“I am aware. You spend all the hours of the day there.”
“Do you not appreciate my efforts to learn of our people?”
“Roriethiel, we can discuss it later.”
They left the vast dining room, and Rorie’s expression was annoyed, raising Renny’s hackles. His mate was dismayed, and he wanted to soothe him. “It’s okay, he’s upset about something.”
“Why can he not say that? I fear he believes I am a young, foolish fairy with no sense in my skull.”
“No one thinks that about you.”
Rorie’s laughter bounced off the stones of the long hallway and echoed in Renny’s appreciative ears. “You must shut off your hearing if the sioskallos are around. Not one of them gives me the credit of a riont kre’es when it comes to ideas and thoughts.”
“Drekkoril refused to act, and Kedetyn trusted you to decide.”
“I will be forced to respond in anger if Drekkoril challenges me about it. Our people must come first, and it is exceedingly foolish to allow crime to run rampant.”
“I agree with you,” Renny told him. They ventured through the tall library doors, fashioned out of the thick gray wood so abundant in Rorie’s realm. Intricately painted like everything in the castle, they were stunning.
Renny positioned himself on the small sofa that had become his home during the day, and Rorie sat less than an inch away. “There is hardly time until Drekkoril arrives to begin a book,” Rorie commented, grinning seductively at Renny. “What might we do to pass the minutes?”
“I know what you’re thinking, and there are D’Vaires piling in here.”
“They have seen us kiss before,” Rorie remarked, then locked his lips with Renny’s. Two arms came around his neck, and Renny didn’t fight him. Taking over their kiss, Renny explored Rorie’s tasty mouth as the fairy wriggled against him, further igniting the blood that always heated if his mate was nearby. The world around them disappeared, and Renny concentrated on pleasing Rorie and himself.
A throat cleared next to them, causing Rorie to jump in fright, and he turned a murderous glare on the person who dared interrupt them. Drekkoril was unimpressed by his ire and frowned severely.
“Roriethiel, we must not speak of important matters if servants are nearby,” Drekkoril ordered. “I have reason to wonder if some of them may receive payments from sioskallos who wish to know more of our conversations.”
“Kedetyn said crime is rising,” Renny remarked, tucking an arm around Rorie and trying to gather his scattered wits. Rorie untangled himself and laid a hand on Renny’s thigh.
“I understand,” Rorie murmured.
“You say you spoke with Kedetyn and yet, you ignored his message?” Drekkoril demanded.
“Do not tower above me, Drekkoril. Have a seat and speak to me kindly.”
With a huff, Drekkoril grabbed a chair and scooted it close. “I am doing my best to create a relationship with you, but you embarrass me when you forget I am Noble Protector and that we must keep certain appearances.”
“I do not understand what you speak of but as Noble Protector, it is imperative that you address every issue which plagues our people.”
“I know my job, Roriethiel. I sent Kedetyn to you with a message to report to the siofllar’am. Why did you ignore my summons?”
Rorie’s brow furrowed and Renny offered him a shrug. “That is not the message he sent. He told me he spoke to you of the rising crime rate.”
“Yes, and I thought it was something we could address together.”
“Alaric, will you attest that Kedetyn did not bring Drekkoril’s message?”
The Lich Sentinel rose and joined their little group. “Kedetyn never mentioned that you wished for Rorie to come to the siofllar’am. I must assume from how he spoke that he’s aware of the sentinels’ ability to detect lies.”
Drekkoril did a slow nod, and there was confusion on his highborn face. “It is spoken of with regularity. They fear you, and I make it a point to remind them of your abilities often. With no idea what loyalty the setieons have, I must take measures to protect my life.”
“What the fuck, Drekkoril?” Brogan demanded, stomping over. “Why didn’t you say that you’re afraid of an attack? We could easily have someone with you at all times.”
“I cannot isolate myself from the Fae, and it would not do for me to ally myself publicly with strangers to our realm. There is already too much unrest.”
“If you die because of your principles, what good does that do?” Renny asked softly while Brogan fumed.
