17. Lois
Lois
The rest of the journey to the Capital was unfortunately much less exciting compared to what happened in my room that day.
Az had been busy with seeing to Lady and Puff, as well as talking to his coach and other teammates over comms. Apparently, they’d been a little annoyed that he’d ditched them to come to the Capital early with me.
Someone else who was annoyed was Zek – especially after seeing how we’d messed up my neatly folded clothes on the bed… as well as broken the headboard. I’d offered to help straighten it all out again, but he’d looked at me like my offer had offended him and his whole bloodline.
Before I’d known it, we were pulling into our final destination, and I got my first real look at the Capital as we were ferried to Az’s city apartment.
It has some of the charm of the Northern Principality, with the odd glimpse of a flowing shape – buildings that look like they’re trying to appear organic instead of industrial.
But there are a lot more clean, straight lines here compared to up north, like a kind of modernization creeping into the city, silently taking over.
When we reach Az’s building, I have to crane my neck to even try to see the top floor – even then, I can’t do it. The exterior seems to be a mix of the two architectural styles – an organic, almost Art Nouveau frame, but with sleek, shiny reflective windows.
Zek stands in front of us, some of my luggage at his sides in the elevator to Az’s penthouse here in the Capital. It’s unlike any elevator I’ve ever taken. It’s all organic shapes, ornate and flowing structures with decorative polished wood and metalwork – not a sharp straight line in sight.
I try to stay facing forward as we ascend, but I can feel Az’s stare beside me.
When I glance over at him, his face splits into that stupid smile that could charm the moon right out of the sky.
I remember him smiling at me that way when I’d agreed he could keep my panties.
I duck my chin and shake my head – not able to help how my lips start spreading into a smile, too.
The elevator dings and the doors whoosh open.
The space inside is huge, with windows making up one side of the apartment. Zek steps forward first, but then turns to silently gesture to Az with my luggage.
“Lady Lois will take the main suite,” Az supplies, directing Zek to the far side of the apartment.
Inside is dimly lit, but that seems to be a choice, as I see Az fiddle with something on his wrist comm that changes the settings on the window-wall, slowly allowing for more light to come flooding in.
The walls look clad in a dark teal blue textured wallpaper.
The furniture all matches, but, much like the building, is a mix of styles with leather, chrome, velvets, and glass.
This place screams masculine bachelor pad, though, and it’s a weird thought to think that sort of thing can transcend across planets and species.
As I slowly turn, taking in the space, I can feel Az’s gaze on me, drinking me in, here in his domain.
Turning to see him stalking over to me, my pulse starts thumping very loudly in my ears.
“So,” he rasps.
How could he make such a tiny, insignificant word sound so suggestive?
I wet my lips, loving the way his eyes follow the movement. “So.”
Clearing his throat, Az tugs out a tiny scrap of blue silk fabric from his pocket. “These are losing your scent. They’ve been useful to me during the last part of our journey, but now they could be anyone’s.”
I blink up at him. Has he been ‘using’ my panties? And in what context? Biting? Sniffing? Wrapping them around that monster in his pants and-
I shake my head and reach for his pocket. “I could take them-”
Az steps back, evading me. When I look up at him, confused, he simply says, “They are nothing but ripped scraps now.”
Jesus.
I can’t help it – I start giggling. “What did you do to those poor panties?!”
He grins. “What I needed to.”
He steps closer again, hooking a finger beneath my chin. “It is early. We have a whole day to do whatever you wish with,” he says, holding me captive with those pretty pink-flecked eyes. “What do you wish to do, Lois?”
Climb you like a fucking tree.
I swallow down those words pretty damn quickly, and my mind scrambles for some others – preferably words that are infinitely less horny.
“Where do you think I could find Glex today?”
* * *
The Temple of the Four is apparently the main place of worship for the Lords, Ladies, and any other members of the upper echelons of Xaviann society.
“From what I remember, Glex is fairly devout, though his loyalties change like the directions of the winds,” Az supplies as we walk into a vast central room flanked by four enormous sets of double doors.
