by K. L. Thorne
“That goes some way to explaining why it took Raxx so fucking long to track you down. Continue.” The prince waved him on.
“During our travels, the uh, the princess and I have gotten to know one another better. I've already learned a lot of information about her and her family. She agreed to return with me. She plans to swear her allegiance to Zelrus and tell him anything she can about her father.” The demon nodded, conveniently skipping over some important information regarding how he and Lori had gotten to know one another so well.
“That's... Surprising. Why would she—”
“Those men were sent to kill her Oriel, not us.” Lephas interrupted. “It was an ambush meant for her that we got in the middle of.”
“Shit... His own daughter?” The prince's expression softened a little.
“She had no idea. She's been in a pretty bad way since.”
“I bet. What about the other one? Where did she come from?” Oriel questioned.
“That I can't help you much with. Raxx eventually tracked us down and she was already with him. She's the youngest daughter, Faye Goldwyrm. From what I can gather, she left home to bring her runaway sister back.”
“So, Lori is going to swear her allegiance, but what about this Faye?” The prince narrowed his eyes. “She has no reason to help us.”
“Other than the love for her sister,” Lephas stated simply. “She wasn't aware that their father had sent men after Lori. By all accounts she's too frightened to return to him now. She has also come along with us willingly.”
“And you trust these faeries? You, of all people?” Oriel cocked a brow.
“That should go some way to clearing their names, surely? That I, of all people, trust them?” Lephas challenged.
“Shit, I guess. This is completely out of character for you. You know that, right?” the prince muttered with a confused frown still plastered across his face.
“Trust me, I'm already painfully aware.” Lephas sighed with a short laugh. He toed the ground in front of him nervously.
“Alright, well, I still have questions, but I guess we should–” Oriel turned to leave.
“There's... One more thing I need to tell you. Before we head back inside.” The commander kept his eyes downcast and his heart pounded in his chest. His palms were wet with sweat and he rubbed them roughly against his trousers.
The prince didn't speak, just turned questioningly.
“Lori and I... uh...” He faltered, words dying on his tongue. “We've, uh... Been intimate.”
There was a long, heavy pause. Lephas glanced up at Oriel, unsure if the prince's eyebrows could get any higher.
“...You fucked her?” he stated simply, surprised.
“Yes... No... Sort of – look, that's not what I meant.” Lephas floundered, feeling himself flush with embarrassment. “I... I care about her, Oriel.”
The prince laughed. “Fuck me, did you hit your head whilst you were out there or something? I know I told you all not to do anything I wouldn't do, but fuck... That's not just taking a leaf, that's a whole fucking branch right there my friend.”
“I know, I just–”
“Have you fucked her, though?” Oriel interrupted, stepping closer curiously.
“Is that all you can think about?” Lephas chastised with a laugh.
“It is now, yeah.” The prince grinned.
“I'm serious, Oriel. Really.” Lephas implored, scrubbing a hand down his face. “I love her.”
“Fuck. Zelrus is going to shit a brick when he hears about this.” The prince ran a hand through his hair.
“I know,” Lephas groaned. “Wh-what do you think about it?”
“Honestly? I'm surprised… And kind of impressed. She picked you over Haros?”
“Fucking–” Lephas punched Oriel hard in his arm. “That's what Raxx said too!”
Oriel laughed heartily and rubbed his bicep.
“Listen,” the prince continued, his tone turning serious once more. “I'm just glad you're back safe. I don't trust those faeries as far as I can throw them, but I am willing to follow your lead on this one.”
“And... The other thing? You're okay with that too?”
“More than okay.” Oriel grinned, draping an arm around him. “It'd be pretty hypocritical of me not to be, really. They're both hot little pieces – I didn't think you had it in you.”
Lephas glowered but allowed Oriel to steer him from the barn.
“Hey, maybe you could get them both to–”
“Not another fucking word!” Lephas laughed. “Keep your fantasies to yourself. It's really not like that.”
“You're missing a golden opportunity, that's all I'm saying. They're both super grateful to you right now, yeah?”
