“My homecloud is famous for its chicken, rabbit, and goat farms.”He handed me the last slice of mango.“I can take you to an animal farm, if you wish.”
“Yes!”I didn’t know when that could happen, but the very idea of hugging a goat had me raising my hands in excitement.Sweet drops from the mango in my hand landed on the sheet I was wrapped in.“Oops, sorry.”
He said nothing.He was too busy staring hungrily at the several drops sliding down my cleavage.
“Xan?”
He was at my breasts before I could finish, licking and sucking the drops off my skin.
My breath caught and I nearly dropped my mango.By the time Xaniban was done with me, I was no longer interested in the fruit but in what he himself could offer.
I moved to capture his lips, but he pulled away with a deep sigh.“Forgive me, I started something I cannot finish.”There was longing in both his tone and gaze.“The sun is rising, and my warriors will be waiting for me.”
Fuck!I was so wrapped up in our wholesome morning that I forgot.“The attack!What happened?Did your warriors vote for plan A or B?”
His expression grew serious.“The battle awaits.Enough volunteers responded to Ris’ call last night.”Then he added with determination, “We are ready to face our flesh-eating enemy.”
“That’s great.”Hopefully.Xaniban and his soldiers would be heading into who knew what danger, all based on my info.What if it was another trap?What if Zombie 007 was there but guarded by hundreds of undead?Fear for Xaniban seized me.“How many warriors volunteered?”
He guided my hand with the mango to my lips, but I shookmy head.Eating was out of the question.I had postponed my return to reality for too long, and now it was back with a vengeance.
Xaniban brought my hand to his mouth and ate the last bite of fruit, then licked my fingertips clean.
“Xan, stop trying to distract me.We have to talk about the battle and what’s next.”
“Come.”He got us to our feet and extended a hand to me.
Confused, I placed my palm in his and let him guide me further into the room, bedsheet and all.Sometime during last night’s joint bath, Samuin had taken my dirty clothes away, so it wasn’t like I had something to wear.
Wait, that hadn’t been there yesterday!No way could I have missed all those sparkles.Samuin must have brought it along with the breakfast tray.
Laid out on the chaise was a new creation of Gargoylish fashion: yet another daring two-piece outfit but in the same golden color as Xaniban’s loincloth.Countless little gems were sewn onto the fishnet, shining like diamonds in the sunlight.
Xaniban led me to the chaise.“You were right to refuse the blue robe,anima,” he said with pride in his tone.“You were made to wear the robe of a queen.”
“I–I…” I didn’t know what to say.After a single night with me, Xaniban already expected me to be with him foreverandrule at his side.Talk about a guy moving too fast.
He tail-patted my behind.“Go on.Put it on.”
“Xan, I…”
“You don’t like it.More diamonds can be added.Moon crystals, too.”
“Diamonds?” I took another look at the sparkly outfit.There had to be over 50 gems sewn onto it.So many, in fact, that the golden fishnet might actually provide full nipple coverage.
“You don’t want them?I shall have them replaced immediately with precious stones of your choosing.Name them, and they shall beyours.”
“Xan.”I turned to face him.“The robe is gorgeous as is, but… This is not the right time to talk about clothing.Or queen stuff.”
“I wish to see you in the robe before I leave.”His tone grew serious.“This could be my last chance to see you wearing my color.And if I fall, your queenly attire will let everyone know what you meant to me.This palace will remain your home, regardless of who takes my place.”
“You arenotgoing to fall.”My words sounded like a threat, and maybe they were.He should not be talking about dying.I placed my hands on his chest.“I’m sorry, but this palace is not my home.I have a community on the ground, without whom I wouldn’t have survived.I owe them my help, and if you return me to them or assist us–”
“No.”His entire body tensed and his tail curled then uncurled behind him.
My heart clenched, and I pulled my hands away from him.“You won’t help us?”
“I will not return you to the ground,” Xaniban said, voice low and unyielding.His wings unfolded on either side of me, as if to shield me from an invisible threat.“You belong here,anima.This is where your soul was born and where it lived before the Gods cast it out.You are among your kind and you shall remain one of them, with or without me in this world.Do you wish me to fall?”