Each set of doors is decorated differently, with carved depictions of flowers, vines, skies, and various scenes of Xavianns engaging in different activities.
Everything is carved from some kind of ivory stone; every now and again, other precious stones are used for a flower here, a pattern there.
It truly is a stunning piece of architecture.
“What do you mean?” I ask Az as I turn slowly, trying to take in all the beautiful craftsmanship and the meaning behind it.
Az steps closer, leaning down until his head is by my shoulder.
“I mean that he’ll worship whichever Goddess suits him best, and not stick to the one that calls to him.
We have four Goddesses,” he explains, pointing to each elaborate double door in turn, “Merri, the Goddess of joy and hedonism, Nex, the Goddess of death and peace, San, the Goddess of healing and nurturing, and the unnamed Goddess of wisdom and truth.”
I look at each door as he lists them, and then turn to face him, surprised he’s much closer than he had been before. “Why doesn’t she get a name?”
Az straightens, his mouth tipping up in a half-smile.
“I always asked that same question as a child,” he shrugs.
“She was my mother’s favored Goddess, and she couldn’t even put a name to her.
But Aunt Zalora would always say that you don’t know Truth’s name until it smacks you against the horns.
” He pauses, rubbing at one of his horns as if experiencing a phantom smack against them.
“Which is strange coming from the female who would quite literally knock sense into my brothers and I with a whack of her cane to the horns.”
We share a soft laugh before it falls away to a slightly awkward silence – a silence that’s broken by one of the huge double doors creaking open, the noise echoing in the vast cavity of the temple’s central room.
A single Xaviann steps out from behind the door depicting Nex, the Goddess of death.
He sees us, bows meekly in what seems like an apology for disturbing our peace, and then quickly walks away to the exit.
“So…” I start, whispering this time. “What was he doing in there, praying for someone’s death?”
Az shrugs, grinning. “Maybe. But Nex is also the Goddess of peace, so perhaps he’s been praying for a resolution to an argument, or a good night’s sleep.”
“Maybe I should have prayed to her instead of writing that contract the other night,” I jest, snorting softly.
Az reaches his arm up, rubbing at the back of his neck. He bites his lip as he looks at me. “I’m glad you didn’t,” he says, that charming twinkle in his eye.
I can’t help but focus on that bicep of his, flexing as he reaches back to palm his own neck. “Yeah, me too,” I agree automatically, like I’m in some kind of thirsty-girl-trance.
Because I am.
“But we also tend to be loyal to the Goddess that gifts our particular venom, so perhaps that very meek-looking Xaviann possesses the ability to kill with one bite?” he muses as I think on that for a moment or two.
An elderly female Xaviann coughs over at the other side of the room, the sound echoing around us.
“So… certain venoms are given by a particular Goddess?”
Az nods.
I look to each door, trying to remember what each Goddess represents. “So the Goddess who gave you your venom would be-”
My words cut off in a squeak as a huge, warm hand covers the lower half of my face.
Az shakes his head. “We don’t talk openly about active venoms, little Lois, remember?”
I can feel my face flush at my faux pas. Nodding my head, Az slowly releases me, his eyes dropping straight to my mouth when I can’t help but lick my lips as we stare at one another. “Why do you have to keep it a secret?” I ask, my voice low and raspy.
“Because of venom chasers,” someone supplies – a deep, masculine voice that hadn’t belonged to Az.
In an instant, Az moves like lightning. Like, seriously, that man’s reflexes are insane. Before I know what’s going on, he has me shoved at his back – a back that I see visibly relax.
“Hello, your highness,” the voice says, dripping in a warm kind of sarcasm.
“Don’t fucking call me that, Zyre,” Az laughs before a large, heavily tattooed arm appears over Az’s shoulder, doing the weird, back-slapping bro-hug thing that guys do.
“And who’s this?” the newcomer, ‘Zyre,’ asks, peering over Az’s shoulder at me.
He’s as tall as Az, but rougher around the edges.
