The Screaming Stone: The Otherworld Series Book 2 Read Online Free Page B

as he stared into the face of the radiant human that contained a soul he loved, he realized Knackers’ interruption was a prelude to an apology long overdue.
    “Of course I have,” he replied never removing his eyes from Annie’s.  “Did ye no’ just see its defeat?”
    Knackers snorted, Kat and Fiona sighed in romantic awe and Annie, well, she forgave him with a brilliant smile and quick peck of the cheek that completely obliterated the dying Lob.
    “You’re in trouble,” that evil voice whispered again.
    Duncan ignored it again, all the while secretly knowing it was right.
    Manny and Finn entered the room and everyone quickly scampered to find seats as the nightly meeting was unofficially called to order.  Manny seemed to guess at the shift in mood this evening and raised a questioning dark eyebrow at the room.
    “I feel that Finn and I have interrupted something important,” he stated waiting patiently for a response.  When no one offered to give an answer to his question he tried a more direct approach “Did we interrupt something?” He asked more directly.  Again no one jumped to respond.  Manny crossed his arms over his chest and began tapping his foot while he waited, impatiently for an answer.
    Unused to seeing the High King adopt such a comical stance, while at the same time not being instantly obeyed, Duncan tried and failed to hide a bark of laughter.  He was swiftly rewarded by a stern and fierce look that he was more accustomed to and quickly concealed his amusement.  Manny was making his point for him.  No one liked these meetings, everyone wanted to learn more and nightly the High King refused to impart any new information as he was content with being only the center of the group’s attention.  Once it was not focused on him he always fought hard to get it back.  It had been that way in court, and was why he and the Battle Queen usually had disagreements, and it was true here in Salem in Annie’s small living room.  The High King hated being ignored and upstaged by anyone.
    “Oh Da, give us a break,” Annie interjected.  “We’re not one of your classes you can intimidate with your cliché teacher glare and toe tapping routine.”
    “That’s no’ intimidating?” Knackers asked dumbfounded as he sized up the High King, and as usual, found him frightening, even though he was wearing an old ‘Button your Fly’ shirt.  Duncan did not understand the meaning but every human in the room suddenly began snickering and pointing a finger at Manny’s attire.
    Annie tilted her head to the side and tried to hide her amusement at her father’s attire and studied her father again.  “Okay that might be,” she admitted as she watched the High King’s sapphire eyes darken and swirl with anger.  “But the toe tapping and crossed arms wasn’t.  Neither is the shirt,” she added quickly.
    “Agreed,” Duncan mumbled under his breath.  To which the whole room, including Finn, tried and failed hide their amusement.  Manny was the only one who could not see the humor, and for a moment his face darkened with uncharacteristic embarrassment.
    Manny recovered in royal fashion pretending to remove an invisible piece of lint from his pants as he quickly checked his zipper to make sure his fly was in the proper position.  “I see,” he said returning to his serious and stern self.  “I see, that Duncan has decided to join us in earnest tonight,” he said pinning Duncan with a new glare.  Duncan refused to back down and returned the look with one of his own.
    “Aye,” he agreed unblinkingly.
    He and Manny continued their staring contest until something caused Manny to squint questionably at Duncan.  The change of expression was so subtle and happened almost in response with Rian’s blind defense of Duncan that he couldn’t be sure what had caused the High King to back off.  Duncan quickly stored the information for later assessment and returned his attention back to the group