Total pages in book: 208
Estimated words: 209645 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1048(@200wpm)___ 839(@250wpm)___ 699(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 209645 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1048(@200wpm)___ 839(@250wpm)___ 699(@300wpm)
“You are known in that school as having the protection of the captain of the Trusted,” Lorenz pointed out.
“And when he seeks me out, I will share with Fenn that I fled due to the abuse of the leader he has obviously replaced. I have the proof of the extent of that abuse that he can see with his own eyes. And believe me, Fenn will not like it. That is not his way. He will think he knows why I left, for he knows my ways. And he will not be surprised I hurried back the minute I heard he was here. He will also have me back, I know it. Last, he will believe I am back, for I was foolishly infatuated with him.”
Lorenz took his wife’s hand from his shoulder, squeezed it, turned his head to kiss it, all this before removing it.
Then he stood.
“Again, you are known to have the protection of the captain of the Trusted,” he repeated. “You bloody live with me, Tedrey.”
“And thus, I will share with him information you wish me to share, as I glean from him information you will need to bring down The Rising.”
Lorenz’s brows drew up. “A two-way spy?”
“Ostensibly,” Tedrey confirmed. “Though the information from you will be false and eventually lead to a trap.”
At these words, Nyx scurried from the divan, stating, “Absolutely not. I will not allow this madness.”
Tedrey didn’t take his eyes from Lorenz.
Lorenz didn’t take his eyes from Tedrey.
“He is untrained in espionage, my captain,” Faunus put in.
Nyx rushed to her husband’s front and put a beseeching hand to his chest until his eyes dropped to her. “If he is found out, what will they do?”
“I won’t be found out,” Tedrey said.
Her long, beautiful, dark hair flew as she shot an angry look his way, hissing, “Shush!” She went back to her husband. “You saw what they did last time and he did nothing wrong then.”
“I saw it too, my brother,” Faunus growled to Lorenz.
“I’m going, I don’t need your permission.” Tedrey chose Faunus to say these words to, for he’d never speak them to Nyx.
“You are not going,” Faunus returned.
“I am,” Tedrey shot back.
Faunus got nose to nose with him. “You are not.”
Tedrey butted noses with him. “I am.”
“I won’t allow it,” Faunus rumbled.
“I gave you my arse tonight, Faunus, not my leash.”
Faunus’s dark eyes flared.
It was incredibly appealing.
But Tedrey did not back down.
“Oh, caro, you allowed Faunus to have you?” Nyx cooed. “This makes me very happy. I was so worried there was a block you could not get around.”
Tedrey took his face out of Faunus’s in order to stare at the ceiling and wonder why he shared so much with Nyx.
At the same time he knew precisely why he shared with Nyx.
Because she listened.
Because she cared.
And because he loved her.
“And by the way, you were fooling nobody, groaning into your pillow,” she finished. “Why do you think I left that oil by your bed? No one likes chafing.”
Good gods.
“You so very much wanted my cock,” Faunus murmured, and when Tedrey again looked to him, he was looking arrogant.
That was incredibly appealing too.
“And I want it again. And I want to get to know you. And I wish to go to that osteria with you. But I must right wrongs. And that is what I’m going to do, Faunus,” he vowed.
“Tedrey,” Lorenz called, and both a now-glowering Faunus and Tedrey looked to him. “You did not actually commit any wrongs, amico.”
“I treated my Go’Ella abysmally. I participated in a plot against four realms. And I was under your care, receiving your kindness, and I did not share there would be an imminent attack that occurred, and when it did, it took many lives. I committed wrongs, my friend, and I must be allowed to right them.”
“Gods dammit,” Faunus bit.
“No, amore,” Nyx whispered, staring at her husband’s profile. “No, mio amore!” she cried, her voice turning frantic. “He could be hurt, and he has your protection.”
A muscle jumped in Lorenz’s jaw.
“Nyx,” Tedrey called.
She whirled on him.
“I don’t belong here,” he told her.
“You do!” she spat.
“And I won’t until I do right.”
She shut her mouth and closed her eyes tight, dropping her head.
Lorenz noted his wife’s capitulation and slid an arm around her, pulling her close to his side.
She turned into him and rested a cheek to his chest.
“Saturn will be your contact for your assignment,” Lorenz decreed.
“He will not, I will,” Faunus declared.
Lorenz shook his head. “You are too close.”
“And Saturn is not?”
“You know he isn’t, brother,” Lorenz said quietly. “Not the way you are.”
It was now Faunus’s jaw where a muscle worked, before he looked down at Tedrey.
“Are you going to fuck him?”
“Faunus,” Tedrey murmured.
“You’re going to fuck him.”
“He will expect me to do so.”
At that, Faunus took hold of his throat, pulled Tedrey to him and claimed his mouth.