Wren Bonus Story: Changing the Plan (male Wren)

Secrecy is of the utmost importance for this job; Adaan was very clear. We enter the party separately, approach the problem from two fronts, get what we need (the contents of some not-yet-released trade agreements this particular noble’s involved in) and clear out.

“May I have this dance, Agent?”

So why is Wren standing right in front of me?

“Of course, Archivist,” I plaster a smile on my face as the handful of nobles around me watch. A pair of the younger ladies titter behind a fan as I slip my hand into Wren’s while one of the lords frowns in what I can only assume is jealousy.

“We’re not supposed to know each other here, Wren,” I whisper sharply, still smiling as he leads me onto the dance floor. It’s an afternoon salon, so it’s an informal affair - only three musicians, endless appetizers, and light wines.

“Here’s the thing,” he replies conspiratorially, eyes glinting like a secret in the sunlight that streams through the sheer curtains of the massive room. “We could stick to the plan – but what if I told you that lord over there in the red robe already suspects we’re together?”

“What? How?” I frown as we slip into the rhythm of the music. “I’m wearing a glamour charm; he couldn’t have recognized me.”

“Haven’t a clue. But he’s watching us. Which gives me an idea... if you’re up for it, of course.”

“Alright,” I nod. “I trust you.”

“Then follow my lead,” he winks, and step by step we move across the floor. I’m impressed again by how quickly Wren’s picked up the steps, at how easily we weave in and out of the other couples – and a little distracted, honestly, by the feel of his hands on me. With one last smooth movement we turn behind a pillar, out of sight of the man watching us for a second.

Wren stops, and pulls me so close I can feel his breath on my skin when he mutters an incantation. And then another version of us continues on. They pivot around the pillar and back out to the crowd like we’d never stopped.

“What the...” I look at the illusion, then back at Wren, and see his skin is translucent. So is mine, and my body looks like me again – another magic’s canceled out my glamour. I grin. “You’ve got an invisibility charm on you, huh? That’s clever.”

“You know, hearing that compliment from anyone else feels like stating the obvious,” he says bemusedly. He lifts a hand and brushes the back of his fingers gently across my cheek. “But you’ve nearly got me blushing, darling.”

“I’m glad I stand out from the crowd,” I reply, glancing away for a second as my own cheeks begin to heat.

“You’re like a jewel in a garden. I don’t think I could look at anything else if I tried.”

“Flatterer,” I chuckle.

“Oh, I’m afraid I’m serious,” he says with a smile. “Perhaps it’d be more effective to show you?”

I quirk a brow and give a nod, curious what exactly he means. I expect a promise of a date later, or a whole night on the town, maybe a peck on the cheek.

But instead I’m pushed gently against the pillar, Wren’s hands hot and firm on my waist as he meets my lips in a kiss. The music around us fades from my perception as my arms wrap around his back, and I bite back a moan as his tongue enters my mouth. My body lights up with want, and I pull him to me tighter on instinct, needing to feel more of him against me – and he seems more than happy to give me exactly what I need.

“Wow,” I pant when he pulls away. “That was, um, nice. I think I just expected you to promise me a date later, or something.”

“I’m up for that too,” he hums, and runs his thumb over my mouth distractedly, like the sight of my reddened lips is the most interesting thing in the room.

“We... we came here to do something, right? I think?” I half-consider just throwing the mission away and telling Adaan the party was a bust. Just for a second. No harm in imagining, right?

“If we must,” he sighs. “We’ll be invisible for half an hour, more than enough time to handle things here. Our doubles will keep dancing, then find somewhere to slip away separately.”

“Then let’s go,” I nod.

Digging through the documents we find a floor above the main party takes time and careful checking for locks, traps, and magical alarms – all of which we find.

“They’re pretty serious about this deal, aren’t they?” Wren says appreciatively when we finally locate the contact we’re looking for.

“They stand to gain a lot from it,” I nod. “This noble house is responsible for agriculture. It looks like they’d have enough to build an entire new section of the city’s food gardens with this deal. But the people in charge of infrastructure aren’t going to be happy about how much wood they’re taking out of the supply pool for it.”

“I think we’re about to have company,” he crosses to the door and looks out. “Two people, heading our way.”

“Let’s go,” I say, striding out. “We’ve got what we need.”

We walk quietly by the well-dressed pair, and I recognize the red robe of the man who’d been watching us before.

“I’m telling you,” he says to the noble accompanying him, a tall, raven-haired person wearing an earring that looks about the same worth as my family’s house. “Agents mean trouble. You shouldn’t have allowed any in here.”

“What harm could one agent do?” they shrug, unconcerned. “Besides, the Archivist seems to be keeping this particular agent well-occupied. The way those two danced, I’d have believed we were the ones intruding on their party, if I didn’t know better.”

“That will be another complication in time, no doubt,” he replies grumpily as we reach a fork in the hallway. Wren continues onward, but I catch the last note of their conversation before I follow.

“Or an opportunity. Who knows?” the person says amusedly. “Perhaps the infamously ‘unaffiliated’ Iolenas will finally settle down... right here in our own city. Imagine the possibilities.”

I have to chuckle at that. It’s hard to imagine Wren “settling down” permanently anywhere. But the fact that he’s fond enough of me that even complete strangers are noticing it... My stomach fills with a happy warmth at the thought.

“Are you coming?”

I blink, and turn back to Wren with a faint smile pushing at my lips. “Here I am,” I nod, and hurry to catch up.