Toil and Trouble Read Online Free Page A

for it,” Rand answered.
    Odran rubbed his chin, as if in deep contemplation. Nigel could only stand there, like Odran’s shadow.
    “How do we prepare for it?” Sinjin demanded, his fingers now digging into the leather chair.
    Rand sighed. “Everyone will camp here, at Pelham Manor. We will notify Bella of when and where we will meet her army. In the meantime, this will be our base. We will train together and live together.”
    “And die together,” Sinjin finished with a scowl.
    Odran started forward, lumbering as if his body weren’t accustomed to its great height and build. “If he will ‘ave it nay oother way…” he started.
    “I will not,” Rand answered. He certainly was stubborn. I could only pray his sense of stubbornness would serve us and not be our death sentence.
    “Very well,” Odran nodded.
    I glanced at Sinjin who smiled at me. “The leader has spoken,” he said but I wasn’t sure if he was referring to Odran or Rand.
    “So, we all live together here?” I asked, sounding stupid since I didn’t quite grasp how this would work. “Where?”
    Pelham Manor definitely had the acreage but it wasn’t the ideal place for a bivouac, as far as I could fathom. I mean, there were no large open fields to house hundreds of soldiers. Instead, it was mostly packed with tall pines, a stream, and Rand’s rose garden which was the only open flat land.
    “We’ll have to clear some trees to set up tents,” Rand announced.
    “I willna sleep in ah tent,” Odran contended. “Officers shouldna be relegated to the ootside.”
    Since when was the Fae King appointed an Officer?
    “If you are to sleep in your home,” Sinjin addressed Rand while he glanced at me. “Then so shall we. Odran is correct. Let the minion sleep in tents.”
    I smiled at his reference to the rest of our army as the “minion” but Rand’s expression wiped the smile right off my lips. He was livid and his aura radiated with violet intensity.
    I probably should have mentioned I can see auras. Even though I never thought much of this ability, having been able to see them since I was young, according to Rand, it was one of the first signs he’d had that I was a witch. I’m also psychic but apparently that wasn’t as impressive as the whole aura seeing bit.
    “And do not forget vampires cannot survive in the sun, as you know, Randall. We need a place to shelter us from the daylight.”
    “Then you can bloody well dig yourself a grave and sleep in it,” Rand answered, the words “for all I care” hanging in silence.
    Sinjin laughed derisively. “Excuse me, your honor, but I refuse to sleep in the dirt.”
    Rand began to protest but soon realized it was fruitless as his angry words expired from his lips. I caught Sinjin watching me with a rakish glint in his eye and returned my attention to Rand who was glaring at Odran, who was staring at Christa with undisguised interest.
    “Jolie and Christa are under my protection,” Rand snarled between clenched teeth.
    At the mention of my name, Odran refocused his attention on me, (i.e., my legs) and smiled.
    “Of course they are,” Sinjin agreed. “No need to be a todger, Randall.”
    “If either of you lays one finger on either of them, I will kill you,” Rand continued, dividing his icy glare between Odran and Sinjin. “No questions asked.”
    Sinjin’s gaze didn’t depart from mine. “What if they…wish to be touched?”
    “Hey, I have a boyfriend,” Christa replied but was interrupted by Rand, who suddenly lunged and threw Sinjin into the wall. The entire house shook as Rand wrapped his hands around Sinjin’s throat and suspended him mercilessly, their noses only inches apart.
    “I do not want to catch you even glancing at them,” Rand said in an arctic tone.
    Sinjin’s fangs exposed themselves but I could see him holding back, trying not to react. I mentally applauded him when his fangs retracted and his snarl turned into a smile.
    “Of course, Randall, of