Page 42 of Iris of the Crowned Flame
After one giggle fest, Amyra and Ivy started taking deep breaths to calm down. I tried to help Amyra a bit. I leaned over and whispered into her ear. “You laugh now, but imagine what you’ll be doing when I have my head between your legs, and my hands holding your hips down?”
Amyra blushed furiously. She tried to push me away. Zoya scolded her. “You need it if you want to be serious about figuring this out. Plus, it’s more fun to watch. Now look at that glass and think about that rain drop.”
I bit my lip as I leaned towards her ear again. “How many times do you think I can get you to scream my name? Last time was seven… do you think we could go for eight times tonight?”
Amyra squirmed, but her concentration stayed on the water.
“I really hate you right now.” She said with a grin.
“Mmm, but that’s never what you say when my fingers are deep inside and my tongue is where it belongs, is it?”
Ivy squealed. “You’re doing it Amyra!”
I pulled away from her ear and looked at the glass. There were several drops of water floating above the rim, suspended in the air. I covertly placed my hand on her lap and rubbed her thigh over her dress. “That’s my girl.”
A knock on the door interrupted the moment. I pulled my hand off Amyra’s leg, and she allowed the water to drop.Juniper checked the door and opened it to welcome Spencer, Ethan, and Father.
I still had my smirk and Amyra was blushing wildly, as if anyone but her knew what I said. Spencer’s voice entered my mind. ‘I can imagine what you said to her. But why?’
It was my turn to blush. I still was getting used to this mind talking. I replied, ‘helping her find her water magic. She lifted a few drops just before you arrived.’
‘Good girl. Both of you. I can’t wait to hear more about what you said. Or see what you promised.’
I looked at Spencer as he took his seat across the table from me. Father and Ethan had chosen the last two seats by me. He smirked, and I just knew that he enjoyed he could see how he tortured me.
Juniper cleared her throat, giving each of us a raised eyebrow. “Before we start on the big news, a small win to share. Amyra has found her magic. She can use water, and if she trains well, she will also be able to use healing magic. I am glad that we brought enough priestesses down the mountain for this winter.”
As people congratulated her, I watched as she suddenly blushed before looking towards me with a tinge of guilt on her face. I looked at Spencer, and he has that knowing smirk, telling me he spoke in her mind too.
Father cleared his throat after a moment, and all three of us turned as red as raspberries with our embarrassment. He didn’t seem to notice, thankfully. “We have some more information about Egan. We think his father, King of Scoria Bay, is involved with his plans, and is the one who ultimately planned the plot against our princess here. Imprisoning Egan without sufficient evidence risks alienating Scoria Bay’s allies. Since one of those countries is Crystalford, Prince Frederick’s home, we need to tread carefully to not create a second problem.”
Crystalford imported a lot of our meats and cold weather supplies, and losing their support could deeply impact Juniper’s province. I nodded in agreement. We still needed to justify thisto the Council as well, which meant being able to outshout Lord Denenbaum in an argument.
“What more do we need?” Ethan asked.
“We need to tie him directly to a high-ranking Belus priest, as they are the ones that are more vocal about the desired assassination. Or we need to prove what’s in the letters that we think are going to his father. Or we need to prove he’s wielding magic at all. He’s smart to use powers that aren’t visible in public.”
“Is there anything any of us can do to help gather that information?” Spencer asked. His dedication to stopping the plot overwhelmed me, bringing tears to my eyes.
Father sat and thought for a moment. “Emberly, Spencer, you can speak in minds, but are you able to read minds you don’t speak into?”
Spencer shook his head no. “I haven’t figured that part out yet.”
Emberly didn’t speak, but how she looked at Father and he looked back, I could tell they’re having a mental conversation. As the rest of us sat awkwardly waiting, I wondered if this was how it feels for others when Spencer and I did this.
Father cleared his throat. “OK, thoughts aren’t an arrestable offense, but this can be helpful. Now, it’s our belief that Egan and the Priests of Bel know that magic is alive and well in this country, and that the Oracles of the Gelid are assisting our people with mastering its use. So, the test will incorporate that knowledge. It will be intense, and Spencer, all three of you, will take part together. It is unwinnable. We hope that Egan will lose control as he realizes he is losing, and that he will either reveal magic, or that he will say the quiet parts out loud.”
“So, you don’t think we can cancel this?” I hated how my hopes felt dashed.
Father shook his head. “Unfortunately, no, we need to trip him into sharing more than he has so far.”
“Do we still plan for me to be present?” I really dreadedbeing in the same room with a man who was working to kill me, even if Spencer would be there as well.
Father nodded. “Since they announced that aspect, it must happen. However, we are taking many precautions to provide safety to all in the room. Emberly, I need to meet with you to navigate how we could use the priestesses to enhance that security.”
I nodded, unhappy to share a room with Egan, but knowing there wasn’t much of a choice.
“OK, so the show must go on. Is it still delayed because of Egan’s ankle break?” Ethan asked.
