11

Ianto was happy to see Jack disembark from the Hover, stepping into the courtyard of the castle and he revisited the urge to run to him. No. Let him do the walking. After a week here alone while Jack buried his mother and did the whole mourning thing… Ianto was over being nice. He had time to think things over and do his own assessment of things and he now felt calm and in control. Jack just had to learn who was in control too.

Then someone else stepped out and Ianto canted his head as the woman with Jack looked around with interest, her face screwed up in the bright sunlight. She was followed by Gray who pulled her to him possessively. Ah. This was Gray's intended?

Ianto smiled softly as they approached and before he could react the woman reached out her hands to slap onto Ianto's barely there bump as she exclaimed "Oh my… a preggers man, how novel!"

Ianto blinked as he felt a powerful jolt of negativity form her, then reached out and placed both hand on her breasts, firmly holding them as he stared into her eyes and replied "oh my… a woman with no boundaries. How novel!"

She gaped at him before stepping back to cover her own breasts with horror and Gray started to laugh "Grace Darling, Jack did say he was a Bladesinger and to be respectful of his space."

Oh no, it's no bother. Jack's boobs are not nearly as much fun" Ianto said with the same smile stile in place, then turned to his husband "Cariad, welcome home. Where are the girls?"

Jack blinked, and then recovered himself as he answered "In the next Hover. Nanny let them stop on the way home to visit with their friend Amelia."

"Ah. Right. Jax is inside in a snot… be warned" Ianto turned and swept his arm "Please… enter."

"Oooo, I love the way he says that" Grace giggled "Like he is the head butler."

"Actually... I am the head man… yes. As I Jack's mate and Master of this house, I suggest you wind your neck in if you don't want me to put my blade against it… Grace Darling." Ianto said with his tepid smile in place.

Gray roared with mirth "See? He's so funny!"

Grace swing to complain but everyone was swarming past and Ianto leaned in to say softy "Fuck with me and some birds might peck you to death too… darling. Now shut your fucking mouth and be respectful in MY house."

Ianto kept the eye contact a beat longer, then leaned back as she let loose a screech, then ran for Gray babbling about the threat and birds.

"Don't be silly. Birds killed Mama, Ianto was not even there. Get a grip" Gray said angrily "All this voodoo hoodoo crap everyone is going on about… he is Bladesinger… not Meater!"

"And if I was Meater I would be feasting on your brainnnnnnnns" Ianto leered as he swept past and Gray roared with glee again, clapping as he skipped after him. She stood confused and growingly angry… as well as slightly afraid. She had not expected this at all.

"Don't hesitate, he might poke back at you" Gwen said as she shoved the woman "and it's true. Don't' fuck with a more powerful entity than yourself… you will get shat on from a great height… and not just from a bird's arse."

"But… he was rude…"

"You started it. You are the one who touched him when we warned you that he does not like touching. Christ… why not kiss him on the lips while you're at it. You are lucky he didn't gut you like a fish with those blades he has hidden in his clothing… stupid bitch" Gwen snarled under her breath propelling the hapless woman along by her arm, clearly not a fan "And its' true. Ianto was with me, inside the castle when Jack's mother was eaten alive by crows. You know… like that one watching you up on the open windowsill over there?"

Grace looked up at a high window and saw a liege black bird that may have been a crow… or raven… something large and … deadly looking. "Oh my god… it's huge."

"It's watching you, look away" Gwen snared enjoying this "Stupid bitch. You know what? I don't need this."

Gwen released the woman's arm and hurried after Ianto calling out "Wait for me sweetie. I want to hear about the nursery!"

The large doors to the sitting room swing shut and Grace was left to the eerie silence of the hallway, looking around lie Alice in wonderland. What the fuck was that… I mean… what the fuck?

"Did you hear him threaten me?" she asked a passing guard who didn't break stride as he passed her.

"Fuck up or fuck off" Gilly said simply "Because that man is our boss and you are not even family yet."

"Well… I never!" she said with anger.

Some welcome.

Seems that there was no room at the Inn for an uppity mare.

Huh.