Page 73 of Blood on the Ice

My lips curve up as I think about Morgana or her twitchy assistant firing the girl for her breach, then the ripple effect that will spread across campus and in the private sector. I’d feel bad about her prospects for a future, but when you are so desperate for attention that you behave like this girl, you’re all but begging someone to put a stop to it. When they do, crying foul is simply idiotic. If you make your reputation poor, that’s how you’ll be viewed.

There’s just no substitute for loyalty—not even willingness to get your hands dirty.

Pulling my phone out, I hit the speed dial and frown when my friend doesn’t answer. That almost never happens. Liam has answered in the middle of a lecture before, so I know he doesn’t give a fuck who or what he interrupts. I don’t sense danger or trouble through our bond, so he’s not in a precarious position. I growl softly, hitting the button again as I stalk to the far end of campus to head for the secluded street both the Prince and Morgana are housed on.

“If he’s left his damn phone in the car or at that station, I’ll kill him,” I grumble to myself. “I know he’s caught up in this mess up to his damn neck, but leaving me on read when I’m out doing his bloodhound shit is ridiculous.”

Very few people in the world are able to give the Prince of the Daybreak Court the same hell I do, but Liam and I have been paired for longer than this country has been around. Our families have an even longer history, so my comfort level with the heir to the kingdom is born of years of trust and companionship. He supported me when I was at my worst and never once asked for his father to replace me. I might have deserved it, but as I said, loyalty is a richer currency than almost any other.

Which is why I worry about his newest obsession so much—if Liam’s mate is a hybrid living on this side of the Veil, what consequences will that have?

His father is a major asshole, and he needs to step down to allow Liam to rule. The Court and the kingdom need a ruler who isn’t a tyrannical old fart. But falling for someone who not only has a life entirely outside of the Veil and comes with a gaggle ofothers from various walks of supernatural life is a tough sell for his subjects. They don’t mind the poly aspect—only the non-Fae part. It will be a big deal and I think he’s underestimating how difficult people will make his life.

“I wish I had a better view of this fucking situation so I could provide him with more than my gut instinct. He doesn’t trust me with the gargoyle because of my past, but… I just don’t know.” I turn onto the street, driving slowly so I can study the other houses in the row. They were all empty when we moved in, but there appears to have been some new residents added to the beginning of Chancellor’s Row.

Great… more people to check out.

It suddenly occurs to me that the lawyer’s team has a hacker. Perhaps if we mention new players on the board, he’ll do the mind numbing basic checking via the internet and I can follow-up afterward. That would allow me to focus on the current targets I have lined up for tomorrow. Now that I’ve identified a leak in Morgana’s admissions department, I need to go after the other ones. Picking them off one by one will narrow the list considerably.

My brows furrow when I see the car in the driveway. I didn’t think they’d be back this quickly. When I left the Prince, it seemed like he would spend most of the day at the station. Shaking my head, I ease our specially detailed SUV into our own driveway and hop out. I doubt Liam even came to our place if he returned home with them. No, he’s probably not answering his cell because he’s busy chatting strategy or some shit with Morgana and her bear.

Interrupting before the others arrive will give me time to explain what I’ve found without a crowd.

Satisfied with my decision, I hop out and head down the street to the Dean’s house. We’ll figure out how to plug her coffeehouse mouse leak, then plot which departments I should focus on first.

Liam will be pleased as fuck.

hot to go

The pair of supes advance on me as we get further into my house, and I smirk. “Boys, I’m not sure if you know this, but you’re not my first group rodeo. And I’m not exactly docile.”

Lucas chuckles softly as he looks over at the prince. “Did you think Morgana was going to be a compliant submissive, Your Highness?”

That earns him a responding laugh as the Fae pulls his shirt over his head in that stupidly hot dude way. “Not at all,mathan òg. In fact, I rather hoped she’d take charge. I prefer learning what my woman likes from her own lips.”

If that’s true…

Darting forward, I yank Liam closer by his waistband, kissing him hard and fast. A thrumming zings through my veins when we touch and I groan when my ursine mate moves to press against my back. The Prince lets me control our kiss, twining his tongue with mine while Lucas wraps his arms around me. I lean into his hard cock, rubbing my ass against him while I brush my tongue against the small points of Liam’s Fae fangs. Most people don’t realize the royals have much more pronounced canines than other fair folk, but I’ve had enough interaction with them in the past to know.

When he finally breaks away, the magic in his eyes is so bright I can feel it on my skin. “Salaadir, you are playing a dangerous game.”

“Am I?” I grin at him playfully as Lucas runs his large hands up and down my torso. He cups my breasts, and I moan when he tweaks my nipples. “Perhaps I enjoy games as much as you, but I only play them in private.”

“That would be a pleasant surprise, indeed,” he murmurs as he watches me writhe into the bear’s hands. “We should move this upstairs. I fear there are far too many pieces of clothing in our way.”

Winking, I turn in my mate’s arms, waiting for him to heft me up. My legs wrap around his waist and I have to hold my breath as he starts up the stairs. I’m not a small woman and trusting that he can not only hold me up, but carry me up this incline is a big leap. But Lucas handles it without breaking a sweat and I hear Liam rumbling behind us.

“Your bear has one of hell of an ass,Salaadir. He’s flexing muscles most people only dream about.”

Lucas stiffens for a moment, then suddenly relaxes as he looks down at me. “Don’t be jealous, Princey-poo. Maybe our girl will share.”

I’m sorry…. what?

My voice is soft as I look up at the hot hockey player gripping me close. “You don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with, baby. A group dynamic doesn’t require you to experiment.”

His grin is brilliant but a little shy as he flushes. “Maybe I’ve been curious before, but the environment I’m in wasn’t conducive to admitting it. It might be awkward at first, but… if I trust anyone to make sure I’m comfortable, it would be you, Morgana.”

“You know I can hear you both, right?”

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