“I’m sure you’ll get used to it. After all, Mi snores too.” I told her gently, trying very hard not to roll my eyes at her woebegone expression.
She replied with a ‘humm’ and gave me a nod, which I took to mean I was dismissed. I turned to the hall to go and her words stopped me in my tracks. “Be very careful, Lexi. You may be Queen to the Dragons, but for many here you are still a half-breed Princess who caused considerable discomfort last night. I believe your actions may have garnered you a few enemies. Not everyone was satisfied. I believe there were several women that were not pleased at all. And perhaps some of the men did not appreciate being manipulated in such a way.”
“The women weren’t pleased because they were forced to please the men, or because they enjoyed it?” I asked wanting to be sure I understood the reasons behind their anger with me. Inside me the voices went silent, obviously sensing my mental shift. Or perhaps they were interested in Mom’s opinion. It was hard to know.
She thought about it for a moment. “Both. Although I suspect it will be more, that you have earned the interest of our men that the women object to. Given who and what you are, most of the available men were prepared to deal fairly with you. However, I can’t think that having your will forced upon them was completely pleasurable. Most prefer to believe they control their own destinies. That is hard to do when you find yourself no longer in control of your actions”
So…jealousy and forced lack of self-control. It is a wonder they hadn’t rounded me up and booted me out of the Sidhe already. My mother just pursed her lips and tilted her head to the side as if to say, she too had considered the question.
“Lexi you are not the only power to be reckoned with in this Sidhe. And while your powers are still developing, there are those that have had centuries in which to hone their skills. Be certain you do not annoy them unduly. There are those that even Goldy may not be able to handle.” She advised me crisply.
“How soon will I see the Queen?” I asked, wondering how quickly we might get back to our den where I didn’t have to worry about this type of problem. It was for sure I had plenty of other problems, but not this one.
“Not until this evening. She has other commitments until then. In the meantime you will want to keep your men close to you when you go out. Have one of them show you the cavern gardens. I doubt you will cause any problems there and they are worth the visit. Also, the Queen has requested you pay a special visit to Kiitar, sometime before this afternoon.”
“Kiitar?” I asked, tilting my head to the side, a questioning look on my face. “I do not recall meeting anyone last evening with that name. Who is he and why does the Queen wish me to visit with him?”
My mother pressed her palms together in her lap and shrugged delicately. “Kiitar is a she, not a he. I’m sure she was not in the main hall last evening and therefore could not make herself known to you. Kiitar does not socialize often with the Court. Perhaps because her questions were best left for a place of privacy. She is and has ever been the Queen’s Chronicler. I do not recall a time when she was not with us. It is likely she expressed her wish to visit with you in private. I am sure there are questions she might have that only you may answer.”
A Chronicler? Fairly self-explanatory at face value I mused, wondering which of us would be answering questions. Perhaps my Grandmother was providing me the means to learn something of my heritage? It seemed the type of advantage she may wish me to have, given I had made no secret of my frustration at being told pertinent information only ever after my life appeared to blow up around me. A situation I typically found to be both embarrassing and annoying. I smiled and nearly rubbed my hands together thinking how nice it might be to actually have an advantage for a change. So caught up in my thoughts I nearly missed the subtle signs of annoyance that skittered across my mother’s face. I immediately stopped the mental happy train and nearly bit my tongue when she began speaking.
“Some things are best not known till their proper time.” She informed me primly and I couldn’t help the skeptical look I knew must be covering my face. “Really Lexi, you must learn to school your features better. I fear it will become your downfall if you cannot learn more control.” She finished with a sniff and one of those haughty looks which I was beginning to find extremely irritating. So easy for her to judge, she wasn’t the one having to experience the, too late information gap that I seemed to be. So typical of her and at that moment, the last thing I needed to hear.
