Blood Betrayal

Chapter Five

By the time Daxus returned from his bath Ghanny had been dressed in a gown. The deep blue taffeta skirts and tightly laced corseted top made her look like a medieval European Queen. She liked that style better even than the Egyptian costuming she had worn until being introduced to more extravagant dresses. The Cretans style had immediately won her over with their showy designs and rich dyes.

He couldn't understand why she took such a liking to corsets. They seemed uncomfortable and gave women a ridiculous shape. Not his taste at all. A woman in loose fabric hinting at natural curves was far more appealing than a woman creating false curves by being laced up so tightly she couldn't breathe.

Perched at the edge of the bed running her fingers over her pet's bare chest she didn't look up when he entered. The boy did look in his direction.

"I hope that you enjoyed your bath," she cooed in the irksome voice she used with her pets. The idiot boy beamed and happily stretched out over Daxus's side of the bed. His attitude was becoming unacceptable.

Ignoring her he turned to the women who were both seated at the table drinking tea. "Brunhild and Ida, it is always a lovely night when I am graced by the sight of you both," he said to the women. "Have you spoken to your kin lately?" He casually wandered towards one of the large cabinets that held his clothes keeping his face turned away from them.

"Sight of us, don't be so daft. If it be true then you wouldn't be so adamant we take these forms. You keep us too busy to go on nattering with them. Why you be askin' your lordship?" Brunhild hissed back speaking the title with venom.

Daxus gave a small conceding tilt of his head. "I'm only making pleasant conversation." Retrieving a brush from one of the drawers he fixed a cordial smile over his face before turning to them.

"Pleasant now? You may be a good liar when it comes to the courts, dearie, but the gods know you can't lie to us. Fess up boy, what's this all about?" she scolded in her thick accent that seemed to wax and wane as her mood did.

He began to brush out his damp hair. "They wish to meet with me on neutral ground." His eyes settled on them as he spoke, carefully assessing what he saw in the woman's artificially aged faces.

Both women's heads snapped up. It was Brunhild who spoke. "You mean they ask to meet in the old world. Why in all the realms they be askin' that?"

Her face said it all. Unless she was a much better actress than he thought they had no idea what the Fae were up to. Brunhild was unpleasant but she spoke her mind. Ida was much more reserved but they did little separately.

"That is what it sounds like. I honestly don't know why but I will find out soon enough." He shrugged as though the news hadn't bothered him in the slightest.

With a rustle of sheets, the boy excitedly jumped up out of bed. "Take me with you," he exclaimed in a high pitched chirp. Arching a brow Daxus turned to the pesky human. The boy didn't even have the decency to shrink back when meeting his King's eyes.

"If you're going to the human world I want to go. I want to see it," he reiterated in a determined tone.

"No."

The silly human let out an exasperated scoff. "No? That's it? You can't just say no. It's my world not yours, if I want to go I can!"

Naked and flushed in zeal he was quite the sight. Ghanny always picked pretty ones. Despite his privileged place he couldn't possibly think he had the right to speak like that. Had Ghanny spoiled him so thoroughly he thought that he did? It was so rare that anyone spoke that way in his presence, let alone a mortal. Daxus chuckled lightly. The situation was too absurd.