Page 66 of Within the Veil

"You like? I've spelled the boots to not catch light, making this outfit completely war proof. Even the shirt can't be cut with a dagger. Of course after I ordered it from Louis Vouton I had to spell the material. But the leathers are special order," he grins.

"I will never understand how a Fae who is a terrifying sight to behold in battle can wear such ridiculous outfits," Oberon saunters into the room in his usual bedazzled cloak and looks at Ryder disapprovingly.

We are stare at him, eyebrows raised.

"What? I am the King of Jewels, my cloak is a thing of legends," he crosses his arms and hold his chin high.

"You have the nerve to judge my surpreme style while you walk around like lady glittersparkles? You need to back down before I stick this spear where the sun don't shine," Ryder scowls.

"Nonsense, the sun shines upon me at all times to highlight my supreme features to the heavens. The only reason you all shine is due to the sun's preference to caress my perfect physique with her rays," he deadpans.

Hunter strides into the room with King, Jensi and Luca on his heels, "I swear, every time I walk into a room with you in it, it's full of your ego. You make Hudson's punishments worth it."

"I will have you know...Ahh, vines are not for anal play!" Oberon shouts as a vine suddenly finds itself down his pants as Hudson waddles into the room with Xena at her side.

"You keep talking about being caressed by anything other than me and the next time the vines are going to have thorns," she walks up to him with a scowl on her perfect face.

He leans forward to wrap her in his arms, kissing her soundly. "The sun cannot bring me anywhere near as much light as being in your presence," he says with a sly smile, pulling away.

I throw my head back with laughter, everyone else following suit.

"Dear Gaia, Obi," Hudson wrinkles her nose. "You have centuries of being a King of Orgasms, the least you can do is have an arsenal of better lines."

Winking he shoots her a smile, "I have plenty of lines, but I don't need them with you. You take me as I am. I can tell you how your very smile fills me with a joy so profound that I have no idea how I have existed so long without you. Or how seeing you ripen with our children, is akin to the sweetest seduction of my most primal side. But the sun works too."

She rolls her eyes, "well the first two will you laid. The last one will get you a handjob at most."

He chuckles, "you can tell yourself that, Mate."

She shakes her head, "One day I'm going to drown in his damn ego."

At that moment, Hunter's voice comes through the bond, although, it must be only directed to the five of us, considering Hudson shows no reaction,I have spoken to King.

My eyebrows shoot up,and he is still alive?

For now.He sends us all, except Hudson, if her lack of reaction is any indication, his conversation with King from the night prior and we all resist the urge to look at eachother.

What the fuck.I resist the urge to sigh, normalcy would be nice. Just one day.

It is time you all learn of all the things I have discovered during your time away as it will be extremely important as we move forward.

Our eyebrows shoot up as we all look at Xena, who, apparently, has a new talent.

Got it. Normalcy?...Not going to happen.

* * *

Xena

* * *

I noticetheir surprise as my voice flutters through heads and I wish I could smile in this body. I attempt to move the muscles in my face but the only look I can manage is a feral one. Dogs can smile, but apparently lions do not have the same talent. It is annoying.

Before I continue, I have summoned Shea. He should be here for this conversation as well.

Shea, I didn't exactly trust him at first, but now I have proof of his loyalty. He is a good man. So, he will probably die. Good men always die. It's a sad truth. Just like Kalen.

Half a second later he appears in the room, a confused look upon his face as he looks directly at me.