Page 70 of Blood on the Ice

My brow furrows. “Or maybe both can be true? My placement here allows someone with nefarious intentions toward the Council to discredit findings based on my past. If I discover some Ponzi bullshit or goddess knows what else, they’ll say I’m compromised. You being on trial would allow them to do the same for your grandmother.”

“Bad PR.” Liam sighs and I wait for him to continue. “That’s certainly a Fae tactic used in many coups over the years. The kingdoms and courts are easily breached for the major reasons anyone does shit: patriotism, money, or love. We’re all susceptible to the base enticements at some level.”

“Patriotism?” I snort and shake my head. “I don’t know if that’s a real thing anymore, especially in supe communities.”

Liam scoffs in response. His hands land on the seat backs as he leans in. “You’re taking a narrow view of it, lass. Whether it’s loyalty to kingdom, court, pack, Council, or even a specific sect, all our people can be motivated by wanting to take care of their brethren. If they’re bent certain ways, they also want to negatively affect those they consider lesser as well.”

“Maybe youarepaying attention in those grad classes,” I say with a grin. “That’s very politically strategic thinking.”

“It’s sneaky as fuck,” Lucas says as he crosses his arms over his chest. “I’m just not… underhanded like that. It’s good I’ve got Thorne’s team and you guys to handle that. I guess I didn’t get the snake oil gene from Nana or my idiot parents.”

“Ah, but that makes you a rare shifter, Lucas. Someone who speaks plainly and is honest in their interactions without fail is not something you come across often, especially in the circles you grew up in. Perhaps it is why you were targeted? Your profile suggested you wouldn’t flee the scene to avoid being accused.”

By Hera’s shiny girdle, he’s probably right.

“I think you’re right, Li. Lucas makes a good fall guy because he’snota shady asshole. He won’t run or outright buy his freedom from suspicion. They can count on this being a giant, ridiculous circus for as long as their pawns play ball.” Fury wells in my chest because I have so many things I have to do for my sentence and now I have actual things Iwantto do personally.

Like spend time with my mate and these men who seem determined to worm their way into my life.

“Being a good dude is actually working against me…The internet would lose itsmind,” the polar bears says with a chuckle. “I mean… that’s never true, right?”

“Rarely.”

The Prince laughs and I feel the tension in the car ease as we enjoy a moment of levity. “Kaspar is out doing what he does best. I believe Jackson said Kendrick is doing the same. They should yield some clues, at the very least. I assume the centuries of experience ferreting information will give them the best chance for success.”

Squinting at the mirror, I grumble, “Didn’t give them manners, though.”

“Truth. What is it with super dark, dangerous ‘K’ dudes and grumpy ass attitudes? I feel like it’s a thing,” Lucas says as he taps his fingers on his leg. “Not that I have a clue what the creepy dude on #TeamShark is. At least we know Kaspar is a storm dragon who’ll fry our asses if we piss him off. I can’t imagine what ‘Tall, Dark, and Malevolent’ can do.”

I pause briefly and shake my head. “He’s not a dragon. I can smell that. My senses aren’t as good as yours, Lucas, but my snakes know what that tastes like.”

“Gross,” my mate mutters. “Not your snakes, obviously, because I think it’s hot. I hate that it makes me think of old crusty dragon balls before you stabbed him to death. My bear dislikes that imagerya lot.”

Liam clears his throat. “My magic isn’t overly fond of it, either. If I’m being honest, I’d prefer to know he was out there so we could deal with him in a much more painful fashion than you did.”

I feel my face heat and it makes my gut clench in fear. Lucas is my mate, but the other men are… questions marks at the moment. I don’t trust how eagerly my mind and body respond to their possessive shit. It was hard enough to accept that Lucasand I were bondedforeverafter what I thought would be a one-night stand. Now the rest of them have stormed in and refuse to leave.

It’s a bit much for someone with as many trust issues as I have.

“Well, unfortunately for you, I ran the motherfucker through so many times I severed things. So it’s not possible.” I shrug, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling that they don’t understand how much my gorgon enjoyed taking her vengeance.

A low growl echoes in the car as I turn onto the road that leads to campus and I arch a brow at the bear next to me. He sniffs, looking unrepentant. “You’re hot when you’re vicious, too. The Prince agrees… I can smell it.”

I choke on my reply, putting all my energy into not wrecking as I head down the main drag toward Chancellor’s Row. “That’s… good information to have?”

“I’d say so, considering the teacher and the fish are headed back to class and everyone else has fucked off to do their tasks. It means the three of us have the house to ourselves.”

My eyes widen as I look at my mate, then back at the smug-looking Fae royal.

Are they suggesting what I think they are?

The runningmonologue in my head is loud enough that I feel like the men in my car should have been able to hear it as Inavigated back to my house. I’m no wilting petal, nor am I inexperienced in group activities, but somehow, this has me on edge.

He’s a Prince, for fucks’s sake, and Lucas will inherit a bajillion dollars someday.

Not that I’m impressed by celebrities or royalty—in fact, my disdain for Magnus’ family tree in the dragon clan is part of why his death was such a scandal. Their family is deeply connected to some muckitty-muck dragons throughout Europe and so his murder was a much bigger deal than a normal, everyday supe. His uncle wanted me put to death by dragon fire, and made sure everyone in the courtroom knew it.

But… I’m an adopted kid with teachers for parents and before my ex, a pretty unremarkable life in terms of stardom. We were pretty solidly middle class, and that wasn’t a big deal to me. I didn’t yearn to be a famous pop star or some shiny CEO; I just wanted to work in academia. I enjoyed school and the atmosphere, so it was a natural fit.

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