I swallow down my nerves and apprehension and take a deep calming breath. “Okay. I’ll meet them…not that I really have much choice in the matter,” I grumble, looking over at the parchment-holding messenger.
Sauriel turns to me, and it seems to take him a minute to process my acquiescence. I can see him practically shake off Sabin and Torrez’s threat and collect himself. He pushes out of his chair. “If it is okay with the tribunal, I will escort you,” he announces.
Wella gives him a slight dip of her chin, and he steps away from the round table.
“It’s okay, I have some of my Chosen outside; they can take me,” I tell Sauriel, ignoring the panic in my voice.
“I think it would be best if I accompany you, Vinna,” Sauriel states cryptically.
Sabin and Torrez move to stand up too, but Naree shakes her head. “Sabin, you have to stay until the tribunal ends questioning for the day. Teo, it’s your choice if you want to stay or go, but another representative cannot be called in your place,” she tells them.
I look over at my guys. “It’s fine,” I reassure them, even though I couldn’t feel further from it. “Bastien and Knox are just outside. They’ll make sure I’m good,” I tell them.
Distractedly, I wonder if I should change?Get it together, Vinna, you don’t have any clothes other than the black armored shit the Sentinels handed over.I run my fingers through my hair and then roll my eyes at myself.It’s just your mystery family that probably won’t like you anyway, not a first date. Calm the fuck down, crazy.
“Thank you for your time, Vinna of the First,” Mote tells me, but her sneer and the way she saysof the Firstmakes it clear her thank you is really more of afuck you.
I nod absently, dismissing the jab. All I can focus on right now is all that could possibly go wrong meeting this so calledfamilyI apparently have. Ory and the other guard again move to each of my sides, and the doors to the room open on their own to let us out.
Knox and Bastien snap up from where they were leaning against the wall, bored.
“That was fast,” Knox observes, elbowing the other Sentinel out of the way so he can stand next to me.
“Yeah, we’re going on a field trip,” I state cheerily, but even I can hear the worry in my tone.
“Where?” Bastien asks me, looking at Ory and Sauriel like he’s assessing which is the threat that needs to be dealt with first.
“Oh you know, just your everyday run of the mill family reunion,” I chirp like a sick bird.
“Family reunion?” Knox repeats, confused.
“Well, shit,” Bastien mutters.
“Yep, that about sums up what’s happening inside,” I confess.
“We’ll fuck them up, Bruiser. You say the word, and you’re out of there,” Bastien reassures me, and I laugh.
“Sabin and Torrez said the same thing,” I admit on a laugh. I link my fingers with Bastien and Knox and take a deep breath. I immediately feel better with them here.
“Safe word ispineapple,” Knox announces, and I choke on another laugh.
“Where the hell did you getpineapple?”
The tips of Knox’s ears go red, and the sight immediately piques my interest. “Uh…read it in a book once.”
“What the fuck kind of book were you reading with safe words in it?” Bastien questions.
“It was about a cupid and these genfins which are like fairies or something. You should read it; you’d laugh your ass off,” Knox informs him, and Bastien shakes his head. “Don’t knock it before you try it. Sabin is the one who gave it to me.”
“Well, if it’s Captain approved, it can’t be that out of control,” I joke, and Knox snickers. He brings my hand up to his mouth and kisses my palm. “You know he’s not nearly as prudish as you tease him for,” Knox razzes me.
My mind immediately goes to the intensely hot and deliciously dirty shit Sabin whispered in my ear as we fucked early this morning while everyone was still asleep. I smile at the memory and release a contented sigh. Knox and Bastien both laugh and give me a knowing smile.
“Ready?” Knox asks me as Sauriel and the messenger guides us out of the castle.
“As I’m ever going to fucking be. Here’s to hoping no one needs an ass kicking.”
“Spoil sport,” Bastien teases, and I laugh.
