“Serve the realm,” the zana corrected, smiling.It looked nearly warm.“Kneel, children.Let’s release you from those oaths of Council.”
And it was done.As easily as that.Declan was braced for regret.The loss of a dream.Instead, the world felt gilded, and he leaned into Antonio, laughing, as they made their way back.
A farewell to the Council meant they could start again.A new life, days spent in the flat above Antonio’s iron fortress.Sharing meals and laughter and kisses.New plans, too.Plans they waited to start until Declan’s marks showed gray and Antonio stopped automatically claiming to be fine.
Returned too, at last, after a long day of visiting potential flats and a brief, but important, telephone conversation with a certain kelpie.Antonio on his back, and Declan stretched atop him, chest to chest and legs intertwined.Bare, save for their pants.
“Everil and Bo have agreed to host at their estate.Banyan isn’t a House any would think preparing to cause a wee uproar,” he said, cheek to Antonio’s chest, so he could hear the beat of his heart.
“That’s because they don’t know Bo.”Antonio’s fingers traced the pale lines on Delcan’s back as he spoke.
“Poor expectation management on their part.”Declan closed his eyes, wings flexing slowly under the idle trail of fingers, far too relaxed for the topic at hand and pleased about it.
“So, Murderpunk, how do you decide who to invite to a revolution?We keep it small to start, yeah?”
“I suppose we should approach it like a band.All musicians, different instruments.”
“Do I play the tambourine?”Antonio asked, but without bitterness.He said most things without bitterness, since they’d stepped down.
“You're the hot groupie,” Declan grinned and pressed a kiss to his chest.
“Perfect.I am screwing the frontman, after all.”Antonio’s fingers moved from skin to bone, tracing joints and spars.
“For other intelligent muscle, Harke and Aultyr, perhaps?On drums.”
“Makes sense.There was that gargoyle at the party.The one who kept hitting on me.She looked like she could match Aultyr for skull crushing.But better to keep it to unseelie.”
Declan smiled.He couldn’t help it.After the last month, he didn’twantto help it.Antonio’s touch soothed and sparked in turns.The casual, soft brush of callused fingers, perfect, touching the part of him only Antonio ever did.
“There’s one seelie we may want to include.The other changeling, Judah.He’s bonded to a siren, and they have their own House.”Declan’s wing pressed closer to the touch, even as he closed his eyes.“Mother says he’s sweet.”
“Not even been in Faerie a year, right?That’s practically human.Think we can give him a pass.”He fell quiet, simply touching, for a long beat.“What about the library dragon?If you and Aisling trust him, I mean.Feels like… I don’t know.Seems owed.”
“Zyr and Mother have been contacts for a long time.”Declan trailed his fingers over the line of Antonio’s arm, not bothering to open his eyes.“I rather like him.One beithir to the invitation list.Thoughts on the patasola?The weaver, Hyria.She has some ins with the palace.”
“Useful.But I’m not sure I trust anyone who’s in good with the Monarchs.”
“If we’re seeking those they despise, I know just the pair.Teddai and Abrhail.Thoroughlydisreputable, by anyone’s measure.”
“Useful?”
“Dangerous.A redcap and a manticore.”Declan tapped Antonio’s collarbone, picturing the redcap’s too-sweet smile.“If it comes to blood, we’ll want them on our side.They’re not the sorts anyone wants to fuck with.”
“Sold,” Antonio kissed the word into his temple.“Don’t supposetheyhave ins at the palace.”
“Not likely.Mother did mention another palace worker, Taibe.We met her, I believe.The yuki-onna we saw while we were there.The Monarchs aren’t known for employing many unseelie.”
“I remember.”Antonio’s reflexive tension lasted only a second.“Still the ‘in good with the Monarchs’ problem.”
“Mm.Perhaps not.Her bond is apparently quite opinionated regarding the seelie.In our favor.Cat-sith.And she supports his views.”
“That sounds like the safer bet.”
“We can sleep on it,” Declan suggested, pressing another light kiss against golden-brown skin.“Discuss the flats we looked at instead of an ice princess unseelie.Or if we’ll invite this ‘Spider’ Mother suggested.”
“Might know Orrim.”Antonio pulled Declan up, kissing him properly, all lazy heat.“About the places we checked out.Been thinking…”
“A dangerous pastime,” Declan murmured into the kiss, nipping his words against faded red lips.“Tell me?”
