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“It’ll be alright. We’ve got it handled,” said Dair cheerfully. “Those cows are going to get what they deserve. You don’t need to worry, Jezzie. Just have fun with those hunks of yours, okay? And keep us in the loop.”
“Hey,” Rian huffed indignantly, and poked Dair in the ribs with his elbow. “They’re not as hunky as me though, right?”
Was he seriously pouting? Jezzie couldn’t help but laugh as Dair backpedaled and smoothed his ruffled feathers.
“Speaking of your men, are you going to introduce us to the newbies or are we all gonna stand here awkwardly as they continue to glare at us?” Theus piped up.
“They’re not glaring. They aren’t, are they?” Jezzie asked spinning around to look at Roth and Athon, only to find dark shadows creeping out of them and clenched fists already clutching black blades.
“Seriously, guys? Chill. These are my friends. I’m allowed to have those, right? Or do we have a problem?” Jezzie said, making it clear in her tone just how little she’d entertain their jealousy when it came to the princes. She’d explain later about the whole Tana situation, but now was not the time, she could see how much remaining polite was already taxing her cousin’s limited goodwill and restraint.
“Yeah, guys, friends,” said Rian, placing a cheeky kiss on her cheek. Seriously? Was the dude looking to die? Or at the very least lose vital parts of himself he may want to keep on the increasingly dubious off chance they do manage to nab her cousin’s affections?
Roth’s blue irises filled with the black of his shadows as the swirling mass seeped out of him and morphed into a semi-solid form with eyes of ruby-red and leapt forward. Before it could reach Rian, Jezzie stepped forward and flicked it on the nose, twice, and shook her head as she pointed at Roth.
“No,” she declared, quite firmly.
The shadow beast pulled to a stop immediately and shook its head, perplexed. She couldn’t hold back a soft smile as she reached out her hands and caressed its face gently. Athon gasped, his sound of shock mirrored Roth’s own. Although, the more she stroked the beast the more she noticed Roth’s gasps turned into moans.
Interesting, she thought, definitely something to tuck away for later.
“Allow me, Jezzie.” Winked Dair. “Azaroth, Leviathon, allow me to introduce you to my kindred cursed brothers, my fellow unwanted princes: Novarian, Thaddeus, Prometheus, Grimm, and of course my wonderful self, Alasdair O’Dempsey. You guys saved my prepubescent Manticorian ass after my so-called parents left me to drown in the tunnels under Westminster Palace when it flooded back in 1236. Thanks, by the way.” He stepped forward and held out his hand. Athon tilted his head to the side and studied him.
“Dair?” he questioned.
“The one and only.” He chuckled.
“Well, fuck. Though, honestly, I can’t say I’m surprised they picked you for this, knowing what utter assholes they are,” Roth chimed in. Instead of the handshake they were all expecting, Athon pulled Dair in for a bro hug, and Roth gave him a slap on the back. “Good to see you’re still alive, scamp.”
They made small talk for a while, the rest of the guys joining in as Jezzie stepped back and sidled up to her cousin and Leraie.
“Men are so weird and confusing,” she pondered quietly.
“Without a doubt the most puzzling gender in all the realms,” agreed Leraie.
“Which is why I try to stay away from them when I can. Yours are okay, Jezzie. Mostly cos’ they’re yours and not mine.” Tana laughed.
“The day is coming, young one,” Leraie murmured softly, “Both time and fate are set on their path, but you still have choices. Don’t make the wrong ones, for your sake, and theirs.”
“Leraie?” Jezzie asked.
“Yes, little one?”
“Will I be able to come back? Soon? At all? Will Tana and you-know-who be able to leave? I’m going to miss them terribly, you know.” The full impact of what it meant to leave hit her like a sledgehammer to the chest as rogue tears slipped past her defenses.
“Of course you can,” Leraie reassured her, pulling her in for a hug. “There is a door, the same door, in your apartment at the fortress ready for your use. She will only wake when you wish her to, and you can enter your sacred space whenever you or Nithe have need. From there you can enter here to see them both, and the princes too if you want.”
“Did I hear my name?” Nithe piped in as he joined their little huddle, his hand stroking her back in a soothing way.
Of course he’d sensed the shift in her emotions. She looked up to find the gazes of her other mates watching her solemnly. A small smile and a shake of her head had them relaxing back into their conversations.
“I was explaining to Jezzie how you both will be able to visit here if you wish. Unfortunately, the sacred space only accepts Jezzie and her familiar, in this case, you. Roth and Athon will be locked out. They will have to wait until fate and other forces conspire to free Tana, and anyone else who may need freeing before they can visit too. I mean, it won’t be long before they know more, but still . . . the stupid, dramatic plan must play out as it must,” Leraie said the last part mockingly. “Ouch!” she exclaimed, jumping as though someone had zapped her on the ass. “Yeah, yeah, sorry for insulting your grand design, oh mighty one,” she sassed to the empty space over her shoulder.
“What about our stuff?” Jezzie suddenly remembered they hadn’t packed.
“Already taken care of. You both have an identical set of all your belongings both here and in your new quarters. I hope the arrangements are to your liking. You will be sharing a four-bedroom suite with your mates. This way should you wish to sleep alone you may, should any of you wish for privacy in any configuration, you can have it. It also contains a kitchenette, living area, a reading nook, and a central bedroom with a super king-sized bed guaranteed to fit all four of you, decked out with whatever you may need. Now, it’s time to go. But before you do, come with me.”
Leraie took Jezzie’s hand and led her further away from everyone else. When they came to a stop, she held out a small compact mirror which Jezzie tentatively took with a curious look on her face.
