"It's gorgeous, Sias!" I exclaimed rapturously as I donned the hooded full length white fur dress. I admired how sleek the fur was before it fluffed up at the cuffs of the long sleeves, the bottom of the dress, and around the edge of the hood. I made a oohing sound when I felt the mittens that attached to the inside of the sleeves and the drawstrings inside the waist of the dress that would allow me to loosen or tighten it as needed.
Sias chuckled quietly while making a spinning motion with his index finger. "Glad you like it, love. Now let's get a full look of the dress with a spin." I giggled and nodded before I spun myself around gracefully in a full circle, smiling as the dress flowed freely around my ankles. "Now to add the finishing touch." He squatted down and helped me put my feet into a pair of white knee-high soft leather boots that had soft soles which would allow my feet to move freely and feel the ground easily beneath my feet. "There. All set." I hugged Sias tightly once he stood up, still smiling. "Thank you, dearest. It's beautiful. Perfect with how cold it is this early in winter." He returned the hug and lightly patted my back. "You're welcome, love."
It had been an unusually cold autumn and the weather forecasters were saying it was going to be an even colder winter so Sias decided to have a stylish yet warm winter dress made for me. Even with the extra resistance to the elements that I gained when becoming a demon, I still had difficulties staying warm in the winter due to my small size. So the dress was the perfect addition to my limited wardrobe.
I spun in circles a few more times, laughing happily as the dress swished with me. I could see this being a wonderful dress to waltz in with Sias once the winter ball and festivities began in a week. Sias stood back and watched me spin around before gently grabbing my hips to stop me, leaning down to kiss me passionately. Gasping in surprise from the sudden kiss, I gripped his shoulders to support myself as my knees gave out, causing my body to lean against his. I closed my eyes, unable to contain the quiet moan that escaped my throat, as I returned the kiss. Sias wrapped his arms more securely around my waist to support my body as he deepened the kiss, his hand grasping the back of my neck to pull my head back a bit more, his muscular body haunching further over me.
I whimpered quietly as I opened my eyes to stare into his bright blue ones, slowly breaking the kiss to catch my breath. His eyes held and expressed so many emotions, prominently the love and passion he felt for me, seeing how much he felt made my body go limp in his arms again. I blushed a bright red when he smirked mischievously at me, flashing one of his fangs as he did. "Sias, you know how to make me melt." My voice was a hushed, heated whisper as I brushed my fingers across the side of his neck, causing him to shiver against me. "I know but you just looked so beautiful. I couldn't resist." Sias straightened his posture and helped me regain mine, holding me to his body until he knew I was steady again. Turning my body around, he grabbed a hairbrush and brushed through my hair until it was tangle free. Without having to ask him, he took his time braiding my hair, occasionally stopping to kiss my neck and tell me how beautiful he thought I was.
By the time Sias finished braiding my hair, my knees were ready to give out again and I was more than cherry red. I grabbed a small handheld fan off the coffee table and flipped it open to fan myself, hoping to cool down and lessen the redness of my face. "You, my dear, are an evil tease." He chuckled quietly and put away my hairbrush as I playfully glared at him over my fan, grabbing a heavy black jean jacket for himself before closing the closet door. "Are you ready to go to the court, love?" With a silent nod of my head, he took my arm in his as we walked out the front door to the black limo that waited for us.
Razeth opened the passenger door to the limo as he saw us approach, shaking his head at my still red face. His voice was stern though his gold eyes gave away his silent amusement as we slid into the limo. "Sias, you're teasing is going to make us late and Ali unpresentable to court if you keep this up." Sias's smile was unapologetic as he responded, "It's so much fun to make Ali red and flustered though. Red is a wonderful color on her, don't you think?" The dragon rolled his eyes at Sias as I swatted Sias's arm, the dog demon laughing at his own antics. "I love you too, my blushing beauty." Razeth tapped on the window that separated the front of the limo from the back, signalling to the driver that we were ready to leave. Gathering his yoki, he used it to cleanse the air of the scent of my flustered emotions. "Now that that's taken care of... Sias, behave. The meeting we're attending at court pertains to you and Ali. You will both be questioned and sworn in as the leaders of the wolf clans, so long as the madam sees you both fit."
Sias and I both sat straighter as we listened to Razeth, noting the serious tone and expression he wore as he spoke. This was it. This was the meeting we had been waiting for. The clans hadn't given us much time to learn how things were done and we had to work fast to build good relations with what was soon to be our pack. "Are we ready though, Razeth?" I was concerned. There was much we still needed to learn. I held Sias's hand in mine to calm my rising nerves. "You're both as ready as need be, Ali. The foundation has been set. Now it's time to start building on it. This is the start of the building process." The dragon smiled proudly causing laugh lines to crinkle at the corner of his eyes. "You'll both do fine." Sias squeezed my hand reassuringly and nodded in agreement with Razeth. "We can do this, Ali. We can handle anything they throw at us." I sighed quietly, silently hoping both men were right, as I felt Sias kiss my forehead. "Okay… Let's do this then." I smiled at them both, still clearly nervous but willing to do my best.
