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Gray snorts, pulling Silla under his arm to head to the kitchen. She buries her head in his chest shyly and I find it adorable.

“They’re back,” Gray calls. They’re hanging out around the island eating, and smile as we walk in.

“I think the night was a success,” Andrya proclaims, eyes on Silla. “You have sex hair and a glow of happiness around you. Did you have fun?”

“I did.” She grins, sitting at the table. Gray gets her a plate of food, and Isaac, Ayden, and Sidney all move in to kiss some part of her as if they're inexplicably drawn to her. I don’t blame them, I am too.

“Good,” Grayson murmurs, putting the food in front of her. “If we talk about something, do you think you can still eat, Baby?"

Silla dutifully picks up her fork, taking a bite of eggs as she nods.

“One of the queen’s auditors came to the door tonight.” He sighs. “He was incredibly gaunt and kind of creepy, and kept insisting that he had something of yours that was important. He refused to give any context or hints, and then was gone quickly when he realized that you weren’t home. It made us realize something.”

“What?” I ask, laser focused on the fact that this man is a potential threat to my mistress.

“The auditors are all extremely loyal to the Queen. What happens when their queen is no longer here and they find themselves out of a job? Who will they be loyal to?” Ayden asks, picking up the conversation.

“They will be loyal to the memory of my step-sister,” Silla says immediately. “Some of the people that she employs enjoy their stations because of what they can get away with. Terrance abuses his step-daughter, and Cinder turns a blind eye to it all. Dorothy sacrifices animals on the full moon, but Cinder thinks it’s adorable. None of these people are fit for their stations.”

“They sound crazier than us,” Sidney scoffs. “I’ve watched Ayden tear the wings off of butterflies, but I have to say that it has been a very long time since he’s wanted to.”

“It’s true,” Ayden grunts, taking a bite of chocolate chip banana pancakes. Fuck they look good. Gray rolls his eyes, grabbing a plate for me as well. Hell yeah. “I usually have a fucked up reason for the shit I get up to, but I haven’t needed to to hurt people in a bit. Now I’m saving all of my energy to fuck up the queen.”

Okay, that was fairly sweet, even if enthusiastically psychotic.

“So we agree that they will not follow Silla as their new monarch?” Isaac asks as he eats.

“They won’t because they are so used to running shit their way,” I explain. “How do you propose that we get rid of them?”

“Do they live at the castle and have designated meal times?” Andrya asks, lips pursed in concentration.

“No,” I deny. “They must live within three to five miles of the castle so that Cinder’s every beck and call can be answered rapidly, however they do not live at the castle.”

“He’s right,” Silla says. “I didn’t know that they had a certain distance that they needed to stay within Cinder, but I knew that they didn’t live at the castle. So how do we eliminate them? ”

“I have a plan for that, but I’ll need help.” Andrya sighs. “You two saved me from having to see a man about poison, so thank you. Falcon, can you let me borrow twenty men?”

“Will it end in the deaths of these men and women?” I ask. The way they’re talking seems as if they are planning a wide range death squad, but I still need to ask. "It’ll help me decide who to recommend.”

“Absolutely,” Andrya growls. “I’m thinking of carbon monoxide poisoning.”

“I’ll have a list of people texted to you,” I grunt, noting something on my phone.

“Cool. I don’t want them to be able to hurt us again,” she says.

“I plan to be in the castle the night this happens. I have a guard’s uniform picked out so that I can walk the inside of the castle,” I explain. “I’m uncomfortable not knowing what’s happening.”

“Fair,” Sidney agrees. “If Silla is grabbed and she kills someone, what will you do?”

“Cheer her on because she’s still alive,” I pout petulantly.

“Good dog,” Ayden mutters.

Ignoring him, I keep my eyes on Silla. “I expect you to kill everyone if it makes the difference between you and death. Is that understood?”

Silla nods and I give her a brilliant smile. I don’t enjoy killing but I want to keep her safe.

“Sidney, can I join your hand to hand combat training with Silla?” I ask. I play it humble, keeping my eyes on her.