7. Arrival

The snow was stopping, just a few light flurries. However for a moment the swirl of harsh wind and the beat of wings made the flurries seem more for a moment. Ky stood in just a pair of pants and crossed his arms, his eyes black. He met Xev’s gaze as he landed on the balcony in a humanoid form. Though his ears were more pointed. He was tall in this form, muscular with mocha colored skin. His eyes though were bright.

“Later than I expected, you could have announced yourself sooner. I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t just drop where I prefer to sleep.” Xev shrugged his shoulders.

“I don’t want others to know of my presence until I’m ready. Besides, I have taken half my horde that came to this High Valley as you call it. Two will leave tomorrow to scout the dead mountains. I forget what you call them here.” Ky just gave a nod and glanced back at the closed door. Adele was watching from where she sat on the bed listening. Xev glanced that way.

“Thank you, I appreciate you being proactive.” Also why he was later than the hour he said. Xev shrugged.

“Another horde has joined Kaves. We don’t agree with their practices and if Kaves spreads… it will be a fool's dream to think that mates would be easier to find then. Not with so much death.” Ky agreed with that.

“How many are here with you? Did you find the caves below the keep well enough?” Ky asked. Xev’s gaze glanced toward Adele and then back to Ky. Ky’s stance was fierce though. Xev had to say he liked this werewolf. Tolerating another alpha male near his pregnant female was no small thing. Especially where they rested and Xev knew he was pushing a line a bit. However he also needed to see how easy it was to get under Ky’s skin. If he was an explosive personality or not. It had been a long time since he’d spoken with him. He did respect him for how he killed his own father to save his pack.

“Currently four others are below your keep but will leave in the morning to station and watch where you think it’s needed. My brother is with those at the valley. He will watch them. They will stay out of the way and observe, only move among the rest in humanoid form so they do not know dragons have come. The caves are indeed nice, there is good heat and earth magic there.” Ky nodded.

“I’m assuming you didn’t want to wait until morning more because you wish to know about your mate and if we found her.” Xev could not deny that was the main reason why. Plus to test Ky, which the look in Ky’s gaze said he knew that too. He was just not mentioning it.

“A large reason yes. I must admit how hard it was to stay away this long and not search. However after I left, judging by your female’s reaction she knew something.” Ky uncrossed his arms and let out a short breath. The steam floating upward. He wasn’t feeling the cold yet, but soon would.

“She knew who she was the moment she saw her face. She is here, and has agreed to meet you.” Xev had never felt his heart hit his throat the way it did at this news. They knew her? She was here? He didn’t have to search? Thank the earth goddess and sky god. However Ky looked odd.

“I suggest you wait until morning. She is most likely resting, and your mate comes with some complications. She is a high born elf, and she has suitors.” Ky watched Xev figuring it best to let him digest this for the night. He really hoped that he didn't rampage seeing her main suitor was here too. Though Ky knew he couldn’t blame him either. Ky wasn’t controllable where Adele was concerned either.

“I would have been shocked if she did not have suitors seeing we are not the same race.” Though there was a darkness to his eyes. “Her name?”

“Aqualia, she is here. I promise you that. Can I have your word to wait until morning to seek her out?” Xev shrugged.

“I do not see a reason to deny her rest. However I will expect to meet her come sunrise. Anyone thinks to stop this meeting your castle might not fare well Ky.” Xev warned. Ky shrugged.

“No one will, no one else knows but a select few that she is your mate. That dragons have even arrived.” That was good to know. Xev’s kind might be powerful and hard to kill but they were still valuable magical creatures. Other races had clearly hunted them for this reason alone. Cutting up a dragon into parts was worth more to certain beings than having them whole and alive.

“I also have a few tasks, a few attacks I’d like to stage myself.” Xev gave a nod.

“Are the caves fully ours to use?” Xev asked and Ky nodded.

“For the most part. However there are a few areas for personal use that my pack has along with a training area in one of the caverns down there. We use it in winter to train some of the humans that can’t handle the weather. So be aware of that.” Xev gave a nod.

“Then I will leave you to rest.” Xev turned but then stopped and looked back at Ky.

“How negative was her reaction to finding out?” He figured he should know the kind of greeting he was going to receive in the morning.

“Honestly she took it rather well. However I don’t think that she believes it. Though you might have more work cut out for you than you think. We can no longer kidnap maidens and take them off into the woods for ungodly things Xev.” Xev felt a sudden laugh, it was deep and rumbled. Ky had a smile on his face and glanced passed Ky to where Adele watched.

“Practice what you preach wolf. I’m sure if I asked your maiden turned mate she’d have quite a bit to say. I have seen you wolves with your mating ritual.” Ky gave a dark smile and chuckled.

“I didn’t keep her out there. I did ungodly things here instead. I can pretend to be civilized at times. A maiden is far more willing to preform devious acts behind closed doors. Just a bit of advice.” That got a flash of white teeth, it showed the longer canines Xev had.

“I like you wolf, until first light.” With that he shifted with a leapt and took off upward. Ky watching him and then went back inside to where Adele was sitting. She looked up at him and he reached pushing some of her hair behind her head. She was holding the top blanket to her chest to cover her a bit.

“He is intense. Though calm, it makes me feel better meeting him again. He didn’t demand we drag her here.” Adele commented pressing her face a bit into his hand as he caressed her cheek.

“Much more civil than I expected as well.” Adele had a slight mischievous look to her gaze suddenly.

“Unlike you, can’t drag maidens out to the woods? Care to explain then why you felt it appropriate to have me on my knees the first time in that cave then?” She raised an eyebrow at him. “That doesn’t seem like behind closed doors. His smile was boyish but dark and he reached to push the blanket from her body so that he could look at her.

“To me a cave was inside, I am a wolf. If I remember correctly you were very eager to learn and please. I heard no protest from you.” He slid his hand from her cheek to cup her chin. “I love this pretty little mouth of yours, the things it makes me fantasize about…” He could see a bit of a blush on her face. His fierce little warrior couldn’t help her modesty. Even with his child growing inside her and the intimacy they shared right now. She was so very appealing.

“Tell me what that fantasy is exactly. Maybe I’ll be nice and make it true my King.” He gripped her hair rather quickly and pulled back slightly.

“Don’t play a game you can’t win Adele.” He growled at her, she knew he wanted her to call him by his name. Not King, not alpha, it was a way that made her admit the intimacy between them. She couldn’t hide behind the wall of a title and deny it. Though she liked to needle him a bit. Liked how aggressive he’d become with her.

“Forgive me, shall I make it up to you?” She asked reaching forward and letting her hands push at the top of his loose pants. She gave him a coy smile, he could see her animal there in her eyes as she moved her head forward. His own animal growling approval at his mates actions.