I didn't think it could get any colder but a couple hours later it got colder the further north and inland we drove. By the time we reached the capital where court was held, it had begun to snow. I was even more grateful that Sias had this dress made for me as I tightened the drawstrings to hold the dress closer to my body before stepping out of the limo. Sias quickly followed me out, wrapping his arms around me to help keep me warm. I learned a few years ago that Sias was more or less a walking heater. He had an unusually strong resistance to cold and hot climates, it didn't bother him like it did me. Razeth stepped out of the limo behind us and patted us on the shoulders reassuringly, his own body radiating even more heat than Sias's. Lucky fire dragon perks… I wrapped an arm around Sias as we all began to walk up to the stone castle in front of us, the sparkling lights always dazzling me when we came here.
As we reached the entrance, two guards dressed in black suits checked our identification cards. "Great Dragon, you and your wards may enter." was the only response we got as they opened the large wooden double-doors in front of us and ushered us in. I stared in wonder as we entered the castle, on top of the white and blue veined marble floor was a beautiful powder blue carpet with white speckles, and lining the walkway were candles on gold stands. The walls were decorated with massive paintings of various important demons and humans alike, some were just paintings of different places. It was all so beautiful though. All around were demons and humans of different places walking from one place to another and talking in large groups. The entrance hall was full of chatter and very faintly the sounds of someone playing a harp. I looked up at Razeth with wide forest green eyes only to see him smile and shake his head. "It always looks more grand at night during banquets and festivities. You'll get used to it soon enough, my young ward." "Hm… It gets boring after a while, love. Though there is some entertainment at times." Sias ran his clawed fingers lightly across my side as he spoke, his eyes searching the room for familiar faces as his body because tense.
Huh… I tilted my head slightly as I watched Sias with some concern. Is he worried that his family will show up and cause problems? I gently squeezed his arm in reassurance as Razeth led us to the banquet hall, occasionally stopping to introduce us to people he knew. Sias and I followed the dragon's lead, making polite talk with those he introduced to us and smiling. Those he introduced to us seemed genuinely nice and interested, though there were a couple of people who were snide and uninterested. Sias tensed more and pulled me closer when a purring female voice called to him from behind. I furrowed my brows when I heard him growl quietly and saw his bright blue eyes darken and roll, turning with him to face the unknown female that was approaching us. "Saya…" He greeted who I could now see was a white furred cat demon that stopped in front of us, her yellow slitted eyes watching us with amusement.
Saya was beautiful, her white fur short but sleek, seeming to almost ripple and flow as she moved. She wore a long sky blue dress that was form-fitting on her torso and gradually began to flow below her waist with matching heels to go with it. She flicked her long white tail towards Sias as she focused her smile on him, her cat snout crinkling as she did. "Sias, I heard you would be here. Rumor has it that you are meeting with the court about becoming a leader of the wolf clans. Is it really true? You're trying to reconcile with those… Those flea-ridden, wild beasts? They've caused your family nothing but trouble since your family first arrived here ten generations ago."
His voice was cold, harsh even, when he spoke, pulling me closer to him as his sleek boa fluffed and wrapped around me as well. "Yes, the rumor is true. I, along with my intended here, are to be the new leaders of the wolf clans and reconcile between our people. It was my family who wronged them. I want peace between our people unlike others…" He motioned to me with a clawed hand as he continued to stare coldly at Saya. "This is my intended, Ali. She was asked to be the leader and representative of the clans and because I am her intended, I too shall be a leader. Ali, this is Saya. She is the one I told you my family wanted me to court, much to my great displeasure. Her family is very wealthy and powerful. They have been in trade with my family in my homeland for many years."
I bowed my head slightly to the feline in front of me, wrapping an arm around Sias's waist to reassure him as I laid my head against his chest. "A pleasure to meet you, Saya. I've heard a good deal about you, your family, and your homeland. Though we are in a hurry. My guardian is waiting. I'm sure you don't want to impose on the Great Dragon." I saw Sias smirk from the corner of my eye as Saya stared at me with a rebuffed expression before she frowned, stalking away with an angrily swaying tail. "Oh? Not even a proper goodbye? And she acts like I was being improper." I chuckled quietly with Sias as Razeth approached us from the side with an amused smile on his face. "I couldn't have done that better, young ward."