I clenched my teeth and did something I had not done in what seemed a very long time. Taking a deep breath I reached inside myself and forced the change. It took less than a second and though no physical pain accompanied my actions, I had to quash the shock and confusion radiating up at me from Goldy’s vicinity. She lifted her head and what appeared to be twin miniature puffs of smoke began curling up from her nostrils. Something I’d never seen her do before. Apparently she wasn’t pleased with my actions. Or maybe I’d just managed to shock her too. It seemed to be the day for that.
Across from me I heard my Mother suck in a breath and knew without looking that my hair had shortened and it along with my eyes had turned an unbecoming muddy brown color. My dress suddenly sagged slightly in my bust area and except for still being 5’5”; nothing about me looked like it had mere seconds before. I had, in that instant, become Plain Jane.
Plain Jane, the unremarkable image my Mother had convinced me I should inhabit nearly my entire life, in order to keep the men in white coats from finding and doing unspeakable things to me. Fortunately for me there were no ‘men in white coats anywhere near here. At least not that I knew about. Fortunate for her she was still my mother, carrying my sisters, and therefore this painful reminder was nothing more than that.
I rose slowly from my seat watching the blood still draining from her face. Her eyes were large in her face and her long delicate fingers clenched in what appeared to be a painful grip upon one another. “Is this what you were looking for?” I asked angrily. “It must have been so nice for you, never having to worry about me making a scene, or causing you a single moment of concern once you taught me to ‘learn control’!” I hissed, my temper having gone from zero to ninety in less than three seconds. Inside me Goldy’s eyes began a slow whirl of agitation and her head swung slowly back and forth.
Behind me I heard the faint sounds of a commotion in the hall and a mighty pressure started building between my temples. It grew quickly to a vibrating thunder so that I lost my shimmer and felt my skin and hair flesh back to its actual size and shape. My hands lifted to my head and I nearly swayed as the door crashed open behind me. I twisted about in time to see my father bearing down on me, a look of such intense anger on his face my heart leapt into my throat. My feet said move but my body seemed glued to the spot. Inside me Goldy rose to all four feet, arched her back, and her tail lashed out so that I felt the echo of it on the inside of my ribs.
“What is going on in here?” Dad demanded, his steps bringing him full into the room and within a pace or two of me. My Mother’s guards, as well as my own, flowed in in his wake. The looks on my men’s face’s ranged from uncertainty to caution. Dad stopped his forward motion, causing everyone else to halt in their tracks too lest they run him over in their haste. His arms came up over his chest as his eyes flicked expectantly between me and Mom. He glanced more fully at me and narrowed his eyes. He stared at me for a moment and I had the distinct impression he wasn’t actually looking at me, but at Goldy who stared straight back at him with what I could only describe as a defiant look. He made a noise which I had never heard before. It grated on my nerves and caused a shiver to run over my body and gooseflesh to erupt everywhere I had skin. Inside me Goldy hissed again and bared her teeth, causing my Father to rumble deep in his chest while his eyes narrowed and he appeared to grow several inches in front of me. Or maybe that was a trick of the light since he didn’t actually increase in size?
The fact that the two of them seemed to be having a private con
versation started to irritate me and I was about to open my mouth to make a comment but was distracted when Goldy tossed her head, abruptly turned her back on my Father and lashed her tail about her feet. I swear I’d seen Mi do that exact move when annoyed with me. At the moment though I didn’t think it was me Goldy was annoyed with. I couldn’t help wondering just what my Father had said to upset my normally easygoing girl.
Around the room I noticed a lot of raised eyebrows and sidelong glances, but no one spoke a word. They were, waiting perhaps, for one of us to answer my Father’s original question.
Confused and concerned over Goldy’s actions, I held my tongue and flicked a glance at my Mom who appeared to be busy rearranging her face into something less…expressive. It was clear she was delighted by my Father’s timely manner of arrival but still struggling to deal with the shock I’d delivered and perhaps a bit confused over what had just happened like the rest of us.
“Do not make me repeat myself.” Dad advised in a tone I could not recall hearing from any other male before that exact moment. I can honestly say no one had ever even come close and it, thankfully.
