Not at all in the mood—and that would be an understatement—I glared at King Collins where we sat at the dinner table. I had skipped lunch with everyone, but I had managed to make it for this fun-filled meal. Although now I had to deal with King Collins, who held one of my earbuds in his left hand after rudely yanking it from my ear.
I lowered my fork, ignoring the fact everyone at the table had gone mute, and glowered into the brown, scowling eyes of my King. “Do you mind? I was listening to that.”
“Take these out,” he demanded quietly, tugging a bit. I quickly slapped a hand over the other earbud still in my ear, keeping it steady. “Others have been trying to speak with you, and you can’t hear them.”
I raised my brows, stating dryly, “That’s the point.” There was only so much I could take after Sin’s departure. I jerked on the cord to my stolen earbud. “Give it back.”
An incredulous expression passed over his features—I had never blatantly refused him or been flat out rude to him in public. He quickly schooled his features, ordering me even more quietly, “Caro, take them out now.”
My lips began to curve. I was more than pissed with my fucking life. “Or what?”
I was pretty sure no one at the table blinked.
King Collins took a very slow breath in through his nose, his eyes never leaving my face as they scanned each of my features, and just as steadily his eyes began to narrow. “What you want right now, Caro, what you’re pushing for…” He bent, placing his sharp gaze directly in front of my glaring eyes. “It won’t solve your problems. Cut the shit out and do as you’re told.”
I gritted my teeth, my jaw muscles clenching and unclenching as I breathed in shallow pants. I eyed his unwavering, unforgiving eyes, feeling downright irrational and violent, but a flash of sanity returned and I knew without a doubt…he was right.
I lifted my left hand and took the other earbud out, glancing down to turn the music off. Keeping my trap shut, I pulled the other one from his now slack fingers and tucked both earbuds into my top. Raising my fork, I waved my other hand at everyone else as I stared at my plate, muttering, “The drama’s done. You can quit staring.”
The conversation was sluggish to resume around the table.
One of the people I seriously wanted nothing to do with right now, asked, “Caro, you disappeared during the shopping trip. Did you find a store to hoard as your own?”
I snorted at my plate, taking another bite of my mashed potatoes. I calmly chewed, then I wiped my mouth before I peered up to Mrs Damon. She sat directly across from me, her husband to her left and Leric on her right. I stated, “No shops held my attention. Instead, I had the most enlightening conversation by myself, and I decided a bit of solitary reflection was in order afterward.” A smart-ass, I was.
Leave me alone, Satan-mom.
Her head cocked and she still pushed. “I’ve often found inspiration comes where you least expect it.” She sipped at her glass of white wine. “Did your alone time of reflection produce any results?”
I teetered my head, actually thinking that question through for a moment, then I nodded. Without blinking, I stated bluntly, “Yes, I came to the conclusion my romantic life is an enormous fucked-up mess, and the only thing I’m halfway decent at is being the cold-hearted, criminal bitch my upbringing taught me to be to survive.” My mouth just wouldn’t shut up with this woman—she crawled under my skin that badly. Silence had overcome the table again as I spooned my mashed potatoes. “Well, you know, that was my conclusion, after as much answer-searching self-reflection that a childish twenty-three-year-old can have.”
King Collins was choking beautifully on his drink. “Maybe you should put the earbuds back in.”
I blinked up at him, innocent. “Did I say something wrong? Others had questions, and I’m answering them.” I smiled sweet as pie. “And I’m answering honestly.”
He gritted his teeth and glanced at Mrs Damon. She was obviously shell-shocked, so he asked her something mundane; it was too boring to even listen to.
I went back to eating my food peacefully.
My munching was wonderful until our waitress stopped behind my chair.
She bent as she slipped an envelope over my shoulder. “This came for you, Ms Jules.”
Eyebrows puckered in confusion, I quickly wiped my hands and thanked her. The envelope was void of any markings except for my name written on the front. The handwriting appeared vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t place it immediately. That was odd enough and I felt my eyes narrow. I leaned back on my chair to open it so King Collins and Elder Farrar next to me couldn’t see. And barely slipping the sheet out of the envelope, I felt myself go cold inside, that cold-hearted bitch I had mentioned only two minutes before now invading my entire being.
There was only one word written on the lodge’s simple stationery.
It read: Jasper.
I pushed the sheet back into the envelope, placing it in my purse, and stood casually from the table. Gently resting a hand on King Collins’s shoulder, I whispered against his ear, “I’ve got a call I need to take at the front desk. I’ll be back in just a second.”