Chapter Nine
Adelaide
I ’m trailing Bryn down the royal hallway, wondering what the hell is going on. He’s striding like he’s got somewhere to be and I’m practically running to keep up with him.
He comes to an abrupt halt in front of my grandmother’s rooms and turns to me. “You’re to tell her that Eira is in desperate need of her attention and guidance. Those exact words, a chroí. If she asks where, your answer is simply ‘her rooms.’”
I get a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. I know something is about to happen but I don’t know if it’s my gut or the shimmer of fate against my unconscious. I take a deep breath and pound on the queen’s door, prepared to do as my mate asks without question.
When the guards lead us to the queen, I recite what Bryn told me. Grandmother swiftly thanks me and shepherds us out of the room, following us to the hall.
She turns towards Eira’s room, and Bryn takes my arm and steers us in the opposite direction. But only until the queen lets her hand print glow upon Eira’s doors and slips inside silently, leaving the door ajar. Then Bryn turns us and damn near runs to the alcove closest to Eira’s rooms, tucks us away but leans out to watch, his body blocking me in safely.
I whisper to Bryn, “Why do I have a sneaking suspicion that shit is about to go down?”
“Because it’s not the only thing going down right now.”
I realize what he’s set up. Or perhaps a better way of saying it is what he’s clued the queen into. Yup, shit is about to go down.
I hear raised voices, females and a male, but the words are unintelligible. The male yells, “I love you, Seren!” There’s a shrill laugh before the voices fade again.
Suddenly, a brilliant white light emerges from the door, painting the hallway in shadows. A scream emerges from the rooms. I recognize the descriptions of my grandmother’s most dangerous power and a cold sweat breaks out across my skin. Is she going to kill both of them for this? Just her captain, her lover? Or just her granddaughter?
A few moments later, Seren emerges, looking broken. As she slowly retreats to her rooms, ignoring the guards surrounding her, I hear a ragged sob escape and my heart hurts for her. I look back to the still-open door of Eira’s rooms. No one emerges.
I suppose finding my lover of decades in bed with my granddaughter would break me too. A swirl of jealousy arrives at the mere thought of Bryn or Ossy or Nairna touching anyone else. Yeah, I could see myself exploding some Fae for that as well.
Seren’s steps are heavy and slow as she returns to her rooms, flanked by her silent guards. When her door is shut with a resounding thump, the guilt at setting this up settles into me. I frown, feeling terrible. I mean, I didn’t make Declan bump uglies with Eira, but I still feel guilty for being responsible that Seren found out.
I turn to Bryn. “Now what?”
WE RETURNED TO OUR rooms and made plans to stay in for the rest of today and as much of tomorrow as we can. My heart still hurts for Seren. But making myself scarce seems prudent, both because of the little hand we played in Seren finding her captain and lover cheating on her, but also because I’m the only heir left standing.
We’ve tossed some dinner in our magicked slow cooker that Rory got his hands on for me and are just flipping a coin for sides on a doubles game of billiards when the mirror clangs angrily. Bryn heads for it as Ossy pulls me into his arms.
“Baby,” he rumbles, my face buried in his chest, “I might need to bend you over the pool table for a quick round.” His voice is teasing but I hear the need in it.
“I’m not sure I’ll finish in a quick round,” I answer. “You all have been really grinding the orgasms out of me. I think I’ve lost my hair trigger.” I’m teasing him—mostly.
He growls. “My little queen rules my heart, but her body serves me. You don’t get reprieves when I’m in need, Adelaide.”
Welp, there goes this pair of panties. I’m soaked and ready at those words. But before I can answer, Bryn returns.
Osmund growls in frustration.
“It’s Maja.”
“Fuck.” I’m ready to be bent over right now, not to politick.
“I’ll take your place, birdie,” En says, smirking.
Ossy and I both groan in need and my eyes flit between the two.
“Come,” Bryn commands.
“Someone will be,” Ossy mutters as he crosses the room to En.
Fuck, I need this traitor and throne business behind me. Just as much as I need Ossy behind me, I think sourly.
Bryn pulls me to my reception room where Maja is waiting on my call mirror with an annoyed look on her face.
I cross my arms under my breasts. I don’t need her attitude too. I realize I don’t cut much of an imposing figure in my green tank top and pajama shorts, but I’ll have to make do. I feel my annoyance and denied need and let my magic curl up and release.
Maja’s eyes widen but she doesn’t dip in the air as her moth wings flap slowly.
“Nice of you to join me, Princess.”
“Did you have a purpose for this call, Maja?”
