Page 65 of The Poison of the Earth
Lonan gets up too but Ollie lazes back, arms over her head. “Will you getmymarking tattooed on your cock too, Kai?” She smirks.
I turn and glare at her and she dissolves into giggles.
“I’ll see you both at breakfast,” I say as I pace out as quickly as I can without looking ridiculous, headed to my rooms to get dressed.
JUST AS WE’RE DIGGINGinto plates of eggs with goat cheese and the last of the year’s sweet peppers, Nell comes slumping in. Her dark green hair appears mussed and her gills flicker in and out.
“Lonan. A message.” She holds out the envelope. The envelope is a burnt orange shade and I swallow down my concern.Larkstead.
Faery, much like the human world, is run by the rich. The richest of each variety of Fae, and the priesthood, hold sway. For water Fae, it had been the Gaeba family, which had governed peaceably and fairly for nigh on eight hundred years. About five hundred of those ago, they became the ruling family of the entire realm. Until the most powerful earth Fae family, Stonesthrow, had attacked and killed them all like cowards. Not even a proper battle.
The Narisa clan of dragon shifters ran Guivre Shores, home to most air shifters, at least now that Alder openly persecuted them.
The final cornerstone, fire, was run by the Larkstead family. They are still “fresh” rulers, only having held the seat of power for about three hundred years. But that has been enough time for us to see that what they prefer is a comfortable lifestyle, not power, nor prestige nor control. I suppose it could be worse. For instance, Alder.
Lonan tears open the envelope.
Korben chuckles, “So, ready for a husband, Kai?”
I glare at him silently.
Lo’s eyes trace back and forth over the letter. He’s always been a fast reader. He excelled at academic lessons when we were younger. He’d tease and poke me about it, but only until one of our fathers had taken us out for weapons or tracking work. That was my time to shine. With each other’s support though, we had both become proficient in each.
“Well?” I finally prompt. “What does it say?”
He tosses down the letter, rubbing his head and my eyes flick to Ollie. She’s looking at me so I give her a tiny reassuring nod and we both turn back to Lo.
“They would love to get rid of Alder. He’s a blight, an insult, a lazy no-good imposter. But they require a marriage pact.”
“Pact?” Ollie says quietly. “Not an actual marriage at this exact moment?” She arches a white eyebrow and I immediately love what this devious little bitch is suggesting.
Lonan chuckles. “Consummated and sworn before an Ordained.”
She grimaces, eyes flicking to Korben and Lilac. I can see the thought in her face. We should tell them about our bonds.
I grunt, shaking my head, looking at Lo. “We might as well have out with it, don’t you think?”
I know the inner circle has long suspected that Lonan and I fuck. But they have the tact, and sense of self-preservation, to not speak of it. But Ollie has put a wrench into things. I cannot stop staring at her. I know I struggle to mask my feelings when I am around her.
Lonan’s eyebrows rise even as Ollie takes me in with a look upon her face.She likes this idea, I realize. She wants this out in the open.Would it make her more amenable to accepting the bonds?
I look to Lo, giving a barely perceptible shrug. He sighs fitfully, poor, long-suffering mate of mine.
“Korben, Lilac, what I’m about to say must not leave this room. We’ll of course discuss this with Caspian and Tazi as soon as I am able to—in person—but this must stay secret.”
They both nod solemnly. Lonan commands respect and trust easily. It’s one of the things I adore about him, his easy comradery and foolhardy bravery.
“Kai and I are heart mates. Have been since before you met us.”
Lilac laughs. “Yes, and?” She raises her eyebrows.
Ollie snorts and the two women exchange a friendly glance. It makes my heart happy; Lilac rather hates most folks, so if she likes Ollie... well, it’s a good sign for sure.
Lonan continues without comment, “And Oleander... she has spirit bonds with both Kai and I.”
The silence is heavy for a moment before Korben chuckles. “Fucking eh, of course she does. The mystery daughter of our enemies, bound to the rebel leaders?Love it.It’s like a book, you guys!”
I close my eyes, shaking my head. Korben spent a lot of time in the human world, like many of his variety, before the Veil Stones quit working, giving him his rather unusual sense of humor.
