Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 162269 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 541(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162269 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 541(@300wpm)
My husband comfortably resting against me, all was right in my world.
For the now.
We waited as the others, including Serena and Chu, Hera and Macrinus, and Nero took their seats before Ian started talking.
“First, Elena.”
He said no more. Simply looked at her with an expression on his handsome face that had a frog forming in my throat.
“Speak not, my brother,” she whispered.
He nodded, looked to Mac.
“She is in the veil,” Mac grunted. “And we will talk no more of it in the now.”
He nodded and looked to Hera.
“She liked you very much,” Hera said softly.
“And I liked her too,” Ian replied gently.
Hera’s lashes swept down.
He looked to Cass. “Tone?”
“He will be here soon, and we will lay him to rest by his father with his mother and sister at our sides.”
A muscle danced in Ian’s jaw before he nodded one last time and he said, “Right. You should know, I’ve received reports that there’s a stronghold of Allied Gentry in Dunlyn. I’ve sent word to Navagio. He’s randomly inundating low-populated, high-financial-loss areas, like warehouses, wharves, piers, jetties and merchant offices with cannon fire to provide cover for our operatives to infiltrate and find their headquarters.”
“Excellent,” Cassius murmured.
“Though, it has come to my attention just hours ago that Fern and her women have already infiltrated Dunlyn, and she is about that same errand.”
“Fuck,” Cassius bit.
“I’ve returned word to her to stand down,” Ian went on.
“Good,” Cassius said.
“She is not the only rogue faction at work, brother,” Ian warned his prince.
Mars made a growly noise.
I put my hand on his thigh and he relaxed.
“There are reports of skirmishes breaking out all over Airen,” Ian continued. “They’re calling themselves the ‘New Airen Citizenry.’ And apparently, if groups of Allied Gentry are identified, they’re being attacked or besieged in their own manors and castles. Not only that, in those places that are AG strongholds, NAC factions are marching in protest, which makes them return targets and they are being attacked and imprisoned in the dungeons of AG castles.”
Cassius sat back on his couch, draping his arm around Elena, who was grinning.
“This is not good news,” he groused to his intended.
“Civil unrest isn’t always bad,” she replied.
“And how can I ask Frey to call his dragons to incinerate these Gentry bastions if my own supporters are in their dungeons?” Cassius asked her.
“I’d forgotten you intended to do that,” Elena murmured.
Cassius sighed.
“I will say, Cass,” Ian cut in, “that once you heralded that notice, reports increased that NAC supporters, or simply Airenzian going about their business, mostly women, have been abducted and confined, thus if the dragons rain their fire, it will be gentry property that is destroyed, but our supporters will be the ones who perish.”
Cassius’s gaze sliced to Frey.
I glanced at Frey to see his jaw tight.
Ian continued, “I have sent peace-keeping squadrons out to areas that are not known AG strongholds in order to attempt to keep the NAC in those places under some semblance of control. And I’ve sent messages to AG strongholds where it is reported hostages have been taken, demanding their release. Your secretary has a full reporting of this you can look over.”
Cass nodded.
“Can we talk for a second about what was happening between you and Domitia out in the entryway?” Elena requested of Ian.
At that, Ian’s jaw got tight.
“For fuck’s sake,” Cassius muttered.
“You have to admit she’s much changed,” Elena said to Cassius, then turned directly to Ian. “Is it you we have to thank for that?”
“I’ve just been seeing to her,” Ian lied.
“Uh-huh, just seeing to her. Right,” Circe mumbled.
“Kah fauna, rayloo,” Lahn murmured.
“Right, raylooing,” Circe said, directing wide eyes to Finnie.
Finnie dropped her smile to her lap.
“What does rayloo mean?” I whispered to Mars.
“I’ve no bloody idea,” Mars didn’t whisper to me.
I swallowed down my giggle.
“Look! Isn’t this lovely?” The woman under discussion cried from the doorway, and all turned to her as Domitia entered the room. “More company. I’m glad I ordered many refreshments brought up.”
“Ha-Lah!” I cried, jumping up and dashing to my friend.
She opened her arms.
I ran into them, curving mine around her as she closed hers around me.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” I whispered into her ear.
“I am too, my—”
She didn’t get to finish, for I was torn out of her embrace.
I then found myself behind Mars’s back and he was retreating, taking me with him.
“Mars!” I snapped. “What on—?”
“Aramus, explain,” my husband growled.
“Mars! Stop pushing me!” I hissed.
“Trust me,” Aramus’s deep voice came.
“You ask a lot, brother,” Mars rumbled.
I shoved against his back at the same time preparing to sidestep him.
But suddenly, True was at one side of me, Cassius at the other, fencing me in.
“Maybe we should talk in the other room,” True stated.
And at my cousin’s chilly, enraged tone, I stopped moving, for I had not ever known True to be chilly or enraged.