Page 56 of Blood on the Ice

“Ugh,don’tbe that guy,” I mutter. “Only douchebagssayhashtag something out loud.”

Slade snorts, then covers his mouth. “Sorry, dude, she’s right.”

“Fine,” my new mate pouts. “But I feel lucky as hell and you guys are all part of that. It all has to get better from here, right?”

Liam arches a brow and shrugs. “Perhaps. It depends on what this lawyer says about the evidence they collected. I assume traveling here means it’s not good. Good news could be given in a phone call, yes?”

I suck in a breath as I realize he’s right. “Damn. He’s right.”

“Don’t worry, M. I didn’t kill the asshole, so whatever they have is circumstantial. There’s no way they can make this shit stick. LaMount was a major asswad; he had enemies on and off the ice. Anyone could have done it.” Lucas sighs as he squeezes my foot. “Hell, we don’t know what he was into, but all the players in the league thought he was dirty somehow.”

“Dirty how?” Kaspar nails him with a serious look. “That sounds important.”

“Fixing games. Trying to end careers. Gambling, maybe. Rumors about girls. Nothing I can prove, just whispers,” the bear says with a shrug.

This is stuff we have to tell Jackson; his team can look into it.

“That’s definitely shit the Shark needs to know, man. He’s got people coming with him. I assume it’s helping him build your defense. They’ll dig into crevices that fucker didn’t know he had. When he was alive, I mean.” Iggy scratches the back of his neck, looking sheepish. “I have some experience with PIs because of my family.”

I arch a brow at him. “You do, huh?”

“The Briartons are often the object of vendettas. It happens when you’re high ranking magical folks. Supe PIs were always sniffing around as I grew up.” His expression turns darkly smug as he takes a drink, then continues. “Now that I’m of age, Ihandle that shit on my own. As a kid, they had to teach me what to do, though.”

Those are stories I can’t decide if I want to hear or not.

“You realize everyone here has… baggage, right?” Lucas asks me. His eyes meet mine and he licks his lips. “I’m not snow white; I was a dick in high school. Not evil or anything, but not… great. Kind of a bully, actually.”

Slade coughs, looking down as he mumbles, “I grew up in a mafia family on the coast. I’ve seen things. I’ve done things I wish I could undo.”

I blink, my eyes widening as I look at the remaining two guys. “And you?”

Kaspar rolls his eyes. “Don’t be dense. I’m not part of this, but I’ve been in wars and protected Fae royals from childhood. My soul is black as soot—which should tell you what I’ll do if you do anything to harm my friend.”

“Merciful Aed, Kaspar. You make yourself sound like you’re as bad as her ex. You aren’t, but if I’m honest, I’m not clean, either.” Liam gives me a rueful expression. “I’m a Fae royal and everything that comes with that. I’ve spent most of my life bullying the bullies. And I’ve always done what it takes to mete out justice when I think it’s deserved.”

I’m being courted by a room full of villains. What. The. Fuck.

“So you’re telling me none of you care what I did to Magnus—or why—because you’re all a bunch of rich jackasses?” I give them all an amused look as I try to digest that information.

“That’s about right,” Lucas says with a grin. “No one’s perfect. At least we know you can handle yourself when the cameras descend.”

“C-Cameras?” I choke.

Being in the spotlight was the worst part of my fucking trial.

“Morgana,” Slade says softly. “You realize that being part of the investigation will bring the press. If they figure out about you and Lucas… he’s related to the Wolfenbergsandaccused of murder. Add our pedigrees to the mix and… there’s likely to be a lot of attention.”

For a moment, I feel like I’m going to vomit, and Lucas runs his hands up my legs soothingly. “I-I didn’t think about that. I’m not a fan of the press after… you know. But… I won’t run away when Lucas needs me, either.”

His grin spreads across his face, and he darts forward, grabbing my face in his hands. “That’s my girl. Give ‘em hell, Slither.”

I recoil a bit, my face flushing at the nickname. “Stop.”

“Nope,” he says as he beams. “My mate is the biggest badass on this damn campus and whoever is framing me is going to find out what happens when they fuck around. I can’t wait.”

The dragon guard eyes me for a moment, tilting his head. “Do you have control of your hybrid sides? You can’t turn anyone to stone or go on a flying rampage if you get angry.”

Des pops out of my ponytail, hissing at him in indignation. I chuckle and let her threaten him; I know she won’t call the others out if I don’t give permission. “I do, thank you very much. I’m not fresh off the fucking truck. Youknowhow old my species both live.”

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