Page 44 of When Shadows Dream: Shadow Hounds

It took a few moments for the stunned expressions of the others to register. Nithe was completely absorbed in the beauty of his Jez as she danced and sang “I Could Have Danced All Night” from My Fair Lady with pure joy. The others were frozen, like deer in headlights, as if they’d never seen a woman behave in such a way. Considering how long they’d been away from their realms it was entirely possible they never had.

Soon enough the scent of roasted meat and vegetables filled the air, making his mouth water and his head turn toward an open door to the right of the central staircase.

“Looks like dinner’s up, guys. Let’s get these two fed, questioned, and into bed. We have less than twenty-five minutes before the game starts, and I, for one, refuse to miss it for these two uninvited guests.”

“You really are an ungracious host, aren’t you, Shaggy?” Jez chimed in.

“Who are you calling shaggy, Red?”

“Well, I’d say grumpy, but that’s already taken,” she replied, pointing at the one who’d walked through her barrier with such ease. He looked mildly amused at the nickname. “Maybe I should change it to dumbass. Would that be better?” Sweetness dripped from Jezzie’s voice with saccharine sarcasm.

“The name’s Grimm. I won’t fucking respond to any of your damn nicknames.” He stomped off in the direction of the mouthwatering scents.

“Don’t mind him,” Novarian bumped Jezzie’s shoulder, “He’s just got his knickers in a knot ‘cos he hasn’t been laid in, like, ten years. Not that it’s an excuse. Neither have I, and yet, I’m so far removed from assholedom I resemble cotton-frickin-candy.”

The fairy burst out laughing, clutching his stomach as though he’d told the best joke ever. The groans from the others indicated they were used to his particular level of weirdness. Jezzie just looped her arm through his, and nodded sagely as she allowed him to escort her to what turned out to be a big-ass formal dining room that could easily seat over a hundred guests. Though, only the first few places closest to them had been set. Enough food to feed an army was laid out before them.

They were escorted to a seat on either side of the table, opposite each other. Nithe felt his skin itch at the distance between them, until he felt a sensation slither over his thigh, and almost choked on his own breath. Looking down he discovered a tendril of red shadows caressing him very close to his groin.

“Food first, questions later. Eat. Quickly,” Thad stated like a general to his soldiers.

Nithe looked at the food longingly. Afraid to risk it. Scared of what could be in it, what could be done to him, to Jezzie, if he was wrong about Balthazar, about the princes. He noticed Jezzie looking at the food, her gaze slowly raked over each dish and glass before her eyes met his, and she smiled gently.

“It’s okay, Nithe, nothing’s tainted. Although, personally I’ll be avoiding the gorgon pie, I’m not very fond of eating dead snakes cut from their own heads. But each to their own, I guess.”

“We never actually request it. They just keep hoping we’ll slip up one day, and they can enslave us that way. Their particular power doesn’t work inside the palace walls, and they are bound in service to this place. Their only way out is for us to pardon them. Considering their crimes, we’ve been strongly advised not to.” The quiet, unknown male next to him spoke in such a way that power threaded through each syllable like a death knell.

“Not that I think you are lying, Jez, but how can you know? Raum could hide scents, even from my superior smell,” Nithe hurried to explain.

“It’s partly something I was born with, some part of my DNA, but I was also blessed to be raised by an amazing witch who helped me hone my ability. Not only do I recognize the scents of drugs and poisons, I can also see them. The faint aura of evil permeates them naturally, no matter the intent with which they will be used.”

He needed no further convincing. As he watched her tuck into her food with gusto, he did the same. He, too, avoided the gorgon pie. What a disgusting delicacy, he thought.

“Well, since I’m apparently the impatient one around here.” The tall, lean, muscled man beside him chuckled, the one with the long ginger hair, and soft, light green eyes. Nithe was taken aback by the venom that dripped from his voice.

“Ignore Alasdair. As hard as it may be to believe, that’s actually his friendly voice. Manticores aren’t known for their sweetness, but Dair here is the sweetest little manticore I ever did meet.” Seriously, the fairy must have a fucking death wish.

Manticores were rare, like, extremely so. They were also one of the most deadly species in all the realms. The ultimate assassins, the best mercenaries. You didn’t fuck over a Manti, if you did, you wouldn’t live long enough to reap any kind of reward for it. Except an instant death sentence.

Nithe held his breath and waited for the fairy slaughter, but instead his mouth dropped open as Alasdair blew the fairy a kiss. Novarian saw his response and winked, catching the kiss and bringing his hand to his heart as though slain with a dagger. The theatrics of it all had Jezzie practically giddy. She bounced in her seat and giggled as she clapped her hands at the performance.

“Okay, ask away, boys . . . as long as I get cake and coffee first, I’ll answer as best I can.”

At Jezzie’s words two particularly well-endowed gorgons with shimmering gray skin slithered in holding trays filled with decadent looking chocolate cake covered in thick icing, cream, and strawberries, plus a steaming pot of coffee, milk, and sugar to fill the cups already in front of them. Nithe saw Jezzie wipe drool from the corner of her mouth, not even trying to hide it as her eyes followed the trays with a predatory intensity. In that moment he’d never wished to be a piece of cake more.

Jezzie, for some unknown reason, felt at ease with these men. No, she wasn’t attracted to them, they literally did absolutely nothing for her in that regard, despite each of them being exceptionally handsome in their own unique ways. No, it was something else, some indistinguishable trait she couldn’t quite put her finger on.

They’d fired off questions one after the other until her head spun and she couldn’t keep track. Only her ear-piercing whistle had brought them to silence and allowed her to recount the events of her life in the last eight years. She left a lot out after Nithe started growling at the mention of her interlude with Ballzy. He settled down at her reassurance it’d meant nothing, that Ballzy wasn’t of any interest to her in that way. Her shadows stroking over his trouser-clad cock hadn’t hurt either. It was odd, they’d never been interested in sex before, never sought to play, plus she’d never been with anyone in the know before, to the best of her knowledge anyway.

At some point one of the snarky gorgon maids slipped a note to the quiet one who’d invaded her shield out on the ledge. He sat at the head of the table watching her face as she spoke.

When she fell quiet, Nithe filled the silence. She could feel his torment, his pain, his anger at his banishment. There was so much he left unsaid. Jezzie’s arms longed to comfort him, her shadows squeezed his thigh in response. He spoke about being recruited by some asshole angel named Esidriel, his orders, and his capture by Raum. His voice trailed off into a whimper before he shook his head and skipped over the details of his time in Raum’s company to how he met Jezzie, and how Ballzy ultimately sent them to Nestradia.

“As he pushed us through the portal into this place he said, “Go! Take her to the princes, and the princes will take you to he who is hidden.” Whoever he is, he didn’t elaborate,” Nithe finished, and he too fell silent.

The four princes flanking both Nithe and her all looked toward the head of the table, various expressions of skepticism apparent on their faces.

“Theus? What say you? Do they speak truthfully, or do we toss them back through the gates to meet a wretched fate.”

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