Stands #3
“Yes. We’ve already identified some of the craft used in the attack.
They were decommissioned Red Wing shock fighters.
According to records, they were recycled five years ago.
In other words, they should no longer exist. As such, we’re now inventorying current and decommissioned battlecraft to see what else she might have spirited away. ”
This wasn’t good.
“Are you sure she-slash-they didn’t know you were on Sigil, and because they thought you were, you were the target?” I asked.
“Unless I’m at a public event, I don’t announce where I am at any given time, so it’s a possibility.”
“But you think she was after Manny and Zyr and the citadel.”
“I think she wants to erase me, and in the meantime, for whatever fucked-up reasons she has, she wants to see me suffer. I think she also wants to erase my mother, even if she’s already done that.”
“So, with this latest, do you think it’s personal, rather than a larger plot?”
“I don’t know, baby,” he said on a sigh.
“Actually, I have no fucking idea. It could be argued the troll attack was a huge operation that would cause havoc and hide the fact my death was the goal. Arnaud didn’t have a hand in it, so he can’t tell us.
Tatra denied everything and then disappeared.
All the tech they used for that self-destructed.
We’re zeroing in on a few members of Arnaud’s personal council who lost themselves pretty fucking quick after that happened, but until we’ve got our hands on them and can interrogate them, we don’t know dick. ”
“You’re zeroing in on them?”
“They know where one of them is. Where he’s hiding. But it’s in the Break, so we have to work with the Break to get him. I talked with Bainon, he’s dealing with things there so I could approve an extraction without further delay. This, I’ve done.”
“The others?”
“There are two more. Both in Land’s End.
We haven’t pinpointed them, but we have a pretty good idea where they are.
I spoke with Niall and Cormac. Considering what happened with Gayle, they’re not thrilled with having to play ball with me right now, so they’re refusing to allow the Blood Scythe to go in and get them.
However, they’re planning to do it themselves, and hope to deliver them in twenty-four to forty-eight hours. ”
“Okay, well, that’s good. Right?”
“None of this is good.”
“No,” I whispered. “You’re right.”
“But at least those things aren’t bad.”
“Yes. Progress. Information. Something.”
He gathered me closer. “Yes. Something.”
I slid a hand up his chest and stroked his jaw. “I’m so sorry, honey.”
“At least Zyr will be all right.”
“And Manny is fine. And the citadel stands.”
“The citadel stands.”
I didn’t know what else to say to make him feel better, because there wasn’t anything to say to make him feel better.
I decided on, “Try to get some sleep.”
He pulled me even closer, but although I could feel his exhaustion, I could also feel the energy sparking off him.
Which meant, this time, I kissed his jaw and whispered, “Would you like me to go down on you so you can destress?”
“Not a fan of getting one without giving you one,” he murmured.
“And I’m a fan of that. However, at this moment, I’m more a fan of taking care of you.”
He tracked his fingers across my temple and into my hair. He then repeated that gesture.
But I felt him growing hard against my belly.
“Lie back,” I whispered.
He brushed his lips against mine, and for once, did as he was told.
I kissed my way from his jaw to his neck, down his chest, and when I got to his cock, I did not perform a duty to get a result.
I wasn’t sure a soothing blowjob existed, but by damn, I did my best to give him just that.
Taking my time. Lavishing him with tongue and suction, hand strokes and head licks.
And only when I felt the tightening of his body, the strain to hold back, did I unleash to give it all I had so I could give him the best orgasm I could achieve.
He grunted, “Baby,” to give me a heads-up.
I released him with my mouth, stroked him with my hand and watched the ropes and ropes of cum shoot up his stomach and chest, his firm grip in my hair tensing and releasing, his hips pumping his dick through my fingers, and I was pleased to note I’d succeeded.
It was me who dashed to the bathroom to get a wet cloth to clean him, and dash back.
But it was Tanyn who pulled me so close, it felt like he was trying to absorb me, at the same time he tucked me under him, so he was practically lying on me.
“Better?” I asked softly.
“Absolutely,” he answered drowsily. “Thank you, sweetheart.”
I stroked his spine until I felt his weight settle and his breath even.
I was glad he was finally asleep.
I had my eyes closed too.
I still saw the red.
I knew it was anger. And frustration.
I couldn’t find Tatra by myself. And even if I could make that miracle occur, I’d have to do something legal, like hand her over to the proper authorities and not beat her senseless, and when she was down, kick her unconscious body to pulp.
Eventually, the red receded, and Tanyn’s weight and warmth and steady breathing permeated, so I got sleepy too.
Bottom line, I was here. I was with him. Close. So he knew I was safe. And close, so I could be there for him.
So I was where I needed to be.
It was far from lost on me how momentous this realization was.
Even so, it didn’t tweak me.
Not in the least.
It had the opposite effect, entirely.
As such…
I slept.