Chapter Eight
The next morning…
“These are some sweet digs, I will give him that,” Dorcas said, looking around the enormous room. Treffon had tried to get Violet to stay in his actual bedroom – claiming it was “safer” – and Violet had indignantly refused, so Treffon had put her and Dorcas in the room next to his. He lived in a suite of rooms on the ground floor of an enormous castle, where many of his extended family, including Zura, also lived. The castle grounds were surrounded by lush fields and rolling hills that stretched out for miles.
The room held the biggest bed Violet had ever seen, and when she sank onto the silky coverings, it was as soft as a cloud. It beckoned thoughts of Treffon pressing her back onto it with his big body, pinning her wrists and taking her mouth with his. Fortunately, her daydreams were shattered by Dorcas bouncing up and down before jumping off the bed to go and prod at things she didn’t recognize and stick her fingers into what were probably, for all she knew, alien power sockets.
The floor was laid with smooth flagstones scattered with soft, warm furs, but the contours of the walls and ceiling were sleek and glossy. The light was cast by an invisible source, and glowed off highly polished twists of black-and-red wood. It was a bewildering combination of primitive and futuristic. Allison had come by to visit and to take charge of the Eeplings, since she was a grade school teacher.
“Yes, at least the accommodations are sweet. He’s not. What a jerk,” Violet said, sinking into a fur-draped chair.
“You got that right,” Allison grumbled.
The Eeplings were climbing all over the furniture. One of them snatched a dried flower bud from a bowl of potpourri and started chewing it.
“Aggh! Spit that out!” Violet cried.
“They’re okay,” Allison said. “I read up on them this morning when I heard I’d be taking care of them. Apparently they eat a lot of weird stuff, but they’re literally immune to poison.” She tucked a tendril of hair behind her ear, which was now pointy and tufted with fur, since she was pregnant with her mate’s cub.
Dorcas pulled a pair of knitting needles from her purse. “I’m going to knit you a special baby cap with slits for the pointy ears to poke through,” she told Allison.
Alison perked up. “Sweet! Can you make two pairs of matching booties?”
“You got it.”
Violet tried not to let herself imagine what it would be like to be expecting a baby – Treffon’s baby. To live forever in this magical place with the lilac skies and double moons, to wake up in Treffon’s muscular arms...
“So you’re happy here?” she asked Allison.
“I am incredibly happy with my pair-bond. He’s so hot. And did I mention that he has an enormous schlong?” Allison grinned wickedly.
“Eek!” Violet smacked Allison on the arm. “There are children in the room!”
“Children who do not speak or understand English,” Allison reminded her.
“How enormous?” Dorcas wanted to know. She held up her knitting needles. “Longer, shorter?”
“Well, good lord, definitely thicker,” Allison snorted.
“Aunt Dorcas!” Violet glared at her. “That isvery inappropriate!”
“What?” Dorcas looked mildly embarrassed. “I’m old, not dead. Let me live vicariously.”
“Anyway. So, Allison, you said you’re happy with your new guy. But are you happyhere?” Violet persisted.
“Nothing gets by you, does it? I’m mostly happy here, it’s just…” Allison sighed. “Treffon is very hard on everybody. I just wish the man I love – well, wolf-man I love – didn’t have to deal with his boss being a moody jerk. Not that Kroi would ever complain – he’s completely loyal,” she added quickly.
“I know what you mean.” Violet nodded sympathetically. “I wish Treffon would take a chill pill too. Not that I’ll be here for that long, most likely, but it would make everyone’s life a lot easier.”
“Did I mention that these are pretty sweet accommodations? And we have robot servants? I could get used to this.” Dorcas’ tone turned wistful.
“Stop trying to pimp me out,” Violet grumbled. “Oh, hey, Zura!” Zura stood in the doorway, tall and regal, hair wound around her head in complicated braids.
“She’s so much nicer than Treffon,” Allison murmured. “She’s still badass and she gets things done, but she isn’t a total jerk about it.”
Zura inclined her head to them. “Treffon wishes to see you,” she said to Violet.
“What if the feeling’s not mutual?” Violet muttered rebelliously, but she stood up with a sigh. She did want to see Treffon, or at least parts of her did – the parts below her bellybutton.
