9 Chapter Eight

Nemyria woke the next morning again to the scent of food.

Cracking her eyes open, indeed she found Tiberius striding to her bed, a bowl in hand.

She sat up, stretching her arms above her head with a yawn. Tiberius placed the warm bowl in her lap, pressed a kiss to her temple, and mumbled, "Good morning, Nemyria."

"Good morning," she replied, offering him a nuzzle before she turned to her food.

If she woke up to food every day, if she woke up to Tiberius brining her food every day, he'd earn her affections quite quickly.

Tiberius smiled, and he settled onto her bed beside her. Watching her sniff the bowl, trying to place what sort of flavor was in her oatmeal, he asked, "Would you like to know where I went last night?"

"Is it my place to question that?" she replied, bringing the spoon to her mouth.

She sniffed it again, then took a little nibble out of the mound of oats. She paused, a smile spreading over her lips.

"I like this," she said, "Very much."

"Then I'll include it with every breakfast," Tiberius said, "And, yes, love. You have a right to know where I go and what I do, both as my future queen and as my significant other."

She took another bite, and gave him a look that said, 'Well, then tell me.'

"My cousin, Cloven arrived yesterday. I had to greet him before he and his wife went to bed," Tiberius said.

She nodded, and she snorted at Gavrynn. "Was that so impossible to tell me?"

"You, ma'am, annoy me," Gavrynn replied.

She rolled her eyes, and she continued her breakfast.

"When you're finished, would you like take that tour I offered you yesterday?"

"You said the offer was only for the next ten minutes. It's been far longer than that," Nemyria said.

"Oh, this is a different offer. This tour will likely get interrupted, but I will still be your guide. Quite inticing still, is it not?" he asked, raising a playful brow.

She rolled her eyes, taking another bite. When she swallowed, she said, "Alright. I suppose I can deal with you long enough to go on a tour."

He chuckled, and he ruffled up her hair. She batted his hand away, making some unearthly noise of displeasure. Yanking his hand away, a little spooked, he stared at her as if she'd grown a third arm.

"What?" she questioned.

"The fuck was that?" Tiberius questioned.

She frowned. "I'm half demon, Toby. What did you expect?"

"I don't know. Some normal yelp or squeal or something," he replied.

She snorted. Rolling her eyes, she said, "Well, now you know I make demonic noises. Consider that one a warning. Do not touch my hair."

"After that, I don't think you have to worry about me touching your hair again," Tiberius said.

She grinned, and she let out another otherworldly noise.

"Stop it," Tiberius said, narrowing his eyes.

She opened her mouth to do it again, but he cut her off with a kiss. Stilling, surprised, she did not return his kiss, nor did she pull away.

Drawing back, he growled, "New rule. Do not do that. Am I understood?"

Her eyes narrowed, and she said, "So long as you never kiss me again."

As if he'd agree to that.

Still. He didn't want her speaking in demon, she didn't want him kissing her.

"Deal, then."

She blinked.

He'd actually agreed.

Shaking off her shock, she growled, "Fine. Deal."

"Now hurry up and finish eating," he ordered.

She flipped him off, but continued ro eat. Snorting, he looked to Gavrynn, some silent order in his eyes. The man promptly left the room to fulfill said order.

An urge to ask tugged at Nemyria, but she did not speak. She would not speak to him, not while she was pissed.

For a time, she thought Tiberius might be following the same decision, but, eventually he sighed, and he mumbled, "Sorry. I just... My parents were killed by Demons, so anything that reminds me of it... You get what I'm trying to say, right?"

She did. She understood, but it didn't fully quell the anger in her chest. Offering him a nod, her tail sweeping over the bed, she continued to eat.

"I'm sorry, Nemyria," he said, quietly.

She shrugged. "You can't help what happened."

Dipping his head, he said, "Thank you."

With a nod, she continued eating. Tiberius wrapped a hand around hers, giving it a gentle squeeze, and the remaining anger left her. She replied his squeeze with one of her own. A smile slid onto his lips, and he waited for her to finish eating.

