Dinner was...interesting to say the least. Neither Castiel nor Demina said anything, much to the surprise of both their friends. Avelyn, finally sick of the silence, cleared her throat and smiled.
"And how was your journey, my lords?"
"It was...interesting," Castiel answered. Jaxon frowned, falling silent himself.
"How so?" Demina asked.
"Well...we met a very...strange woman who runs the lifts. She seemed to be laughing at something."
He went on to tell them about the exchange at the lifts. Demi and Ava exchanged a glance before they burst out laughing. Castiel watched confused as Jaxon smiled. Cas looked around, knowing he was missing something.
"Forgive us, prince Castiel," Avelyn said, "The woman you met was princess Rissa. She is a great friend of ours who is hiding from her fiancé. Matthias is her bodyguard. Demi and I enjoy getting to find out where she decides to hide."
Castiel was intrigued. He had never met such women. Women who were loud, opinionated, independent, and completely unaffected by his charm.
"Why is she hiding? Is her fiancé an ogre?" he asked. Demi laughed again and Castiel stopped. He quite liked the sound of it.
"Far from it," she answered.
"Lady Rissa believes firmly in being pursued. She also believes in making life a little fun," Avelyn said.
"She says hello by the way."
They laughed again and Cas shook his head. These women were crazy. He glanced at Jaxon who just grinned and looked at Avelyn.
"Yes. It was a wonderful trip. We didn't run into the Mexican's gang, so that was fine," Jaxon said. But he frowned and a shadow fell across his face, his tone turning serious, "The mountain pass is all but deserted, Ava. I think...I think Drax has woken."
Castiel felt it, rather than heard it. The silence that followed that announcement was laced with fearful apprehension. Avelyn's shoulders stiffened with tension and Demina's eyes flickered with anger and pain. He wondered at it. Demina did not seem like the type of woman who let things hurt her. The fact that it hurt her bothered him. He brushed it aside. He wasn't going to go there. Especially not with her. Demi took a deep breath and stood.
"Forgive me. I don't want to be here if we are going to discuss this. I'll go see if dessert is ready. If you'll excuse me."
Demi quickly left. Avelyn wanted to follow her but knew her friend probably needed to be along. She sighed. Oh, Chase.
"Who or what is a Dra?" Castiel asked, breaking through Avelyn and Jaxons' thoughts. And why did it have Demina so upset? He wondered silently.
