Page 45 of Tasteful Anarchy and Tangled Auras
Chapter 16
Osmund
We spent the past day with Orla and Sean, and anyone they snuck into their home to meet with us. They make connections, run interference, gather assistance, feed and entertain us; but the smile on my mate’s face as she spends time with her friend is what has caused me to embrace them. Bryn slips in and out, consulting with various Fae. Luckily, his meeting with Filib went well. Bryn trusted me to protect Adi alone in a strange setting, and I am honored by his confidence in me.
But tonight, the full moon will rise, and Adi will take her place as High Priestess in a ring of standing stones, in a bid to gain the EA’s trust. Risking her, ourmate, a piece of our souls, makes me feel nauseous. I shake my head. I need to focus.
Bryn clears his throat. “I think we should go over the plan one more time.”
Adi makes a rude noise. “Bryn, simmer down. We’ve been over and over this. The only part that isn’t clear is how to proceed if Filib steps into the ritual.” She pulls a face; her opinion is to complete the ritual with him standing in. Bryn and I areveryopposed to this idea. “I’ll be fine,” she continues. “It’s nothing I haven’t done before.”
“Absolutely not.” Bryn’s face is grim as he approaches Adelaide swiftly and places his hand on the nape of her neck, making stern eye contact. “I’ll kill him first.”
The sound that Adi makes is pure feminine frustration, and I’d chuckle in a different circumstance. She pulls away delicately from Bryn, and her gorgeous ceremonial gown swirls around her. It’s a variation on the robes she wore into town—white, hooded, gold-work details—but this outfit is loose and billows on her body.
She arches a shapely eyebrow. “You do realize that even if our harebrained schemes work out, I won’t be stepping down from the Temple?”
Something in Bryn’s face makes me think that no, he hadn’t realized that. I step forwards before either of my hot-headed family can say more. “We should be heading out soon. We want to arrive and stage things well before moonrise.”
Orla steps into the kitchen. “Your Viking is right.” She wraps her arms about Adi and kisses her cheeks. “See you after the witching hour, Laney.”
“Don’t you dare wait up,” Adi says.
“Of course I will,” and Orla presses their foreheads together.
I glance at Bryn and he gives me a hard look. I nod. We’re in agreement. If Filib gets in the way, he’ll die. Before I can grab the packs and my battle-axe and slip out the back door, Sean slaps me and Bryn on the back. He has a hard look in his eyes. “Keep them safe,” he murmurs.
EVERYONE AND EVERYTHINGis in place and has been for over two hours. The chances that Sciemle suspects anything is very low, according to Bryn, but neither of us want to gamble with our mate’s safety. Sciemle’s biggest fault, besides the wholeevil thing, is her ego, so she likely will not anticipate us setting up hours early.
My eyes scan the trees in the dying light. We’re in a small clearing, at the center of which are the nine, rough-hewn, waist-high stones situated in a circle. We’ve planned and counterplanned for possibilities, but now that it’s here and Adelaide, my extraordinary mate, is alone, I’m gripped with fear for her. Never before have I felt such dread. If we get through this nonsense, I’m going to spank her ass red and lock her in a room because I am not made for this.
Battle is absolution. It should not invoke the horror that is creeping into my heart. Adelaide is not a shield maiden that has been trained to fight, to defend herself. I want her far, far from peril. Bryn has told me she has some skill with a small blade, but that is not nearly enough.
The sounds of their tromping through the underbrush reach me before I can see them. As they enter the clearing, I take their measure. The shifter, Filib, is leading, a tall human-shaped male with the same shaggy brown hair as the horse-creature we met at the tavern. Then comes the red cap, Jack, a large mace strapped to his back. He holds up his palm, and I make out a flash of orange and know the joint-eater is there. Then comes an impressive, human-looking being with flaming red hair and a bastard sword sheathed on his hip. The Leprechaun.
I grit my teeth and wipe my sweaty palms on my pants. I loathe this. My flesh crawls, watching these dangerous creatures approach my soft little mate, standing alone and barefoot inside the ring stones. I try to tell myself that we’ve prepared for all eventualities, but I cannot convince myself that we’ll be walking away unharmed.
Bryn
THE MOON IS MAKINGits slow progress across the night sky. Disquiet has settled over me but I keep my face sanguine. Ossy and I have taken up guard positions at the north and south stones. Adelaide stands peacefully inside the stones, hands clasped before her. I wonder offhandedly how many times she’s done this—minus the ominous initiation into EA part.
Jack kneels and places Sciemle on the ground directly outside the ring stones. Sciemle approaches Adi, and Adi perches on her heels to speak with her. I am close enough to see every detail, but not close enough to hear the hushed words. I don’t know what passes between them, but Sciemle nods to her males, and they withdraw, leaving only the Leprechaun near. My muscles are taut. I sidle closer. I need to hear. Adelaide is fairly confident that none of them have seen a full moon ritual to Aine before. She’s made some tweaks.
Spreading open a cloth pouch in the center of the stones, Adi raises her voice. “Blessed Aine instructs us to praise the sun, and grown under the sun is the wheat of this bread.” Adi pulls it apart, offering a piece to the Leprechaun, a tiny crumb to Sciemle, and takes a piece herself. Sciemle chews and swallows her crumb as both Adi and the Leprechaun eat their pieces.
“Just as day follows night, so must the dark follow the light. But Aine promises the fertility of the land will return, the days will warm, the womb of the Earth will grow rich with bounty once again.” Adi turns to the east and nods to Sciemle to leave the ring.
With the joint-eater now standing between Filib and Jack at the western point, Adi turns to the Leprechaun. I edge towards Jack. Adi slips the top of her dress off her shoulders, and it pools at her feet. She’s captivatingly naked in the moonlight. The onlythings marking her body are her leather belt, cinched around her bare waist, and her striking markings.
The shadow at the top of her thighs has caught the attention of the Leprechaun. Then the bastard grins and unstraps his sword belt, dropping it to the ground. He steps towards my serene mate, but doesn't touch her, as he removes his shirt.
