Page 51 of Blood on the Ice

Shaking my head, I use her soap and scrub the hell out of myself. The black crap is gone, but I have this icky sensation like it isn’t, but I’m sure it will fade. I don’t know where all these stupid thoughts about Fate and the bigger picture are coming from, but it’s creeping me out.

“Next on the list after dealing with the house is finding out why I suddenly feel like a goddamn Tarot deck,” I grumble. “Crystal ball shit is for the birds.”

That decided, I turn off the water and get dry, then pull on the spare set of clothes Morgana bought on our trip to the super mart.

It’s time for her to face the facts so that we can all work together.

getting ready

While Lucas showered, I cleaned up the rest of the mess in the living room and on the patio. Once that was disposed of, I was able to sit down and eat without feeling like something was crawling all over my skin. Despite my mother’s magical leanings, I’ve never had skill with that end of the supernatural things, and watching the guys weave hiscure was amazing to me. I owe Liam, Slade, and Iggy a great deal, though Kaspar can stick his snarky bullshit where the sun doesn’t shine.

I dislike people who act as if no one matters unless they’re from a certain tier of supes.

Of course, he’s a dragon, which explains why he behaves like an utter tool. Outside of Magnus, I’ve had the displeasure of meeting a few dragons in my centuries, and every single one has been a consummate snob. Wyverns aren’t as bad, but the four-legged lizards, no matter what subspecies they are, are simply douche canoes.

Raising a bite of eggs to my mouth, I grin a little. I suppose people say the same about gargoyles and gorgons. There’s always been a caste system in supe society and it has multiple layers depending on power, money, pure lines, hybrids, mythicals… an entire treasure trove of variables that make navigating it impossible if you find out who you are late in life. As long as you grow up in an enclave for hybrids or true supe run locales, you’re fine, especially if you attend one of the schools.

Iggy, Slade, Lucas and I have the benefit of that. I’m sure Kaspar and the Prince have lived in Faerie within the Daybreak Court until now; the Fae rarely allow their royalty to travel outside of the Veil before they’re past the age of supe emergence on this side. Honestly, that’s pretty much all I know about Liam’s people. The Fae are secretive, tricky, and fiercely protective of the gates that separate their world from ours. They operate parallel to supe society and have a slew of complex treaties with the Society in order to stay independent. They even have reps who travel for Society meetings or large events, which is why I assume the one who was at my trial was an emissary from one of the four Courts.

“None of this helps younow, Morgana,” I mutter to myself. “The Prince is pretty fucking important and for some reason, he’s chosen to ally with you. That has to mean something.”

“It definitely does,” Lucas says as he walks in, drying his hair with a small towel.

I blink, my face reddening as he catches me talking to myself. “I didn’t know you were so… new age. Since we mated, it feels like you’re all in on the mythos stuff.”

Stalking towards me with the grace of an athlete, Lucas smiles wickedly. “I’m not, usually. But it’s like I’ve got… feelings about things. Not a voice, per se, but shit sort of comes to me and my gut says it’s right.”

My mother’s sixth sense is uncanny.

“It doesn’t worry me.” I rise from my seat, taking the dishes to the dishwasher before walking over to him. “I’m used to having a person in my life who’s sensitive to ‘the force’, so to speak. My mom is a witch, and she doesn’t have the sight, but she’s always been wired in.”

Lucas arches his brow. “You haven’t spoken of your family much. I know they supported you during the trial, but I take it you’re trying to give them space? From what I know of you so far, keeping them out of the spotlight feels like your M.O.”

Leaning against him, I nod. “They had good careers, with excellent reputations, and they’re retired now. I don’t want the press hounding them in their little slice of paradise more than they already have. So I don’t stay in as close contact as I did before the mess. They don’t deserve to be punished for my actions.”

“Hey.” The bear puts his hand under my chin, forcing me to look into his eyes. “I don’t know everything about what happened—other than the news shit and what I’ve seen here—but you need to stop protecting everyone but yourself. You took responsibility for your actions and you were adjudicated. I don’t believe you were some vengeful nut job like they’ve painted you to be in the media, Morgana. So give yourself a break, okay?”

I sigh, my mouth curving into a soft smile. “You’re pretty good at this emotional shit, despite telling me it wasn’t your thing a couple of days ago.”

He shrugs, his eyes dancing merrily. “I’m a fast learner.”

“Obviously.”

I drag my eyes away from my new mate to see the sarcastic bodyguard smirking at us with his Prince in tow. “Hello, Your Highness. Despite your asshat friend, I’m glad to see you look a little stronger than earlier.”

Liam chuckles. “My kind draws strength from various things in this world and my temporary abode is filled with things to assist me in recharging, so I don’t have to slip across the Veil too often. I’m never eager to visit certain things more frequently than necessary.”

“Prince,” Kaspar growls, his voice holding a warning.

“Kas, don’t be ridiculous. Morgana will not gossip about me when you’re not watching.” Liam shrugs and walks over to the cabinets, pulling out a mug to pour himself a coffee. “I think her experience with an active rumor mill and the press stalking her would prevent that.”

I groan, stepping back from Lucas and nodding. “That’s beyond true. I wantnothingto do with any kind of attention from those vultures. But honestly? I wouldn’t discuss your private shit, anyway. People who sit around and trash others for their amusement are vile and tedious.”

“See? I’m safe to bitch about Father. No worries.” Liam beams and takes a sip of his caffeine with a happy sigh.

Kaspar practically glowers at him, but he mimics the Prince’s actions by rummaging for a mug. “I don’t trust her and telling me to do it won’t change that. You can’t order me to, Liam.”

Lucas’s brows go up as the dragon shows more familiarity with the Prince than we’ve seen before. “Uh, are you guys, like, friends, too?”

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