A while later we walked into the spacious capital courtroom where we would be questioned and either approved or denied the right to be the leaders of the wolf clans. We had just seated ourselves when a booming male voice echoed throughout the room, "All rise for Madam Gracelynn and her council!" Moments before a beautiful blue water demon, what kind I couldn't tell, entered the room from a discreet side-door followed by twenty-four council members of varied demon and human races. It seemed fitting that our territory would be ruled by a water demon with us being a coastal region. We all stood as the madam and her council entered and seated themselves at their benches. We didn't sit again until her melodious voice rang out to address us. "Please be seated. We shall begin momentarily." As we all sat down in our seats once more as she began sifting through a pile of papers. This is almost like being in a supreme courtroom with a presiding judge… Interesting. I watched Madam Gracelynn as she continued to organize herself, as well as the other council members. So many different demons and people all together in one room. Is that a fox? There's a… a bull? Wow. I was so absorbed in all the new things I was seeing that I startled when Razeth tapped my hand to get my attention. "Your mouth is hanging open, young one, and you need to sit back in your seat. You look ready to fall over." I closed my mouth and sat back as my guardian chuckled at me, catching Sias smiling from the corner of my eye. I seemed to be a constant amusement to them tonight.
All eyes returned to the madam when she cleared her throat and tapped the microphone in front of her. "We are here today to address the wolf clan's claim of two new leaders and a representative. We shall see if the candidates are fit to lead them; if the candidates are fit to lead, we shall formally give them the title of leaders and representative. I will now call up the elder of the coastal wolf clan so that these matters can be addressed. Elder, if you may." We watched as the old wolf demon stood and slowly made her way to the front of the courtroom. Her voice rasping as she addressed the madam with a bow of her head. "Madam Gracelynn, it is good to see you again. I hope all is well with your family. Yes, we have found someone, or in this case two someones, that would make great leaders and a representative for our clans. The Great Dragon Razeth's ward, Ali, and her soon-to-be mate, Sias. We are willing to accept him as a leader and reconcile with his family. He will only be accepted if he goes through with becoming Ali's mate. A formal joining of the two kinds, among two high ranking individuals."
As the old wolf finished speaking, whispers flowed through the room. Some in anger, others in surprise, most in acceptance and wonder. Those further inland had barely heard of me but knew of Sias and his family. They also knew that at one time his family had expected him to court Saya and then he didn't. No, instead he pursued a human girl no one even knew existed and who became a demon and Razeth's ward. A girl who was winning the hearts of those in the coastal territory and quickly paid her debts off, all the while amassing a small fortune just by fishing. Now she was being chosen as the leader and representative of the wolf clans. A lowly human girl turned demon was accomplishing things that most of these demons spent their whole lives working towards. Sias's family, along with Saya and her family, were slowly becoming louder in their protests, causing enough racket that the madam had her guards threaten to throw them out. Madam Gracelynn's voice rang clearly for all to hear, bringing a near deafening silence to the room. "If the Great dragon Razeth and his wards are in this room, please step forward for introductions and questioning. We shall see if Ali and Sias are worthy."
Instead of walking down to the front of the courtroom, Razeth took Sias and I by the arms and gathered his yoki into a cloud around our feet to glide down to the front of the room. Several people ducked their heads or leaned out of the way even though we weren't close enough to them for it to be necessary. Madam Gracelynn raised an eyebrow at Razeth when we landed next to the elder wolf demon, her voice exasperated when she addressed him. "Was such a flashy show necessary, Razeth?" The dragon smiled at her and bowed. "Why of course, Madam. How else to remind everyone whose ward they are talking about? That any of them question a dragon's choice is an insult, even more so to one of the few wish granters left." He cast his gold eyes in a pointed glare to the families of Sias and Saya as he spoke, making sure they knew who he was referring too. "Madam, may I present to you my ward, Ali, and her intended, Sias? They have studied the ways of the wolf clans with dedication and determination. They wish to help the clans as best they can and to reconcile the differences between both kinds. I'm sure you've heard word on how successful Ali has become and how successful Sias already is." Sias and I bowed as Razeth introduced us to the madam before also bowing to the Elder wolf demon, watching the exchange silently.
"Yes, I have heard but nonetheless they shall still be questioned." Madam Gracelynn looked at me with teal eyes, assessing me thoughtfully before she continued. "Ali, you were a human belonging to a poor family, your mother a hard worker and your father a frequent visitor to jail cells. Both of your parents came from large families, your mother's ranging from poor to moderate, your father's primarily well-off. Is that correct?" "Yes ma'am." "At the age of eighteen, Razeth came to you stating that he could grant your wish to become a demon, is that correct?" "Yes ma'am." "You wished to become a demon to escape your family's oppression over you and be free to explore the world as you please, correct?" "Yes ma'am." So the questions continued, becoming more varied as time went on.