“I…” I began, biting my tongue to keep from repeating my inane attempt at speech and shocked to find myself nearly stuttering. Apparently I was more rattled than I thought. He raised an eyebrow and appeared to settle back on his heels a bit, waiting not-so-patiently for me to elucidate. Unfortunately for me I didn’t have a ready excuse or a glib response. At that moment I wasn’t too sure I would have risked one anyway.
Dad raised an eyebrow as if to say, ‘I’m waiting’.
I was about to open my mouth to say, I’m not sure what, when two things happened, a pair of kitty cat ears appeared between my Father and myself, then Mi’s head followed closely by the rest of her body, and directly in front of me Kit appeared in his miniature dragon form hissing and flapping his wings in extreme agitation.
I immediately stuck out my arm and called to Kit. Mi walked directly toward me and seated herself practically upon my toes. She took a moment to wrap her tail in a fastidious manner around both front paws before focusing her gaze upon my Dad. Meanwhile Kit ignored my arm and went for my shoulder wrapping his tail about my neck and pressing his body tightly against mine, all the while making low growling noises as his eyes darted about the room. Mi didn’t bother glancing up at me, nor did she utter a single word, yet I felt the weight of her support and stood just a bit straighter. I took advantage of the moment to allow my tongue to untie from the knots it had somehow developed.
My Father’s look went from impatiently waiting to borderline offended. Inside me Goldy glanced over her shoulder with a look that fairly oozed satisfaction. I couldn’t help wondering if she was behind the sudden appearance of both Kit and Mi.
I could swear I heard Dad’s teeth grinding before he glanced at my Mother who gave him a look as if to say, ‘see what I have to deal with?’ He turned back to me then and asked in a deadly soft voice. “Was that necessary?”
Since I hadn’t called either of them I wasn’t quite certain how best to respond. I didn’t like to take the credit when I hadn’t committed the deed to begin with. Yet I couldn’t prevent the stray thought that crossed my mind, ‘If he hadn’t appeared so threatening they wouldn’t have felt the need to come to my aid.’ Judging by the look on Dad’s face he didn’t care for that thought in the least.
At my feet Mi tilted her head to the side and interjected calmly before I could dig my hole any deeper. “I am here because in part, this is my responsibility. Lexi did not request my audience; I merely determined that of all the places I might be at this moment, this is the one that pleases me most.” And so saying she glanced between my Father and me, her big sherry colored eyes looking expectantly up at me too, just before they lowered briefly into the vicinity of the place from which Goldy sat watching. The look did not go unnoticed by my Father who made a somewhat rude noise in his throat but managed not to say anything.
Guessing that was my cue to explain now that our referee was present, I muttered. “It was a private matter.” Then frowned when Mi lifted an eyebrow in response and turned back to my Father. I didn’t much care for the way my voice nearly squeaked. It was, most unbecoming and definitely uncharacteristic.
I don’t believe he much cared for my response either, though I suspect his issue had more to do with the content than the delivery. Dad continued to stare at me with a tight expectant look. Inside I began to feel a little churning in my middle parts. Being scolded my by Father was not something I was accustomed to and I was discovering I didn’t much care for it. Or maybe that was Goldy who seemed to be in complete agreement. It appeared neither of us much cared for his attitude. Though in her case it seemed she was a wee bit more rebellious, while I just wasn’t sure how to deal with it.
Amras and Owen shifted, moving into the space to the side of my Father bringing them nearer to me than to the hallway. Kit let out a hissing noise and wrapped his tail even tighter, nearly choking me. I wasn’t certain if he was that agitated or was attempting to ensure my silence.
And as we all stood around glancing amongst each other I realized that all this emotional upheaval was starting to irritate me. A month ago I would not have classified myself as the stubborn type. Words like, long suffering, team player, dutiful daughter, respectful, malleable came to mind. Those words went along with that ‘other’ life. My previously boring everything-is-shades-of-brown-life. The life I was much happier leaving in the past as I had no desire to go back to life.