“I have the name of your traitor. The one that approached my queen for assistance in murdering you and yours. The one responsible for your aunt being present at the Mabon Bombing.”
My eyes flick to Bryn. I’m surprised he’s not sharpening a blade to get ready.
“I’m all ears.”
Maja makes a face. “I want your word you won’t go to Gitta with my position in the EA.”
“Do you think my word is worth anything?” I ask tartly.
She studies me for a moment, looking surprised.
“Yes, I do, Princess. Word of your actions, and those of your lovers, have reached our FEC. Others as well. So,” she huffs, “give me your word and I’ll give you the name.”
“You have my word, Maja the godmother fairy and head of FEC1’s EA, that I, and my mates, will not reveal your role, name, or any identifying details to Queen Gitta or any of her agents.”
“It’s Princess Olwyn.” And she blanks the mirror with a shit-eating grin on her face.
What? How? How is she—
My body hits the wall. I just manage to get my hands up in time to protect my face. It’s Bryn. I don’t know what emotions I was letting down our bond, but he’s apparently decided the solution is to dick me down.
I’m game.
Bryn reaches up the leg of the shorts and pulls my panties down, leaving them rolled up partially down my thighs. He tugs my loose shorts to the side and shoves two fingers inside me, going right for my g-spot. I squeal and my hips buck, pressing back into him.
“That’s right. My girl needs this cock, doesn’t she? You need me buried in that cunt of mine, don’t you?”
I whimper assent as he strums my g-spot harder. Abruptly, he pulls his fingers out, though his other hand, which is on the back of my neck holding my face against the wall next to the mirror, doesn’t move.
Suddenly the head of his cock is against me and he rubs it up and down, getting himself wet. Then he’s shoving himself inside me and the force of it, the stretch, the energy and magic humming between us, makes me explode. My breath stops for several heartbeats before I can feel my body again as my orgasm passes. I relax and hear Bryn’s satisfied chuckle as he growls in my ear, “You didn’t ask, my heart.”
He thrusts hard but slow, spanking my ass on each withdraw. “Take your punishment for being an insatiable little creature who’s so insolent she doesn’t even ask permission to come on my cock.” His body pounds into mine, exquisitely slowly and possessively.
“No babies doesn't bother me, Adelaide. In fact, I think it makes me want to come inside you more.” He groans as his body slaps against mine especially hard. He’s bottoming out inside me and I accept the pleasure-pain he’s giving me. He continues, “I want to fucking fill you with my cum. For my pleasure alone, mate, not in desire of a child or a throne.”
He grunts and his hand on the back of my neck shifts to the front. He pulls me upwards, my back arched against him as he suddenly pistons in and out of me quickly before I feel his muscles go tight. His orgasm is silent, too tense to make a sound, until his hips slow and his hand shifts to my hair gently. Then he makes soft, contented noises as he eases his cock out of me and scoops me up, panties still half down and his seed dripping down my thigh as he takes me to bed.
Osmund
I TAKE A DEEP brEATH and feel a tug of my Norse magic and the temperature drops. Shit. I guess I’m more worried than I thought. I try to bring the room back to a more comfortable temperature before either of the ladies notice. As Bryn continues speaking, I pull my focus back to him.
“I’ll be bringing Weyland in addition to En. Rory will be evacuating with Orla and her family. Glario is too close to the unseelie sithen for my liking. We’ll leave in about an hour to get everyone where they need to be. We’ll stay in Glario this evening, until it’s done.”
En is nodding—she must have known some of this—but I feel Adi’s concern and surprise. Anger flares up in me and I hear Adi sigh and shift on my lap. I’ll take care of her later.
“Metamour, why were Adi and I left out of the planning?”
Bryn rubs the back of his neck, looking sheepish. “Osmund, love, the two of you are both prone to catastrophizing and anxiety. We thought it would be better this way.”
“Well, it fucking isn’t, Bryn.”
A big sigh escapes him. “I’m sorry, Ossy. I won’t do it again. I should have at least asked you both if you wanted to know.” He sighs again, rising off the couch to cross to us and kisses us both gently.
He must feel my frustration, which a kiss hasn’t abated. “Don’t be cross with me, Ossy. That’s Adi and En’s job.”
My lips quirk at that but I’m still upset. I narrow my eyes at him. “I’ll punish you later.”
En’s flare of heat at those words hardens my cock.
“No. Quit. All of you.” Adi’s voice is soft. “Come on. If we only have an hour, I think we have time for me to even the score.”
Bryn and I exchange a look. En grins. “Not gonna happen, birdie. I am the crowned empress of Mario Kart .”