The King

by J. R. Ward

  Where he'd seen a hell of a lot more than just the inside of the weight room.

  The last thing he'd bargained for was trying to pull the King off of that female fighter. He'd been coming to the end of his workout when he'd heard someone yelling and gone to check it out--whereupon he'd found, hello, the King pythoning that female.

  Needless to say he had a newfound respect for that blind vampire. There were very few things iAm hadn't been able to move in his adult life. He'd changed a tire while acting as his own tire iron. Had been known to walk vats of sauce big as washing machines around a kitchen. Hell, he'd even actually relocated a washer and dryer without thinking much about it.

  And then he'd had to lift that truck off his brother about two years ago.

  Another example of Trez's love life getting out of control.

  But down in the training center with Wrath? There'd been no budging that fucker. The King had been bulldog-locked on--and the expression on his face? No emotion, not even a grimace of effort. And that body--viciously strong.

  iAm shook his head as he crossed that apple tree in full bloom.

  Trying to budge Wrath had been like pulling on a boulder. Nothing moved; nothing gave.

  That canine had gotten through, though. Thank God.

  Now, ordinarily, iAm didn't like animals in the house--and he definitely wasn't a dog person. They were too big, too dependent, the shedding--too much. But he respected that golden whatever it was now--

  Meeeeeeeeeeeerowwwwwwwwwwwwww.

  "Fuck!"

  Speak of the devil. As the queen's black cat wound its way around his feet, he was forced to Michael Jackson it over the damn thing so he didn't step on it.

  "Damn it, cat!"

  The feline followed him all the way into the kitchen, always with the in-and-out around the ankles--almost like it knew he'd been thinking benes about the dog and was establishing dominance.

  Except cats couldn't read minds, of course.

  He stopped and glared at the thing. "What the hell do you want."

  Not really a question, as he didn't care to give the feline an opening.

  One black paw lifted and then ...

  Next thing he knew, the goddamn cat was leaping into his arms, rolling over onto its back ... and purring like a Ferrari.

  "Are you fucking kidding me," he muttered. "I don't like you. Goddamn it."

  "Master, what may I get for you?"

  As Fritz, the ancient doggen butler, got up in his face big as a billboard, iAm took a moment to dial back to his happy place. Which, unfortunately, looked a lot like a Saw movie--the body parts of others all over everywhere.

  But that was just a stress-induced fantasy. Like, he could remember once, a loooooong time ago, he hadn't been bitched about everything and everybody. Really. It was true.

  Paw, paw, paw. On his shirt.

  "Fucking hell." He gave in and rubbed that black belly. "And no, I don't need anything."

  The purring got so loud, he had to lean in to the butler. "What did you say?"

  "I'm happy to oblige whatever you require."

  "Yeah. I know. But I'm going to take care of my brother. No one else. Are we clear."

  The cat was now rubbing its head into his pec. Then stretching up into the itching.

  Oh, God, this was awful--especially as the butler's already droopy face sagged down to what were no doubt knobby knees.

  "Ah, shit, Fritz--"

  "Is he ill?"

  iAm closed his eyes briefly as the female voice registered. Fantastic. Another party heard from.

  "He's fine," iAm said without looking at the Chosen Selena.

  Leaving the kibitzers in the dust, he went into the pantry with the freeloading cat and ...

  Right. How was he going to get the load of post-migraine recovery rations down from the shelves with his arms full of--

  What was its name?

  Fine. It was Goddamn Cat, then.

  Looking down into those wide, contented eyes, iAm thinned his lips as he rubbed under its chin. Behind an ear.

  "Okay, enough with this." He played with one of the paws. "I gotta put you down now."

  Assuming control, he took the cat out of its recline and went to put it down on the--

  Somehow the thing managed to claw its way into the very fibers of his fleece and hang off the front of him like a tie.

  "Are you kidding me."

  More purring. A blink of those luminous eyes. An expression of self-possession that iAm took to mean this interaction was going to go the cat's way--and no one else's.

