Page 6 of Suspicions on the Stage
I have to suppress the urge to roll my eyes at thisGame of ThronesmeetsSons of Anarchyhorseshit. This ‘land’ is no more his than anyone else’s; the pocket dimension created by whatever indentured magicals they used to create this place for the meeting is simply divvied between the gangs. Axel might control the docks and all the waters around Bay City through agreements with other organizations, but he’s no feudal lord. Liam’s family controls a quarter of Faerie, for fuck’s sake—that’sa kingdom.
What a deluded asshole.
So I grin, then let out a soft, derisive chuckle. My eyes roam from the ground to his face slowly, purposefully smirking as I take him in, then I shrug. “My name is Morgana LeCiel, and Slade ismine.”
The tent buzzes with the sound of people whispering immediately as I knew it would. My infamy is useful for something in this situation and I’ll be damned if I’m not going to make it work for me. Axel’s brow quirks for a moment, and Tracer nods at him subtly. I think the kraken truly likes his brother, but his loyalty is with the gang he wants to lead. I won’t forget that as we go along, even if I wish Slade had siblings who actually cared enough to support him.
“The Dragon Slayer, huh?” Axel strokes his beard as if he’s thinking about it. It’s a calculated move, I know, because the dumbasses who are trying for his seat in the big chair move slightly closer. It must be a signal, but unfortunately for them, I’m smarter than that and so are my men.
Lucas and Liam step into the weird Care Bear stare line we have going, and I nod. “I haven’t heard that moniker yet, but I’m loathto decry it because it’s true. I sliced off Magnus Corona’s head like a slab of cheddar and they never found where I put it.”
That detail was never released, so I know what dropping it is going to do.
My admission makes the buzz turn to a veritable roar of gossip and gasps rippling through his shitty little court. The idiotic children move closer again, and now I’ve got eyes onallthe Finn progeny, even the ones who might not be acknowledged. I pegged the hulking twins early on, and the triplets weren’t hard to spot even though they aren’t identical. But it took my last brash statement to draw out three shifters who have enough of Axel’s features to tell me they’re likely also his bastards, but no one has pushed the issue given the size of his heir pool. But I still haven’t identified his mother or any of the other possible bio moms, so we’re not safe yet.
Axel claps slowly, his expression sardonic as he continues lazing in the gilded chair. “Very nice. I suppose the Society forced you to keep that little detail under wraps? Won’t you have jailers to answer to after this visit?”
I shrug, reaching down to take my siren’s hand as I stare back at the oaf. “Possibly. But I’ve never been one to play by the rules and they know it. They can try to spank me for it, but bigger men have tried that and failed many times. I don’t bow to mediocrity, no matter what gender or species it comes from.”
“You will in this tent.” His eyes gleam and shark teeth grow in his mouth as the known children gather on either side of his stupid chair. “I don’t allow commoners to come to my land and not pay penance.”
Before I can retort, Kaspar is half-shifted and standing in front of my family line-up. “I suggest you rethink your words, or you’ll be the next catch of the day.”
“Who is this lizard?” Finn laughs as he looks at his sons in amusement. “Doesn’t he know where he stands?”
Liam grins, a swirl of magic surrounding him as the crown he cloaked before coming in appears on his head. “He is the royal guard of the Prince of the Daybreak Court, and as the onlynon-commoner in the room, I take exception to your claim.”
That’s when the room damn near implodes with activity and I stop caring about diplomacy.
the final countdown
KASPAR
Damn it, Li.
Within seconds of their offensive words, I had scales crawling up my neck and sparks skating over my skin. The change in the atmosphere in the ridiculous tent amps my dragon, putting him into protect mode. I’m ready to demand these clowns bend the knee in front of all their little acolytes. But the hybrid woman standing next to him shakes her head at me then looks at Axel Finn with triumph written on her features.
“Too bad for you, fish face.” Clucking her tongue, Morgana reaches for Liam’s hand, threading their fingers together. “Bet this isn’t the first time you’ve lost at ‘mine’s bigger than yours’. Must sting.”
She’s out of her fucking mind.
Liam just gives her an indulgent smile and I roll my eyes up in supplication. He might be the boss, but sometimes, I’m not sure he doesn’t have a death wish. Letting Morgana continue to egg this fucker on is not only crazy—it’s full on insanity. Wemay have more powerful players on our team, but they have far greater numbers.
“How dare you speak to me?—”
The raging asshole is cut off when a tall, stunning woman with green and blue hair comes sauntering out of the crowd. Her bearing is regal, and the room quiets as she walks to the front and turns to face our group. I recognize the eyes immediately, but I don’t take my eyes off the female that feels like a much bigger predator than the blustering dick on the throne. Her bright red lips curve into a big smile, showing small, razor sharp teeth.
“Mother.”
Slade’s head dips briefly as she steps forward in her ‘old lady’ outfit. She barely looks a decade older than him at most, but that’s probably the siren in her. They age as slowly as Fae, and Li doesn’t even look a fraction of his true age. I notice small gills near her ears and it makes me groan internally. Slade’s mother is half siren, half mer-folk and that’s why she looks like Jessica fucking Rabbit crossed with a fantasy aquatic shifter. Having several children doesn’t wreck anything when you squirt eggs out rather than carry them like mammals.
“My eldest boy,” she says as she cups her hands on either side of the musician’s face.
Morgana tenses up at Liam’s side and I notice the professor looking furious as well. This band of merry mess makers is going to get me killed; I just know it. Moving slowly so I don’t draw attention, I slip over to the other side of the raven haired woman holding my prince’s hand. I want to be in between her and thissalty seductress before something weird happens and we’re back to kung-fu fighting in this bitch.
Slade gives the woman a tight smile, letting her fawn over him for a few moments before he speaks again. “Mom?—”
“Tut, tut, Ezzie. You know better than that.”
