Chapter 168

Harmony

We’d ordered pizza, and it’d just arrived.

“That’ll be 25.50.” Said Lord Redclaw’s youngest adult son, Dan. The little drake was still nervous, even though we did this every Friday.

But THIS Friday, *I’m* not Settling!

I gave him a fifty, and he left with the tip. Two plates, soda in a glass, and three slices appeared with magic on my desk. I happily ate my first slice, and Xaxas sat across from me.

“I’m so fucking glad the Chief approved my 3 days off to be the weekend!” he added pepper flakes, oregano, thyme, and garlic powder.

“If he didn’t, you’d find a way to come help me anyway.” I beamed. I work in the office, so I leave at 5, but if they get overworked, I will make my way to the kitchens and help the humans.

The girls don’t really like Urth, choosing to be with their mates and Xaxas’s puppet to judge. Nobody makes them; it’s what they want to do. 

I gave the staff’s pizza to them, while me and Xaxas was absolutely elated. Pizza day was …. Cheekily invented for him. He’s been so busy with me all week; so every Friday at 4:30, we get the 2 for $20 Big Czar’s pizza and Peppin C.

He looked so excited, picking it up off his plate, and taking a big bite. I got extra cheese this time.

“I don’t want it.” he put the slice on my plate, and snorted ash.

“It’s JUST OLIVES!” I yelled.

“It’s Nasty Little Black Circles that Don’t Belong on Pizza.” He complained. “You hurt my food feelings. I don’t want it.”

“Wha-”

“Asanguis come see this shit!” he yelled, and Asanguis appeared. “Look what she did again!”

“Awe Ew, who put *Circles* on Pizza. They look like little Kusares.”

“Or bugs in general.” Huffed Xaxas… 

“oh They Do Not!”

“They Do!” they both complained. 

{….**RAH**….}

“That doesn’t sound like Calaxious.” Said Xaxas.

“That’s Zai.” Said Asanguis. 

I was already using my magic to get to my son… He stood there in solid black robes outside Time’s cottage with a bowl of ice cream in one hand, and tea in the other. He was pretty much done in 4 bites and one gulp, teleporting the washed dishes to the drying towel.

He wasn’t my little boy anymore. I knew that when he left so suddenly that he’d come back a man. And I can’t lie…. I’d seen him in the video calls, but it was nothing like seeing him in person….

Zai *looked* like he eats planets…. Especially with the well-trimmed beard, glowing red teardrop earing, and passive glare that reminded me of Bryson.

He stood with Arviel and Zuviel, chatting, but as equals…. Because I could tell that he was. I could scent it.

He looked about 30, sporting a beard and the same gaze as Calaxious… He scented like him too. Of course, that wouldn’t stop me from hugging my son. 

“You’ve grown so big!” I beamed. He smelled like a late night campfire under the moon.  He picked me up and spun me around. His hug felt ominous, but he is my son… As selfish as it is, I wished he’d still have a place here.

They removed his throne the day he left, giving Asanguis’s daughter Nezza godhood. His son is a Herald, and his daughter is mated to one, but I think they ultimately did that to ensure that 3 in the bloodline were gods, And available.

“Nah mom, you were always small.” He grinned putting me down. “I see you teleported all on your own.”

“I did. I’m still not all that great though.” I admitted… teleportation is Hard. I usually end up inside the wall, or a chair when I try to aim for indoors.

“No Fair!” Said Xaxas, he had Bryson, Asanguis, their mates, and my parents with him.

“It is.” Sang Asanguis. “

“Hey dad.” Said Zairiel. He was the same height as the Horned One now. He still respectfully pressed his horns to his father, and I assume they exchanged memories. 

“Hey son. Are you going to be here a while?” He asked. He’d never admit he missed him, but we all did. The calls every few years was nice, but it’s nothing like having him home, if only for a little bit.

“I’ll leave after grandpa gives me his blessing.” He said proudly.

“And you’re not getting it until that flesh stabilizes.” Said Time. I could tell there wasn’t any compromise in those words.

“Grandfather… that won’t take too long though right?” he asked respectively… I wondered why my son didn’t behave…. Like how demons do with my mate, but I assume Calaxious doesn’t want that.

I assume he doesn’t want my son to call him  ‘master’ and bow to him… He does not want their relationship to be King and Servant, but grandfather and grandson…. Meaning he likely intends on making him his second, so there is never another Narru incident again.

“No, only a year. She holds my direct protection until your fight with Narru is over.”

That was a warning… as if my son can still lose and I didn’t like that, but I wouldn’t get in the way. He’s trained out there all his own. I have to trust he can take care of himself.

“Do I smell pizza?” Asked my son.

“Hey, I smell it too.” Said Time.

I closed my eyes, and I could kind of see all of it on my desk…. With magic I managed to actually bring it here With all the uneaten ones on the plate.

“It has olives.” I warned.

“I Love olives.” Zai beamed, eating with me and his sisters… who also don’t like olives but they ate with us for solidarity’s sake…. You’d swear I put poison on it with how delicately Xaxas peeled them off with a claw and gave them to me like I wanted them…..

\-----Xethia----

I wore the ballgown, and my eldest brother, Icecrown, was my escort in a solid white suit, and matching blue tie. With a chaperone so important, my father’s general captain, I assumed that people would avoid me.

“You look wonderful sister.” He beamed happily, handing me wine.

“Father said I couldn’t have any.” I said looking at it.

“Yeah, well, you’re legal age.” He said arching his eyes up with a sassy snort. They did a full circle.

What was that?

Why do I want to learn it?

He glared me in the eyes with his purple ones. We do look a bit like twins, however, his scales are platinum. “I can’t hear you either. That’s good.” He mumbled. “I assume you also know many Lords are here as well, most notably The Great Star Dragon.”

“Lord Narru?!” I whisper yelled. I’d heard rumors of him, and I’d *just* miss his passing… but he was the talk of the castle.

“Shh!” He pointed to the man with stars that twinkled on void black hair.

The …50 year old man looked at me? I wasn’t *good* with ages, but he looked like an older human.

My eyes met his green ones.

I blinked and he was in front of me. My brother had no choice but to bow his head.

“And who might *you* be?” He asked with his head tilted slightly. “I’ve not met you before little one.”

“Xethia sir.” I gave a curtsy.

**He is not a good person.**

I’d never had such a revolting shudder of instincts like that. It almost didn’t even sound like my own thought…

**Do not let him take you anywhere.**

“And how long have you had a *red* thread?” He asked. “Did you know that means you have a beloved?”

**Lie.**

“I noticed it a while ago, but I’m not exactly sure when sire.” I said truthfully…. “I didn’t have it when I was little.”

Why was that detail important?.... Why did I blurt it out like that?

“And you’re only 5 or 6ish thousand by scent.” He looked like he was examining my soul. Was I in trouble?

He was looking for something.

I thought of the sea shanty my 101st sister taught me. It was a little lewd.

/What do you do with a drunken lady?

What do you do with a drunken laddy?

What do you do with a drunken doggy?

Early in the morning?/

“Huh?” He asked. “I’d not heard that song.”

/Roll roll roll them over!

Into the great wide Dover!

Roll roll roll them over!

Into the Dover River!!/

“Sorry… I sing it when I’m nervous.” I said honestly.

“Well it’s.. certainly… colorful.” He said looking pretty disappointed, offended, and he left to flirt with someone else.

“That was madness!” Said my brother. “Why don’t you want to be courted by a master?!” he whisper yelled.

“Because with *him* I’m just another prize to bed… with my *mate*, he is my love eternal. You have a mate!” I whisper yelled back, even daring to slap his suit. “You know how I feel!”