Courts and Cabals by G.S. D'Moore (best e reader for academics txt) 📕

a Fae noble to attempt to break the covenants in order to ensure your death?” she asked the million-dollar question. “I probably should have asked you this already,” her tone was apologetic, “but what were you doing that put you at the top of her shit list.”

I’d been wondering the same thing. I knew what I’d failed to procure for her, but had no idea why that was some horrible offense. Maybe putting our heads together would give us the answer.

“The same day you came asking for those quiz answers, she wanted me to get something for her. She gave me twenty-four hours to get a baby’s rib from my contacts. I didn’t ask what it was for, and I still don’t know, but when I failed her . . . well, you walked in on her about to take her pound of flesh,” I looked at my succubus, and hoped she had the answers.

Apparently, she did. I saw the lightbulb go off in her mind, and the grimace it brought to her face. “It all makes sense now,” she leaned back in her chair and absentmindedly played with a lock of her hair.

“Care to enlighten us?” Dani asked after a moment. “This is the only action I’m going to get for a week. Without my soaps, this is the only drama I have to look forward to.”

I pushed the realization that Dani was a daytime soap opera fan to the back of my mind. We’d be spending plenty of time in the infirmary together, so there was time to unpack that bombshell.

“Have you heard the story of Adam and Eve?” Lilith asked.

Of course I had; who hadn’t. I let her explain just in case I’d missed something from the Sunday School classes my adoptive parents made me attend.

“It was written that God created Adam in the garden, and then he created Eve by taking one of Adam’s ribs while he slept. Obviously, this is a story, but like most myths about anything supernatural, they have a basis in reality,” she informed. “In this case, taking a rib as a process of creation comes from a Fae ritual. When Fae are going to mate, the women brings a rib, and the man brings a pot of clay. Together, it makes a poultice they rub all over their body before doing the deed.”

“That sounds . . . unsanitary,” but now things made sense.

It was Dani’s pain-filled laughter that brought it all home. “Are you telling us that Cam clam-jammed Aveena?” the dwarf hissed as something in her chest protested her sudden jubilation.

“Yes,” a small smile pulled at Lilith’s lips, but it was clear she was trying to stay serious about the issue.

Dani wasn’t. “That bitch should be thanking him,” she continued. “Cam kept her from becoming a teen prego. She should be in his debt. Not trying to kill him.”

I couldn’t agree more.

“It doesn’t work like that,” Lilith explained, “especially for Fae nobles. They procreate young to ensure the lineage of the great houses. When you’re as high up as Aveena, you have these things arranged. This coupling was carefully orchestrated by her parents and the parents of her assigned mate. That means one of The Nine was personally involved. Cam didn’t twat swat her,” Lilith’s face grew serious, “he embarrassed her in the eyes of another great Fae house, and the Lady of Winter. Then, to add insult to injury, he killed one of her vassals. You’ve taken the blood feud to a whole new level.”

I let that sink in. “Well shit.”

“Chloe wasn’t a greater Fae, but she was more than any human, or dwarf, could handle,” Lilith shot Dani a look before she could interrupt. “You shouldn’t have survived. I have an idea what will happen next, but we’re in uncharted waters,” she continued to play with her hair, and I filed that tidbit of information away.

“Playing with hair equals nervous or unsure.” At the very least, it would give me a heads up in poker.

I asked the question we were all thinking, but no one knew the answer to. “So, what now?”

Thankfully, the universe answered it for us.

“Sir . . . no . . . you can’t go in there!” the nurse yelled a second before the doors to the ward flew open and in walked three people.

All were dress like the Men in Black, complete with slight bulges under their armpits that were undoubtedly weapons. All three had on matching sunglasses, and the tall man at the center removed his first. My eyes immediately focused on their ears, and I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw they weren’t pointed. As far as I knew, most Fae had pointed ears. Judging by the fact the newcomers hadn’t shot me yet, they weren’t working for Aveena.

Lilith got to her feet and interposed herself between me and the new arrivals. She squared her shoulders and gave them a level look, waiting for them to make the first move. The man at the center did. His ageless, midnight-black face, cracked to reveal deep laugh lines and a brilliant set of pearly whites.

“Lilith,” he extended his arms and wrapped the succubus in a hug.

“Aden,” she returned the hug with enthusiasm. “I didn’t know you were coming.”

“When I heard my little sis had taken her First, I just had to come out and see who the lucky person was,” he leaned around Lilith and looked at me.

The smile and laugh lines for his sister didn’t carryover to me. In fact, I got a “if you hurt my little sister, I will rip off your balls and shove them down your throat” vibe from him. I swallowed, but held out my hand in greeting.

“Cameron Dupree. Nice to meet you, sir.” The man raised an eyebrow, but took my hand. It was like shaking the