“You did set the fairy free, right?”
“’Course I did.” Midnite brightened when he got the head and an arm up without tearing it.
“The fairy folk owe you, still. A debt of freedom isn’t settled by wish alone.” Marquis stared at the cutout. Proxies were helpful for some magic. “Hmm. Voodoo or something?”
“Yea, nah.” He didn’t elaborate as he continued lifting the shape. “I did a little reading on it and I don’t think a horny orange can be used for a spell. And as for the fairy thing, what good is a debt?”
“It means that if we ever have fae dealings, you’ll have right to speak and equal status to the fae. They are hierarchically over us in the magical schema.” Marquis waved a hand absentmindedly before hesitating. “H-horny orange?”
“Yeh.” Midnite finished peeling up the little man, the navel of the orange smack dab over the central column of the fruit. As he did so, the pithy column of fiber sucked free of the orange, towering from the little orange-peel man’s groin. The frayed end of the pith splayed out, a facsimile of ejaculate.
“Good gods.” Marquis blanched as Midnite adjusted the little man back into place and handed the orange to Marquis. He took it delicately with two fingers and frowned.
“Now you have an excuse to go pester him. If you’re starting over, enjoy the horny teenager stage, yeah?” Midnite clapped him on the shoulder and wandered off. The boydidhave a point, but then again, so did the tip of the little orange-peel man’s…stem.
“Right…” It was as good of an excuse as any as he wandered over to invade Mads’s space.
Perhaps it was the scent of orange or a sound that made Mads turn his head. Silvery hair caught in morning sunlight, dark eyes sucking him in like endless pools. “Morning, love. Is that for me?”
Marquis handed it over wordlessly as Mads set his cup to the side, marked his book, and took the proffered snack. “Oh? Did you cut a little flower or— It’s a little man? How darling!”
Marquis pursed his lips as he pulled the shape off and spotted the secret within.
“Huh.” Mads eyed the orange man. “Propositioning me this early in the morning?”
“I had not intended to do so, no, but I suppose it’s not off the table.” Marquis grinned as Mads held the little man by hisstemand set it aside, picking at the orange.
“Yeah, why not?” Mads took a wedge of the orange, popped it in his mouth, and slid free. “Let’s be quiet, though.”
“I’ll cast a silencing charm.” Marquis wrapped his arms around Mads’s waist as the slender man stood, their hips meeting and faces tilting in to share a rather citrusy kiss. A pulse of want radiated through his body.Bless Midnite.
As they sank into a soft kiss, a melodic tune interrupted them, the tone specifically reserved for council business. Marquis sighed raggedly.
“Duty calls?” Mads offered a sweet smile.
“Afraid so. Rain check?” Marquis smiled hopefully.
“Keep me updated. I’ll get nekkid and ready for you so we can go right at it.” Mads grinned as lasciviously as ever, and Marquis remembered that same roguish smile from days long passed. “Sans orange, though. Totally going to eat that.”
“Wouldn’t expect anything less.” Marquis kissed the top of his head and pulled his phone out, separating with a reluctant sigh. He held the receiver to his ear, pressed the button. “What is it?”
And if Mads seemed a little worried when Marquis walked off, he filed it away for later. When they were alone and cuddled, they could open up where it was safe. For the moment, Marquis still had to be the covenmaster and North America Mage council head.
“Marquis! Thank goodness you answered. I apologize for interrupting your family time.” One of his subordinates practically prostrated themselves verbally on the other end. They were a junior councilman, a secretary or gofer of some kind. If Marquis remembered correctly, he was tasked with gathering contact information and organizing a meeting with their fairy dust traffickers. They’d become immensely easier to find, thanks to Midnite’s tips, Herbert’s notes, his nephew’s meddling, and Nelson’s desire to please.
“Desperate times and all that. Speak, Leroy.” Marquis strolled through the kitchen and out the back door by way of the mudroom. He folded his arms and stared up at the morning sky. He breathed dew-laden air deep into his lungs.
“We’ve got an agreed-upon meeting place and eleven different well-connected people willing to gather. It would have been twelve, but one of our connections is deceased. And before you ask, yes, I investigated. Deceased. He had a stockpile of wishhe’d been siphoning himself down on, and I think your son-in-law will be pleased to know who it was that died.”
“Pity. And nothing of value was lost.” Marquis sighed and waited for more.
“I’ve booked a bed-and-breakfast in Morriston for use of their meeting rooms. The owners are dragonkin, but I believe it’s shifters that run the place for them. Ravens.” Leroy, on the other end, rattled on, but Marquis interrupted with a politeahem.“Yes?”
“Which dragon territory are we stepping in upon?” Marquis rocked on his heels. Dragons were fairly amenable for all their reclusive behaviors, but it was always best to send a gift.
“I believe it is on the emerald dragon territory. Germans.” Leroy fretted over his words. “But I already sent word and a gift! I know you don’t like to deal with their clan head.” Leroy cleared his throat.
“I like dealing with him as well as anyone else. Polygamists just complicate my etiquette education, is all. Who do I greet as their second? How many bottles of wine do I bring for a visiting gift? Couldn’t imagine having that many mates—and then the children! They’re adorable, but having a rather plump, teething iguana on your head psychically chirping at your mind while belching fire isn’t my idea of an afternoon.” Marquis sighed heavily. “We are fortunate mages do not expose their omega children to dragons until they’ve manifested or shown magic.”
