“Though, it has come to my attention just hours ago that Fern and her women have already infiltrated Dunlyn, and she is about that same errand.”

“Fuck,” Cassius bit.

“I’ve returned word to her to stand down,” Ian went on.

“Good,” Cassius said.

“She is not the only rogue faction at work, brother,” Ian warned his prince.

Mars made a growly noise.

I put my hand on his thigh and he relaxed.

“There are reports of skirmishes breaking out all over Airen,” Ian continued. “They’re calling themselves the ‘New Airen Citizenry.’ And apparently, if groups of Allied Gentry are identified, they’re being attacked or besieged in their own manors and castles. Not only that, in those places that are AG strongholds, NAC factions are marching in protest, which makes them return targets and they are being attacked and imprisoned in the dungeons of AG castles.”

Cassius sat back on his couch, draping his arm around Elena, who was grinning.

“This is not good news,” he groused to his intended.

“Civil unrest isn’t always bad,” she replied.

“And how can I ask Frey to call his dragons to incinerate these Gentry bastions if my own supporters are in their dungeons?” Cassius asked her.

“I’d forgotten you intended to do that,” Elena murmured.

Cassius sighed.

“I will say, Cass,” Ian cut in, “that once you heralded that notice, reports increased that NAC supporters, or simply Airenzian going about their business, mostly women, have been abducted and confined, thus if the dragons rain their fire, it will be gentry property that is destroyed, but our supporters will be the ones who perish.”

Cassius’s gaze sliced to Frey.

I glanced at Frey to see his jaw tight.

Ian continued, “I have sent peace-keeping squadrons out to areas that are not known AG strongholds in order to attempt to keep the NAC in those places under some semblance of control. And I’ve sent messages to AG strongholds where it is reported hostages have been taken, demanding their release. Your secretary has a full reporting of this you can look over.”

Cass nodded.

“Can we talk for a second about what was happening between you and Domitia out in the entryway?” Elena requested of Ian.

At that, Ian’s jaw got tight.

“For fuck’s sake,” Cassius muttered.

“You have to admit she’s much changed,” Elena said to Cassius, then turned directly to Ian. “Is it you we have to thank for that?”

“I’ve just been seeing to her,” Ian lied.

“Uh-huh, just seeing to her. Right,” Circe mumbled.

“Kah fauna, rayloo,” Lahn murmured.

“Right, raylooing,” Circe said, directing wide eyes to Finnie.

Finnie dropped her smile to her lap.

“What does rayloo mean?” I whispered to Mars.

“I’ve no bloody idea,” Mars didn’t whisper to me.

I swallowed down my giggle.