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, and then you 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.
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.”
“Jesus Henry Christ.” I rub my head. “Are they just pissed because they are a bunch of rapists too? Because if so, I have a real easy 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. I want to 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 THE Chubby 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. “ That will have to wait. We have a court dinner tonight, and if we don’t hurry, we’ll be late.”
SEREN WANTED EVERYONE in “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.”
Bryn
AS WE EAT, THE ROOM is subdued, quiet. The mood is tense. Adi mainly pushes food around her plate. I’m worried the stress is getting to her, but I know Ossy will make sure she eats something when we get back to our rooms.
My hand slips down to smooth the kilt Adi had made for me. I adore it. I had to dig out a thigh sheath for a small blade to wear under it, since my standard calf sheath wouldn’t work.
I look up the table to Seren, who seems tired and pale. Her eyes meet mine. I glance away but not before I see some thought cross her face. Shit. That can’t be good.
“So, cousins ,” Olwyn starts, looking annoyed with anyone so much as glancing in her general direction, “either of you knocked up yet?”
Seren’s face darkens, but Adi, wild creature, responds quickly. “Not for lack of trying. My men love cream-pieing me.” She smiles sweetly as Seren coughs on her wine. I’m not sure what “cream-pieing” means, but I can guess.
Adi continues, looking to Eira. “Didn’t Grandmother want you to take a new consort?”
Eira looks irate. “I think she said ‘both of us,’ Adelaide.”
“Ah, but I have a new consort.” Adi is using her sweet voice, which means she’s ready to stab one of them. I force down a grin.
“Not one who could impregnate you,” Olwyn spits before turning to glare at En. I feel Ossy bristle.
“As it turns out,” Seren interjects smoothly, trying to keep her volatile granddaughters in line, “I foolishly did not include that stipulation. But, Eira, I do expect you to take another in addition to your husband.”
I fight the urge to rub my head. I’m ready to murder them all.
As they continue talking at a lower volume, Aidan catches my attention.
“Bryn, I have spoken with our friend ,” he says quietly but loudly enough that I can hear, which means that others can too. My brows furrow. Idiot.
“He understands the...situation. With Adi.”
If I could bang my head against something right now, I would. Instead, I look away, hoping against hope that Aidan won’t yell it down the table, concerned that I didn’t hear him the first time.
Seren suddenly stands, dismissing the dinner portion of the evening. I need to figure out which houses are discussing rebellion, so I intend to slip away for some recon.
Adi stands fluidly as servants come to empty the table before it’s magicked away. The light dims as candles are extinguished, and a quartet of musicians, akin to what would have been around in a royal English court, sets up in the corner.
I rise, eyes going to Ossy. I step up to tell him to stay with Adi, but as I get close, his hand goes around the back of my neck and he pulls me in for a quick kiss on the lips. I beam. I had been waiting for him to show affection in public. I lean in and give him another kiss, now that he’s shown me—and the court—that he’s comfortable with it. His adorable crooked smile in response could light up the room.
I catch Nairna watching us with a soft look on her face. “Did you want a smooch, pup?” I wink as she sputters in denial. “Both of you stay with her, hmm?”
I see Adi speaking with her father and turn to creep out a side door. Before I can reach it, however, Adi’s twin cousins waylay me.
“Urien, Albon. Can I do something for you?” For worthless royals, I like them well enough. Their care of Adi is why I don’t despise them on principle.
Albon responds, looking around nervously. “Adi has hinted that things might get...unsettled.” He looks at his twin, as if needing support. “We’ve talked and we want to help. Our sister is unhinged. Seren’s ready to pass through the veil from pure exhaustion at any moment, from the looks of it. Adi should be queen. She’d be a fair queen and make things around here...better, I suppose.”
It’s not safe—or smart—to take them deep into our confidence, so I don’t bother to correct their misconceptions of our end goal.
“Perfect, gentlemen. If you’re game, and able to keep your mouths shut, I have an assignment for you.”
Urien smiles, and it holds a vicious edge. I realize that they have probably been spared what I and other lower court males went through but that they have still seen their own share of abuse.
“I need you to find out if your sister meets Declan at a regular time.”
Albon blinks. “Captain Declan? Why would she—”
“They’re fucking. And organizing against Adelaide.”
They swear in unison. Slowly, Urien nods. “We’re on it.”
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, “that my house 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.