Page 189 of The Call of Crimson
I don’t know why he bothers, seeing as Aurelius’ sensitive Fae hearing can easily pick up what he’s saying.
“Elijah,” I sigh. “Ciyoria has been deemed unsafe. Cillian evacuated them late last night. They’re on their way here.”
“Cillian is on his way here?” Aurelius growls, possessiveness flaring in his dark eyes.
“Who is Cillian?” Ayden asks as he drops into the chair beside me.
“He’s the leader of the Midnight Brotherhood. A mercenary group I’ve allowed to operate within Rimor,” I explain, taking a sip of the cocoa that has now grown tepid.
“You conveniently left out the part where he’s your ex and a massive pain in the ass,” Aurelius adds.
I shrug. “Both are true. Wait, when did you meet Cillian?”
“Shortly before we left Rimor. Luella kicked me out of her pub, leaving his fine establishment as my only option.”
“I’m shocked he let you in.”
“He didn’t know who I was at the time,” Aurelius explains.
An involuntary laugh bursts from me. “Oh, Aurelius. Trust me when I say, Cillian knewexactlywho you were. It’s his job to know.”
“Are you suggesting he was?—”
“Fucking with you? Without a doubt.”
“Is this Cillian someone I need to concern myself over?” Ayden asks.
Before Aurelius can answer, I cut in, “He’s harmless.”
“Elijah is harmless. Cillian is a menace,” Aurelius says, levelling me with a look I am all too familiar with. Cillian is harmlessto me, but he’s far from safe for others. “Actually,” he mutters to Ayden, “the two of you might get along swimmingly.”
Dark shadows bind themselves around Aurelius’ mouth, silencing his whining. “Play nice. It’s Solstice,” I scold.
Yes, Mommy.
I startle, knowing that thought wasn’t my own. Shaking it off, I turn to Ayden. “Cillian owes me his life. Regardless of how dangerous he can be, he’s not a threat to anyone here. I’m positive he’s just ensuring Elijah and Ophelia make it to safety because he knows I would legitimately murder him if anything happened to them.” I twirl a dagger made of shadows for emphasis.
Smirking, Ayden twirls the illusion of a dagger. “You’re kind of intimidating when you want to be.”
“Nice party trick,” I mock.
“You’re getting pretty good at identifying illusions,” Aurelius notes.
“He wasn’t even trying with that one,” I scoff.
Ayden shrugs, letting the illusion evaporate.
“Good morning and Happy Solstice,” Rowina chimes as she breezes into the room. Out of the four of us, she’s the only one dressed, albeit casually, in leggings and a long purple sweater.
Not long after, Charlotte and the queen flow in, both dressed impeccably.
“Is that really what you’re wearing?” The queen asks. Though Ayden, Aurelius, and I are dressed similarly, I somehow know the question and utter disdain in her voice is directed solely at me.
Unbothered by her venom today, I simply shrug and ask, “Would you have preferred I wear less?”
“No,” Ayden and Aurelius say in unison, while Rowina blurts out, “Yes.”
The queen shakes her head. “Insufferable, the lot of you.”
