The Shadress (MCD x Reader)

Ch. 19- Suspicious Behavior

"Do you know who I am?"

I could hear the voice far before I could see him. If it wasn't for the fact that Laurence was at the outer gate today, I would have been worried for the poor soul guarding it. I step out of my back garden, staff in hand, and march my way over to the nearby gate.

The wind was minimal today, nothing strong enough to push the sail of a boat, but it whips my hair in every direction anyway. I'm grateful for my morning spar, during which I tied most of my hair into a bun to keep it out of my face. Elio shines brighter as I get closer and closer to my brother.

I squint as his blond head of hair looks like it's glowing with the amount of light reflecting off of it. A glare sits on his face as he studies Laurence, who stands in front of the other with a hand on the hilt of his emerald sword; each of them on one respective side of the gate.

"I do. But I also know-" Laurence pauses as I step beside him, "-that your sister will be here any minute." He gives me a half-smirk, something akin to a tease. The orange ears and tail flick as I barely squint.

Choosing to ignore the lighter air we have with each other, I shove the pointed end of my staff into the dirt. I cross my left arm behind my back and then address the insufferable man across from me. "Brother. You come on behalf of the High Priest, yes?" Anger seeps into my words at the thought of why he could be here. Many reasons come to mind and not a single one of them is pleasant in any way.

"You call me brother like an insult and yet you are the one to have read the stars to name me." His statement holds the superiority that it held the last time we had a conversation like this. Taking a closer look, I note that his clothes are very similar to mine, as though he was just training. "Won't dignify me with my name?" Familiar.

"Dick." I spit. "Get on with why you're here."

He turns the glare to me, finally looking me in the eye. "Very mature."

From the corner of my eye, I see Laurence tilt his head at me with a raised eyebrow. The look is questioning, wanting to know what I said, but I keep my attention on the younger brat in front of me. "I would call you something nicer, but I'm afraid our last conversation shot down any attempt at that idea."

"You don't..." He sighs, stopping mid-sentence.

I cross my arms. "Don't what? Don't understand?" My tone is mocking, downright cruel.

"Yes. You don't get why I did this."

"Brother. You are a threat to my lady." I point the intricately carved top of my staff at him. He blinks and takes a deep breath. "Leave."

"Sister..."

"Leave," I reiterate as the man remains where he was.

He switches back to English as my companion begins to look more perplexed. "Do you understand what I am risking by being here?" His voice drops despite me finding no other auras around. Jace continues after a moment. "My life is at stake for simply talking with you right now. I'm not here on orders; I'm here because I have abandoned my post. I no longer work for the High Priest."

The shock washes over me with the words. Laurence makes a noise of surprise, but remains silent other than that. "What?"

"Switch." Jace reminds me.

I glare at him. "Shut up." I don't really want to let Laurence hear of this.

"Sure." The blond rolls his eyes. With a cross of his arms, he steers our conversation back on track. "I left because of the things that he is planning. I don't like them."