Page 61 of Tasteful Anarchy and Tangled Auras
“What happened?” I demand.
“I infiltrated Alys’s camp,” Rory says, sniffy but puffed with pride, “and I discovered there would be an explosion. Then I told these two and Ossy revealed that he had found an explosive device and they started searching and I starting bringing them—”
“I know, I know,” I interrupt. “I meant...is Maise okay? Who’s dead? Is the Temple itself intact?”
All of them sober.
Ossy clears his throat. “One bomb in the woods, one bomb in the main hall. I failed to find it. My apologies, Priestess.” He lowers his head.
“Quit that. You never call me that,” I huff and swat his leg, earning a soft smile.
“He didn’t fail,” Bryn continues. “We cleared seven of the eight explosive devices in the woods, and I found one in the living center hallway. And I found the cell’s agent with the detonator.”
“If those had gone off as intended,” I whisper, “this entire place would be flattened. Everyone, dead.” I swallow dryly.
All of them nod, and I continue. “What of the agent?”
Bryn grimaces. “I killed him too quickly. I should have gotten information out of him. But, Adi, our bond.... You were so angry, so sad, I needed to get to you, I—”
I kiss him. His tone was pleading, as though he thought he had failed too. My poor mates. I reach my hand for Ossy and when he grasps it, I pull him to us, turning from Bryn’s lips to his.
“Well, who’s going to kiss me?” Rory interrupts.
We all chuckle but it fades fast.
“Who’s dead?” I ask again.
Bryn, my bearer of bad news, blows out a breath. “Including Alys, three Priestesses. One Queen’s Guard. Two Temple servants. Seven Fae, including two of the lower council.”
“Thirteen,” I breathe. “No, twelve. I’ll claim Alys.”
“Best if you didn’t, baby,” Ossy says somberly. “Imagine what it will look like, removing one of the people between you and the throne. Let them think she died in the bombing.”
I blink. I hadn’t considered that. Oh yeah, Grandmother would be pissed.
The realization hits: the throne will go to either me or Eira. I sigh.
“Wait, you said two of the lower council lived. Can they tell us who the rat is?”
Bryn shakes his head. “No, the coblyn we had spoken to was the only one who spoke with the splinter cell informant. And he’s dead.”
“I don’t think they’re a splinter cell,” Rory points out. “They are pretty much controlling the EA now. Who’s left? Bryn. The two lower council members that were here, if they aren’t cowed into submission. Filib?” He shakes his head. “I don’t think the vote on the empty seat is going to go well.”
Ossy stares at him. Rory raises an eyebrow in response. “What? I’m not just a pretty face, you know.”
“Alright,” Bryn interrupts. “Adi needs rest.”
“Yeah, rest. Sure...,” Rory chuckles as he gets up. “You three are going to get freaky as soon as this door shuts.” But he leans over for one last hug. Bryn and Ossy nod to him and he slips out.
My mates snuggle into me, dark and light, guarded and open, yet both strong and vulnerable. I let sleep take me, surrounded by the thrum of their auras, blue and green, wrapped around me, through me, inexplicably linking the three of us.