When she'd emptied the bowl, Tiberius took it from her lap.

"Ready to go on that tour now?" Tiberius asked.

"Oh, I suppose," she replied.

He grinned, and she chuckled, rising to her feet as he pulled her from the bed.

*

As Tiberius had suspected, the tour was interrupted. They managed to view the entirety of the inside of the castle, but as soon as they made it to the gardens, where Gavrynn met them, they were also met by a few vampires who Nemyria could only assume were Cloven and his family.

She may not know much about vampires, but she did know enough to recognize the tattoo of dripping blood as Cloven's.

The male leaned against a wooden fence, watching his wife play with their son. He gave his cousin a small wave, calling him over, before returning to watch his family.

"Cloven," Tiberius greeted.

"Toby," Cloven replied, and looked to Nemyria, "I take it this is your betrothed?"

"Indeed she is," Tiberius replied, and pressed a kiss to Nemyria's cheek.

She rolled her eyes, and held a hand out to Cloven. "I'm Nemyria."

"Just Nemyria? No last name?" Cloven asked as he took her hand.

"Nemyria Ashdown, I suppose," she said, shaking his hand, then dropping it.

"Ashdown?" Cloven blinked, "As in, you're a child of the couple that used to take in abandoned Demon children?"

She nodded. "I was their last. They died before I turned fifteen."

"I'm sorry," Cloven said.

She shrugged. "I've had nine years to come to terms with it. But, thank you."

He dipped his head. Motioning to his own family, he said, "This is my wife, Lila, and our son, Rexius."

The baby blinked, hearing his name. Looking to his mother, he tilted his head, his reddish-brown hair that was just a little lighter than his mother's falling to the side. The woman pulled her baby into her arms, looking to her husband.

"They're safe, Lila. No one's going to hurt our baby," Cloven promised.

Nodding, she pushed herself fo her feet and took up a place at Cloven's side.

"How old is he?" Nemyria asked.

"He's a little over a month old," Lila replied, her voice gentle, quiet.

She blinked. "A month old and he's already made a trip overseas, huh?"

"I don't trust home right now," Lila whispered.

Nenyria raised a brow, and Cloven explained, "The whole Draven situation."

She nodded. "Ah. Makes sense."

"We won't be here long," Lila said, "Just until the king calms down and it's safe to go home."

Tiberius blinked. Lifting a brow to his cousin, his eyes lit up in question.

"I'll explain later," Cloven said.

Tiberius frowned, but said nothing of it.

"Can I hold him?" Nemyria asked.

Lila flinched. Holding her son a litte closer, her green gaze shot to her husband. He slipped an arm about her waist and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"She's not going to harm our baby, I promise," Cloven whispered, "She tries, and she's dead, okay?"

She nodded.

"You don't have to let her hold him if you don't want to, either. It's your decision, love," her husband said.

Again, she nodded. Looking to her son, then to Nemyria, then back to her son, she bit her lip. The baby beamed at his mother, and a smile spread over her lips. With a nod, she eased the baby into Nemyria's arms.

"Be careful with him, okay?" Lila said.

"Of course," Nemyria replied, her orange gaze falling on the little bundle of joy.

"Hey, little one," Nemyria said, her tone gentle.

She sheathed her claws and bopped the baby in the nose, earning a delighted squeal from him. He snatched her finger and brought it to his mouh, attmepting to gnaw on her, despite the fact that he only had two tiny fangs.

"He's adorable," Nemyria said.

Lila dipped her head in thanks. "He'll probably look as handsom as his father when he grows up, too."

"I don't doubt that," Nemyria said, tucking a loose piece of hair behind her ear as the baby reached for it. The baby let out another squeal, and Nemyria couldn't help but let out an adoring purr.

Lila smiled, and she leaned into her husband's side. He draped an arm over her shoulders. Tucking her into his side, he asked, "Do the two of you plan on having any soon?"

Tiberius didn't have a chance to respond, as Nemyria immediately cut in with, "I haven't Settled yet."

"Ah," Cloven said, "So, no, then?"