  "Mayhap I shall help?" Selena asked softly.

  iAm bit out a curse and glared at the cat. Then at the Chosen. But short of taking off his pullover? Goddamn Cat was sticking with him.

  "I need some of those Milanos up there?" The Chosen reached up and took a bag from the Pepperidge Farm munchie department. "And he's going to need some of those tortilla chips."

  "Plain or the lime flavor?"

  "Plain." iAm gave up the ghost and resumed servicing Goddamn--and the cat immediately went into full La-Z-Boy again. "He's going to want one of the Entenmann's pound cakes. And we're going to bring him three ice-cold Cokes, two big Poland Springs, room temperature, and a partridge in a pear tree."

  After one of his headaches, Trez wanted hydration, glucose, and caffeine. Made sense. Twelve hours of no food was bad news. And then there was the heaving he got to party down with.

  Five minutes later, he and the Chosen and Goddamn Cat were heading for the third floor. And at least iAm managed to help with things by tucking the long water bottles under his pits. Fritz had also provided one of those handled Whole Foods bags for the rest of it.

  Christ, he would have infinitely preferred to make this trip by himself.

  "He likes you very much," the female commented as they ascended.

  "He's my brother. He'd better."

  "Oh, no--I meant the cat. Boo adores you."

  "The feeling is not mutual."

  iAm had every intention of hitting the female with an "I got this" when they finally showed up at the bedroom door--but Goddamn still wasn't going anywhere.

  Which was how the Chosen Selena ended up in Trez's crib.

  Exactly what the situation did not need.

  Thank you, cat.

  As the door was swung wide, light sliced in, and as luck would have it, the shit spotlit Trez as that big, ugly lug shot up.

  Someone had caught the female's scent.

  Oh, FFS.

  And P.S., why couldn't the fucker look worse? His brother should be roadkill nasty after the way he'd spent the daylight hours.

  "Where shall I set this?" the Chosen asked either or both of them.

  "Over on the desk," iAm muttered. It was the farthest point away from the bed--

  "Leave us," came a grunt from the patient.

  Okay, thank God Trez was finally having a moment of clarity. The Chosen could keep going about her business, and he and his brother could try the whole come-to-Jesus thing again ...

  iAm became aware that no one was moving. Trez, however, was still upright and the Chosen was deer-in-headlights frozen. And they both were looking at him.

  "What?" he said.

  When light dawned on Marblehead, iAm narrowed his eyes at his brother. "Are you serious."

  "Leave us," was all the bastard said again.

  Goddamn Cat stopped purring in his arms, as if the animal knew that bad juju was flooding into the room.

  But here was the thing: You couldn't deal with stupid--and iAm was just about ready to stop trying.

  Turning to the Chosen, he said in a low voice, "Watch yourself."

  On that note, he took Goddamn and his own sorry ass out of there.

  No doubt for the best. He was feeling like going Wrath on his brother, and nothing good was going to come of that.

  Striding to the stairs, he retraced his steps. Sometime along the way, he got to tending to the animal in his arms again, fingertips finding that c
hin and settling into a tight circular stroke.

  Back down in the kitchen, which was now full of staff on shift once again, it was time to part company with his shadow.

  "Fritz."

  The butler rushed over from the crudite arrangement he was working on. "Yes, master! I am eager to be of aid."

  "Take this." iAm peeled the cat off himself, prying both of its front claws out of his fleece. "And do whatever it is you do with it."

  As he turned away, he felt like glancing back and making sure Goddamn was okay. But why the fuck would he do that?

  He had to get to Sal's and check on his staff. Usually he hit the restaurant in the early afternoon, but shit had not been "usual," what with that migraine: Every time his brother had one, they both got a headache. Now, though, with Trez rebounding and no doubt soon to be on the grind with that Chosen, it was time to get back on his own track.

  If only to keep himself from going psychotic.

  Jesus Christ, Trez was now going to fuck that female. And God only knew where that was going to land them all.

  Just as he hit the exit, he called out over his shoulder, "Fritz."

  Through the din of First Meal prep, the doggen answered back, "Yes, master?"

  "I never find any seafood in this place. Why is that?"