Madam Gracelynn and her council questioned Sias and I about our lives, how long we'd known each other, our view on several different topics, and how we lived until midnight when she and her council finally deemed us fit to be leaders and a representative. Finally… "The council hereby recognizes Ali as the new leader and representative of the wolf clans, as well as recognizing Sias as an intended leader as well. Under the condition that they both be mated by the end of this coming spring so that reconciliations can be made between the wolves and the dogs whether the dogs want it to happen or not." And there's the bombshell… Well, this is going to be fun. I looked to Razeth and Sias as Sias's family erupted behind us along with Saya and her family. Sias stood beside me pinching the bridge of his nose as his boa fluffed in agitation and Razeth stared at the ceiling, his mouth moving as if he were counting. Madam Gracelynn looked at me and the males on either side of me before looking at her guards and motioning for them to have the two furiously yelling families removed before a fight began.
She was too late though. Before her guards could even move, Razeth had spun around on his heels to face the two troublesome families, his wings spanning out behind him as his yoki rushed in powerful waves throughout the courtroom while his voice boomed deafeningly. "YOU WILL NOT QUESTION THE DECISIONS MADE HERE TONIGHT! DO YOU FORGET WHO BROUGHT YOU TO THESE LANDS!?" The Great Dragon's power had everyone, including the madam, kneeling to the floor, unable to move or speak. The weight Razeth had caused to fall in the room was crushing. My ears rang with how loud his voice was, the echoing of the room only making it louder. I could only feel the vibrations of several demons and humans whimpering in fear. I glanced up just enough to see both Sias's and Saya's families cowered on the floor, trying to beg for forgiveness as they received the brunt of his power. How could they have been foolish enough to forget that Razeth was far older and stronger than any of the demons in this room? How foolish could they be to provoke a dragon? A quiet whine escaped my lips before I could stop myself, the weight of his power causing even my bones to feel like they were being crushed.
As soon as the sound reached Razeth's ears, the weight lifted from the room. He glanced at me apologetically before continuing to glare at the two families, focusing his yoki on them even as he released the rest of the courtroom. Within moments, guards were surrounding the two families and escorting them out of the room. The madam straightened herself and cleared her throat, calling attention to the room. "I do believe that this court session will be adjourned. Everyone may leave now." The emphasis she put on her final word had everyone scrambling to leave the courtroom. If looks could kill, I'm sure Razeth would be dead. The look Madam Gracelynn gave him when he turned to face her was murderous, her voice taking on an icy edge. "Razeth, in my chambers immediately. Ali and Sias will be escorted to the room I will be providing for them for the remainder of their stay."
As the words left her mouth, Sias and I were guided out of the courtroom and to the room being provided for us. I barely had time to glance back at Razeth as we left. To say he appeared intimidated would be an understatement. It took several minutes to reach our room even after riding on an elevator for five floors. The halls were spacious and there were many rooms connected to them. Some were recreational rooms for cooking and other amenities but most were apartment-type rooms. When we finally arrived at ours and walked in, we were stunned. A spacious sitting room, adjoined to an equally spacious kitchen, with large bay windows so that we could see over the gardens on the castle grounds, greeted us. Soft, plush couches and armchairs, a TV, and several other things were throughout the living room.
The guards left us as we began exploring the apartment-type room, briefly telling us that the fridge in the kitchen was stocked with plenty to eat and drink. Walking down the hall, we found a bathroom with not only a fully equipped jet-pulsed shower but a jacuzzi tub as well. When we found the bedroom, we almost dropped. The bed in the center of the room had to have been custom-made; it was too large to be a normal bed. Silk bedding adorned the bed with six extra-fluffy pillows, and a black canopy surrounding it. There were large bay windows in the bedroom as well but thick black curtains hung in front of them. Large oak wood bookcases, and two armoire dressers, lined the walls, as well as a large vanity with a mirror and lights included.
I looked at Sias wide-eyed before running and jumping on the bed, a quiet but content moan escaping me. The bed was as soft and comfortable as it looked. "I could sleep here for an eternity. I need one of these at home." Sias laughed heartily as he joined me on the bed, relaxing and laying beside me with a content moan as well. "We definitely need one of these, Ali." Rolling onto my side, I snuggled against Sias with a content sigh. "Today was exhausting." He wrapped an arm around me as he kissing my forehead. "Yes it was." Then just like that, he was asleep, leaving me to lay next to him with my mind wandering until I too fell asleep.
A/N: I've been trying to work on chapter 8 but I'm stuck, so be patient. I do plan to write more, even if there are side stories first. The next chapter is suppose to be about the winter festivities but it's proving difficult.