“Uh... Wow, okay.” Lephas nodded with surprise. “Well, I hope he's been well behaved.”
The girl nodded “Impeccably. He's very intelligent - much more than I think you give him credit for sometimes.”
Karn sighed heavily, as if in agreement.
Lephas cocked an eyebrow at him. Of all people, he hadn't expected his wolf to go around bad-mouthing him.
“Tea, for those who want it,” Magna called out. Oriel was carrying a tray with seven simple china teacups, a small milk jug and a pot with sugar cubes on it. The old demon followed behind the prince, holding a teapot.
Everyone shuffled forwards eagerly awaiting a warm drink, Raxx included, which surprised the commander. The shadow demon rarely felt the cold He tended to keep himself incorporeal as often as he could to avoid it.
Lephas got to his feet and petted Karn one last time before shuffling past Magna and Oriel, who were setting out the tea on the small wooden table in the middle of the room.
Lori caught his eye immediately and her face brightened as he made his way towards her. He sat down heavily beside her on the chair and sank back into its soft cushions. The princess hesitated for a moment, but when he stretched his arm out invitingly over the back of the chair she hurriedly shifted closer to curl into him and tucked her legs up underneath her. The commander brought his arm down around her and she rested her head on his chest.
He sighed heavily. Nothing had ever felt quite so good. Though he was still hungry and tired from the arduous trek, he was finally warming up and had Lori tucked against him once more.
Indi busied around, handing out the cups of tea as Magna poured them. She handed a cup to Lori with a kind smile. The princess took it eagerly and wrapped her hands around it for warmth.
“Milk and sugar?” Lephas asked her, sitting forwards to reach for the tray. It was a trivial question, but he realised how little he actually knew about Lori. It boggled his mind that he felt so strongly for her and yet didn't even know simple things, like how she drank her tea.
“Both, please. Three sugars.” She nodded.
“Three?” Lephas looked at her, surprised. He had learnt the first of many inconsequential things. His faerie had a sweet tooth.
He obediently gathered three sugar cubes with a smile and brought the milk jug to her. Lori took the cubes and gently dropped them into the tea before holding out her cup. He poured the milk slowly until she gestured that she was satisfied.
The faerie curled back into the chair and took a tentative sip.
Lephas quickly sorted his own tea – dark, with only one sugar – before sitting back.
“What a day,” Magna sighed and settled herself down into an old armchair across from them. Indi sat on the floor beside her. Karn lay down to rest his chin in her lap.
Traitor.Lephas smiled to himself, sipping his tea.
“You can say that again,” Oriel muttered, leaning against the back of her chair and casting his eyes warily over the two faeries. His gaze faltered for a moment as he noticed Lori beside Lephas, but the prince uncharacteristically chose to keep his mouth shut.
Everyone sipped their tea in comfortable silence for a few long moments.
“You're all welcome to stay here as long as you need. I haven't yet given much thought to dinner, but we have plenty to go around. Do you girls eat meat?” Magna addressed the princesses.
They both nodded shyly.
“I'm afraid I know very little of your culture. Please, do let me know if there's anything I can do to make you more comfortable here.” The kind old demon smiled. Oriel's expression darkened, clearly disapproving of Magna's kindness, but yet again he said nothing.
“If you don't mind sharing a bed with one another, you're welcome to mine tonight.” Indi said.
“We couldn't.” Lori protested. “Where would you sleep?”
Indi glanced up at Oriel briefly. The prince turned away, but not before Lephas saw him grinning into his cup.
Surely not...
“I'll get my camping equipment out. If you don't mind me imposing, I'm more than happy to sleep on the floor in a camp bed.” The faerie smiled with a slight blush tingeing her cheeks.
“We couldn't ask you to do that,” Lori argued.
“Nonsense. You two need to rest, you look exhausted,” Indi said, holding a hand up decisively. “I won't take no for an answer.”
