Page 13 of O Holy Spite
Aubrey snorts and I frown up at him. His lips curve and he leans down to look at me with a smug grin. “Human? Most certainly not, snack size. Good old Willy is one of the Fae who stayed behind. There are plenty of shifters and such who hid in plain sight only to drop out of the limelight when their continued youth would have garnered too many questions.”
I blink. “That explains?—”
“Midsummer?” My gargoyle nods, laughing softly. “It does. However, not all the magic users had such fame to protect them. Thus, the underground rebellion is now making trouble for us.”
Fitz looks puzzled, tilting his head in my lap. “Does that mean one of the most famous dead playwrights in history is alive somewhere? You said Fae are fucking immortal.”
“There are enclaves where the rich and famous non-humans hole up after their time has passed,” Aubrey says with a shrug. “All over the world. Normal people don’t know where they are, but I’m willing to bet Mr. Cordon Bleu over there does.”
That gets Chess’ attention and he pauses at the stove. “What the hell, Leveaux? Who was a shifter we should know? Where are they? Spill it!”
“Troublemaker,” he growls at his mate and the deep chuckle vibrates against my head. “I don’t know where they are, but I could find out. Gargoyles, despite being smaller in number than other preds, are known for their discretion. One of the few reasons they leave their clutch is for protector bonds—they accept a lifelong duty of guarding and defending places that need to be kept secret. Enclaves full of supposedly dead famous faces qualify. I could find out who and where if I wanted; it just never mattered to me.”
“This is bullshit,” I mutter as I cross my arms over my chest. “You guys are all full of cool as hell secrets and talents I don’t know about. You know everything about me.”
My tiger reaches up and puts his thumb on my pouty lip. “Not true, Baby Girl. I mean, yeah, maybe the stuff about us—particularly the ancient assholes—is true. But we don’t know everything about you. We didn’t know you could hack a body until you said it. Made my dick salute, for sure, but it was new information. I bet there’s more you know that you’ve not mentioned because it hasn’t come up yet.”
I think about that for a moment, then I nod slowly. “Probably. It never occurred to me to mention disarticulation until it came up. I see what you mean.”
“I told Chess I can teach him to knit,” Aubrey says in a long, suffering sigh. “Now you know, too.”
“Really? Can I learn, too? I’ll probably suck at it because I do not have the patience for things I’m not good at right away. Never have, actually… which is something you guys didn’t know. Soft wool smells like a warm fire and the clacking of the needles feels like love when I hear it on TV.” Rennie winks at me and I duck my head shyly, my chest tightening when his acceptance touches me.
“Of course, lunchable.” He tilts his head, catching Chess’ eye as his hand strokes over my hair. “Order two full sets of basics, Chester, and we’ll do it together.’
Fitz frowns, pouting up at me. “Why am I left out? I can learn shit, too! You know I can, Baby Girl.”
Oh, shit. I didn’t mean for him to feel like we’re purposefully excluding him.
“You can join us, Fitzy. I’m pretty sure you’ll be in the same boat as me with big knots and angry stomping, but then I’m not alone. I guarantee Chessie will outshine us both.” I wink at the cheetah, then smile at my tiger as he beams up at me.
“Oh for fuck’s sake…” Aubrey groans.
“Wait a minute.”
Every head turns to look at the pinched face of the exiled-Raj as he continues rubbing my feet. His brow is furrowed and it almost looks like he’s…pouting, too?
What the hell?
“I don’t want to be the only one excluded. Chess, order me a set of… whatever, too.”
The silence following that statement hangs in the air until I finally lick my lips and venture, “Felix, you want to learn… to knit?”
“Yep.” He nods as if that decides it, the look in his eyes daring someone to comment.
“But—”
I wave my hand at Rennie before he sticks his foot in mouth. “If you want to learn with us, I think it will make a great family activity. I’m glad you’re joining, baby.”
His face lights up and I see what he must have looked like before the toll of being the next King of Bloodstone weighed him down. It’s boyish, shy, and absolutely tugs at my heartstrings.
“Just wait ‘till Z hears this…” Fitz mumbles with a crazy giggle. Felix glowers at him, letting go of my feet to lunge forward at this twin.
Just like that, the moment is gone—damnit.
Winter Wonderland
Aubrey