Ann swallowed the guilt as Maeve rumbled soothingly, trying to at least lessen the impact of her heightened emotions.
"And this Orynn? Lord Brarthroroz didn't go into too much detail, so I'm quite curious." Ann said, changing the subject to distract herself.
"It seems that he's half human, half dragon," Adam said with a thoughtful frown. "From what I understand, he's the product of Ely's twisted experimentation early on in his fleshcrafting career. He was instrumental in helping Lexi and Aoife throughout their imprisonment, and they've been stuck together ever since. There's some sort of bond between them, Aoife and Orynn, it could be magic or inherited memory, maybe both. Honestly, I don't understand it fully, but the magick users do. When Aoife channels her magick, Orynn can mirror it, although Aoife says that his magick is wild and untamed. She intends to help teach him to handle it once all of this is over. Oh! And apparently their magick is so familiar with one another, that Orynn shares something like a mind link with her."
Ann tilted her head curiously.
"That's interesting. I didn't think that the mind link existed outside of werewolf and lycan species…and in those mated to them. I'll look forward to learning more about that. And Felix tolerates it well?" Ann asked, knowing full well how possessive and violent Alpha's could get if they felt that another male was interested in their mate.
Adam's smile was thin and he rubbed his neck awkwardly.
"All I can say is that he's trying. It's not easy for him, but he trusts her more than he trusts his instincts. He also knows that without Orynn at their side, most likely none of them would have made it out alive. He knows she needs Orynn right now, and that's what's important."
"Miracle of the century," Maeve mumbled "A wolf not marking his territory."
Ann allowed herself a small smile.
"If Felix can learn patience, maybe anyone can."
"Maybe," Adam said. "But don't aim that at me. I'm not sharing you with anyone."
Maeve sniggered as Adam's gaze slid to where Brad stood obviously trying not to draw his attention.
"And Lexi," Adam continued, his gaze returning to Ann and shaking his head in disbelief, "I'm not joking when I say that she's actually fucking terrifying. But in the best way. When she's in the air with Bella, it's like they were made for each other. A partnership of death that has no hesitation in its decisions, and no mercy for their enemies."
Ann smiled faintly.
"That certainly sounds like her."
"It most definitely is," Adam chuckled, "She does seem older though…you'll understand when you see her in person again. She was always confident, but now, it's like she knows she has nothing to fear from anyone anymore."
"Having a dragon will do that to a person." Maeve snorted.
Ann sighed and leaned back again.
"That's going to unsettle the nobles when she comes home."
"It'll unsettle everyone," Adam said. "But they'll follow her anyway. She's the reason this front is still standing."
"Typical Lexi," Maeve said. "Claim a dragon and set the battlefield on fire and say that was the plan all along."
Ann exhaled, quiet but content.
"Tell her I said thank you, and I miss her. And tell her the palace is more than ready for her return."
"I will," Adam said. "How are you holding up?"
"We're busy," Ann said. "Annoyed, but alive."
"That's my queen," Adam answered with that boyish smirk pulling at the edges of his mouth.
"Ugh," Maeve said. "Flirt later. Work now."
"Just make sure you hold your ground until I get the last of the supplies out to you. And please, get an hour of sleep before you fall over."
"You first," Adam said. "We both know you're worse at taking time to rest than I am."
"Deal." Ann smiled.
"Please take care of yourself, Ann. I'll be home soon." He said and hesitated briefly, before smiling and saying, "I love you, My Queen, with all my heart. I can't wait to be back with you and our pups."
Then, the screen went dark.
Eva logged the call and sent out the rest of the planned confirmations for supplies.
"Two more carts of medical supplies can go north within the hour. I'll add food and water. The drill yard kitchens can handle the shortfall." Coral said with a dismissive wave of her hand.
"Do it," Ann said. "Just make sure you log the cart numbers and who signs for what at the gate."
Brad cleared his throat.
"I hate to interrupt, but the Nobles are gathering again. They've seen the bulletin and want a council session. Immediately.They say your emergency powers were temporary and they want their oversight reinstated."
"Oh here we go," Maeve muttered, "I knew things had been too quiet for too long.Can we just tell them to go fuck themselves with a rusty fork?".
Ann cringed inwardly at the imagery and grimaced at Brad.
"What are they asking for exactly?"
Coral checked the page that Brad had handed to her.
"Mmm….access to troop lists, the right to attend your briefings, and the right to sign off on supply runs."
"Not. A. Fucking. Chance." Ann said. "All three are a no."
"Tell them to go blow goats." Maeve smirked.
"I wish I could." Ann snarled, her good mood from her conversation with Adam rapidly disappearing.
"I already drafted the refusal," Coral said. "Do you want to add anything?"
"Yes," Ann said. "Add that their oversight will be reviewed when the war ends, not before."
Eva turned from her desk and stifled a yawn.
"Do you want this as a public or private response?"
"Private," Ann said. "If they try to twist it in any way, then we release the full request that they made and our reply. Nothing else."
Brad smirked.
"If anyone tries to walk past me in their arrogance, then I'll turn them around."
Brad stepped out to pass the order down the corridor and returned within minutes.
No sooner had he returned though, did the door open, and a clerk hurried in with a sealed note wrapped in red. Coral opened it, rolled her eyes and handed it to Ann.
"They're calling for a vote to end emergency powers," Ann snorted. "They plan to gather signatures."
"Should I schedule a session to stop it?" Coral asked.
"No," Ann said with a wave of her hand, " Let's prepare a royal decree extending emergency powers until six months after the war. Make sure it's just written in plain language so that everyone can understand it, not just the nobles."
"I'll draft it now," Coral said.
A few minutes later, she returned with the document. Ann read it, made two small changes, and signed.
"Release it immediately," she said with a little smirk.
Eva stamped it and sent it with a runner.
Brad watched him leave and chuckled darkly.
"That'll stir them up again, you know."
"I know. I'm counting on it." Ann said. "Unfortunately for them, keeping the kingdom alive doesn't need their permission and it certainly does better without their interference."