"I love this picture", Niall murmured to himself smiling, standing facing the bookshelves in dark wood overflowing with books and random curious artefacts.

"And what picture would that be?" Irial raised an eyebrow from his place lounging on the couch behind him, legs stretched out comfortably. Niall waved it haphazardly in his hand, half teasing, but not really willing to share. "Very mature, Niall." Niall shrugged, studying the picture in his hand again. He didn't startle when the king no more turned up behind him fairy-fast, gently sliding an arm around his middle.

"Let me see." Niall held it away from him.

"I think not." Irial nuzzled the back of his neck.

"You sure?"

"Yes?" The dark king felt the other smile against his throat.

"Fine. Then I will just have to occupy myself with other things than a stupid picture." Irial's hand slid under his shirt.

"You do that." Niall did sound a bit too breathy for his own tastes, unconsciously leaning against the other fairy. Things had gotten quite interesting when the door flew open.

"My king, the other regents are... here." Gabriela grinned, a wicked smile, as she took in their semi undressed state. "Please allow me to send them in? Right away?"

"Oh please do", Irial replied quickly. Gabriela sent a quick look at Niall, then quickly walked away.

"Irial..." Niall sighed, quickly buttoning his jeans and making an attempt to straighten his shirt. Since two buttons were missing, this was not an easy task.

"The dark court is supposed to be decadent", Irial remarked. "Wouldn't want to disappoint, now would we?" He grinned. Niall snorted.

"Hello brother." Seth entered first, with Aislinn right behind him. He looked at Niall, letting his gaze travel up and down, raised an eyebrow. Niall cleared his throat, then pulled him in for a very manly hug.

"Didn't see this one coming, did you?" Irial smirked, practically sparkling with mischief. He reached into Niall's pocked, pulling out a cigaret. He lit it as the other monarchs entered. Keenan cast one look at them and actually blushed. Niall flung himself on the couch. Not sulking. How could he have forgotten about the trimester meeting? He decided to blame it on Irial.

"Do have a seat so we can get this over with", he snarled.

"Yes, some of us actually have other things to do", Irial added, looking like sin materialised. Seth snorted. Irial raised an eyebrow, stretching his legs out over Niall's lap. Donia smirked, gracefully setting herself on a throne of ice just appearing. Aislinn and Seth sat on the love seat opposite the couch and Keenan remained standing next to his queen. After a couple of minutes of uneasy silence, Aislinn tentatively spoke.

"Is there anything anyone would like to say?"

This meeting could not end soon enough.

Irial stretched contently, glad to finally be rid off the other courts. Niall had gone out to be with the mortal no more, and Irial was feeling restless, but in no mood to party with the dark court. He wasn't overly fond of sharing Niall, although Seth and Summer was almost ridiculously in love.

Bother. He pursued the titles in the bookcase, thinking to distract himself with something, following the spines with his index finger. He paused, picking up the forgotten picture. Himself and their precious shadow girl smiled at him, and Irial couldn't help but to smile back. It must have been taken after the battle. They looked happy. They were happy. Suddenly Niall's absence wasn't as bad. He picked a book at random and retreated to his bedroom.