  "The King does not favor any manner of fin."

  "Would he allow it in here?"

  "Oh, yes, master. Just not upon his table, and certainly never upon his plate."

  iAm stared at the panels of the door in front of him. "I want you to get some fresh salmon and poach it. Tonight."

  "But of course. I will not have it ready afore First Meal for you--"

  "Not for me. I hate fish. It's for Goddamn Cat. I want him served that regularly." He pushed the door open. "And get him some fresh veggies. What kind of cat food does he eat?"

  "Only the best. Hill's Science Diet."

  "Find out what is in his food--and then I want everything hand-prepared. Nothing out of the bag for him from now on."

  Approval bloomed in the old doggen's voice: "I'm sure Master Boo will appreciate your special interest."

  "I'm not interested in that bag of fur."

  Totally annoyed with himself and everybody else on the planet, he got the fuck not just out the kitchen, but out the entire mansion. Good timing. The sun had set and the light was draining from the sky.

  He loved the night and took a moment to breathe in deep. The cold winter air made his sinuses sing.

  If he had been his own male, free of the tether of his brother and the prison imposed upon Trez by their parents, he would have chosen such a different existence. He would be out west somewhere, living off the land and far from anyone else.

  It wasn't just that he was a recluse by nature. He saw no value in what so many others did. In his mind, the world simply did not need another iPhone, or faster Internet service, or a twenty-seventh Real Housewives franchise. Hell, who the fuck cared if your neighbor had a bigger house/car/boat/trailer/mower. Why be bothered if somebody had a better watch/ring/phone/TV/lottery ticket. And don't get him started on sneakers. Fashion-forward anything. Makeup ads, movie-star drama, manic home-network shoppers and mindless human drones who actually believed what their preachers forced down their throats.

  And no, it wasn't just humans who bought into all that shit.

  Vampires were equally guilty--they just clothed their cow mentality in superiority over those rats without tails.

  So many sublimating who they really were to the dictates of what they were told to want, need, seek, acquire.

  Then again, he hadn't managed to break free of his brother's drama, so who was he--

  As his phone went off in his fleece's pocket, he shoved a hand in and grabbed it. He knew who was calling him even before he looked at the screen, accepted the ring-a-ding-ding, and put the cell up to his ear.

  What small part of him had flared to life died in the center of his chest once again.

  "Your Excellency," he greeted the high priest. "To what do I owe this honor."

  As Assail paced around his kitchen, he checked his watch. Turned in front of the sink. Strode back toward the bar. Checked his watch again.

  Ehric had left about twenty-one--no, twenty-two minutes ago--and the trip that he'd been sent on should have required twenty-five at the most.

  Assail's heart pounded. He had a plan for the evening and this first piece was as critical as the conclusion.

  He took out his cell phone and dialed--

  The double beep that went off indicated that a vehicle was entering the garage.

  Assail ran to the mudroom, threw open the reinforced door, and tried to see into the black-tinted windows of his bulletproof Range Rover. Had the cousins in fact secured ...

  Protocol was to wait for everything to be closed up again before exiting any vehicle, but impatience and that fear that was plaguing him threw the sensible rule right out the dormer: Striding fast over the bald concrete floor, he zeroed in on the SUV as Ehric cut the engine and got out along with his brother.

  Before Assail could make an assessment of his cousins' faces, or start barking demands for explanation, the rear door opened slowly.

  Ehric and his brother froze. Like they maybe hadn't had a lot of control over their cargo--and knew anything could happen next.

  The older human female who emerged was five feet tall and stocky as a bureau. Her hair was thick and white and curled back from her lined face, and her dark eyes stared out bright and intelligent from a heavy overhang of lid. Beneath a shaggy black wool coat, her dress was a simple, bag-like blue flowered frock, but her short-heeled shoes and her matching bag were patent leather--as if she'd wanted to wear the best she had and that was all that was in her closet.

  He bowed to her. "Madam, welcome."

  Sola's grandmother held her little purse just under her bosom. "My things. I have them."

