Page 29 of Vicious Fates and Vast Futures
I turn to leave but catch a glimpse of my gorgeous mate cornered by a male, his tall body angled in a way to keep her from leaving. Fury roars through me at such a pace that I feel unsteady for a moment. As I stalk towards them, I recall the male’s name.
“Liam ab Quinn,” I state quietly as I slide next to Adi, placing my hand on her back. I feel her relax into my touch. Ossy is nowhere to be seen. Nairna looks ready to transform to escape the conversation the queen has drawn her into nearby. I turn my full attention back to this fuckwit who’s breathing on my mate. My hand itches for a blade. “May I help you?”
He smiles tightly. “No, consort. I was merely speaking with the princess.”
I feel a frisson of anger up the bond, even though it’s blocked.
Adi has her innocent face on, eyes wide and chin tilted. She’s ragingly pissed. “To speak with me is to speak with my consorts; to speak to my consorts is to speak to me. We keep no secrets. I can’t imagine, Liam, that you intended to suggest such?”
Liam hesitates before looking to me. “I was asking the princess if the rumors were true. That she exploded Rose ferch Liliana.”
My eyes flick to my girl; she can answer that.
Her lips purse, a smug look. “I did, Liam. Why do you ask?”
He takes a moment, probably not expecting a direct response, much less the truth. “I— I wanted to know. Because if your reasoning is what the rumor mill says, then...that affects things.”
“And what do they say?” I ask, a quiet edge clear in my voice.
His eyes flick between us before settling on me. “That Rose...abused you...during our time confined to the court after The Call. And the princess was...righting that wrong.”
My face freezes. And how the actual fresh fuck would they know that?
Adi clears her throat, probably trying to get Liam’s attention off me. At the same time, through our tight aura bonds, I feel Ossy approaching behind us. He settles on the other side of Adelaide, looking annoyed.
“Rose broke regulations that will be set upon the court when I take over,” Adi says. “I responded appropriately.” She smiles evilly then takes a step forwards, out of the protective presence of Ossy and I.
She’s almost touching Liam, nearly against his chest. He could easily wrap his arms around her and I find myself taking deep breaths to keep myself under control. I frown at my hair-trigger reactions as I reassure myself that not only is she safe but that she could gut this worthless male before he realized she was holding a knife.
I see Liam visibly swallow and I smirk at the position he’s put himself in. But he stands still and meets Adi’s gaze. “Good. There are those among the royal houses who will be glad to hear it, if you will allow me to pass on your verification, Princess.”
Adi’s eyes narrow as she takes a moment to consider this. “Liam,” she says in a deceptively soft voice, and immediately my hackles rise. “Would you be able to tell me which houses have aligned with Eira?”
Liam pales, which is hard for a Fae of his coloration. “Princess Adelaide...I cannot.” He pauses, obviously trying to decide whether it’s a good idea to piss off a female who just splattered someone like a rotten apple hitting the ground.
“But I can tell you,” Liam continues, his voice a hint stronger than before, “thatmyhouse will support a ruler who will not allow such atrocities to stand.”
He nods nervously but firmly before turning tightly and striding away. The three of us watch him go.
“Adi,” I mutter in a low voice, “save Nairna from your grandmother.”
Her eyes search quickly, finding En still getting yapped at by Seren. “Shit. On it,” she murmurs as she heads that way.
I turn to Ossy. “And where were you?”
He cringes. “Sorry, Bryn. Aidan grabbed me.”
I frown again, but my slight annoyance at Ossy dissipates. “We’ll speak more later,” and I lean in for a quick kiss. I’ve never been one for a lot of PDA, but I will not snub him after his bold—for him—move. I take in his soft grin before I slip off to try to find out some Goddess-damn information on which house is supporting what heir.
