Page 31 of Tasteful Anarchy and Tangled Auras
I do and she grabs the rest of the box of her clothes and retreats to her giant closet. I inspect the other box. Black leather pants with metal adornments, a long leather coat that will go to my knees that looks like a cross between a suit and an actual coat, and a black velvet vest with many metal bits and straps. I huff but get dressed, slightly concerned by the lack of shirt.
Adi comes out, biting her lip and standing awkwardly.
I’m floored. I beam like an idiot. Even in this odd black gear, she looks stunning. The strap thing does indeed form a pentagram above and around her gorgeous breasts. Over it is a black lacy lightweight dress with tiny straps. It sits low, showing off her markings and hugging her generous curves, with high slits that allow her thighs to come out to play.
“Damn, baby.”
She laughs uproariously at that. “Come on. Let’s go.”
THE MAIN HALL IS DIMand covered in black drapery. Everyone, even Queen Seren, is in tiny black outfits, and loud angry-sounding music is blasting. I notice that the servants are wearing black collars and black tape covering the important bits and naught else, and it makes me uncomfortable. This court has grown decadent. Or perhaps they were decadent in the old country too. I guess I don’t really know.
My eyes track Adi. A few of the male nymphs had tried approaching her after I first found her. Whatever they had told the others about my reaction has been keeping the rest away.
Adi is dancing with a large male right now, but it’s one of her twin cousins. Albon, I believe. I can’t tell the two of them apart unless I smell them. They are almost as large as me. Perhaps there is some Norse in their bloodline. They are sufficiently protective of Adi that I don’t mind waiting on the sidelines. They are her only family who are kind to her. She’s told me of some of their rowdier exploits from when they were young. It makes me smile to imagine my mate, forty years ago, and her twin cousins, getting read the riot act in the throne room whilst covered, head to toe, in Oilliphéist mucus.
I see a small Fae slipping through the taller, dancing nymphs. Dancing is a bit of an overstatement though. Most of them look like they are either trying to have sex with their clothes on or are having some sort of medical emergency. As the small Fae heads towards Adi and Albon, I stand, hand on the hilt of my smaller sword that I wear in court, and head towards them. I get there before the Fae, who I can tell now is a leprechaun; waist height on me, red hair, and large dark eyes that remind me of a doll. Adi turns to me, and I nod towards the Fae just as he reaches us.
“Adi!” he smiles widely. “Tis good to see ye, lass. I hope we can catch up later, but I was just told by a maid that the call mirror in your rooms is clanging like the Wild Hunt.”
“Shit. Thanks, Flynn. I’ll buy you a beer next week at the Sheep.”
He winces. “Nay, lass. I’m not allowed out of the castle right now.”
Adi frowns deeply but says, “That shithole in Town Square, then.”
“Sounds like a date.” He grins in a way that makes me suddenly question this plan.
Adi grabs my hand, and we head to her rooms. Or, our rooms, I should say, as my touch now unlocks the doors. It warms my heart that she had access added for me without saying a word.
I put one hand on the small of her back and the other on the door. As soon as it opens, we’re assaulted by the strident ringing of the mirror. My mate heads straight to her call mirror in the reception room as I shut the door. I quickly pull off the annoying coat. It’s hot as hell. I walk over to Adi as she pulls up the call. As the mirror clears, that weird little chameleon appears. I set my face. I cannot allow it to know that I find it disgusting. Not the look of it; no, we have plenty of...unusual-looking Fae in my FEC.
No, I can feel this little Fae’s malevolence, and I dislike it. Nothing she decides upon is done with the best interest of her group, her family, or her people in mind. No, it’s just grudges and her personal agenda. She should not be ruling anyone.
“Adelaide,” the lizard says.
I bristle but bite my tongue. I will follow my female’s cues here, as a smart male does nearly all of the time.
“Sciemle. It is good to see you. What can we do for you?”
The joint-eater glares. “Where is Bryn? Where is my captain?”
“Off doing captain things, I assume.” She waves her hand in a casual manner. “He left just the other night, stating he had EA work that was ongoing.”
Damn, my mate lies smoothly. I study the creature in the mirror. She’s a muted orange, with several large brown-red spots upon her back. It’s clear her mirror is inside her home, which looks as if it is part of a hollowed-out tree.
“Is there something I can do for you, Sciemle?” Adi asks. “Or a message to pass on?”
She looks like she wants to tell Adi off, but her eyes settle on me. Adi notices, too, and steps into the curve of my arm. I stroke my thumb up and down her bare arm, and the joint-eater’s gaze follows hungrily. Adi places her hand on my chest, slipping into the top of my vest to rest on my skin.
“Sciemle? I have other...things to do tonight.” Adi’s gaze turns hungry as she looks at me while saying this.
“Yes. Of course. Tell my captain that the lower council has approved the Mabon plans and the wheels have been set in motion. Enjoy your...things,” and she blanks the mirror.
