Milo
Paxon had apparently wanted to wait until morning to inform me of what Olympia had come to say. That changed, however, when the woman in question ran straight through my bedroom door, waking up half the House, half-mad and raving about Viper surveillance and ordering all the windows closed and sealed. Isla had pulled the blankets up to cover herself and sat up with wild eyes swiveling from Olympia pulling our shutters closed to Pax grabbing her by the hips and hauling her out of there.
I’d wasted no time getting dressed, giving my wife a kiss on the head while assuring her I would handle it and she should get some sleep, and leaving to find Pax and Olympia both waiting. Pax was tapping his foot impatiently on the smooth floor, jaw clenched in the most irritated expression I’d ever seen upon him. Olympia was so antsy she couldn’t stand still and her gaze kept darting back and forth along the hall.
“Alright,” I said, blowing out a breath and running a hand through my hair. “What is it?”
They talked over one another at first. Pax apologized profusely for being unable to stop her while Olympia accused him of putting all of Sanctuary at risk. I calmed them both enough to hear her news as quickly as I could, knowing it wasn’t often my cousin was spooked about anything. If she looked this nervous now, something was seriously wrong.
“First of all, it’s the oldest Bexley who fancies himself a rebel,” she began and my brow immediately furrowed.
Of both brothers, I hadn’t expected the eldest to be the one to turn toward the rebels. He was, after all, dating one of our own up here on the First. I wondered if Bria knew of his inclinations, if they’d discussed it at all.
“Harrison did as he was asked,” she continued.
That didn’t surprise me at all. Though I still didn’t know where things stood between the two of them and, with Olympia, I probably never would, it fit within the boy’s character to keep his word.
“I went to see Wolf,” she said and my gaze snapped to hers.
“Olympia–” I started, warning thick in my tone.
“I didn’t threaten him…much.”
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I let out a long-suffering sigh.
“How many times do I have to tell you,” I said. “When it comes to interacting with leaders of other factions, I need–”
“I got you a meeting with him,” she interrupted.
My jaw nearly unhinged.
“You got me a meeting with the leader of the rebellion,” I repeated, dumbstruck.
“A leader,” she clarified. “I don’t have any idea how high up he is in whatever hierarchy they’ve managed to slap together down there but he has enough clout to demand some respect from their ranks and he agreed to come talk to you. I promised I’d bring him tonight.”
“Tonight.”
I blew out a breath. It was too fast. While I truly appreciated what Olympia had done to set up this meeting, the risks she’d taken to meet with this Wolf, and the obvious restraint she’d shown in walking away without hurting him, she hadn’t given me enough time to prepare. I didn’t know anything about this rebellion other than a few of the key players and the fact that they’d initiated a bombing on nearly every upper ring leader and a few innocent bystanders only days ago. I’d be going into negotiations with nothing but my title and my own ignorance.
“Cosmo has ordered surveillance on our House,” she announced then.
I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. The hits just kept coming, one after another. Was this what I missed when I chose to spend one single blissful night in my wife’s arms? Was this what happened when I stepped away for only a moment?
I cursed and ran a hand through my disheveled curls.
“Who?” I asked.
“Bade,” she answered at once, meeting my gaze. I knew that name. Luca’s lover. I suppose I knew now how she’d found out about him. “He isn’t just watching us to keep an eye on you, Milo. Cosmo wants something. Luca said Bade was all torn up about it but wouldn’t say what it was. Something about the temple? Either way, he’s out there now, I know it. We need to order the windows closed, drapes pulled, doors locked, anything we can to keep his eyes off of us until we can figure out what he wants.”
I was nodding before she even finished and glanced at Pax when she did.
“See it done,” I ordered.
“Yes, Sir,” Pax bowed quickly before hastening off to do as he was told.
“We should put guards on grandmother’s doors,” Olympia whispered when he was gone, “and yours.”
“Pax never leaves my side,” I argued.