  Her Portuguese accent was heavy, and he had to sift through the words to translate.

  "Good." He nodded at the cousins and at the command, they went around to the back of the SUV and took out three modest mismatched suitcases. "Your room is ready."

  She nodded curtly. "Proceed."

  As Ehric came around with the luggage, he popped a brow and he was right to be shocked. Assail didn't take kindly to being ordered around.

  Allowances would be made with her, however.

  "But of course." Assail took a step back and bowed again, indicating the door that he'd stepped out of.

  Regal as a queen, the little old lady clipped along across the floor toward the three shallow steps that led into the house.

  Assail jumped ahead to open things up. "This is our utility room. Onward unto the kitchen."

  He fell in behind her, swallowing his impatience. Yet there was no hurry. He had to make sure that the legitimate face of Benloise's empire was empty of its art dealers and office workers before he could go there. And that would be a good hour at least.

  He continued on his tour. "Beyond, the eating alcove and the entertaining space." As he walked ahead into the tremendous open space that overlooked the Hudson, he regarded his sparse furnishings with a new eye. "Not that I care for entertaining."

  There was nothing personal in the house. Just the "staging" that had been installed to sell the property, anonymous vases and rugs and set pieces of neutral sofas and love seats. The same was true with the bedrooms, of which there were four down below and one on the second floor.

  "My office is over here--"

  He stopped. Frowned. Looked about.

  Had to backtrack to the kitchen in order to find the various parties.

  Sola's grandmother had her head in the Sub-Zero refrigerator, rather as if she were a gnome looking for a cool place in the summer.

  "Madam?" Assail inquired.

  She shut the door and moved on to the floor-to-ceiling cabinets. "There is nothing here. Nothing. What do you eat?"

  "Ah..." Assail found himself looking at the cousins
for aid. "Usually we take our meals in town."

  The scoffing sound certainly appeared like the old-lady equivalent of Fuck that. "I need the staples."

  She pivoted on her little shiny shoes and put her hands on her hips. "Who is taking me to supermarket."

  Not an inquiry.

  And as she stared up at the three of them, it appeared as though Ehric and his violent killer of a twin were as nonplussed as Assail was.

  The evening had been planned out to the minute--and a trip to the local Hannaford was not on the list.

  "You two are too thin," she announced, flicking her hand in the direction of the twins. "You need to eat."

  Assail cleared his throat. "Madam, you have been brought here for your safety." He was not going to permit Benloise to up the stakes--and so he'd had to lock down potential collateral damage. "Not to be a cook."

  "You have already refused the money. I no stay here for free. I earn my keep. That is the way it will be."

  Assail exhaled long and slow. Now he knew where Sola got her independent streak.

  "Well?" she demanded. "I no drive. Who takes me."

  "Madam, would you not prefer to rest--"

  "Your body rest when dead. Who."

  "We do have an hour," Ehric hedged.

  As Assail glared at the other vampire, the little old lady hitched her purse up on her forearm and nodded. "So he will take me."

  Assail met Sola's grandmother's gaze directly and dropped his tone a register just so that the line drawn would be respected. "I pay. Are we clear--you are not to spend a cent."

  She opened her mouth as if to argue, but she was headstrong--not foolish. "Then I do the darning."

  "Our clothes are in sufficient shape--"

  Ehric cleared his throat. "Actually, I have a couple of loose buttons. And the Velcro strip on his flak jacket is--"

  Assail looked over his shoulder and bared his fangs at the idiot--out of eyesight of Sola's grandmother, of course.

  Remarshaling his expression, he turned back around and--

  Knew he'd lost. The grandmother had one of those brows cocked, her dark eyes as steady as any foe's he'd ever faced.

  Assail shook his head. "I cannot believe I'm negotiating with you."

  "And you agree to terms."

  "Madam--"

  "Then it is settled."

  Assail threw up his hands. "Fine. You have forty-five minutes. That is all."

  "We be back in thirty."

  At that, she turned and headed for the door. In her diminutive wake, the three vampires played ocular Ping-Pong.

  "Go," Assail gritted out. "Both of you."