Page 54 of Tasteful Anarchy and Tangled Auras
And I will. What else have I trained for but to protect my female? I will protect what is mine. We are lucky to have Bryn as another strong male to keep our family safe. I hope desperately that we have a chance.
I hear horses. My head snaps up. Even though people have been arriving for the last two days, this is an odd time for an arrival.
“What?” asks Rory.
“Someone is coming. A lot of someones.”
Rory is straining to hear. “How many?” he whispers.
I stand. “Twenty, maybe. All mounted.”
“I hear them now!” Rory says excitedly. Then, “Damn, they’re loud. No way they’re trying to sneak in.”
I nod. “Right.”
I should get a clear view of whoever is approaching. I estimate their location and their pace on horseback and then wait.
Rory gasps. “That’s the Royal standard!”
My timing was pretty close. My eyes narrow. It’s that bitch Alys. She isn’t supposed to be here.
My first formal dinner at court, when I was still in complete shock about finding my mate, Alys had cornered me while Adi was busy. Alys asked if she could “have a ride on whatever is making my niece so happy” and tried to grab my junk. I’d reacted without thinking, grabbing her wrist before she could touch me. She turned purple with rage and railed about court protocols, torture chambers, and allowing Neanderthals at court. Luckily, she saw Adi making a beeline and left off with a warning to stay out of her way. Needless to say, she’s not a favorite of mine.
“Rory, do you think you could slip into her retinue unnoticed?”
He grins. “I’m fabulously noticeable, but I can go undetected, big guy.”
He disappears without another word, and I turn and go around to the river, headed for Adi’s exterior door.
I creep in and shut the door quietly. Bryn is shirtless and spooned behind Adi, her wild caramel curls blending with his rich brown ones. Their happiness makes joy bubble in my chest.
“We have a problem,” I say.
Bryn has a blade in hand before I finish speaking. “Not that kind of problem, Bryn. Well, I mean, I’d be open to stabbing her.”
Adi chuckles. “Who, Ossy?”
“Alys just arrived with eighteen mounted men, though some were obviously servants. At least ten Queen’s Guard.”
Bryn swears and Adi looks shocked.
“I sent Rory to infiltrate her company.”
“What? Osmund! He’s not trained for that!” Adi sits up, revealing her white nightgown. She’s been wearing a lot of white since we left court.
“He’ll be fine,” Bryn states. “It was a good decision.”
She crosses her arms. “Don’t you two gang up on me.”
“How does this affect our plans?” I ask.
A shrug from Bryn. “It doesn’t.”
I nod and start to leave, but Adi calls me. I turn back to the bed and she’s holding out her hand for me to join them and I grin.