Around the room eyebrows lifted and I watched Owen quickly cover his mouth with his hand. I could only guess it was to hide his smile. I didn’t think any of it seemed funny. In fact, I was pretty certain I had every right to the small measure of anger I felt inside. Yet the longer I stood there under my Father’s disapproving gaze, the more I felt the need to defend myself. A situation I was not used to and one I was extremely certain I did not want to become a habit.
At my feet Mi heaved a sigh and remarked rather dryly. “Include incorrigible, impulsive, curious and prone to causing scenes to that list, and perhaps you might understand the need that drove us to take action.”
At Mi’s words, Kit gave a ‘harrumphing’ noise and flicked his tongue out. “Ha!” He remarked, and I nearly jumped at the fierceness of his response. “Mistress Lexi was never allowed to become any of those things.” He informed the group, his tone clearly disapproving despite the fact that in this form it was pitched considerably higher than his normal voice. “Not after you allowed her to play the flute and she announced her presence to the Sidhe!”
Mi flicked her gaze at my Mother then back to my Father. “True.” She finally admitted. “That she had gathered the interest of the Sidhe at such a young age was at best, risky. There was concern that more than Faerie would become curious and that we simply couldn’t allow.”
“So you quashed her personality, wrapped her up in an ugly exterior and solved all your problems, just like that.” Kit shot back, his little body vibrating where he now stood balanced precariously on my shoulder. “And you expect her to simply say ‘Thank You’?”
Mom’s face actually flushed. “How dare you!” She snapped and Kit turned his red eyed glare on her.
“I merely speak truth, Princess.” He rasped, “Because I’ve been there since before you gave birth in that two-bit hospital you practically called home. Who do you think entertained her while you were busy playing with beakers and test tubes?”
Shocked I held my tongue but couldn’t help wondering how that could be. Hadn’t he told me he’d stolen my contract when I was three? On my shoulder Kit shifted and his little claws dug into my shoulder slightly. A sure sign my train of thought was unwelcome at that time. Well fine, but we’d be getting back to that later I thought and he squeezed his tail tight for a split second and released it.
Mother’s eyes widened and her eyes lowered to Mi who shrugged her shoulder and confirmed. “The Demon was allowed. His concern for Lexi
’s well-being both physical and mental is of course, paramount to the terms of his contract. His assistance, while not always conventional was appreciated.”
When my Father growled and would have taken a step closer, Kit swung his red eyes on him. “Lest you forget who it was that brought you here….” He advised in a softly menacing voice. “I am not the Demon Knight. I do not command rage. But I wonder how your Princess would enjoy spending the rest of our visit to the Sidhe flat upon her back pleasuring you, the two of you lost in a haze of perpetual lust? I’m sure while you find yourself busy the rest of us can somehow manage to guide My Mistress through the basics.” His words brought my Father up short. Kit flicked his tongue again and inquired sweetly. “Or perhaps you’d like me to share with My Mistress how it is you managed to spend your time over the past twenty five years? Starting with…”
“That will not be necessary!” My Father’s quickly interjected, his voice having elevated to a near shout, his face pinched into annoyance tinged by what appeared to be alarm.
‘Hmmm’ I thought and made a mental note to follow up on that later too.
Dad blinked but his eyes never left Kit. “You may not be mine to command.” He allowed, “But you would not dare interfere with matters of Fecundity.” To which Kit let out a scoffing noise.
“I dare nothing.” Kit advised slyly. “From the moment Knight realized he could not force her to turn male while still in womb, she has been mine. Mine to cherish and protect as I see fit. You know full well that this discussion has naught to do with breeding and therefore, I dare nothing. You are here now for one reason, because My Mistress wished it. Do not think your being here will prevent me in any way from continuing to do what I have always done. Your ways are not My Mistress’ ways…yet. You ensured that by absenting yourself these long years. You will have your time, and I will perhaps, stand aside to allow it. But that day is not today. So do not threaten me, lest you lose all.”
Dragon Envy Page 18