He kind of reminds me of Zann, but less prince and more bad decisions in a dive bar.
He has golden-yellow eyes and black horns that twirl straight up like an antelope’s.
Long black hair falls over close-shaved sides, and tattoos crawl up his neck in shapes that make them look like tiger stripes.
His bottom lip is pierced with a silver loop on one side, and he even has a pierced horn.
Holy shit, this guy gives off major ‘your-daughter-calls-me-daddy’ vibes.
“This is Lois,” Az says, stepping aside to introduce me. “She is a human,” he explains. “And she’s… under my protection.”
I… I’m pretty sure there was a double meaning Az was trying to get across when he said that, but I have no time to question it before he continues.
“Lois, this is Zyre. He’s the First Drak Rider for the team here at the Capital, and is the biggest pain in my ass in the arena.”
“Lady Lois,” Zyre says, his golden gaze holding mine before he bows deeply. “Prince Az is being modest. We haven’t beaten the Northern Principality in far too long.”
Az chuckles and slaps Zyre on the arm good-naturedly. “That’s why you guys poached our Arena Master last season, huh?”
Zyre laughs but makes a point to say, “Pax’s contract was up with you guys,” he answers, shrugging and shaking his head, some of his long black hair falling forward. “Not our fault we could offer him more than his renewal.”
Az snorts. “Just tell him we miss his stupid jokes, ok?”
Zyre nods, but turns his focus onto me. “So, what brings you to The Temple of the Four?” he asks, his golden gaze falling down my frame and then back up again. “Here to pray to Merri for a little fun?”
The way he’d just said that… yeah, it was drenched in innuendo.
Az shifts on his feet. It’s a subtle move, but he manages to position himself ever so slightly in front of me – not enough to block me and be rude, but enough to feel like… like a claim.
And Zyre definitely sees it that way, too. I can tell by the way his eyes go straight to Az, and how a smile creeps across his lips at the sight.
“We were hoping to see your father, actually. I was told this is his usual time to worship.”
Zyre blinks, clearly taken aback by that, though he doesn’t press any further. “My father is in the unnamed Goddess’ chapel, praying for enlightenment on what went wrong with his latest failed experiment.”
“Ah,” Az says, ducking his head as if hearing bad news. “Poor Shreexa. Please give her my regards.”
I’m lost. What are they talking about?
“I will,” Zyre says before his eyes find me again. “But… if you’re looking for my father to ask anything of him, I’m sure you can appreciate now is not the time.”
“Of course.”
Has someone died? What’s going on?
“When-”
“Come play some warm-ups with the Capital team soon, your highness,” Zyre says, tipping his head back, looking at Az through half-lidded eyes and a crooked smile.
“Father has promised to be in the Lords’ Gallery viewing box at some point, and you don’t want to get rusty while you’re protecting this lovely little human.
” He smiles at me, showing the smallest hint of fang before he bows and starts walking backward.
“The rest of your team aren’t getting here for a few more weeks.
Should be a good excuse to come play in a decent arena and with a superior team. ”
“Oh, fuck off, Zyre,” Az says, his tone full of amusement and only a hint of annoyance.
Zyre continues walking backward, only turning to stride out of the temple after flashing a wide grin, his tongue tip touching his right fang as he… winks at me.
“Prick,” Az mutters beside me, his arms folded over his massive chest as he watches his professional opponent leave.
Oh… shall I poke the bear?
“Well, I liked him,” I say in a chipper tone, turning in the opposite direction to start walking toward one of the individual Goddess chapels. My steps are punctuated by the echoing clip-clop of my shoes on polished marble.
The bear in question falls very quickly in step with me, positively poked as he starts blustering. “What do you mean, you ‘liked him’? Him?! Zyre is… Zyre’s…”
I get to one set of huge double doors and put my hand on the ornate carved handle before turning to face Az. “Charming,” I supply. “I think the word you’re looking for is charming,” I say, grinning as I open the chapel door and gasp at the beautiful sight inside.