“You are sick in the head.”
Had he really been concerned that Oriel would be angry or disappointed in him? He should have known better. Zelrus, on the other hand... He swallowed.
Lephas followed obediently behind Oriel as they exited the barn, immediately hit by an icy blast. The prince pulled the barn door closed behind them.
“What are you doing here, anyway?” the commander shouted.
“After I heard about the ambush, I wanted to check in on Magna and Indi. Just to make sure they were alright. If the King's Guard are patrolling the woods, I wanted to be here. Just in case,” he replied.
“Fair enough.” Lephas nodded.
He knew how Oriel felt about Magna – she was, more or less, his mother. The old demon had been his nurse when he was growing up, before King Tennul met his untimely end.
He knew very little about Indi. He had heard the prince and Zelrus mention her occasionally, but Lephas wasn't sure of exactly how the mysterious faerie had come to be part of their lives.
The men fought their way back towards the farmhouse, the windows glowed invitingly through the snow storm. Oriel shoved the door open and they stumbled inside, eager to get out of the cold.
Both Indi and Lori jumped to their feet.
“Boots off please, boys,” Magna called from the kitchen She didn't look up from the tea she was steeping.
Lephas and Oriel obediently kicked their shoes off. Oriel shrugged out of his jacket and hung it on a peg near the doorway. The commander followed suit, trying not to get too much wet, melting snow on the floor.
He glanced around at the strange sight before him. Raxx stood silently, as always, in a shaded corner. Faye was curled under a blanket on one end of a soft upholstered chair, looking shell-shocked. Both Indi and Lori had been sat beside her, but were now on their feet.
A fire crackled in the fireplace, filling the room with warmth. Though it was quite spacious inside the cottage, with so many people huddled together it felt cosy and intimate.
Indi shot forwards and wrapped her arms eagerly around Oriel's middle. The prince grunted with a breathless laugh as she hit him with force, but returned the embrace.
Lori stood frozen in place and her eyes were wide with uncertainty. Lephas knew she desperately wanted to run to him, as much as he wanted her to. Her face was creased with concern but she sat down slowly, sinking beside her sister once more. Her hands were balled with frustration in her lap.
Before Lephas had a chance to do anything, Karn trotted happily from one of the back rooms to meet him. The commander knelt and grabbed the wolf in an affectionate headlock.
“And what exactly are you doing here anyway, eh?” He laughed as Karn licked his jaw.
“I'm afraid he was in a bit of a sorry state when he arrived,” Indi explained, untangling herself from Oriel. The prince wandered away into the kitchen to help Magna with the tea.
“He'd lost a lot of blood, but thankfully he made it here before it was too late. I was able to heal him.”
The faerie reached a hand out to smooth Karn affectionately. The wolf closed his eyes, looking blissfully happy.
“Wow, he likes you,” Lephas muttered.
“Karn and I have become good friends.” Indi smiled. �
�He's told me all about you.”
“I... Uh, what?” the commander stuttered.
“Oh, sorry – I thought Oriel might have told you. I speak with animals, it's my thing.” The faerie smiled with a casual shrug, as if it were something trivial.
“Uh... Wow, okay.” Lephas nodded with surprise. “Well, I hope he's been well behaved.”
The girl nodded “Impeccably. He's very intelligent - much more than I think you give him credit for sometimes.”
Karn sighed heavily, as if in agreement.
Lephas cocked an eyebrow at him. Of all people, he hadn't expected his wolf to go around bad-mouthing him.
“Tea, for those who want it,” Magna called out. Oriel was carrying a tray with seven simple china teacups, a small milk jug and a pot with sugar cubes on it. The old demon followed behind the prince, holding a teapot.
Everyone shuffled forwards eagerly awaiting a warm drink, Raxx included, which surprised the commander. The shadow demon rarely felt the cold He tended to keep himself incorporeal as often as he could to avoid it.
Lephas got to his feet and petted Karn one last time before shuffling past Magna and Oriel, who were setting out the tea on the small wooden table in the middle of the room.
