Chapter 55

~Mael~

It is brave to show himself when Kamari's pride is present. But Mael was more than sure his illusion made it impossible for them to detect. So, he'd make the bold move to see her again, even amongst her mates. Since they thought Mael was human, they ignored him. Mael smiles as he walks up to Kamari, eager to see her smile and indulge in her scent. It took longer than he hoped for the next batch of her fruit to grow, but the wait was worth it. 

Calea pulls out a couple of her favorite fruits from the bag. Then Kamari grabs the black fruit, the one she had eaten after him. He can't help the smug grin that pulls at his lips, and Kamari sees it. She bites into it, her eyes sparkling with knowing.

There was a little ignition between them. As long as he didn't catch the attention of her husbands, he was fine. They occupied themselves by grooming their Dragonborn, Ryuu. Mael tried to split his attention between Calea and Kamari, but it was so hard. Kamari looked ravishing as she always did. He wanted to caress her skin, to feel her touch. His gaze drew to the poison on her nails.

"What interesting nails you have!" His voice honeyed as he reached purposefully for her hand, examining them but relishing the feel of her skin. Kamari smiled meekly, " Yes, it's poison."

"Kamari!" Calea harshly whispers, "Don't scare him."

Mael gives a half smile, "It does not scare me, Calea. If anything, it interests me." His eyes don't leave Kamari's, and her head tilts slightly. "Really?"

"Really."

She smiles and looks down at her hand, "I aim to be honest; I have nothing to hide from my people. I am the Queen; they should know who rules over them."

Mael can't help the growing admiration he felt for Kamari. His little savage had been locked away for so long, taken from her Kingdom, and fought her way back. This was her Eden, the garden she protected with her life. And anyone who entered it was at her mercy, like any Shade. She'd kill.

 Against him, her venom would have no effect. Shades were immune to their venom. "As a Queen should be. You were always meant to rule Nivillia; it's in your blood." Mael says Kamari's gaze lingers on his a little too long, and he hates that he must break it not to show his crushing desire for her. 

"Thank you, Mael. That is sweet of you to say. I hope others think the same." Kamari's cheeks flush. Mael has to bite his tongue for the heated things he wants to say to her. As he reigns in his feelings, he feels a Dragon's presence behind him. 

"Move." Nye's stone-cold voice makes his inner dragon want to backhand him and stab him through the chest with his pointed tail. Mael changes his demeanor to resemble a human's reaction.

"Oh! I'm sorry," Mael backs up, but when he sees another whelp in Nye's arms, his mask slips just an inch. The Shade part of him wants to eliminate the whelp's life. "Another child?" 

He smiles at Kamari, "Congratulations." Kamari takes the Whelp from Nye and nuzzles her nose. "Her name is Ignis." She says with such adoration that it makes Mael sick. "Hm, she's beautiful." Mael gives a forced smile, trying to make it look genuine.

Kadea's Hell. Another fire-breather, he says to himself. They always wandered into his territory, and he gained a distaste for them. He didn't know how many bodies lay in his bountiful garden; he assumed thousands. His forest was vast, one of the largest among Shade-kind, and one of the most secluded. Nye looks him up and down. Mael acts sheepish.

"Uh, I was just bringing them fruit." Mael rubs his neck. Nye doesn't pay him any mind; instead, he watches as Nye caresses the cheek of his whelp, and his fingers roam to Kamari's Collarbone. Their heated gaze makes Mael boil inside. Kamari's gaze goes to Mael, and she smiles, "Thank you for the fruit, Mael. Maybe one day you'll show us your garden?"

"Oh, it's not much. Just a small little Grove. Nothing impressive." The only person he'd allow in his sacred forest is Kamari. All the others could tremble in pain from his venom for all he cared. "Oh! Mael, I'm planning a festival soon; it would be so nice to have those black fruits made into a dessert of some kind. How many do you have?"

"Depends. When is this so-called Festival?"

Kamari adjusted Ignis in her arms, "Well, I was planning to have it soon. One of my husbands will take Dragon form In Front of the Kingdom."

Mael's eyes widened, and they drifted to Nye, who looked less than happy about it. "I am at your service, my Queen," Mael says with a theatrical bow. Calea chuckles, "Such a charming gentleman. I'm sure your spouse is delighted to have someone like you." Mael sighs, "Alas, I am a lone wolf, my lady."

Calea's eyes widened, "Forgive me for being so bold, but that's a bit shocking."

He had bred thousands of times when Shade females were present, but he swore he wouldn't create a hybrid with another element. He waited, and it paid off. Kamari was a gift from Kadea.

Kamari smiles down at Ignis. "Oh, why can't you adore me as much as you adore Nye?"

Mael bears the interaction to be near Kamari. Nye smirks, "Would you like the day with her?" Kamari's eyes light up, and she chuckles, "Does she tire you out?"

"She's starting to knead me like a tree," Nye unbuttoned the top of his shirt to reveal the surface-level scratches on his skin.

Kamari gasps, "Oh dear goddess! Why did she do that?"

Nye wears a smug grin, "She marks me as hers. As she would in the Forest. I tire of being in stone walls. She's yours." Nye walks over to the others. Mael continues the conversation, "So what is this celebration called?"

"Fest of Ignis." Kamari's eyes sparkle as her whelp lays against her chest. "A Celebration of Fire?" Mael tries to hide his dislike for the name. "Interesting."

"I plan on many things. Bringing knowledge of dragon culture is one of them. It's been forgotten for too long." The aura around Kamari intices him, he swallows hard. "I would love to show you the garden." He glances at her husband, "Without your husbands, of course." His voice lowers, his restraint slowly unraveling.

Kamari furrows her brow and chuckles, "Are you afraid they'll stomp on your fruit? I'll make sure they don't." Mael chuckles, "My process of planting is very calculated. Did you know the earth has a heartbeat?" Kamari's smile starts to fade. Her eyes look to the side, remembering something. She looks back at him with renewed interest.

"Yes." Her voice is just above a whisper, and he leans forward. "Would you like to hear the heartbeat of my garden, Kamari?"