Page 26 of Vicious Fates and Vast Futures
As I wake slowly, I feel our auras start to pull outwards a moment before I hear Bryn and Ossy enter through the large bathroom mirror. Their green and blue auras wrap around ours in an oddly protective way as I sigh at the complete feeling that settles in my chest.
I close my eyes, enjoying the bonds in a way I would have never expected only a fortnight ago.
When I open them again, Adi’s arms have slipped around me and our heads are close. Bryn and Ossy stand at the foot of the bed, taking us in hungrily.
Bryn breaks the almost supernatural silence. His voice is unsteady. “You two take my breath away. You are as unexpected and glowing as dual moons rising over my campfire. I must have done something wonderful in a past life, because I surely didn’t do anything in this one to deserve you and the happiness you bring.” He turns to Ossy, taking his hand in his. “You as well, metamour. I love you.”
Adi buries her face in my hair, smiling sweetly. “I suppose you both want to join us for a romp before we get our day started?”
She hasn’t even finished her sentence before Ossy is climbing into bed and Bryn is shucking clothes and I’m laughing and feeling lighter than I have in decades.
Chapter Five
Adelaide
“I’m putting my foot down, Bryn ab Bethan.” I stare him down.
He huffs in a mildly irritated way, placing his finger in the book he’s reading and closing the cover to look at me.
“We are meeting your family despite them being gone from court. End of discussion,” I insist again.
“Why don’t we meet En’s family?” he asks indignantly.
My eyebrows pull downwards. “They’re dead, actually, you ass.”
He looks chagrined. “I didn’t know,” he says softly. Then he adds, “I promise, sweetheart, I will show you off to everyone I’ve ever met. Just let me get us through this first, hmm?”
I open my mouth to respond when the door to the library opens and Ossy and En come in. Ossy strides directly to my record player, which is blasting Flogging Molly, and turns it down. I’ve been a bit pissed off lately and that music fits with my mood. But as I see En pouring whiskeys at the wet bar, my eyebrows raise.
“What’s wrong?”
Ossy clears his throat. “Why do you think something’s wrong, baby?”
“Neither you nor En are day drinkers. Something must be wrong if you are having whiskey in the middle of the afternoon.”
Ossy looks to Bryn. “What are you reading?”
Bryn doesn't look up from his reopened book. “Pratchett. And don’t change the subject. What happened, metamour?”
En presses a whiskey glass into my hand.
I gesture at them with the glass. “I’m going to shoot this, andthenyou two are going to tell me what the fuck is going on,” I growl.
I toss back the whiskey. Ossy and En join me as Bryn sips his. I wait until Ossy has cleared our glasses before giving him the stink eye.
