Page 212 of Settle Down, Princess

“You’ll be singing another tune when your arm starts to rot and we have to cut it off at the shoulder because it stinks so much,” Roan said. “Then you’ve only got one arm to hug our girl…”

“Hmm…” Silas’ snaked his uninjured arm around my waist, tugging me closer. “He makes a compelling argument.”

We’d made love in the early hours of the morning, and yet now, I felt curiously shy. The two of us seemed to skirt each other, getting closer and closer until he pulled me in. His forehead pressed against mine, his lips dropping down before—

“So I see you are in good hands, Brother?”

“Where the fuck did you come from?” Roan spluttered as Selene strode through the door.

“Through the door, just like anyone else.” Her cool green gaze took in the wound, Creed working to clean it and the guard room where we all clustered.

“And you should be in a strong pair too,” Silas replied, standing up despite Creed’s protests. “The only thing I can think of that would drag you out of Rose’s bed is Guild business. What news can you possibly have to share now, Raven?”

“You’re the…?” Roan’s finger poked the air. “You’re…?”

“The Raven?” She strolled forward, pushing his hand down. “Why yes, I am.”

“But you’re a sister of the Temple—” he said.

“I’ve just come from a meeting with the Holy Mother, and a treaty between The Guild and the Temple is being drawn up as we speak,” Selene replied coolly. “The sisters have some ideas about how to improve the lot of women that I find most compelling. I’m to bring them to the next meeting of Guild families.” Her focus shifted to Silas. “As well as your expulsion.”

“They want to kick me out?” Silas chuckled then shook his head when his sister just stared back at him.

“There were calls to execute you,” she replied. “You know our ways. You challenged the Raven and lost. Father should’ve killed you for the dishonour but he was…” Selene smiled. “Otherwise engaged. I argued that because you didn’t win or lose, instead your contract would be revoked.”

She produced a scroll with a flourish, a great splash of black wax sealing it closed, a stylised raven impressed into it.

“My contract…” I watched Silas move towards it as if she held a holy relic, not a wax splattered document. “No one gets their contracts cancelled.”

“The new royal spymaster can’t be seen to be influenced by any outside organisations.” Selene pressed the scroll into Silas’ hands, watching his fingers close around it. “That idea helped me get the vote through to relinquish your contract. You’re free, Brother.”

“Well, don’t start letting your guard down now.” We all looked up as Arik joined us, the lines in his face now deeper. All of us were trying to bear up despite not having nearly enough sleep, but with an invasion impending, he couldn’t exactly slip away for a nap. “By the mumblings in the war room, we’ll need every scrap of information you can find.” Arik noted the wound down Silas’ arm, but when he didn’t see any more, he seemed satisfied, clapping him on his uninjured shoulder. “It turns out starting a revolution is a lot easier than trying to bring about stability again. Do you think you’re up for the job?”

“Working out which of Magnus’ cronies deserve to keep their lands? Bringing the most egregious members of the aristocracy to trial? Identifying who would be the best people to elevate in the power vacuum that creates?” Silas smiled. “I feel like I’ve been waiting my whole life for just that role.” His eyes narrowed as he took in Selene. “The previous kings of Khean outsourced most of the work of the spymaster to the Raven. That won’t be happening this time.”

“But we will talk,” she linked her arm in his, “as family. I think weekly checkups are in order, just until things settle down again.”

“Sorry to break up this touching moment of sibling love, but I walked out of a strategy meeting when someone brought word that you’d returned to the palace,” Arik said. “I could use your support there.” His focus shifted to the rest of us. “All of you.” His hands raked through hair that looked considerably less blond now, whether from stress or lack of washing. “The general and his officers are getting… excited. I gave them free rein to defend Khean from attack, but they are starting to talk about invasions.”

“Invading Lanzene and Matteau?” Roan scoffed. “Are they insane?”

“The elders won’t support that,” Creed said with a definite shake of his head. “The army would be crossing the border on its own.”

“And right now they’d welcome the challenge.” Arik sighed. “They are flush with victory and starting to think they can tackle any enemy that dares get in their way. If the wolf shifters won’t sally forth, then they’ll just find a way around that, but…”

I frowned, listening to the four of them discuss that idea, seeing what they didn’t. Motherless children, weeping widows, because what they saw as potential for glory would come at such a high cost, I wasn’t sure how anyone could consider it. When my eyes lifted, I caught Selene staring at me, a small nod indicating that she was thinking something similar.

“Anyway, I have to get back, but I don’t have to do it alone. It was always the Bastard and his band.” Arik smiled slowly. “No reason why that can’t continue. No Magnus, no Raven…” He winked at Selene. “Or a new Raven at least. Seems like this mission would be a hell of a lot easier than the ones we were sent on before.”

“Watching the general’s face when I walk in and take a seat?” Roan said with a grin. “That’d be worth sitting through an interminably boring meeting all on its own.”

I wondered at that, at the tension it would create. Arik valued Roan’s counsel, which meant he deserved a place at the table, but if Stormare had a rigid social hierarchy, so did Khean.

“I need to represent the interests of the wolf shifters,” Creed said, “until the elders arrive. Word was sent to them?”

“A raven was sent last night,” Arik informed him. “So, my band must attend, but…”

I felt like a little girl who was sitting with the adults, not a woman with her four mates, so when his attention transferred to me, I almost took a step backwards. What did I know of war, or spying, of being a shifter or a soldier? No one had bothered to teach me anything about the art of war, because why would they?

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