Lori caught his eye immediately and her face brightened as he made his way towards her. He sat down heavily beside her on the chair and sank back into its soft cushions. The princess hesitated for a moment, but when he stretched his arm out invitingly over the back of the chair she hurriedly shifted closer to curl into him and tucked her legs up underneath her. The commander brought his arm down around her and she rested her head on his chest.
He sighed heavily. Nothing had ever felt quite so good. Though he was still hungry and tired from the arduous trek, he was finally warming up and had Lori tucked against him once more.
Indi busied around, handing out the cups of tea as Magna poured them. She handed a cup to Lori with a kind smile. The princess took it eagerly and wrapped her hands around it for warmth.
“Milk and sugar?” Lephas asked her, sitting forwards to reach for the tray. It was a trivial question, but he realised how little he actually knew about Lori. It boggled his mind that he felt so strongly for her and yet didn't even know simple things, like how she drank her tea.
“Both, please. Three sugars.” She nodded.
“Three?” Lephas looked at her, surprised. He had learnt the first of many inconsequential things. His faerie had a sweet tooth.
He obediently gathered three sugar cubes with a smile and brought the milk jug to her. Lori took the cubes and gently dropped them into the tea before holding out her cup. He poured the milk slowly until she gestured that she was satisfied.
The faerie curled back into the chair and took a tentative sip.
Lephas quickly sorted his own tea – dark, with only one sugar – before sitting back.
“What a day,” Magna sighed and settled herself down into an old armchair across from them. Indi sat on the floor beside her. Karn lay down to rest his chin in her lap.
Traitor. Lephas smiled to himself, sipping his tea.
“You can say that again,” Oriel muttered, leaning against the back of her chair and casting his eyes warily over the two faeries. His gaze faltered for a moment as he noticed Lori beside Lephas, but the prince uncharacteristically chose to keep his mouth shut.
Everyone sipped their tea in comfortable silence for a few long moments.
“You're all welcome to stay here as long as you need. I haven't yet given much thought to dinner, but we have plenty to go around. Do you girls eat meat?” Magna addressed the princesses.
They both nodded shyly.
“I'm afraid I know very little of your culture. Please, do let me know if there's anything I can do to make you more comfortable here.” The kind old demon smiled. Oriel's expression darkened, clearly disapproving of Magna's kindness, but yet again he said nothing.
“If you don't mind sharing a bed with one another, you're welcome to mine tonight.” Indi said.
“We couldn't.” Lori protested. “Where would you sleep?”
Indi glanced up at Oriel briefly. The prince turned away, but not before Lephas saw him grinning into his cup.
Surely not...
“I'll get my camping equipment out. If you don't mind me imposing, I'm more than happy to sleep on the floor in a camp bed.” The faerie smiled with a slight blush tingeing her cheeks.
“We couldn't ask you to do that,” Lori argued.
“Nonsense. You two need to rest, you look exhausted,” Indi said, holding a hand up decisively. “I won't take no for an answer.”
“Thank you, ever so much,” the princess replied quietly before sipping her tea.
“Raxx doesn't do sleeping anyway, so no need to worry about him,” Oriel interjected, draining the last of his cup. “Lephas – will you be alright out here?”
“Honestly, I'm so tired I could sleep just about anywhere,” he replied with a laugh.
“Excellent, that's all decided then.” Magna got to her feet stiffly and Oriel took her cup from her hands. “That just leaves the matter of dinner. Indi, can you give me a hand?”
“Of course,” the faerie replied brightly, standing up. As she bent forwards to dust herself off, Lephas couldn't help his eyes being drawn to her ample cleavage. She was such a slight creature it was a wonder she could keep herself upright, though he supposed her generous hips and behind more than balanced her out.
She was just Oriel's type. Why was he getting a bad feeling about this?
Tearing his eyes away from Indi, Lephas cleared his throat awkwardly and stared into the fire until the girl was out of sight. Karn padded devotedly behind her.
