Still feeling that disturbance in the earth, as if warning me something was off, my pointy tipped ears swiveled. Da’s flat, folded over ears, almost like odd flopping things on a dog, cocked as well. “Caught him, you said?” I grunted out, to an insulted chuff from my sire.
“Said I did, dinna I?” Irritation threaded his words.
Nodding, I dropped it, but my eyes remained narrowed.
With a jerk of his chin, Da turned and wandered back into the brush, popping back up moments later with a trussed up Other, a half shifted Berserker, his upper half still covered in smoky grey bald patches, teeth long and sharp, not quite fangs. Trying to snarl through the gag, nostrils steaming, eyes a fiery orange red, Da snorted at him. Dragging him with one hand, he reached out with the other to jerk on a hellish ear until a very canine like yip rent the air. “Quite snarlin’ at me boy, then, mutt.” Da bared his teeth and snapped them at the trespasser. Magicks sparked off his runes.
Walking over to me, he dumped his burden at my feet. The runes that cover Da’s body lit right up. Ancient magicks sparked and crackled the air, that’s how strong Ornthren magick was in this realm. It was Other to Other magicks. I’ve yet to see the likes outside of a dragon that could compare. I had a feeling dragons were not of this world either.
It laid testament to just what a significance my Queen draining me until I weakened was. She was my strength and my very weakness all bundled into one.
“Be leavin’ ye to ‘im. Say sic the mutt on the Dhamphir. They dinna be gettin’ ‘long. Useful to a hellish dog, I be thinkin’, tha’s what ye mum be sayin’,” he muttered. Turning to amble off, he grumbled over his shoulder, “I hope you know what you’re doing, boy.”
A huge grin spread across my face. “I know what I’m about. And, Da? Love you too, ye dried out relic.”
Da just grunted, his chuff half a laugh, and turned to walk off. At the last moment, he dipped into a crouch, his hand flattening to the ground, and I felt the charge he sent my way. My heart instantly warmed. Hah. He may not know how to spit out the actual words, the male was too hard for that, an unfortunate side effect of his upbringing—me grand no sweet bit of sunshine like my Queen or ma— but he knew how to show it, like he’d done popping up tonight sensing my distress. I’d never not known of my parents’ love, not once questioned it, despite Da’s lack of outward shows of affection and hard shell.
He’d all but begged Mum to soften me up. Sounds funny to hear it, but he didn’t want a hard ass for a babe. He relished affection but couldn’t admit it, didn’t know the first thing about asking for it.
Standing there watching him take his leave, I waited until Da’s wide back was no longer visible to focus on the interloper.
“An’ what ‘ave we ‘ere?” I mock sneered in a mimic of Da’s voice.
“Heard that, ya ball sac run off, loose lipped bastard!” Da shouted suddenly.
Fully expecting it, I threw my head back and laughed.
Once I’d gotten a hold of myself, I returned my focus to the interloper on my lands. Eyeing him as he began to squirm in his ties, the ropes smoking as his skin started to steam, he could wriggle all he liked but he wasn’t going anywhere.
“Be magicked,” I informed him. “By Da hisself. No breaking Ornthren magicks, hell doggy,” I told him, just to watch him stiffen, eyes narrowing, and glare.
Crouching, I reached out, ignoring his flinch as my hand came towards his face, and flicked the cloth gag in his mouth. Unwilling to outright grimace in sympathy at my old man’s dirty drawers stuffed into his gob, though it was downright hilarious, if disgusting. “I’m going to remove this,” my hand shot to his mouth, lightning quick, just to watch him jerk, naughty thing that I be, and I leaned over him, “then you and I are going to have us a little chat, eh?” Da’s plan was not without merit.
The second I had the gag removed, he started to choke and gasp. Couldn’t blame the lad. Ball sweat and magicks, and who knew what else was on those ripe underbritches, I’d be burning them later. Wasn’t going to dwell on that.
Once the worst of his dry heaving was over, he lifted his head and bared his teeth, nostrils steaming mightily. He was more Human looking now, if he did stink of sulfur. “What do you want, bridge dweller?” His voice was a gravelly rumble.
“S’pose I should be asking you that, no?” I pointed out. “Trespassed on what’s fair and mine.” We stared for long moments, until the hound was forced to concede and finally look away. He knew who was the Alpha in this scenario. “Wish to tell me what you are doing here, hell doggy man?” I crooned down at him, a hint of sarcasm lacing my tone. When he didn’t answer, glaring at me with teeth bared, I shrugged and went to shove the gag back in his mouth.
“Wait,” he croaked, his voice almost squeaking, “not that! Anything but that!”
“Oh?” I paused, eyes widening innocently as I stared down at him. “You wish to talk, hell doggy man?”
“Yes! Yes,” he burst out, swallowing thickly, “just… no more foul shit in my mouth. I’ll talk.” His large frame slumped, pressing into the mud, and he closed his eyes. His skin steamed with smoke, sizzling as it fell to the cool earth. The male looked exhausted. “I’ll talk. Hades take me, I’ll fucking talk.”
“Alright then.” Standing, grabbing at his roped hands, I began to drag him towards my cottage. “A name, hell doggy?” I asked casually, like he wasn’t hogtied and getting muddied and scraped up as I toted him along.
“Rez,” he gritted out, teeth clenched, his entire body giving off so much steam I worried for my floors. He might melt them. My Queen couldn’t come home to that. Her eyes had gleamed with appreciation at her new lodgings. I couldn't have her coming back to it changed.
“Aren’t you going to untie me?” he burst out, when I stopped before the top steps and allowed him to drop.
“No,” I said simply.
Wriggling like a worm, he worked his large frame until he was facing me. Mud coated more of his shorter but no less thick build.
Standing over him on the top step, my earthen cover no longer offering me some form of modesty, I waited. Lesson number one from my Ornthren father: Never take no for an answer. Lesson two: Making everyone else uncomfortable makes you comfortable. I found this very true, especially now.
The Hellhound’s gaze froze at my waist and he grimaced. “Dude, look, I’ll level with you.” His eyes never left what was rightfully my Queen’s. I was not ashamed of my blessings in the least, but more than a few have been alarmed by my size.
