AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Cavan reclined on a throne made of oak, dressed in the same green as his guards. He'd left his blond hair loose to hang down his back, held from his brow only by a narrow gold circlet.
"Wornar. Ryze." He nodded to each of us in turn.
The lack of any title didn't go unnoticed.
"Cavan, how the hells are you?" I asked easily. If he wanted this audience to be casual, I'd play along. He couldn't say he hadn't started it.
"Extremely busy, Ryze." His voice was tight, blue eyes unwelcoming. Some might find him attractive. Like a serpent.
"Let's make this as quick as we can, shall we?"
He uncurled himself from his throne and stood. With the dais under his feet, he was a head taller than Wornar or me. Intentional, obviously. He was literally and figuratively looking down on us.
"What is the High Lord of Winter doing in Garial?" he asked.
"Enjoying your hospitality," I replied, as though it was obvious. "Are you going to offer us tea and something to eat?"
He glared at me, then gestured to one of his staff who stood beside a doorway at the end of the room.
"You might as well sit." He grudgingly stepped down from the dais and over to a table near the window.
"We were starting to think you'd never offer, weren't we Wornar?"
I slipped into a chair beside Wornar and opposite Cavan. I wanted him where I could see him, even knowing the feeling was entirely mutual. Antagonising him was only fun if I didn't die doing it.
"We knew it would come in time," Wornar replied. That was halfway between agreeing with me and saying Cavan was a gracious host, even though he wasn't. I admired his subtle antagonism.
We sat in silence for a couple of minutes before staff brought out a tray with tea and cake. They cut us all slices and poured tea from the same pot.
I waited until Cavan had a sip before taking one myself.
"As to why you're here," Cavan prompted.
"You were right Wornar, this cake is relatively good. Also, this was your audience, so the polite thing would be to let you go first." I glanced at Cavan to let him know his insult hadn't gone unnoticed. I wanted to tell him to stop his petty, fucking games. No wonder my cousin Johah was happy to be Lord and not High Lord. Politics was bullshit.
Wornar swallowed his mouthful. "My cousin sends his warm greetings. He's curious as to—" He must have caught the flick of Cavan's eyes at the same time I did.
I tensed and readied myself to make a sword or knife of ice if I needed to.
"Harel," Cavan drawled as the High Lord of Autumn slipped into a seat at the table.
"Well, isn't this cozy?" I sipped my tea and looked over at the red haired Fae who was glaring at Wornar and me. Mostly me.
Harel and I had a history of not getting along. We had a different sense of humour, in that he didn't have one. I thought he was boring and he thought I was frivolous. Whatever, life was too short not to enjoy it, even Fae life.
"What are you doing here?" Harel snapped at me.
"Isn't that the question of the day?" I mused. To Wornar I said, "I think we have our answer."
Wornar nodded. "So it would seem."
I pushed my teacup aside, leaned forward and pressed my forearms to the table. "Let's be blunt. We've heard reports of omegas going missing from Fraxius and turning up here. Without anyone asking their consent."
Cavan leaned back and crossed his knees. "Short on women to fuck?" He looked impressed with himself.
I grinned. "No. I was wondering that about you though. Why else would you feel the need to kidnap women and bring them here?"
I cocked my head at Harel. "Is that why you're here too? You want your share of pussy?"
