Page 14 of Vicious Fates and Vast Futures
“The uprisings are continuing.” Orla sighs. “It’s getting more press than I’d like, but I can’t do anything about it. Rory and Weyland are staying in the guest house. They’re trying their best. Sean and I are discussing moving.” I can hear the cringe in her voice. “The rebels are getting more and more violent. They set a business on fire the other night. No one was hurt, but the building was lost.”
“That’s terrible,” Adi murmurs. “Where would you move?”
“I don’t know. We’re just starting to consider it. I’m not sure anywhere will be safe, you know?”
“Yeah,” Adi reluctantly agrees.
I hear little Isla yelling off-mirror for Orla.
“Gotta go. Stay safe, Laney.”
Adi blanks the mirror and comes to flop down next to me.
“Well, fuck.”
“Well said, a chroí.” I apply a coat of oil to the blade and take the rag to it.
“Who’d you murder?” Her tone is only half joking.
“Malcolm. Prick thought I’d forgotten his little involvement with me and Ossy being bound in Eira’s rooms.” I had not, in fact, forgotten, a reality he learned the hard way this afternoon. Revenge is indeed a dish best served cold, preferably on a morally grey platter.
Adi rubs her head, letting out a big sigh. “I want Rory and Weyland to evacuate with Orla and family to a safe location.”
I frown. I had had several uses in mind for Rory and Weyland, but going with Orla’s family to keep them safe might be a priority. “Let’s wait and see how this first bit goes before we decide,” I suggest.
She nods in agreement and I sheath my sword. She slides over and I feel her press against me, her anxiety shimmering along the bond.
“C’mon,” and I pull her to her feet, slip my arm around her waist, and lead her to the kitchen. She leans into me and it feels so natural for her to be tucked under my arm like this that that thing deep in my chest eases, the way it always does when I’m touching her.
As I open the kitchen door, Nairna jumps away from Ossy. He lets his hand drop. A grin slowly spreads across my face.
“Okay, that’s ridiculous,” Adi grumbles. “We’re having a foursome. Right now.” But at the same moment, I say, “Oh, no need to be shynow. We heard you last night.”
Adi, Ossy, and I are all grinning, watching En, waiting for her to speak. She looks between us slowly, contemplating. Finally, she throws her hands up.
“Fine, let’s fuck,” she grouches.
“Oh, you sound excited,” I drawl sarcastically.
“C’mon, sugar,” Ossy murmurs as he reaches for her waist.
Adi’s eyebrows raise. “Sugar?”
Osmund smiles, then his eyes flick to where Nairna’s thighs meet, and quickly away. I bite back a smile; he’s so transparent, it’s adorable. Nairna catches his look, too, and slaps his chest hard. But he catches her hand and he pulls her into his body. “You’re so sweet, En. I see how kind you are to Adi, how you’re softening to Bryn’s questionable charms, the glances you gave me last night. ‘Sugar,’ indeed.” I see his thumb stroking rhythmically into her palm, and he kisses her deeply.
I feel Adi respond to the sight of them kissing. I slip behind her and let my hand settle heavily on her throat. “Do you like that, a chroí?”
“Mm-hmm,” she purrs. “But I’m afraid we have shit to do that doesn’t involve my face between En’s legs.”
“Terribly unfortunate,” I mutter before turning my attention to En where she stands leaning against Ossy. “Pup, can we play all together soon? I want to watch you take Ossy’s big dick.”
Ossy chuckles. “More like order all of us around,” and he flashes me his sweet, crooked smile.
“Oh, I’d love to collar all of you and put you naked and on your knees for me,” I growl, “but I don’t think that our first group activity should be that intense.”
“Enough,” Adi whimpers. “I can’tthinkif I’m all worked up. And we need to visit the kitchens tonight before the dumb ball.”
I press down a smile at the memory of En staring down Adi’s temperamental seamstress the other day. Bronwen had delivered, despite her complaints. We all had new gear for the “Fairy Tale Ball” tonight.
