Bronywyn
Marriage.It’s all I can think about as we make our way down the stairs to greet the friends that await our arrival. Once upon a time, I’d dreamed of finding love, of getting married and raising children, though as time went on, I honestly never believed it would happen.
It all seemed far out of my reach, a destiny for another woman. A pipe dream. I glance up at Tarnley and grin.Marriage. To Tarnley.Even with the death sentence lingering above all of us, this is damn sure the best day of my life.
Hand in hand, we step into the living room.
My gaze drifts around the room as I take stock of who’s present and who’s missing. Rachel sits between Delaney and Fearghas, looking incredibly uncomfortable as her gaze consistently drifts to Eira, who’s posted up in the corner. Likely the siren’s magic that’s effecting her. Even diluted, it’s still potent.
Cole sits beside Delaney, with Rainey and Elijah standing near the large bay window. Paloma and her husband are both here, as is Z, but no Willa. Deissy and Felix are also both missing, but Drex and Magnolia have taken seats on the brick hearth, seated just in front of a crackling fire. Walker is missing, though I imagine he is more than likely sleeping.
“Such a great turnout,” Tarnley jokes as he leans back against the jamb.
“How’s Walker?” I ask Rachel.
She perks up and clears her throat. “Doing better. He’s upstairs, though not because he wants to be.”
“Stubborn ass,” Rainey quips.
“Like you have any room to talk,” Delaney shoots back.
Rainey smiles at her sister. “I didn’t say I did.”
Tarnley turns his attention to Elijah. “Any word on the council?”
“No movement on the building,” the other man offers. “They’re either inside, or they’ve scattered, just like you wanted.” He looks pointedly at me.
Neither he, Cole, nor Tarnley appreciated our little midnight projection to Odette, but if it had the desired outcome, I’m happy regardless. If we don’t get the army we need, taking them on all at once would be a suicide mission. I’d much rather do some traveling and take the bastards out one at a time.
No matter how long it takes.
“Good.”
Elijah glances at Rainey. “If they run, we’ll have to track them down.”
“Which is a hell of a lot easier than having to barge back into a heavily warded building and have our asses kicked all over again.” She glances at Delaney, and the other woman’s hand instinctively goes to her belly.
Rainey and I seem to be the only ones who notice.
“There’s more at stake now,” I say.
“How so?” Tarnley questions.
“It’s clear this council is a hell of a lot more bloodthirsty than any of their predecessors. Which means, where the council would sometimes look the other way in the case of inter-faction relationships, they’re going to be much less amicable in the future. If we don’t take them out now, they’re going to start hunting down anyone who breaks The Accords via a relationship.”
“Wasn’t your father on the Immortal Council?” Delaney asks.
I glance at Rainey, who shakes her head. “I didn’t say a damn thing.”
“Say what?” Delaney looks from Rainey to me. “What’s going on?”
“My father is here.”
The Astor witch’s eyes widen. “As in, in Billings? Orhere-here?”
“Billings. But he was here this morning.”
“Shit. What did he say?”