighing heavily, I cracked my neck, waiting a moment for the last to get in. Rolling my shoulders, trying to relieve my tension before I moved, I climbed in and sat fluidly with pretended ease. Venclaire was hooting about his victory, somehow managing to do so elegantly as I reached out, grabbing the door handle. I froze for a moment, my gaze caught on the entrance of the chic hotel not more than ten yards back, where two individuals leaned silently against the glass barrier next to the doorway.
Elder Jacobs and Elder Merrick, both standing casually but silently, one duffle a piece at their feet, well within hearing range of our conversation. Quietly eavesdropping, more than likely completely by coincidence, knowing they had been moving to check-out, who knows how long they had been snooping behind our group. Their gazes were anything but bored as they watched in their business casual attire, very reminiscent of 2035. I quickly averted my gaze from hooded, penetrating navy blue eyes to Elder Jacobs, and made a point of slowly letting my gaze rake down his body, letting the Elder Elemental believe that was why I had stalled at seeing them. I gave him a tiny, flirtatious smile before quickly shutting the door, seeing his own brows rise in a bit of interest at the last moment, not unlike when I had first met him in the future.
We were being followed.
I knew that for a fact. The small silver Mercedes sports car was staying a few car lengths back. When the limo pulled up to my apartment, I tried to feign tiredness as I downed the glass of orange juice I had been gifted by Nelson from the mini-fridge, but all the Prodigies bolted out of the limo with swift demands that I had food inside they had bought. And they were hungry. So, I got my bag out of the trunk, covertly glimpsing the silver sports car at the back of the parking lot with two occupants in it watching us, and then moved with the Prodigies who were already climbing the outside stairs. Kincaid, practically already at my door after jumping up to the second floor and over the wooden balcony to the walkway. I knew who was watching us, so I kept my movements fluid as I made my way up the stairs, fishing my keys out of my purse, letting them in like the pack of hungry beasts they currently were. The four of them stormed into my apartment, and made themselves cozy while I locked the door behind me.
Christ, now I had Elder Jacobs and Elder Merrick watching my place, both of them probably wondering who the hell I was for obviously various reasons, the woman they would find out had no background. But, there was nothing to be done about it, unless I wanted to pack my shit up and leave this town, which honestly, as I dumped my belongings in my bedroom and changed into a pair of gray cotton capris and a black tank top, I really didn’t, since I had found…companionship…with the unruly bunch currently cooking or watching television in my front room. And so, I went with it, opening the patio door so they could eavesdrop if they wanted to, plus, the power was getting a bit stifling inside my small place. I then sat, ate a fine meal, and watched television with the group.
When the knock came late two days later, a half hour after the guys had left from their impromptu visit, I wasn’t at all surprised. They’d had enough time to do a background check through the MIA database if they had done a little snooping in the leasing office to get my name from the copy of my driver’s license I’d given while signing the lease. Dragging my hands from dishwater, I grabbed a towel off the sink, drying my hands as I peeked through the peephole.