I Should Have Told You Sooner
"This is disgusting. You owe me, Metas" Vincent warned and looked over to his best friend with a sour look as Joss painted his scaly body with the concoction that had been brewing all day.
"Noted, my friend. I will pay whatever you ask in future," the Alpha King agreed and nodded as he sat around feeling useless...again...
"So how are you supposed to take this off afterwards if you can't see me?" The Dragon Prince asked with doubt.
"You just turn back into a Protean and wash yourself in the river. Enough scrubbing can break the seal, I'm sure." Joss reassured (but wasn't sure at all).
"You said this stuff doesn't come off when it dries, what will make my skin any different?"
"Uhhhh....I'm sure it will be fine...?"
"That's not reassuring. Metas - seriously- whatever it is I ask, no matter how big or ridiculous - you owe me so much for this," Vincent repeated as his purple eye moved towards his best (and only) friend's golden eyes.
"Noted. Whatever you ask, as long as it doesn't involve my wife." Metas clarified.
"No offense, but I don't want anything to do with your wife. She's scary..." Vincent admitted as he recalled her angry face the night he intruded on their intimate moment.
"Hah!" Metas laughed out with delight. "She'll be happy you said that. It is always good for Luna when she feels respected and feared in just right amount."
Vincent smiled (but didn't look like that, as Dragons didn't really emote well) at his friend's words. Even though Metas misspoke often, he rather liked it and never once called him out in respect and kindness.
"How many of our pack do you need, Joss?"
"I've already talked to them, my Alpha. I didn't want to worry you with the details since it is my hopeful plan."
Metas wished he hadn't. Ever since he killed Silas he was feeling a bit useless and lazy, but no one was treating him in such a way. To rest was a foreign thought to him.
"Ah, Joss - always prepared" he said warmly and nodded towards the silver haired male who used a crudely made 'brush' from leaves and a stick to paint on the runes that would disguise their giant friend.
"Of course. It's my greatest asset."
The budding mage was more than proud of his quick learning. It was like an entire language 'snapped' to life in his mind and everything was easy to recall as though he had done this before a thousand times.
"You have many great assets, babe" Jyriah complemented from behind him as he held the heavy pot of green ooze for his greatest love (and the male he wanted to be his mate forever).
"Awww," Joss let out with adoration.
Vincent had to stop himself from making an off-comment. He was disgusted by PDA of any kind, and still felt a burning bitterness for marriage that wasn't going to be put out anytime soon.
"Once we're done here, we need to get Ajax and the three of us are going to the crater of the mountain. I was going to ask Veltar, but he's been in hiding since last night. I don't know what happened, but Jess is upset and has no idea where he is. Do you think he's okay?" Joss asked as he dipped the leaves into the green sludge again.
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"Jess...I'll do anything to get you to understand that I was just trying to be suave. I fucked up. I'm sorry. Please talk to me..." Veltar plead as he walked in-stride with the female twin.
She was still ignoring him, because truthfully she wasn't sure what to say. How would she confront him without sounding like a brat? He had merely subverted her expectations. It wasn't his fault that she had the wrong idea...or he did?
"Jess - I just...Okay, here's the truth..." Veltar started and took in a deep breath before he revealed his perverted nature.
"That purple stuff that the old mage brought got into my nose, and it made me see what I desired most - which was making love to you, and making you mine. I just felt a little amped after watching Metas destroy our enemy, and I let the moment get to me. I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry. I want you to be my mate - I want to protect and love you, and I want you to always feel like a treasure. I just didn't want you to turn me away."
Jess stopped walking and turned to him to listen intently. She mashed her lips into a thin line and stared at him as she realized what was truly going on. Now she felt bad - really bad.
"Veltar, I wish you had told me sooner - but I also wish I had told you sooner that I was exposed to that stuff, too....but my vision was us having a wedding and dancing with our friends and parents..."
"Oh...well shit...I feel terrible now.." he said lowly and turned his eyes towards the ground and away from hers.
"Don't. Please don't. I understand. It's like it lingers in your head until you give into it. With the dancing and the celebrations, I think it all just felt so real that when it didn't happen, I was disappointed. You had no idea what I was thinking, and now I realize I didn't know what you were thinking either. I feel awful, too." Jess admitted and laughed with relief through her shuddering breaths.
"Sweetheart... I'm so sorry..." Veltar reached out to take her into his arms, and waited for her to come into them instead of approach her.
He didn't have to wait long as she immediately filled the space he had provided, and pressed herself into his chest so that he could squeeze his very strong, and muscled arms around her.
They were about to start to kiss, but unfortunately were stopped as Metas accidentally interrupted them as he attempted to walk away, and crushed a twig under his feet.
"Uhhh... Metas? Did you need something?" Veltar asked awkwardly.
"When you are done my friend, when you are done" he insisted as he tried to get away as fast as he could in order to give them space before he ruined whatever moment he was about to ruin.