Page 11 of Tasteful Anarchy and Tangled Auras
Ohh, she’s a dry bitch, and I fucking love it. She angles up on her elbow, letting the sheet fall off her breast. It’s like that, eh? Is this a former lover? An unexpected flare of jealousy hits me.
Calculated risk time. I know my cock is on the larger side for a nymph, but guessing wrong here would be...disappointing. Fuck it, I’m in. I roll over, letting my body uncover. The male named Malcolm, obviously a real court sycophant, draws in a quick, surprised breath. Reward. I beam inwardly though my face remains uninterested.
“Wasted no time, hmm, cousin?” he sneers, eyes flaring jealously, “Grandmother will be happy to hear you’ve found your first consort.” The door to the bedroom slams as he leaves.
“How the fuck did he get in here?” I murmur, unconcerned, as I turn back to Adelaide, hand finding her bare side, I drag my fingers upward over her silky skin.
“Wait,” I add. “Did he say consort?” My brain is obviously not yet functioning at full capacity. I blame the scent of her on my skin. I am obsessed.
“I assume my aunts had something to do with it,” she mutters grimly, “and yes, he did.”
Doubt crosses her gorgeous face. I slide my hand up, tracing her arm markings, and then lean towards her neck. “Fox?” I ask, inhaling deeply.
“What?” Adelaide says sharply. “I don’t think you’re taking this seriously, Bryn. And foxes stink.”
“Few things are worth taking seriously.” Another inhale. “No. Bear?”
“Crow. And cat. And I believe grandmother dearest is going to require you to become my consort after my cousin-in-law reports finding usin flagrante delicto.”
“Crow? Oh, hmm, you were born on this continent. I suppose that makes sense.” I roll that around in my head. She flies. Huh.
“And also: oh no,howeverwill I bear being consort to a gorgeous, sarcastic, powerful, fantastic-smelling nymph-selkie,” I continue. However, my mind is split between the ways I could thoroughly enjoy a naked Adelaide and how this consort nonsense would affect things with the EA.
Based on the small bit of conversation we had last night, I think she’ll be amenable, but I better get it out quickly. Last thing I need is for her to think it’s duplicity. I had had no intention of falling into bed with her; that had been entirely her idea, though I’ll admit I didn’t argue.
“Little female.” I kiss a marking on her clavicle, and when she inhales sharply, I’m not sure if it was the female comment or my teeth. I grin, mouth still against her skin. “I need to tell you something.”
“Is it your undying devotion?” She raises a single dark eyebrow in a completely endearing way.
“Unlikely.” I kiss further up, my hand roaming, stroking under her breast, having encountered no rebuke for the nip of my teeth. She sighs in pleasure at my touch but I pull back reluctantly, meeting her gaze. “No, it’s somewhat more serious.”
Chapter 5
Adelaide
Well fuck him. I storm out of the castle and start walking the path that runs around and through Wilsden.
I had thrown on clothes and left that jackass naked inmybed. How dare he? How dare he tell me that he is a high-ranking member of some insurgency group—Elfin Anarcharcy or something equally stupid—looking to overthrow the Green, Light, and Dark Courts and that he had come back to court with the specific mission of getting me to join? That asshole came here to seduce me. I am so fucking stupid. I should have known no nymph would be truly interested in me, part selkie and part human.
I stride blindly, just making sure my feet stay on the stone path. It is a picturesque fall day. The scene in Wilsden is like a human Ren faire on crack, with most still dressing in the clothes of the Old Country; we can be stubborn about some things. Many species of Fae bustle about running errands, ducking in and out of shops, or playing with their children. Blue skin, fluttering wings, gnomes both large and small, tall emaciated humanoids, sparkling scales; the creatures of Wilsden really run the gamut.
