Zeke shrugs, looking slightly uncomfortable. “No, he has a meeting with the Vampiric King. He’s trying to sort out this mess between kingdoms and buying you time to get to know us before the inevitable war,” he explains nonchalantly.
I’m taken aback by his words. I hoped Regan would also come, I was hoping to go to his kingdom next. But why do I get the feeling Regan is avoiding me? “So he’ll meet me at your kingdom?”
“Depends on how long it takes to handle things with the Vampiric King.” I don’t believe him. I know he’s lying. The slight twitch in his eyes gives him away. His response feels rehearsed. I can’t shake the feeling that they’re hiding something from me. “Now get dressed. I want to hit the road soon. Are you coming, Lyon?” Zeke asks his brother.
Lyon shakes his head, regret lining his features. “I need to fix a few things here. I also need to figure out what to do about my people. I’m not sure many would want to leave here when it comes time.”
“Ah yes, that is something you will have to figure out depending on where Zirah wants to live—here or her own kingdom,” Zeke answers.
That thought never crossed my mind. What am I supposed to do? How could we possibly run two kingdoms simultaneously while living out of one?
“I might join you tomorrow night or the following morning. I just need to help with the exchanges. We have supplies to run, and you know they hate leaving the kingdom grounds by themselves.” Lyon’s voice carries a note of frustration.
Zeke nods, a hint of understanding crossing his face. “By the way, you were a truck short on the last load of supplies,” he tells him. His statement makes me wonder what they exchange between their kingdoms.
Lyon sighs loudly as he rubs a hand down his face. “Floods took out the back wheat crops,” he admits.
“Fix it up when your crops grow. I need your supplies list before I leave. I can send the trucks tonight. I may also need help with the next lot. I don’t know how many more I can pick up.”
Lyon nods once while I try to work out what they’re talking about. “How many?” Lyon asks.
“Not sure, but I suspect a few.” Lyon nods once while I glance back and forth between them in confusion. As if suddenly remembering that I am here, they both look over at me. “We can discuss it later. Get her home. You know those back roads aren’t safe at night,” Lyon finally says.
“Need me to leave a car?” Zeke asks.
“Well, I don’t plan on riding that far or running,” Lyon laughs, a genuine smile finally breaking through his troubled expression.
Zeke nods and turns to face me, a big cheesy grin on his face. I raise an eyebrow at him.
“You should shower and get dressed,” Lyon says, kissing my bare shoulder. I nod, about to climb out of bed, when I remember Zeke.
“Can you turn around?” I ask, feeling a sudden pang of self-consciousness.
“Of course, but I rather like the view,” he smiles, a teasing note in his voice.
Yet when I go to tug on the blanket to take it to the bathroom with me, Hunter and Gnash jump on the bed. “Off!” I scold them, but they whine at me. I roll my eyes, pushing the blanket back and getting out of bed.
Zeke whistles low as I wander to the bathroom, and I flip him off, which makes him chuckle. I shower quickly, but when I come out, I find Zeke has already packed my bags, and Lyon is dressed and leaning against the balcony railing speaking to Zeke.
Zeke and Lyon seem to be in deep conversation out on the balcony, and I strain my ears trying to listen. “I’m not sure, but I can’t afford for him to come to my kingdom. I will drop her back here or back to the main kingdom,” Zeke tells him.
“He knows he’s fucked when she visits his. She’ll figure out he’s avoiding her,” Lyon says, and Zeke nods, slowly drawing back on his smoke. I move closer, wanting to know what they’re talking about, but the moment they spot me, their conversation is over.
“What were you two talking about?” I ask as Lyon comes over and embraces me. My thoughts go to Regan, knowing they were discussing him.
“Nothing important. I’ll see you in a couple of days,” he says, his voice thick with emotion.
Once we’re outside, Lyon helps place my bags in the car, and we linger around the limo watching Gnash, Hunter, and Shadow play. All the while, Zeke and Lyon toss cryptic glances at each other. I feel like a pawn again, being moved around without my consent.
Climbing into the limo with my wolves, Zeke slides across the seat beside me. The driver starts the car, and we are off. The morning light bathes everything in a soft glow, signaling the start of another day.
“What were you and Lyon talking about?” I finally break the silence.
Zeke is quick to brush it off, just as Lyon did. “Just work stuff.”
“I don’t understand why you invited him to your kingdom. You were the one who insisted everyone got time alone with me?”
“Lyon is different. He’s my twin,” he says as if that explains everything.