There was clanging and thudding as the two women began to busy themselves with preparing dinner.
“How are you feeling?” Lori whispered to Faye. “Are you warm enough?”
“Yes, thank you,” the princess replied quietly. “I'm just... This is a lot to take in.”
“I know, but it'll be okay,” Lori soothed and rested a hand comfortingly on her sister's knee.
Ever the caring older sister, the faerie sat forwards and took Faye's empty mug from her and placed it carefully back on the tray with her own. Lori then turned to Lephas and motioned for his cup.
“Oh, thanks,” he muttered, quickly draining the last of the contents before handing it across. He glanced to the shadowy corner where Raxx had been stood. It was now vacant; a lonely mug had been left on the side. The tea inside hadn't been finished.
“So...” Oriel sighed, rolling his mug between his palms thoughtfully. “Seeing as both Lephas and Raxx are vouching for you pair, I suppose I should probably introduce myself. Officially.”
“There's no need for pleasantries.” Lori addressed him, surprising Lephas with her confidence. “My sister and I are aware of who you are, Prince.”
“Well, isn't that sweet. I hope I'm everything the poster on your bedroom wall promised I'd be,” Oriel retorted with a grin and perched himself on the arm of Magna's chair.
Lephas snorted quietly with a subtle shake of his head. He was pleased to see Lori roll her eyes, exasperated. Faye finally cracked a small smile.
“Neither of you are anything like I had imagined, I'll be honest,” the prince continued.
“What do you mean by that?” Faye asked, finally finding her voice. “How exactly did you imagine us?”
“Younger. Still children,” Oriel stated, pausing for a moment. “Zelrus will be interested to meet you both.”
Lephas felt the faerie beside him grow tense with apprehension. She was nervous about meeting the king, and rightly so. He was nervous about introducing her and he had a much better idea of what to expect. The demon felt his chest growing tight with concern once more. He prayed for Zelrus's understanding.
“Has Lephas told you of our plan to swear allegiance to your brother?” Lori asked, her voice calm and steady despite her nerves.
The prince's dark gaze
flickered to the commander. “He mentioned it. I have to admit, I'm surprised.”
“Because our father is such a joy to be around?” Lori replied tartly. “Why would it surprise you that, after a lifetime of imprisonment and lies, we would betray him? He tried to have me killed.”
Lephas glanced down at the faerie beside him. She courageously held Oriel's gaze, unwavering.
Pride bloomed in his chest. He often forgot Lori was a royal but in moments like these she proved she was ever the monarch. He hoped she was able to stand up against Zelrus as easily. He had a feeling the king might be begrudgingly impressed if she was able to be as direct with him.
“Good point,” Oriel conceded with a smile. “I'll be up front with you ladies, I'm not sure I trust either of you completely just yet–”
“Likewise, Prince,” Faye interjected frostily. Oriel laughed, surprised, and ran a hand through his hair.
“But I trust my men implicitly,” he continued. “If they trust you, then so do I, by extension.”
“I'm relieved to hear that,” Lori sighed, smiling softly.
“I have just one favour to ask of you, Lori.” Oriel sat forwards, his face serious.
The girl nodded.
“Be gentle with Lephas. He's an old man and fuck knows how long he's been out of the game–”
“Oriel!” the commander groaned. “Fuck off.”
“I'll take real good care of him.” Lori laughed, fixing Lephas with a decidedly heated look under her lashes. “But I can't promise I'll be gentle about it.”
Despite his surprise, Lephas felt his gut tighten with need. The prince's eye brows shot up, clearly just as stunned by her reply.
“Oriel?” Magna called from the kitchen. The commander barely held back a sigh of relief.
The prince obediently got to his feet, but not before Lephas caught his eye.
“Lucky bastard!” He mouthed with a playful expression before heading into the kitchen.
CHAPTER TWENTY
“Magna, that was delicious,” Lori exclaimed, leaning back in her chair to stretch her full stomach. She hadn't realised just how hungry she had been until the large chicken pie had been placed in front of her.