Page 27 of Vicious Fates and Vast Futures
He sighs. “Several houses are upset about Marchara’s extinction.”
“Define ‘upset,’” Bryn drawls, eyes still on his book.
En swallows. “They are talking about rebellion.”
“JesusHenryChrist.” I rub my head. “Are they just pissed because they are a bunch of rapists too? Because if so, I have arealeasy solution for that.”
The eyebrows of all my mates hit the ceiling at my murderous statement.
“Is that the Morrigan or...?” Ossy asks gently.
“Does it fucking matter?” I snarl. I’m irritated. More than I have a right to be, honestly, but I don’t often use the adjective “rational” to describe myself. Another reason I shouldn’t rule.
Bryn has placed his book aside. “A chroí, we’re just trying to understand your motivation. You know any of us would kill for you. We’d burn the world down at your command.”
Pretty words, but time and again they defy me. Which, if I am honest with myself, is what I want. Iwantto be challenged, to be pushed to see my flaws and errors. That’s how one grows and how good partners grow together.
But a mercurial nymph is gonna nymph, and I’m irritated with Bryn’s pretty—and pyromaniacal—words.
I can’t deal with this right now. I push a shift to my cat form, which is easy. The neural pathways have been burned into my brain. It’s like tying a shoe. A very painful shoe.
My eyes take in the world in sharper clarity but fewer colors. Ossy strides to scoop me up and I hiss before hopping off my chair. I bolt out of the room as I hear Bryn yell at En. This pussy has had enough.
I hiss again as I slip into our gym, quickly jumping up onto a weight machine. En enters in her dog form just as I leap onto the windowsill and slip outside the small window. I breathe deeply of the fresh air as I hear her bark frustratedly.Tough shit, I think to myself as I hop off the castle wall into the bushes outside.
A COUPLE HOURS AT THEChubby Sheep has put me in much better spirits. I had ducked into the kitchen in my cat form and been fed some yummy fish scraps, after which I slipped into the main hall to eavesdrop. Eventually, I snuck out, transformed, and came back through the main door to enjoy some beer and camaraderie. I knew many of the regulars and enjoyed catching up with them, still keeping my ears peeled for any interesting news.
I am just ordering a third beer when my mates arrive, probably having guessed at my location quickly. I knew it must have killed Bryn to stay away this long, so I sigh and stand.
“Nolan,” I call to the wolver bartender, “I’ll take my bill, please.”
He grins. “’Course, Adi lass.”
Behind me, I feel Ossy bristle at Nolan’s familiar tone with me. “Quit,” I toss over my shoulder. “Aren’t you all in enough trouble?”
As I place down coin for my tab, I chuckle at their expressions.
Nairna looks to Bryn. “Is she drunk?”
“No. Just reckless. And worried.” He turns to me. “Priestess, the last thing I want to do is hurt you, sweetheart.” He steps closer, wrapping an arm around me and letting his hand slide to my ass, clearly indicating his preferred method of punishment. “But it’s still on the list, you little hellcat.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Thatwill have to wait. We have a court dinner tonight, and if we don’t hurry, we’ll be late.”
SEREN WANTED EVERYONEin “traditional” clothes tonight, which has a pretty wide variance. I’m in an emerald-colored dress I could wear at a Ren faire topped with a rust-colored underbust corset that wraps up and ties over my shoulders. En is in a leather corset and a long skirt with leather leggings underneath and is looking perfectly edible. But I’d commissioned the boys a surprise. I had Bronwen create them both kilts using the Scottish National tartan.
When I emerge from my closet, they are both standing there waiting for me. Bryn has an ecstatic wide grin on his face. He sweeps me into his arms before I can fully take them in.
“A chroí,I love it. It’s perfect.” And he kisses me. When he surfaces for air, which takes a while, he asks, “Did I tell you the bodach I ran about with was a Carnegie? He initiated me into his clan.”
I smile. “No, you didn’t. How did you leave that out?” I place a hand to his face and make a mental note to get him another kilt, this time in a Carnegie tartan. He looks delicious, partially due to that grin and the hidden dimple coming out because of it.
Still surrounded by Bryn’s arms, I look over to Ossy. He looks fantastic. Kilts were definitely made for males with incredible thighs. I ogle them a moment, pondering the Vikings in kilts myth. It’s too bad it’s been disproven by the Fae of his FEC,because godsdamn do they look good in them. I wanna drop to my knees right now and slip my head under it.
Nairna chuckles. “Maybe I should get a kilt, too, since you’re looking like you want to eat them up.”
I squirm away from Bryn’s grasp and I press my body against Ossy’s, standing on my tiptoes so he knows I want to kiss him, and he leans down for me. His long braid is over his shoulder and I give it a soft tug just to see that schmoopy look on his face. After a sweet soft kiss, I move to En. “I’ll bury my head in your skirt too, love, if you like.”
She makes a happy noise as I kiss her, but then I slip away and head for the door. “C’mon, let’s get this over with.”