She shook her head. "Definitely not. Especially since I can have litters of up to eight, and this nation has a stupid one heir only policy."

"You managed to inherit that bit of werewolf, ey?" Cloven asked.

"Maybe. I don't want to chance it," Nemyria replied.

"That makes sense," Cloven said, "It's why our little Rex is going to be an only child."

"For now," Lila said, "Until your father stops being a douche."

Cloven chuckled, and he kissed his wife's hair. She held her arms out for her son, and Nemyria carefully shifted the baby into his mother's arms. The boy snuggled against her chest.

"You're awfully quiet," Nemyria said, glancing to Tiberius.

"I'm debating something," he replied.

His hands found her hips, and he guided her back against him. Tucking his arms around her waist, he set his chin on her shoulder.

"And what might that be?" Nemyria asked.

"Changing the system before we have a Draven situation," Tiberius replied.

"I would much enjoy it if you did," Nemyria said, "If not only for our children, but for Gavrynn, too."

The guard, who stood a good ten feet away, stilled. He blinked, surprised, and quickly shook of his shock, returning to surveying the area.

"I think it might be a little too late for him," Tiberius said.

Nemyria could have sworn some hope in Gavrynn's eyes disappeared.

"But," Tiberius said, "If it pleases you, I'll see what I can do."

Nemyria smiled, and she nuzzled him, saying, "Thank you."

He replied with a kiss to her cheek.

"You want my advice?" Cloven asked.

"Not particularly," Tiberius replied.

Cloven, completely ignoring him, said, "I'd change it. I'd burn the old documents and draft new ones, and I'd write laws that made it impossible to ever go back."

"I'll consider it, cousin," Tiberius said.

"That's all I can ask," Cloven replied.

Nemyria relaxed in Tiberius's grip, and he pressed another kiss to her cheek. Snorting, she nestled a little further into his arms.

Why did it feel so nice to be in his arms?

"Anyway," Nemyria said, returning her attention to the prince and his wife, "If that's what you would do, why don't you?"

"I can't," Cloven replied, "I can't do anything until I'm king, and I can't become king until the others are either dead or banished."

Nemyria frowned, looking to Tiberius. "Then how are you king?"

"Gavrynn's technically a slave," Tiberius replied.

Nemyria stiffened. Pushing herself out of his arms, she questioned, "What?"

"It was that or his death, Nemyria. What did you expect me to do?" Tiberius questioned.

"Find a way around it," she replied, her eyes narrowing, "Is it truly that difficult? Banish him, take the damn throne, become king, fix the fucking system, and bring him back."

Tiberius blinked, as if he hadn't thought of it. Cloven stilled.

"I-would that work?" Cloven asked, a hope rising in his voice.

"I-well, I suppose," Tiberius said.

Cloven's eyes lit up with excitement, and threw his arms around Nemyria, exclaiming, "Thank you! Thank you so much!"

She blinked, shocked, and she slowly returned his hug. When he drew away, he looked back to Lila, saying, "She figured it out, love. She figured it out. We're safe now. All of us are safe now."

He swept his wife and child into his arms, pulling his wife into a kiss before the woman could react.

Tiberius's arms wrapped around her waist again, pulling her against him. Glancing back at the king, a frown spread over her lips, she questioned, "What?"

"I'm sorry, love. I didn't mean to upset you," he said.

"Are you sorry that you upset Gavrynn?" Nemyria questioned, "You enslaved him, for fuck's sake."

Tiberius did not reply. She huffed, but she did not try to leave his arms.

"I'll see what I can do to fix this," he eventually promised.

"You'd fucking better," she growled back.

Cloven looked to his cousin, calling, "I'm going to take my wife to lunch now, okay?"

Tiberius waved him off. The man chuckled, adjusted his wife and child in his arms, and strode off.

"Lunch?" Nemyria questioned, "It hasn't been that long."

"I may have let you sleep in," Tiberius said.

She nodded and said, "I'm still pissed at you."

He sighed. "Shall we continue our tour?"

"If you'd like to," she replied.

With another sigh, he led her off to explore the stables.