Wren Bonus Story: Changing the Plan (nonbinary 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 they lead 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,” they reply 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,” they wink, 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 their 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 their breath on my skin when they mutter an incantation. And then another version of us continues on. The figures 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 their 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,” they say bemusedly. They lift a hand and brush the back of their 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,” they say with a smile. “Perhaps it’d be more effective to show you?”

I quirk a brow and give a nod, curious what exactly they mean. 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 they meet my lips in a kiss. The music around us fades from my perception as my arms wrap around their back, and I bite back a moan as their tongue enters my mouth. My body lights up with want, and I pull them to me tighter on instinct, needing to feel more of them against me – and they seem more than happy to give me exactly what I need.

“Wow,” I pant when they pull 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,” they hum, and run their 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,” they sigh. “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,” they cross to the door and look 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 they're 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.